Diversifying Trade: Barriers and Opportunities in Atlantic Canada

David Chaundy is President and CEO of the Atlantic Economic Council. He has over 25 years experience researching Atlantic Canada’s economy, sharing his insights and ideas in numerous publications and presentations to business, government and other stakeholders. As someone who lives and works in the region, he is keen to ensure a healthy, inclusive and sustainable Atlantic Canadian economy.  David is a Director and Past-President of the Atlantic Association of Applied Economists and a Director of the Atlantic Canada Economics Association. He was an inaugural member of the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council, an inaugural member of the National Stakeholder Advisory Panel for the Labour Market Information Council, and was previously Vice-President of the Canadian Association for Business Economics.  

Melanie Nadeau is the CEO of COVE, where she leads the strategic direction and manages overall operations. She brings over 20 years of experience in business development initiatives that drive high-tech innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment. Melanie has been a noted expert for the International Energy Agency, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Electrotechnical Commission. She has earned multiple awards, including Canada’s Clean16 Award for her outstanding contribution to clean capitalism, has been named one of Atlantic Canada’s 25 most powerful women, has been an invited speaker at TEDGlobal, and is a strong supporter of Canada’s tech ecosystem as a mentor for the Creative Destruction Lab. 

Seamus O’Regan has served as Canada’s Natural Resources Minister, Minister of Indigenous Services, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, Minister of Labour and Minister for Seniors. He was first elected Member of Parliament for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl in 2015 and subsequently re-elected in 2019 and 2021. Before elected politics, he was a host of Canada’s leading morning news programme, Canada AM, for ten years. Today, he is Senior Business Advisor with Stewart McKelvey, the largest law firm in Atlantic Canada. He also serves on the board of Power Metallic Mines and is Chair of Co Innovation Centre in St John’s. 

Rachel Samson is a policy research executive with 25 years of experience providing evidence-based policy advice. As vice-president of research at the IRPP, Rachel has directed policy research and analysis relating to Employment Insurance, long-term care, child care, digital-technology adoption and industrial policy. She also led the IRPP’s role as the research and knowledge mobilization partner of the Affordability Action Council.