Murphy launches new Canadian Advisory Council as he hails successful US/Canada visit

Economy Minister Conor Murphy is pictured with members of the new Canadian Advisory Council, (L-R) Jenny O'Donnell, Chief Human Resources Officer, Toronto Metropolitan University; John Laughlin, CTO, NGEN Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster; Stephen McCullough, Senior Vice President, Engineering and Product Development, Bombardier; Gary McDowell, EY Canada National Markets Leader, Decision Modelling, Ernst & Young; Rodney Hill, Chair, Canadian Advisory Council; John Galway, Co-Founder and Executive Director, The Toronto Irish Film Festival; John Speers, Managing Director, Institutional Relationship Management, Bank of Montreal Capital Markets; Moira Loughran, Head of NI Connections; and Ian Campbell, Chief Information Officer, CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organisation).

Economy Minister Conor Murphy has launched a new Canadian Advisory Council as he concluded a successful five-day visit to North America, where he led a delegation of Northern Ireland businesses to Chicago and Toronto.

The Canadian Advisory Council will work closely with Invest Northern Ireland and Northern Irish Connections, focusing on sectors such as Agri-Tech, Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering, and Fintech & financial services. The Council will support Northern Ireland’s trade and FDI strategy, helping local businesses expand their presence in the Canadian market.  They will also importantly seek to open a channel for Canadian companies interested in investing in Northern Ireland

Speaking at the close of the visit, Minister Murphy said: “My meetings this week in Chicago and Toronto have reinforced the importance of building relationships in the context of attracting FDI, but also supporting local business from across the north to grow, increase exports, and collaborate globally to drive innovation locally.

“With Canada being one of our top export markets, it is essential we strengthen our connections. The new Canadian Advisory Council will help drive our trade and investment efforts by tapping into the expertise of key leaders in Canada’s business community and diaspora, ensuring we continue to grow partnerships and seize new opportunities for success." 
 
The Minister concluded: “This has been a successful visit with new doors opened and key contacts made, which help strengthen our business, tourism, and cultural ties that link the north with the US and Canada.” 

The Advisory Council’s executives, many of whom are global leaders in their field of expertise, include Strabane born Rodney Hill who will Chair the Council. Rodney said: “As a Council, we are excited to help strengthen the ties between Northern Ireland and Canada. The new Council offers immense potential for collaboration, and I look forward to working with both Invest NI and NI Connections to unlock new opportunities for trade and investment that will benefit both regions."

The North American visit programme focused on strengthening economic ties, promoting Northern Ireland’s unique dual market access, and exploring new opportunities for trade, investment, and collaboration between Northern Ireland and North America.

Steve Harper, Executive Director of International Business at Invest NI, added:  “This visit has reaffirmed the strong potential for Northern Ireland in North America. The Canadian Advisory Council will help us to deepen our strategic engagement, identify opportunities, and ensure that Northern Ireland companies can grow and thrive in this market. We are confident this initiative will further enhance our success in trade and investment.”

During his visit, Minister Murphy also met with representatives from Tourism Ireland, the Northern Ireland diaspora, and key business leaders, underscoring his commitment to fostering lasting connections and promoting Northern Ireland as a premier business and tourism destination.