Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Directors and Officers
Goldy Hyder
Canadian Co-Chair, Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum
Goldy Hyder is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of Canada (BCC), a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose membership is comprised of more than 170 chief executives and entrepreneurs of Canada’s leading and largest companies.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of Open Text Corporation and has a long track record of service on behalf of several charities and non-profit organizations, including the Coalition for a Better Future and the Business + Higher Education Roundtable.
A regular commentator in Canadian media on business, politics and leadership, he hosts the “Speaking of Business” podcast, which features interviews with Canadian innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders. He holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Calgary.
Bran Black
Australian Co-Chair, Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum
The Business Council of Australia is the nation’s premier business organisation, advocating for a stronger and fairer society through a more prosperous Australia. Bran Black was appointed Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia in September 2023.
Beginning his career as a corporate lawyer, Bran served as chief of staff in four NSW ministerial portfolios, including as chief of staff to the Premier and Treasurer. In these capacities, Bran played a significant role supporting business through the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-pandemic recovery.
Prior to this, Bran was Chief of Strategic Initiatives at the University of NSW and led a landmark partnership between the University of Newcastle, the University of NSW and the University of Wollongong as Chief Executive Officer of the NUW Alliance.
Bran has also served as General Manager for a major community housing provider and continues to volunteer regularly as a patrol captain for his local surf life-saving club.
Bran has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Sydney.
Mark Romoff
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum
President, MRInsights Inc. and former President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships
Mark Romoff is a senior international business strategist with proven success in developing and leading economic, political and stakeholder relations, earning multiple recognitions for his contributions to Canada’s economic prosperity, enhanced productivity and global competitiveness. Currently President of MRInsights Inc., he provides advice to government and industry on infrastructure sector-related business development strategies and public policy issues. He is the former President and CEO of The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships and before that Founding President and CEO of the Ontario Centres of Excellence.
As a senior diplomat in Global Affairs Canada, he served in Nigeria, Mexico, Malaysia, Japan and the United States. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Infrastructure Ontario; First Nations Major Projects Coalition Advisory Centre; Buffalo Toronto Public Media Board of Trustees; Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum; i-CANADA Governors Council; Chair of the Central Canadian Public Television Association; former Vice[1]Chair of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Working Party on Public-Private Partnerships; Counsel at Gowling WLG; and a Senior Fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute. He also served as Chair of the Canadian Smart Cities Challenge Jury.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Science from McGill University, a Masters in Applied Science from the University of Waterloo, and is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives Program and the ICD Directors Education Program and holds the Certified Director designation. He is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Norman M. Steinberg
Vice-Chair, BFL Canada
Norman M. Steinberg is Vice-Chair of BFL Canada, where he also sits on the Board of Directors and chairs the Governance Committee.
From April 2017 to July 2019, Mr. Steinberg was Chair Emeritus of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada. Previously, Mr. Steinberg was Co-Chair and then Chair of Norton Rose Fulbright and its predecessor firm, Ogilvy Renault. He was also Global Chair of Norton Rose Fulbright, one of the largest law firms in the world with 4000 lawyers in 60 offices. At Norton Rose Fulbright and its predecessor firms, Mr. Steinberg focused on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, privatization and corporate governance.
Mr. Steinberg is also Co-Chair of Dorel Industries where he chairs the Nominating and Governance Committee, Director of Fiera Capital where he chairs the Nominating and Governance Committee, Director of ATCO where he chairs the Audit and Risk Committee and is a member of the Corporate Governance – Nomination, Compensation and Succession Committee, Senior Advisor of Persistence Capital Partners (private equity), Co-Chair of Women in Governance, Vice-Chair (former Chair) of The McGill University Health Centre Foundation, Director and member of the Organizing Committee as well as former Canadian Co-Chair of the Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum, Strategic Advisor of Voyager Metals Inc., Senior Advisor of Teneo, and Vice Chair of the Board of Advisors of Alexa Translations.
He served as a director of numerous other boards, including Gildan Activewear, Canadian Marconi Company, Centraide of Montreal and the Foundation of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. He was former Vice-Chair of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, former President of the Canadian Club of Montreal and former Chairman of the Mount Royal Club of Montreal.
Mr. Steinberg holds a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill University in Montréal, Québec.
Julian Ovens
Partner, Crestview Strategy
Julian brings extensive experience as an international corporate development leader, a natural resources executive, and a senior political advisor. Julian sits on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), which assists Canadian exporters secure international contracts with foreign governments. Julian was Chief of Staff to two of Canada’s International Trade Ministers in the Trudeau government, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was Head of Strategy and Development, Potash (formerly Diamonds) at BHP in Saskatoon and Project Director, Iron Ore Africa, BHP Minerals Exploration, based in Singapore. He previously led commercial efforts for development projects and engaged in global mergers & acquisitions for BHP Billiton Aluminium in London. Julian received his ESG Global Competent Board Certificate (GCB.D) in 2021. He holds an Honours Business Administration degree from the Ivey Business School at Western University and studied Economics and Political Science at the University of Ottawa. Julian is fluent in French.
Portia Maier
Barrister-at-Law and Former Australian Consul-General and Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner to Canada
Portia is a barrister admitted to practice in the High Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of Queensland, specialising in commercial, corporations, trade and investment law. She is also a lecturer and Canadian law course convenor at a leading Australian university’s Canadian Law program. In 2012- 2017, she served as the Australian Consul-General and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to Canada, leading Australian Government activities in investment, trade, education and consular services. In 2016, she served as Dean and Chair of the Board of the Consular Corps of Toronto. Previously, Portia was Executive Director for UBS Private Banking and UBS Warburg Investment Banking in Zurich, Geneva and London and a senior management consultant in North America, Europe and Asia. Portia holds a Master of Laws and a Juris Doctor from the University of Queensland, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New South Wales with postgraduate study in international law with Cornell University Law School in Paris.
Secretariat
Peter MacArthur
Executive Director, Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum
During Peter’s prior foreign service career he served 4 years as Global Affairs Canada Director General for South, Southeast Asia and Oceania where he oversaw bilateral relations with a range of countries including Australia. His experience included 3 years as Canada’s Senior Official to the Asia Pacific Economic Forum (APEC). Peter also supported federal ministers for the 2015 AusCan Forum in Vancouver.
In another Director General role in Ottawa, Peter helped advance global opportunities in science and technology, international education and industry sector cooperation. Early in his career Peter completed a 2 year secondment to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra. This Australia-focused experience was complemented diplomatic assignments around the Indo-Pacific region from Russia to India, Hong Kong and Japan. After serving as Ambassador of Canada to Indonesia, Timor Leste and the Philippines from 2016-2022, Peter retired from the federal public service. He joins AusCan following its highly successful July 2023 8th Forum meeting in Toronto, excited to continue strengthening the relationship between two of the world’s most similar and like-minded countries on common challenges in the mutual interest. The next AusCan Forum is scheduled for February 2025 in Sydney, New South Wales.
Directeur Exécutif du Forum de Leadership Économique Australie-Canada
Au cours de sa carrière antérieure au service extérieur, Peter a occupé le poste de directeur général d’Affaires mondiales Canada pour l’Asie du Sud, du Sud-Est et l’Océanie, où il a supervisé les relations bilatérales avec divers pays, dont l’Australie, pendant quatre ans. Son expérience comprend trois années en tant que haut fonctionnaire du Canada au Forum économique de la Coopération économique pour l’Asie-Pacifique (APEC). Peter a également soutenu les ministres fédéraux lors du Forum AusCan de 2015 à Vancouver.
Dans un autre rôle de directeur général à Ottawa, Peter a contribué à promouvoir les opportunités mondiales dans les domaines de la science et de la technologie, de l’éducation internationale et de la coopération sectorielle. En début de carrière, Peter a effectué un détachement de deux ans au ministère des Affaires étrangères et du Commerce de l’Australie à Canberra. Cette expérience axée sur l’Australie a été complétée par des missions diplomatiques dans la région indo-pacifique, de la Russie à l’Inde, en passant par Hong Kong et le Japon. Après avoir été ambassadeur du Canada en Indonésie, au Timor-Leste et aux Philippines de 2016 à 2022, Peter a pris sa retraite de la fonction publique fédérale. Il rejoint AusCan après sa réunion très réussie en juillet 2023 lors du 8e Forum à Toronto, enthousiaste à l’idée de continuer à renforcer la relation entre deux des pays les plus similaires et compatibles du monde face à des défis communs dans l’intérêt mutuel. Le prochain Forum AusCan est prévu pour février 2025 à Sydney, en Nouvelle-Galles du Sud.
Tannis Wengel
Director of Events & Communications, Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum
As a seasoned senior marketing and fundraising professional with a wealth of experience spanning over two decades, Tannis’s expertise extends across strategic planning, project management, event execution, and corporate partnership cultivation.
Tannis has a proven track record in the conceptualization and execution of comprehensive national marketing plans, pioneering fundraising initiatives, and the successful management of large-scale special events. Her leadership has played a crucial role in driving impactful rebranding initiatives aligned with organizational goals. Tannis has overseen a diverse portfolio of signature fundraising events, showcasing her ability to navigate and excel in various environments, from orchestrating fundraising galas to facilitating global forums and educational initiatives, prestigious national award shows, and corporate symposiums. Notably, her commitment to excellence is evident in all her work showcasing her dedication to creating inclusive and impactful experiences.
Directeur des Événements et de la Communication, Forum de Leadership Économique Australie-Canada
En tant que professionnelle chevronnée du marketing et de la collecte de fonds avec une riche expérience s’étendant sur plus de deux décennies, Tannis excelle dans la planification stratégique, la gestion de projets, l’exécution d’événements, et le développement de partenariats corporatifs.
Tannis possède un bilan éprouvé dans la conceptualisation et la réalisation de plans marketing nationaux complets, l’initiation de levées de fonds novatrices, et la gestion réussie d’événements spéciaux à grande échelle. Son leadership a joué un rôle crucial dans la mise en œuvre d’initiatives de rebranding impactantes alignées sur les objectifs organisationnels. Tannis supervise un portefeuille diversifié d’événements de collecte de fonds de renom, démontrant sa capacité à naviguer et exceller dans divers environnements, que ce soit pour orchestrer des galas de levée de fonds, faciliter des forums mondiaux et des initiatives éducatives, organiser des remises de prix nationales prestigieuses, ou coordonner des symposiums d’entreprise. Notamment, son engagement envers l’excellence transparaît dans l’ensemble de son travail, mettant en lumière sa détermination à créer des expériences inclusives et impactantes.