Keynote Speaker - Deidre McMurdy

     In 2008, Deirdre became the Vice-President at the Public Policy Forum, a non-partisan, independent forum for open dialogue on public policy.  The forum works on long term policy research and analysis for government and business, specializing in the issues where they intersect.

Deirdre McMurdy is also one of Canada’s most respected business journalists. As a broadcast and print journalist, Deirdre interviews business leaders and explores the trends affecting every sector of Canadian business.

Prolific in the world of print journalism, Deirdre has held the position of Chief Political Columnist for the Ottawa Citizen, where she continues to contribute a bi-weekly column. She also writes for CanWest News which covers all major metro papers across Canada, is a weekly columnist for The National Post, and co-ordinates Ottawa coverage for local market television stations across the Global network. She is widely known for her work as business columnist and business editor for Maclean's magazine, and columnist for Canadian Business magazine and for her contributions to MSN's financial website, MSN Money.

Deirdre joined the Global team in 1999 after five years as business editor at CTV's Canada AM, where she co-hosted a daily business program, MoneyWise, with Peter Kent on the Global Television Network. She also produced and hosted Prime Business with Deirdre McMurdy on Global's Prime network. She is also the Ottawa Correspondent for CTV’s Business News Network (BNN). Roger Martin, dean at Rotman School of Business, has named her the new adjudicator for the National Business Book Awards as well.

Audiences are fascinated by Deirdre's ability to put into context new developments in Canadian business and public policy. She shares her personal insights, well-informed business opinions and passion for the world of business and government.