SPEAKERS

Pedro Antunes is the Chief Economist at Signal49 Research (formerly The Conference Board of Canada) where he provides insights and general direction for economic products, which include reports and economic indicators about Canada, its regions, and sectors. He provides professional testimony before parliamentary and senate committees along with media appearances in both English and French. Pedro is widely sought to speak to industry leaders and decision-makers on a wide range of issues and topics impacting Canadians.

Pedro started his professional career in 1987 with the Canadian forecast team at the Bank of Canada, joining Signal49 in 1992 as part of the provincial forecast team. Over time, he had responsibility for the economic analysis of different provinces and sectors. He also worked on several international projects to help decision-makers in Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, and Ukraine develop appropriate forecasting and policy analysis tools. Among other topics, Pedro has researched the impact of Canada’s demographic change on labour markets, the fiscal sustainability of health care, productivity, and long-term economic growth.

Pedro’s recent work has taken him on a deep dive into Canada’s productivity problem, shedding light on the fact that Canada’s productivity “emergency” is concentrated in a few key industries. His other research has helped separate fact from fiction on immigration and inequality. Pedro recently contributed to a major financed research project that quantifies the most probable path for Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions under the federal government’s Emissions Reduction Plan.

Pedro guides our forecast team in producing the highest quality and most trusted forecasts. From model development to making critical calls about downturns, he has been instrumental in building Signal49’s reputation as the go-to organization for understanding how change impacts our economy across provinces and territories.

Mr. Antunes is fluent in both official languages. He is married with one son and enjoys hikes with his dog and playing soccer. He holds an M.A. (Economics) from Queen's University and a B.A. from Bishop’s University.

Infinitely curious, passionate, and eternally optimistic, David Coletto is the founder, chair, and CEO of Abacus Data and one of Canada’s best known and most respected public opinion analysts, pollsters, and social researchers. Recently named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Canadian politics by The Hill Times, Coletto is the official pollster of the Toronto Star, co-host of the podcast Hub Politics, and curator of the popular Substack “inFocus with David Coletto”. In his timely, data-driven presentations, he delivers strategic advice customized to his audiences and the industries they serve, from generational shifts and political trends to consumer behaviour and workplace dynamics.

Since launching in 2010, Coletto has grown Abacus Data into one of Canada’s most respected, full-service market research and strategy firms. He has worked with many of the world’s leading brands, associations, corporations, and non-profits, including Google, Airbnb, TD Bank, Interac, Canadian Medical Association, Government of Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada, WorkSafe BC, Imperial Oil, BMW, and the LCBO, among others. He is also frequently called upon by local, national, and international news organizations to assess public opinion and has advised political leaders at all levels of government.

Having devoted his life to exploring what people think and feel about their work, lives, and politics, Coletto is an in-demand keynote speaker. He has spoken to thousands of people in audiences ranging from massive national conferences to intimate briefings in boardrooms across North America and Europe. Coletto believes that by understanding what motivates and informs people’s worldview, we can create a more understanding, empathetic, and action-driven world.

Coletto earned a PhD in political science from the University of Calgary. He is currently a professor in the Graduate Program of Political Management at Carleton University, where he teaches courses in polling, political marketing, and designing public affairs strategies.

Insightful, provocative commentary on political and economic issues is what Andrew Coyne delivers to Canadians across the country. With topical and timely presentations, the former national editor of Maclean’s magazine and currently a columnist with the Globe and Mail, Coyne is sure to ignite debate and discussion with every audience.

In addition to writing for Maclean’s and the Globe and Mail, Coyne was previously an editorial writer and columnist for the Financial Post and a nationally syndicated columnist with Postmedia and the Southam newspaper chain. He also writes regularly for a number of foreign publications, is a frequent commentator on radio and television — most famously, as a panelist on CBC’s The National in the popular “At Issue” segment — and the author of the forthcoming book, The Crisis of Canadian Democracy.

Coyne is the winner of two National Newspaper Awards and a four-time finalist in the National Magazine Awards. A past recipient of the Hyman Solomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy Journalism, he is also a Fellow of the School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto. Coyne received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History from the University of Toronto, and a Master’s in Economics from the London School of Economics. He is a Senior Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.

Gitane De Silva is a recognized public policy leader with executive experience at provincial, national, and international levels. Over the course of her 25-year career, she worked extensively on Canada–US relations, energy and environment issues, intergovernmental relations, and complex negotiations. As a sought-after keynote speaker and strategist, De Silva draws on her wealth of experience to deliver actionable insights and strategic clarity on leadership, geopolitics, and the energy sector, grounded in real-world expertise.

From 2020-2023, De Silva was the CEO of Canada Energy Regulator, where she ensured the safe and efficient delivery of energy to Canada and the world, while also protecting the environment, advancing Reconciliation, and providing relevant and timely energy information and analysis. Prior to this, she was Alberta’s Deputy Minister for International and Intergovernmental Relations. De Silva directly served four Premiers and advocated for Alberta’s interests domestically and internationally.

A seasoned diplomat specializing in Canada–US relations, De Silva was Alberta’s Senior Representative in Washington, DC under the first Trump Administration and Canada’s Consul General in Chicago, among other roles. She promoted trade, investment, and energy infrastructure, and was also involved in the negotiations of several trade and environmental agreements, including the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the Canada Free Trade Agreement, and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

Today, De Silva is the Founder and Principal of GDStrategic, the inaugural Executive Director of the Peter Lougheed School of Politics and Democracy, a Special Advisor at Blue Rock Law, a Board Member with the Public Policy Forum, and a member the Advisory Council for the New North America Initiative at the University of Calgary. She holds a BA in International Relations from the University of British Columbia and her ICD.D designation.

J.P. oversees FCC's nationwide agricultural produce lending portfolio and customer experience, ensuring farm operations have access to capital solutions and tailored support through all economic cycles. J.P. joined FCC in 2010 as Chief Economist and previously led the deployment of FCC's strategy to strengthen investment, innovation and sustainability while driving higher productivity and competitiveness for the Canadian agriculture and food industry.

Prior to joining FCC, J.P. was a professor of agricultural economics at North Carolina State University and Laval University. J.P. is a Fellow of the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society. He obtained his PhD in economics from Iowa State University in 1999.

Bob Larocque has led the Canadian Fuels Association (CFA) as President and CEO since September 2020. Under his leadership, CFA serves as Canada’s leading voice on transportation energy, advocating for policies that enhance environmental performance, protect industry competitiveness, and strengthen the country’s critical energy infrastructure.

Bob is committed to fostering open dialogue between industry, government, stakeholders, and the public. He believes CFA plays a vital role in providing data-driven insights and analysis to support informed policy decisions—ensuring Canada’s transportation fuel sector continues to deliver reliable, safe, and responsible transportation energy to Canadians.

Before joining CFA, Bob was Senior Vice President at the Forest Products Association of Canada, where he led initiatives on climate policy, innovation, Indigenous engagement, and environmental regulations.

Nadia Theodore is a senior Canadian executive and diplomat with extensive experience in international trade, economic policy and North American relations. Prior to her appointment as Deputy Ambassador in Washington, she was Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and other economic international organizations in Geneva. In addition to her public service experience, Ms. Theodore was Senior Vice President at Maple Leaf Foods, where she brought private-sector leadership expertise in corporate strategy and global diversification.