Media Release
Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. Welcomes Dayna Spiring as New President and CEO
March 7, 2016: Winnipeg, MB – Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (EDW) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dayna Spiring as the corporation’s new president and CEO. Spiring brings over a decade of progressive business and community leadership to the role and is a passionate advocate for Winnipeg.
Most recently an executive at the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), serving as its chief strategy officer and general counsel, Spiring was selected from an outstanding group of candidates to lead Winnipeg’s foremost economic development agency as it continues to promote Winnipeg to the world through the parent organization, its YES! Winnipeg initiative and its Tourism Winnipeg division.
“We were very fortunate to have attracted such strong interest in this position, and I’m completely confident Dayna is the right person to chart EDW’s future course,” said Mike Scatliff, principal of Scatliff + Miller + Murray and co-chair of EDW’s board of directors. “Dayna’s dynamic leadership style, warm and engaging personality, and extensive expertise spanning professional and volunteer realms coalesce in someone who is well-equipped to articulate and meet EDW’s challenges and opportunities in the years ahead.”
As the CWB’s chief strategy officer and general counsel, Spiring was charged with leading a group of senior-level employees, financial advisors and lawyers in preparing the federally controlled entity for privatization by establishing a Canada-wide network of assets, both through the acquisition of new companies and new constructs, intended to make it a compelling investment opportunity for potential investors from all over the world. The successful culmination of Spiring’s efforts occurred on July 31, 2015, when G3 Canada Ltd.—a joint venture between Bunge Canada and SALIC (Saudi Agricultural Livestock Investment Corporation)—purchased 50.1 per cent of the CWB for $250 million.
Spiring’s supplemental responsibilities during her 10-year tenure at the CWB combine to make her an exceptional choice as EDW’s next president and CEO. She was tasked with facilitating government and stakeholder relations during a period of intense public scrutiny and debate. As well, Spiring spearheaded all marketing and communications efforts at the CWB and served as its corporate secretary.
In addition to Spiring’s extensive professional experience, which includes five years as an associate at Aikins, MacAulay & Thorvaldson LLP in the early 2000s, where she practiced corporate commercial and securities law, Spiring is a passionate Winnipegger with a drive to volunteer that has directly honed her skill set in the complementary area of tourism development. Currently the vice-chair of the Winnipeg Football Club’s board of directors who chaired the 103rd Grey Cup Gala, she previously served as a director for Special Olympics Manitoba and led the team that brought the Gold Medal Plates competition to Winnipeg, a prestigious national event benefitting Canada’s Olympic athletes.
“You need only look at what Dayna has accomplished in her professional and personal pursuits to appreciate what she brings to the proverbial table,” said Don Boitson, vice-president and general manager of Magellan Winnipeg and co-chair of EDW’s board of directors. “Her stellar reputation amongst colleagues and peers, her keen strategic sensibility and her proven ability to build consensus around complex issues are attributes that will serve her well at EDW as she champions our city to business owners, investors, entrepreneurs, visitors and event organizers alike.”
With EDW, Spiring inherits a stronger-than-ever organization that has made great strides of late in communicating Winnipeg’s myriad advantages to diverse audiences within both the economic development and tourism portfolios. A recipient of multiple awards that celebrate its industry-leading initiatives across several fronts, the most recent being its instrumental role in the Intelligent Community Forum’s selection of Winnipeg as one of the world’s Top7 Intelligent Communities for 2016 (the second time in three years the city has been so honoured), EDW has evolved into a well-respected and powerful advocate both locally and internationally that is routinely touted as one of the top entities of its kind.
“Winnipeg is an unrivaled place to live, work, play and invest, and I couldn’t be more proud to assume the mantle of president and CEO of the city’s premier economic development agency,” said Spiring. “I look forward to building on the impressive momentum EDW has established to date, while bringing a fresh new perspective that I believe will encourage even greater successes in the future. I can’t wait to get started.”
Spiring’s first day on the job is March 14.
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About Economic Development Winnipeg Inc.
Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (EDW) is the lead economic development agency for Winnipeg. EDW facilitates investment promotion and attraction, capacity building, tourism development, marketing and communications, and the management of market information. By applying competitive intelligence and by fostering relationships with industry leaders, government officials and community stakeholders, potential opportunities and innovation drivers are evaluated to develop key industries and define future economic growth. EDW supports targeted sector, community and social development, and promotes Winnipeg’s diverse economy and high quality of life.
EDW leads global investment attraction, and local business retention and expansion, with its YES! Winnipeg initiative. YES! Winnipeg’s business development team assists in the creation and retention of jobs, identifies opportunities that attract new investment, focuses on expansion and helps local entrepreneurs launch new commercial ventures.
Tourism Winnipeg is the city’s official destination marketing organization tasked with increasing visitation and delivering the best possible visitor experience. A division of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc., Tourism Winnipeg’s mission is to facilitate a healthy, prosperous, responsible and fully integrated tourism industry that enhances Winnipeg’s economic growth through the acquisition of meetings, conventions, sports and events, group travel and leisure tourism.
www.economicdevelopmentwinnipeg.com
For more information, please contact:
Croft Petersmeyer
Director, Marketing & Communications
Economic Development Winnipeg Inc.
Phone: 204.954.1961 Cell: 204.898.4866
Email: croft@economicdevelopmentwinnipeg.com
