Canadian Consul General Phyllis Yaffe and fintech entrepreneur Lucia Gallardo will be keynote guest speakers at a one-day, multi-industry forum in Toronto next month showcasing Bermuda’s business links and mutually beneficial relationship with Canada.

Ms Yaffe, Canada’s Consul General for Bermuda based in New York, will take part in a kickoff “conversation” with David Burt, the Premier, at the Bermuda Executive Forum, on June 19 at The Ritz-Carlton Toronto.

This is the sixth overseas forum, and the first in Canada, produced by the Bermuda Business Development Agency.

“We are delighted to welcome Consul General Yaffe to help us launch our inaugural Canadian forum, which will highlight our longstanding relationship with Canada, as well as current opportunities that continue to connect both our nations in both traditional and emerging industries,” said Andy Burrows. the BDA’s CEO.

“We look forward to meeting new colleagues in the Canadian market and building on Bermuda’s already strong strategic relationships.”

Keynote lunch speaker at the Toronto forum is Lucia Gallardo, founder and CEO of Emerge, a blockchain-based start-up that builds emerging-technology solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems, including refugee resettlement, disaster relief, and food transparency.

Ms Gallardo’s presentation, “Future-Proofing Innovation,” describes how many new economy companies like hers are bringing together both profit and positive social impact in viable, sustainable, equitable models.

Mr Burt will be joined by finance minister Curtis Dickinson and leading industry and regulatory executives taking part in panel discussions on global industry trends and opportunities for Bermuda-based businesses. Sessions include participants from more than 30 entities.

“Bermuda is an exceptional jurisdiction from which to successfully expand Canadian business internationally,” said panellist Duncan Card, a senior partner at Bennett Jones LLP in Toronto, who managed that Canadian law firm’s Bermuda office from 2014 to 2018.

“With very close proximity to the East Coast of North America, a highly beneficial tax agreement with Canada, and an extremely well-educated population, Bermuda has been the leading choice for many well-known Canadian businesses to locate the management of their global expansion.”