About Us
PlaceForge Advisory Ltd. is a Canadian, federally incorporated strategic advisory firm. We work with leaders to enhance economic competitiveness, destination development, and economic placemaking through an innovative approach to the strategic alignment of tourism and economic development. We challenge conventional thinking to break down silos - leveraging innovation, global experience, strategic partnerships and the natural intersection of economic development, tourism, investment, and talent to help you compete to win in a fast-changing world.
Our mission
PlaceForge Advisory was founded to support the competitiveness of Canadian jurisdictions at a moment of generational economic change. As the global economy shifts quickly, economic development and tourism organizations, sector councils, governments, and their partners must adapt to attract jobs, investment, visitors and talent. We support innovative economic placemaking that breaks down silos, builds new connections, and positions jurisdictions to compete and thrive on a global stage.
Our approach
With more than 25 years of experience in economic development, tourism, investment, talent, and trade, we partner with clients to advance their economic placemaking goals. Our deep expertise in investment attraction, business retention and expansion, investment readiness, and workforce development differentiate us. We start by listening. Then tailor our services to each client, providing thoughtful and strategic advice, coaching, and practical tools to equip jurisdictions strengthen both their strategy and execution.
We think differently and act boldly, equipping our clients to create places where people want to live, work, invest, and visit.
Our Principal and Founder
Ryan Kuffner
Ryan has devoted his career to serving Canada at the national, provincial, and municipal levels at home and abroad. A former Canadian diplomat, trade commissioner & bilateral and multi-lateral trade negotiator with Global Affairs Canada, and recent CEO of Winnipeg Economic Development and Tourism, Ryan draws from his broad leadership experience at home and abroad to equip PlaceForge clients for success. Ryan has been a passionate advocate for indigenous economic reconciliation, working with indigenous peoples as important partners in Canada's economic future. His decades of experience building and leading economic development, tourism and investment teams, and advancing investment attraction and the supporting elements of business retention and expansion, direct domestic investment (DDI), foreign direct investment (FDI), investment readiness, and talent and workforce development have informed his approach to enhancing Canadian competitiveness in a fast-changing world. Ryan's vision is of economic placemaking for a more competitive Canada, with PlaceForge as a platform for serving differently at a time of generational economic change.
Ryan is a current member of Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew's Business and Jobs Council, and is the past Chair of the Premier's Subcommittee on Trade (2024-2025). A former Co-Chair of Destination Canada's federal Taskforce on Investment in Tourism (2005), and a long-standing Board member of the Consider Canada City Alliance (2018-2026), he is passionate about creating vibrant, livable communities across Canada.
Ryan is married with three children, and speaks English, French, and Spanish.
