Iain is an internationally recognized expert on developing cities and their transit systems; and advocates for fact-based planning decisions.

After a successful commercial real estate career, Iain co-founded the Strategic Regional Research Alliance. This research body partners with all levels of government and the private sector to provide a better understanding of the components and complexities of making informed infrastructure investment decisions.

He has served on the Board of Metrolinx, the Transit Investment Strategy Advisory Panel, and the Expert Panel on the Sheppard Transit Corridor. He has spoken to many of North America‘s leading real estate associations and has appeared on radio and TV programs such as Metro Morning and Cross Canada Check-Up.

Since 2000, when he retired from a successful 25-year career in commercial real estate development, Iain Dobson has focussed on bringing the principles of evidence-based value planning in the private and public sectors to development and investment decisions. He co-founded the Strategic Regional Research Association, The Value Planning Group and the Real Estate Search Corporation. RESC satisfies the ever-growing need for comprehensive, reliable, accurate, independently collected data for professionals in the commercial real estate industry.

Iain has received numerous industry awards and has spoken at many of North America’s leading industry associations, including the US Commercial Real Estate Development Association, Association of Ontario Land Economists, Canadian Real Estate Forums, and radio and TV programs such as Metro Morning and Cross Canada Check Up, among others.

Iain was a member of the Board of Directors of Metrolinx, a member of the Premier’s Transit Investment Strategy Advisory Panel, a former CivicAction Commercial Building Advisory Panel member, and a former Chair of the University of Toronto Schools Alumni and Jackman Institute of Child Study Daycare Board. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trent University.