Brent was appointed Vice President of Finance at Emera Energy in July 2017. He is responsible for accounting and financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, internal controls, and risk management.
He joined Emera in 2006 and has held a number of senior financial roles in Emera and Emera Energy, most recently Emera Corporate Controller and Controller of Emera Energy. He has significant experience in corporate finance, external financial reporting, business development, domestic and international taxation, internal controls, and accounting policy.
Brent is a Chartered Professional Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Manitoba.

Leslie has worked for over 30 years in a variety of areas and roles in healthcare, both within Canada and abroad. Among her many roles, Leslie practiced in the area of hematology/oncology/bone marrow transplant, was a health care services and project manager, an adjunct professor in Dalhousie University's School of Nursing, a faculty member with the Inter-professional Psychosocial Oncology Distance Education (IPODE), a lecturer at Ryerson University and is currently a health care consultant. Leslie has a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Allison University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from McMaster University and her Masters of Science in Nursing (Ethics) from Dalhousie University.
Leslie is a passionate volunteer and involved in relief projects in Africa, Central America, and India, in addition to local contributions in Ontario and Atlantic Canada with emphasis on health and social justice issues. She has been recognized with a number of professional awards in recognition of her contributions with the most recent being Women’s Wall of Honour, Mount Saint Vincent University (2015).

Chika grew up in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia and her family is originally from Nigeria. She holds an accounting degree from Acadia University and earned her law degree at the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University.
Chika is lawyer in the Halifax office of Cox & Palmer and was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 2018. Her practice areas include corporate commercial, corporate finance, securities, commercial real property and wills and estates.
Chika sits on several boards and is very involved in the community. She is a strong believer of giving back to the community and mentoring the youth.

Tia Upshaw is an accomplished leader and changemaker, widely recognized for her impact as a mother, author, serial entrepreneur, and mentor. Her commitment to empowering women and advancing business excellence has earned her numerous prestigious accolades, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal, recognition as one of Atlantic Canada’s Most Powerful Women in Business, Business Leader of the Year, and multiple RBC Women of Influence nominations, along with honors such as Top 100 Black Women in Canada, the Dave Richardson Champion Award, the NSCC Alumni Award for Entrepreneurship, and the Nova Scotia Human Rights Award (Dr. Burnley “Rocky” Jones Award). In 2023, she was appointed Professional in Residence at Saint Mary’s University’s L. Arthur Entrepreneurship Centre, where she mentors aspiring business leaders, and she is a highly sought-after speaker, content creator, and thought leader known for bringing a powerful Afrocentric lens to her work. Tia also hosts Tuesdays with Tia, a bi-weekly segment on CTV Morning Live Atlantic, spotlighting diverse entrepreneurs and organizations across Nova Scotia while amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering inclusive economic growth. Mentorship is central to her mission, reflected in her role as a dedicated mentor with the Rise and Scotiabank Women’s Mentorship Initiative, and in 2020 she founded Blk Women in Excellence (BWIE), a groundbreaking national organization advancing the education, empowerment, and success of Black women entrepreneurs across Canada through access to resources, funding, and business training.

Nicola Ray Smith is the Senior Vice President, Atlantic Region for Scotiabank. She assumed the position in June 2022 and provides senior leadership to our Scotiabank network across Atlantic Canada.

Nicola joined Scotiabank in 2002 from the consulting industry. She began her career on the trade floor, providing derivative financing solutions to institutional investors. Over the years she assumed increasingly senior leadership roles in sales, operations, and business control functions across our Global Banking & Markets division. In 2021, Nicola joined the Canadian Banking Team as Vice President, Commercial Banking, Atlantic Region.

Nicola currently serves on the boards of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, IWK Foundation, Halifax Partnership and Hope Blooms and is the Chair of the Canadian Bankers Association, Atlantic Committee. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Queen’s University.
Nicola has lived and worked across Canada and in major financial centres around the world. She now lives in Halifax with her husband and their two children.

Dr. Keisha Jefferies is an Ancestral Black Nova Scotian nurse scientist, an Assistant Professor, and a University Research Chair in the School of Nursing at Dalhousie University. She is the director of her emerging program of research, M-BRACe (Multidisciplinary Black Research and Advocacy Centre), which is a research hub dedicated to advancing Black population health as well as supporting the future generation of critical health leaders. M-BRACe builds on Dr. Jefferies’ doctoral research examining the leadership experiences of Ancestral Black Nova Scotian nurses in healthcare, which was funded by several prestigious provincial and federal awards.

Dr. Jefferies uses Black Feminist Theory to critically inform and guide her research and advocacy. Much of her advocacy includes equity and inclusivity in post-secondary institutions and the nursing profession. Notably, in 2017, Dr. Jefferies co-founded the peer-mentorship group, the Community of Black Students in Nursing at Dalhousie University.

Kelly Gallant is the Associate Vice President of Communications, Marketing and Student Recruitment for Mount Saint Vincent University, where she is responsible for the overall delivery and implementation of strategic marketing, advertising, media and communications plans that advance the University’s strategic plan and leading the student recruitment function in support of the university’s enrolment management plans.

Kelly, a Mount Bachelor of Public Relations grad, joined the University in 2009. She came to the Mount from Bell Aliant, one of North America’s leading telecommunications providers, where she held the role of Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. In addition to her studies at the Mount, she completed her Certificate in Marketing at Saint Mary’s University and a BSc from Dalhousie. She is passionate about building capacity, within teams, organizations and the broader community, and is a trusted coach, mentor and confidante.

Tolulope is a driven and ambitious student currently pursuing a degree in Pre-Law and Economics at Dalhousie University. With a strong interest in entertainment and sports law, as well as real estate, she is passionate about understanding how legal and economic systems shape opportunity, ownership, and equity. A proud Hope Blooms Youth Alumni, Tolulope has demonstrated leadership, discipline, and a commitment to personal growth from an early age. She is a high school graduate and continues to build a strong academic foundation while actively exploring career pathways that blend law, business, and community impact. Tolulope represents the next generation of leaders committed to excellence, advocacy, and creating meaningful change.