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Featuring Keynote Speaker: Pattie Lovett-Reid

Our Speakers - Halifax:

David Chaundy - Opening Remarks From Our CEO

David Chaundy is President and CEO of the Atlantic Economic Council, a role he was appointed to in November 2018. David joined the Council as an economist in 1999, taking on increasingly senior roles, including research projects, member-only publications on Atlantic Canada’s economy, and our annual business Outlook conference.

David 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. He is passionate about the Atlantic Economic Council’s vital role as the source for independent research, insights and ideas to advance these outcomes.

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. He holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Cambridge and a M.Sc. in economics from the University of York, England.

Fred Bergman - Presenter, 2026 Economic Outlook 

Fred is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Atlantic Economic Council. He has been the Council's lead on economic impact analysis and Indigenous economic research since 2009. Fred is responsible for monitoring the New Brunswick economy.

He sits on the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce Policy Advisory Committee for Nova Scotia. Prior to joining the Atlantic Economic Council, he was the Director of the Economics and Statistics Division at the Nova Scotia Department of Finance.

Fred is a Chartered Professional Accountant. He has a Master of Business Administration from Dalhousie University, a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Guelph, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Saint Francis Xavier University.

Jane Taber - Moderator, 2026 Economic Outlook          

Jane Taber is a former Globe and Mail political journalist who spent more than 25 years covering Parliament Hill and Queen’s Park. During her tenure on Parliament Hill with the Globe, Jane was also co-host of CTV’s Question Period – and she has spent more hours than she can count on campaign buses and planes following the leaders during federal election campaigns. She’s interviewed the country’s main political players, covered leadership contests, trade deals, international summits and the important issues of the day.

She also worked as communications director to the former Premier of Nova Scotia, Iain Rankin. Jane specializes in media training, having coached CEOs of major Canadian associations and companies, the heads of national law firms and senior cabinet ministers and MPs.

In addition to media training and coaching, Jane is also focused on media relations and speech writing, crisis communications and post-secondary labour issues. Jane is a graduate of Carleton University’s journalism program and was appointed to the Carleton University Board of Governors in June 2019 and re-appointed to another three-year term in 2022. Jane also served as a mentor to the Public Policy Forum’s Action Canada leadership fellows.

Pattie Lovett-Reid - Keynote Speaker   

Pattie Lovett-Reid is one of Canada’s most trusted financial voices, known for breaking down complex money matters into practical, relatable advice. With a career that began as a bank teller and rose to Senior Vice President at TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., she brings decades of hands-on experience to the world of finance.

She served as Chief Financial Commentator for CTV News, where she helped Canadians make sense of their money with relatable, expert advice. Today, she continues that work as Chief Financial Commentator at HomeEquity Bank.

Pattie is on the Board of Governors for Trent University and is also an ambassador for Women’s Brain Health, a cause close to her heart. She shares timely financial insights on her YouTube series Take Charge Now and offers weekly advice on CTV’s Your Morning.

A Certified Financial Planner and bestselling co-author, Pattie has been recognized with several prestigious honours, including the Donald J. Johnston Award and the Financial Planning Canada Fellow of Distinction, celebrating her lasting impact on financial literacy across the country.