Breakout Speaker

Rob was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to parents William and Margaret Blackaby. After graduating from the University of British Columbia in 1989, he enrolled at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, from which he earned M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees. Rob married Jo Susan (of Springfield, Tennessee) in July 1992. In June 1995 they moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada where Rob served as the senior pastor of Trinity Baptist Church until 2008. During that time, he also led in the start of Southwinds Church in south Calgary, as well as in the launch of the SouthTrails Church Planting Network (now Community Life Network). Also during that time, he was elected to serve as the president of the Canadian National Baptist Convention from 2003-2006. In April 2007 Rob became the third president of the Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary and College (formerly Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary and College) in Cochrane, Alberta. He has a passion to prepare God-called men and women for twenty-first century leadership in tough places. He has led the school to journey with students as they study and apply God’s Word to issues of critical importance amidst life circumstances that are complex. Rob and Jo Susan have three children, Rachel (24), John (21), and David (18).