AN OCEAN OF OPPORTUNITY
PRESENTED BY: 
Nova Scotia has become a world-class hub of innovation for research and technology in the oceans sector. There are currently more than 300 diverse companies involved in this industry providing goods and services in fisheries, tourism, shipbuilding, life sciences, renewable energy and marine science and research, to name a few. Including spin-offs, ocean related industries generate approximately 12.2% of Nova Scotia’s overall GDP.
This has created an ocean of opportunity for start-ups and businesses looking to get involved. The Halifax Chamber of Commerce and our Presenting Partner, Dalhousie University Rowe School of Business, invites you to join us for a discussion with the leaders at the forefront of the ocean industry in Nova Scotia to take a deep dive into the potential of the blue economy.
During the panel discussion, we’ll hear about the work they’re doing at their respective institutions and the opportunities available to the business community. In the last half hour, we’ll finish off with a live Q&A where members can ask their questions directly to the experts.
Register today and submit your question!
“We want Atlantic Canada to seize every opportunity it can in the post-pandemic world. We know that the greatest potential for job creation and revenue lies in the sustainable blue economy. When we invest in sectors like ocean tech and science, we are positioning our coastal communities to build back even better in the long term.”
- The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margarets
DO YOU WANT TO GET YOUR BRAND IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY?
We have Corporate Partnership Opportunities available for this event!
Please contact Chris Mann, Corporate Partnership Specialist for more information
chris@halifaxchamber.com or (902) 481-1236
We have Corporate Partnership Opportunities available for this event!
Please contact Chris Mann, Corporate Partnership Specialist for more information
chris@halifaxchamber.com or (902) 481-1236
MEET THE SPEAKERS:
Jennifer LaPlanteExecutive Director, DeepSense
Jennifer LaPlante is the Executive Director of DeepSense, an organization focused on driving economic growth through increased comprehension and adoption of artificial intelligence in the Canadian ocean sector.
She holds an MBA and is an MSc in Computing and Data Analytics candidate. Jennifer is an active member of her community sitting on the Board of Directors of the Halifax Harbour Bridges Commission, Victoria Hall Society, and the Arthritis Society.
She is a past member of the Nominating Committee for the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA). With an emphasis on AI, she is a member of the Government of Canada’s AI Public Awareness Working Group and is co-organizer of the Halifax Chapter of Women in Machine Learning and Data Science (WiMLDS), a global organization that aims to support and promote women and gender minorities interested in the fields of machine learning and data science. Jennifer was named one of DataIQ 2021 Top 100 Influential people in AI.
She holds an MBA and is an MSc in Computing and Data Analytics candidate. Jennifer is an active member of her community sitting on the Board of Directors of the Halifax Harbour Bridges Commission, Victoria Hall Society, and the Arthritis Society.
She is a past member of the Nominating Committee for the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA). With an emphasis on AI, she is a member of the Government of Canada’s AI Public Awareness Working Group and is co-organizer of the Halifax Chapter of Women in Machine Learning and Data Science (WiMLDS), a global organization that aims to support and promote women and gender minorities interested in the fields of machine learning and data science. Jennifer was named one of DataIQ 2021 Top 100 Influential people in AI.
Catherine BlewettChief Strategic Engagement Officier, Ocean Frontier Institute
Catherine Blewett comes to the OFI after a long and distinguished career in provincial and federal public service, most recently as Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Cabinet. Since March 2019 she has been Canada’s representative for the international High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, a unique group of world leaders committed to developing, catalyzing, and supporting solutions for ocean health and wealth in policy, governance, technology, and finance.
Previous to her current position, she served as Canada’s Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans where she led on oceans for the G7 and achieved the country’s Mandate on Ocean Protection targets of 5 per cent by 2017. She also led the development and implementation of key fisheries legislation between June 2016 and December 2018.
From 1990 until her departure to Ottawa in 2016, she has held many increasingly senior positions in the Nova Scotia provincial government, most recently as Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet, Government of Nova Scotia. Her previous portfolios included the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Citizenship and Immigration, Office of Aboriginal Affairs, and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Previous to her current position, she served as Canada’s Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans where she led on oceans for the G7 and achieved the country’s Mandate on Ocean Protection targets of 5 per cent by 2017. She also led the development and implementation of key fisheries legislation between June 2016 and December 2018.
From 1990 until her departure to Ottawa in 2016, she has held many increasingly senior positions in the Nova Scotia provincial government, most recently as Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet, Government of Nova Scotia. Her previous portfolios included the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Citizenship and Immigration, Office of Aboriginal Affairs, and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Melanie NadeauCEO, Centre for Ocean Ventures & Entrepreneurship (COVE)
Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Ocean Ventures & Entrepreneurship (COVE), Melanie aligns people, companies, and opportunities to foster innovation and drive ocean technology to market.
Before joining COVE, Melanie was the Director of Strategic Initiatives for an energy and services company with $30B in assets. She was a trusted advisor, analyzing global markets and identifying business strategies to position companies for growth. Prior to this, she held positions of increasing responsibility overseeing 40+ employees and $500M+ budgets.
Having served in the Royal Canadian Navy, Melanie is well-versed in strategic planning, operations, and stakeholder relations. Her Board appointments have included international marine businesses, national industry associations and a professional regulatory board. Melanie has been involved in Canada’s innovation community for over 15 years and is an expert in the commercialization of emerging technologies developing plans that turn new technology into mature-revenue generating engines.
An internationally recognized thought leader, she offers a global perspective and has been a notable expert for the International Energy Agency, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. She was hand-selected by the delegates of 30+ countries from the IEC to Chair global industry standards for marine technologies and co-led the development of international certification for renewable energy technologies and projects.
She has earned multiple awards including Canada’s Clean16 Award for her outstanding contribution towards clean capitalism and has been named Atlantic Canada’s 25 most powerful women by the Atlantic Business Magazine. She has been an invited speaker to numerous events, including TEDGlobal.
Melanie is committed to the global community; she has been chairing the UNICEF Canada’s Water for Life Gala for five years running and is a business mentor with Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia. She is an accredited professional engineer graduating from the University of Waterloo, Canada and has an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Before joining COVE, Melanie was the Director of Strategic Initiatives for an energy and services company with $30B in assets. She was a trusted advisor, analyzing global markets and identifying business strategies to position companies for growth. Prior to this, she held positions of increasing responsibility overseeing 40+ employees and $500M+ budgets.
Having served in the Royal Canadian Navy, Melanie is well-versed in strategic planning, operations, and stakeholder relations. Her Board appointments have included international marine businesses, national industry associations and a professional regulatory board. Melanie has been involved in Canada’s innovation community for over 15 years and is an expert in the commercialization of emerging technologies developing plans that turn new technology into mature-revenue generating engines.
An internationally recognized thought leader, she offers a global perspective and has been a notable expert for the International Energy Agency, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. She was hand-selected by the delegates of 30+ countries from the IEC to Chair global industry standards for marine technologies and co-led the development of international certification for renewable energy technologies and projects.
She has earned multiple awards including Canada’s Clean16 Award for her outstanding contribution towards clean capitalism and has been named Atlantic Canada’s 25 most powerful women by the Atlantic Business Magazine. She has been an invited speaker to numerous events, including TEDGlobal.
Melanie is committed to the global community; she has been chairing the UNICEF Canada’s Water for Life Gala for five years running and is a business mentor with Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia. She is an accredited professional engineer graduating from the University of Waterloo, Canada and has an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
MODERATED BY:
Jeff LarsenAssistant Vice-President, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University. Site Lead, Creative Destruction Lab – Atlantic
Jeff has entrepreneurial and management experience with new businesses in the energy sector, including as a co-founder of Seaforth Energy, Watts Wind and Katalyst Wind. He has been on the Board of Directors of private and TSX-listed public companies, and remains active in his community through volunteer efforts. Jeff has practiced law at McInnes Cooper in Halifax, and in Toronto with Fasken Martineau and CIBC. He has also held senior positions in the investment sector as Vice-President and General Counsel of Halifax-based Clarke Inc. and as Executive Director of Business Management and Chief Compliance Officer with CIBC Asset Management Inc. in Toronto.
Jeff has served in Executive Director roles at the Province of Nova Scotia, most recently in the Office of Planning and Priorities, and before that in the Investment and Trade division of Economic Development. His work at the Province also included acting as the CEO of both ReNova Scotia Bioenergy Inc. and the Strategic Opportunities Fund Inc., and as a director of DSME Trenton Inc. His work at the Province has focused on innovation, startups, entrepreneurship, education, foreign direct investment, trade, as well as knowledge- and technology-based industries. Jeff co-authored several reports on innovation and economic growth with Dr. Peter Nicholson, including Field Guide to Nova Scotia’s Innovation Ecosystem and An Action Agenda for Atlantic Growth: Recommendations of the Atlantic Growth Advisory Group. Jeff is currently Executive Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Dalhousie University and Site Lead for the Creative Destruction Lab – Atlantic.
Jeff holds a Bachelor of Arts from McMaster University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto, a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University and an MBA from Imperial College, University of London. Jeff has taught Commercial Law Faculty at Saint Mary’s University and was previously the Assistant Director and Guest Lecturer in the Osgoode Hall Law School Master of Laws (Securities Law Program). He was also a guest lecturer at the University of Malawi Law School in October, 2007. Jeff is the co-editor of the book Corporate Governance and Securities Regulation in the 21st Century (with Poonam Puri).
Jeff has served in Executive Director roles at the Province of Nova Scotia, most recently in the Office of Planning and Priorities, and before that in the Investment and Trade division of Economic Development. His work at the Province also included acting as the CEO of both ReNova Scotia Bioenergy Inc. and the Strategic Opportunities Fund Inc., and as a director of DSME Trenton Inc. His work at the Province has focused on innovation, startups, entrepreneurship, education, foreign direct investment, trade, as well as knowledge- and technology-based industries. Jeff co-authored several reports on innovation and economic growth with Dr. Peter Nicholson, including Field Guide to Nova Scotia’s Innovation Ecosystem and An Action Agenda for Atlantic Growth: Recommendations of the Atlantic Growth Advisory Group. Jeff is currently Executive Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Dalhousie University and Site Lead for the Creative Destruction Lab – Atlantic.
Jeff holds a Bachelor of Arts from McMaster University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto, a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University and an MBA from Imperial College, University of London. Jeff has taught Commercial Law Faculty at Saint Mary’s University and was previously the Assistant Director and Guest Lecturer in the Osgoode Hall Law School Master of Laws (Securities Law Program). He was also a guest lecturer at the University of Malawi Law School in October, 2007. Jeff is the co-editor of the book Corporate Governance and Securities Regulation in the 21st Century (with Poonam Puri).
AN OCEAN OF OPPORTUNITY
Event Sponsors
Date and Time
Wednesday Sep 15, 2021
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM ADT
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2021
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Location
*THE LINK TO JOIN THE ZOOM WEBINAR IS IN YOUR CONFIRMATION EMAIL*
Fees/Admission
FREE FOR MEMBERS AND FUTURE MEMBERS
Contact Information
Sandra Thomson, Event Coordinator
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