A Bermudian businessman has become the head of a large Canadian chamber of commerce.

Thomas Nisbett became the chairman and chief elected officer of the New Brunswick Chamber of Commerce in May this year.

Mr. Nisbett is the elder son of Canon Thomas and Winifred Nisbett of Devonshire but has lived in the Greater Moncton Metropolitan Area of New Brunswick, Canada, since 1990 when he was appointed Senior Policy Advisor of the Atlantic Provinces Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Nisbett is also principal of Petrel Communications Associates in Canada, an organisational development, action research, management consulting, and import/export/marketing company.

The New Brunswick Chamber of Commerce is owned and operated by the 51 chambers of commerce and boards of trade in New Brunswick, and is seen as the primary "voice" for business in that Canadian province.

Known for its diverse blend of cultures which are primarily English and French, and its institutes of higher learning (including Mount Allison University), the Greater Moncton Metropolitan Area of Southeastern New Brunswick is widely touted as the fastest growing metropolitan economy in Canada.

The company he heads up, Petrel Communications Associates, has offices Atlantic Canada, Bermuda, Europe, the United States and the Caribbean.

From January 1991 to June 1994, Mr. Nisbett worked on contract, through Petrel Communications Associates, to the Atlantic Provinces Chamber of Commerce as director of operations/senior policy advisor/management consultant.

And for almost six years before that, he was manager of policy development of the Halifax Board of Trade.

As a Federally Registered Lobbyist, his Chamber of Commerce responsibilities included overseeing the day-to-day action research, public affairs, and policy development activities.

Born in Pembroke, Bermuda, Mr. Nisbett worked for a number of years in the Asset Management & Foreign Exchange Divisions of the Bank of Bermuda.

He also has a varied professional and management background, including, the press statement from the chamber says, "a military marksman", recruit instructor, foreign exchange and international currency administrator, insurance, mutual funds, and financial planning consultant.

His official biography states that he has started two successful promotions and communications consulting firms, and is a former general manager of a small low-power radio station.

"He also has the interesting distinction of having been a consultant and lecturer on the use of tax havens and international financial centres for international money management," the release said.

Mr. Nisbett has degrees in Economics and Business Administration from St. Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was voted the "Most Outstanding Santamarian of the Graduating Class" by fellow students at that same university. Additionally, he has a Diploma in Theology and Ministry from the Atlantic School of Theology, Halifax.