As Senior Vice-President, Office of the CEO, John advises the executive leadership on emerging trends in Canada's economy, providing insights grounded in his travels across the country and around the world. His work focuses on technological change and innovation, examining how to successfully navigate the new economy so more people can thrive in the age of disruption.

Prior to joining RBC, John spent nearly 25 years at the Globe and Mail, where he served as editor-in-chief, editor of Report on Business, and a foreign correspondent in New Delhi, India. Having interviewed a range of prominent world leaders and figures, including Vladimir Putin, Kofi Annan, and Benazir Bhutto, he possesses a deep understanding of national and international affairs.

In the community, John serves as a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs, C.D. Howe Institute and on the boards of Saint Elizabeth Health Care and the Aga Khan Foundation of Canada.

John is the author of three books: Out of Poverty, Timbit Nation, and Mass Disruption: Thirty Years on the Front Lines of a Media Revolution. He is currently working on his fourth, about Canada's global population in an age of nationalism.
 

Karen Hutt has served as Nova Scotia Power’s President and CEO since 2016. Since first joining the organization in 2001, she has focused on helping Nova Scotia Power successfully navigate the changing energy landscape, while placing customers at the heart of the organization. 


Karen’s dedication to applying innovative thinking has helped create growth and build stronger, more connected teams across the organization. In her 18 years with Emera, Karen has led a range of customer, strategy, growth and regulatory initiatives in markets as diverse as Canada, New England, New Mexico and Florida.

As an active supporter of her community, Karen is committed to helping Nova Scotia’s youth succeed. She is a champion of cooperative education at Nova Scotia Power, and of building and retaining the region’s young talent. She currently serves as Chair of the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, is a member of the Acadia University Board of Governors and is a past-chair of the Junior Achievement of Nova Scotia Board of Directors.

 

Sarah Young is an entrepreneur, a business leader, and one of Canada’s most sought after communications advisors. She is Managing Partner, responsible for Atlantic Canada, at NATIONAL Public Relations, Canada’s leading PR firm. Sarah now leads the corporate talent strategy across the global network for AVENIR GLOBAL, one of the world’s 20 largest communications companies.

 
Sarah helps private and public organizations across Canada tackle complex challenges ranging from industry disruptors, the modernized workplace, gaining social license, shifting consumer attitudes, scaling business into new markets, investment attraction, and elevating the focus on human capital.
 
With Sarah’s vision, NATIONAL has become a leading organization focused on cultivating leaders, supporting youth and newcomers, and instigating change. NATIONAL was recognized as the Best Connector Organization in 2018 by the Halifax Partnership, and the majority of the team are Connectors or mentor in another capacity.
 
In the community, Sarah has been a champion of youth through her work on the Nova Scotia Community College and Phoenix Board of Directors, the Mount Allison Board of Regents and the YMCA for Greater Halifax/Dartmouth Board of Honourary Trustees. Associate with the Creative Destruction Lab-Atlantic Develop NS
 
Sarah has been named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEO’s. She was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40™, for her vision, leadership, innovation, achievement and community involvement. She is an ambassador for the 30% Club, a global organization promoting high corporate performance through board diversity.
 

Don Bureaux has been president of Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) since 2011. Don’s commitment to adult education spans over two decades working with adult learners at colleges and universities as well as professional designation granting organizations across Canada and internationally. At NSCC, he works to bring the college’s vision – transforming Nova Scotia one learner at a time – to life.

Before becoming president of NSCC, Don served as vice-president, academic and vice president, people and planning at the college, and has served in many academic leadership roles throughout his career. His work has allowed him to collaborate with educational leaders across North America, Europe and Asia in creating entrepreneurial learning environments that are connecting to communities and industries.

Don holds a certificate in Adult Education and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Acadia University and an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland. Don is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified General Accountant and holds an international designation as a Certified Business Counsellor through the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). He’s been granted his Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA) designation by CPA Canada and his Fellow Certified General Accountant (FCGA) designation by CGA Canada.

Don has been recognized as one of the top 50 CEOs by Atlantic Business Magazine each of the last four years (2015-2018) and serves on the boards of many not-for-profit organizations in Nova Scotia.
 

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