Brian is the Executive Director for the Nunavut Fisheries Association, representing Nunavut’s Inuit-owned commercial fishing industry. He sits on the Board of Oceans Advance, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, and the Arctic Economic Council. Brian joined NFA in 2016 from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and previously managed his own consulting company for 15 years. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and an MBA from Memorial University.

Leann has lived abroad and on two of Canada’s three coasts. She has a great deal of experience organizing and running conferences particularly in the marine and ocean space. Leann believes in a collaborative approach in order to create a sustainable and energized environment in which companies can prosper and people can grow. Leann is currently managing a project to attract and recruit underrepresented groups into the marine sector.

Catherine is the Executive Director of Oceans Advance, an Ocean Technology Cluster organization, where she has been working since 2003. She has extensive experience in building strong relationships with various organizations and has a proven track record in project management, partnership development, and leadership. Cathy currently holds multiple positions, including Chair of the Ocean Technology Alliance of Canada and Co-Chair of the Pan Atlantic ACOA Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy oceans sector team. She is also active in the Blue Tech Cluster Alliance.

As the Strategic and Economic Development Officer for the City of St. John's, Heather's role involves collaborating with internal and external partners to strategize and execute economic development projects and programs. The focus is on attracting, planning, and delivering conferences that showcase key business development experiences to drive the local economy. Success is achieved by working effectively as part of a team to ensure events are executed with precision and excellence.

Audra is a Senior Administrator with over 25 years of hands-on-experience in all areas of office services. building security, maintenance, supervising staff and managing chaos. Audra has been recognized for having a zest for life, being self-motivated and a conceptual thinker. When not working she spends time with her husband and daughters. 

Kelley is the Director of The Launch, the Fisheries and Marine Institute’s cold ocean innovation hub based in Holyrood, NL. For over 13 years, her work has focused on the management and administration of multidisciplinary research initiatives that connect the talents and abilities of academic and student researchers with the innovation and ingenuity of the public and private sector. Her work with the Marine Institute supports initiatives that leverage the talents and capabilities of Canada’s oceans communities and the adoption of technology in the ocean sector.

Kelly (she/her) is a fourth-year university student studying towards a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a minor in Business Administration. She is currently a Communications and Marketing Intern at OceansAdvance and previously participated in the Ocean Bridge program with OceanWise, completing over 500 hours of volunteer work in ocean conservation and community work throughout the Canadian Atlantic provinces. Kelly-Anne also volunteers as the President for the Communications Society at Memorial University.

Cathy is an Account Manager with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency – ACOA, primarily supporting companies in the Ocean Technology Sector. Her extensive experience helping companies grow and her dedication to helping them expand into international markets has made her one of the most respected and valued project support people in the oceans sector.