Eric Wood works at the intersection of food, cities, business, and public policy — a career path that started in professional kitchens. Beginning as a chef focused on workforce development and community impact, he went on to work across entrepreneurship, consumer packaged goods, social enterprise, and economic development, building a reputation for connecting worlds that rarely speak the same language. Today, he serves as the City of Toronto’s Sector Development Officer for Food & Beverage Production, helping shape one of North America’s most diverse food economies. Along the way, he has led growth strategy for scaling businesses, built partnerships for a national CPG accelerator, advised global food and beverage brands, and supported social enterprises focused on economic mobility. A frequent media contributor, TEDx speaker, and guest lecturer at York University, Eric is known for translating industry realities into practical policy — and making economic development feel a little more human.