About This Strange Paradise

 

Paul Koidis is a Canadian higher education executive, cultural strategist, and creative producer whose career spans two decades at the intersection of education, entrepreneurship, an, he oversaw academic programming, curriculum  development, faculty engagement, and external partnerships — often focused on media, design, and entrepreneurship. He is always focused on impact — whether through transforming college programs, launching global advocacy platforms, or producing landmark cultural events.

Currently serving as Chair of the Entrepreneurship Academy at Canadore College, Paul leads a pioneering initiative that integrates entrepreneurial thinking into postsecondary education. The Academy equips students and community members with the tools, mentorship, and mindset to create lasting change — economic, social, and cultural — in Northern Ontario and beyond. Under his leadership, the Academy has grown in influence and visibility, producing high-profile events such as TEDxCanadoreCollege and forging new models of experiential education.

Paul’s career in postsecondary education has included senior leadership roles at several of Ontario’s leading colleges. As Associate Dean at both Durham College and Georgian College, he oversaw academic programming, curriculum development, faculty engagement, and external partnerships — often focused on media, design, and entrepreneurship. Earlier, as Marketing Director at Centennial College, Paul was instrumental in repositioning the institution’s brand and outreach strategies during a period of major growth.

Beyond the classroom, Paul has long been an active force in Canada's creative and cultural sectors. A passionate advocate for public storytelling and civic engagement, he was instrumental in launching Global Citizen in Canada, aligning global development goals with grassroots cultural mobilization. He has produced and programmed a range of events and festivals — from the Future Music Summit and PURE Philanthropy Summit to concerts for Taste of the Danforth, and was a contributing producer to The Conspiracy Show Summit, based on the cult television series.
He has created and produced award-winning films and tv projects for ROGERS, Bell Media, CityTV, and PBS including The Next Level, Diabetes Now: In the Key of D, and Born to Be Wild: In Conversation with Mars Bonfire. 

His collaborations span across major Canadian and international cultural institutions, including the Hot Docs Documentary Festival, Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival, Explore Design, and various municipal cultural initiatives. These experiences have made him a trusted voice on the role of arts and design in economic development and community building.

A former member of HOMAD (Heads of Media, Art and Design) — an influential provincial advisory council — Paul has advised on curriculum, policy, and funding initiatives aimed at scaling creative education across Ontario.

Whether he’s guiding students through entrepreneurial journeys, producing socially-conscious media, or helping institutions evolve, Paul brings a rare mix of strategic foresight, creative fluency, and hands-on leadership. He is driven by a belief in interdisciplinary thinking, authentic storytelling, and systems that make people — and communities — thrive.