PAST EVENT
Trade Winds or Trade Storms? Navigating Canada’s export future
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Calgary, AB
In partnership with:
Canada West Foundation and Export Development Canada (EDC) hosted a timely conversation on how Canadian exporters can navigate global trade shifts. We’re grateful to EDC President and CEO Alison Nankivell for sharing her insights alongside CWF President and CEO Gary Mar.
They explored the challenges and opportunities facing Canadian exporters—from shifting U.S. relations to the urgent need for diversification and turning global uncertainty into a competitive edge.
Watch the recording
Key takeaways
- Canada’s moment: Amid global trade disruptions, Canada (and Western Canada in particular) is positioned to be a “global superpower” in high-demand sectors like agriculture, energy, energy transition and critical minerals.
- Diversification is happening: Although the U.S. remains Canada’s largest trading partner, exporters are actively looking elsewhere. According to EDC’s Trade Confidence Index, 71 per cent of surveyed exporters are seriously exploring new international markets for the first time.
- Adding value is crucial: Canada can increase prosperity by moving beyond the export of raw materials to focus on developing more finished, value-added products here at home.
- Our quiet successes: Canada has many “quiet successes” and world leaders in niche sectors, but we don’t celebrate them enough. This creates a “narrative problem” where our image abroad isn’t as clear or strong as it could be, despite our world-class capabilities.
- Support is available: EDC’s primary role is to help Canadian companies of all sizes succeed in international markets by providing a range of financial products including insurance, bonding, direct lending and project finance to de-risk opportunities abroad.
Speakers
Alison Nankivell
President and Chief Executive Officer
Export Development Canada
Alison began her appointment as EDC’s president and CEO in February 2025, returning to lead the organization where she spent 14 years on various teams early in her career.
Alison’s work life has spanned businesses and continents, from leading EDC’s Asian private equity investment strategy while based in Beijing, to holding several vice presidencies and a senior leadership role at BDC Capital in Ottawa and Toronto.
During her time in Asia, she gained an understanding of the challenges Canadian exporters can face when working to scale their business in markets overseas.
Throughout her career in finance, Alison has had the privilege of working with Canadian companies of all sizes and across all sectors. She knows the potential of these businesses is limitless, and that growing their presence in the international marketplace will help ensure prosperity in the Canadian and global economies.
Hon. Gary Mar
President and CEO
Canada West Foundation
Gary Mar is an accomplished and respected leader with deep experience in many of the issues shaping Western Canada’s prosperity.
He was a member of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly where he held several cabinet portfolios and was Alberta’s Official Representative at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C and in Asia.
Gary also has business experience in trade and investment and the oil and gas sector. In 2022, he was appointed a member and chair of the Council of the Alberta Order of Excellence and was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for public service.