Events Calendar
Economic Engine
Unlocking Productivity: A Fresh Blueprint for Success
The Halifax Chamber's annual Economic Engine Forum is back! Join us for our third annual Economic Engine Event: Unlocking Productivity on March 18th, 2025.
This event intends to showcase a positive, realistic, and optimistic narrative of where Nova Scotia’s economy is heading through the perspective of political leaders, industry experts, and economic professionals. With this year’s forum focusing on Nova Scotia’s wanning productivity levels, we intend to explore how our region can unlock private sector investments, leverage new technologies, and reduce internal trade barriers.
Highlights of the day include:
- Fireside chat with HRM CAO Cathie O'Toole and Mayor Andy Fillmore
- Unlocking Private Sector Investment Panel
- AI Adoption Discussion
- Canadian Leadership in the Clean Growth Economy with Canadian Climate Institute's Sachi Gibson
Mayor Andy Fillmore
Mayor Andy Fillmore is a Canadian politician who has been the mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality since November 5, 2024. He previously served as a Liberal Party of Canada Member of Parliament for the riding of Halifax from 2015 until 2024.
HRM CAO Cathie O'Toole
Halifax Regional Council appointed Cathie O’Toole as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Halifax Regional Municipality on Jan. 1, 2023.
O’Toole brings more than three decades of leadership and public sector experience to the role – most recently as the General Manager of Halifax Water, a role she has held since 2019. From 2011-2019 she was the Director of Corporate Services/CFO for the municipally-owned water utility. Prior to joining Halifax Water, she worked with the Halifax Regional Municipality for 10 years in a variety of roles including Director of Finance/CFO and Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management.
Rhiannon Davies
Sandpiper Ventures
A native of New Brunswick, Rhiannon’s business leadership spans Europe, Asia, South and North America. She was on the Board of Directors that took GrandVision N.V., a CAD$ 5.5 Billion revenue retailer with businesses in 45 countries, through a successful IPO on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. Rhiannon has driven the target identification, due diligence, acquisition, integration and move to profitability of many companies. She thrives in fast moving, fast growth environments, and works in executive and board roles in private, public and non-profit organizations. Rhiannon believes in the need to support entrepreneurship and innovation to deliver meaningful change in business, community, and social development. She actively supports this belief by serving as a mentor and angel investor.
Jeff Larsen
Creative Destruction Lab
Eliminating barriers to internal trade and labour mobility is key to making it easier for Canadians to do business with each other from coast to coast to coast and unlocking Canada’s full economic potential. Learn how the Government of Canada is working with closely provinces and territories to expedite efforts to remove barriers to internal trade and labour mobility, to support faster and easier access to domestic markets and creating opportunities for Canadian businesses to grow.
With:
Jeannine Ritchot, Assistant Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Affairs, Privy Council Office, Government of Canada
Jay Barber, Senior Director, Internal Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Privy Council Office, Government of Canada
Hear from three speakers on AI adoption and the critical role it will play it productivity gains locally and beyond.
Jennifer LaPlante
Chief Growth & Investment Officer
Canada's Ocean Supercluster
Jennifer LaPlante is the Chief Growth & Investment Officer for Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, providing strategic growth and oversight of OSC’s investment portfolio. Jennifer’s career has been focused on data, analytics and technology. As the Executive Director of DeepSense, she drove economic growth through increased comprehension and adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning in Canada’s ocean sector. She holds an MBA and an MSc in Computing and Data Analytics. Jennifer is a member of the Public Awareness Working Group under the Government of Canada Advisory Council on AI and is a co-organizer of the Halifax Chapter of Women in Machine Learning and Data Science (WiMLDS).
Dr. Rita Orji
Professor, Faculty of Computer Science
Dalhousie University
The Conference Board of Canada
Ian Munro
Chief Economist
Halifax Partnership
As Chief Economist, Ian manages the Partnership’s research strategy to provide timely economic intelligence and analysis on the Halifax economy. He leads our team of economic researchers and policy analysts and draws from more than 25 years as a professional economist in both the public and private sectors.
What excites Ian most about Halifax is that the prevailing mood is now one of optimism.
Sachi Gibson
Research Director
Canadian Climate Institute
Sachi Gibson has a policy background in climate change mitigation, clean energy, and integrating greenhouse gas reduction, adaptation, and clean growth objectives. Prior to joining the Canadian Climate Institute, Sachi was the Manager of Climate Change Policy for the Government of Nova Scotia. She previously worked with the Pembina Institute and Ivey Foundation. She holds a Masters of Environmental Studies from Dalhousie University.
Thank you to our Partners
Advocate Partners
Luncheon Partner
Host Partners
Please contact Josh Creighton, Corporate Partnership Specialist to discuss
(902) 481-1229 or josh@halifaxchamber.com
Date and Time
Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM ADT
Tuesday, March 18
8:00AM - 4:00PM
Location
Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel
1919 Upper Water Street, Halifax, NS
Fees/Admission
Member - $199 / $1,990 for table
Future Member - $229 / $2,290 for table
25% Discount for Not-for-profit / Student Members available upon registration
**Please note: your registration gives the Halifax Chamber of Commerce permission to use the photographs taken during the event for any legal use.
Contact Information
Sandra Thomson, Event Manager
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