Laurel Broten was named CEO of Invest in Canada in fall 2022. Laurel has spent the last 30 years in leadership positions in the public and private sector, including as a lawyer, advocate, litigator, provincial cabinet minister, head of a provincial economic development agency, and more. Born in Saskatchewan, Laurel brings a national, pan-Canadian perspective, having lived and worked in communities across the country, including Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
A committed community builder, Laurel has been a lifelong advocate for women and children and is deeply committed to inclusive and sustainable economic growth and prosperity, as demonstrated by her work with organizations including the International Women’s Forum, Prince’s Trust of Canada, the Prosperity Project, YWCA Women’s Leadership Collaborative and WXN Wisdom Program.
Laurel holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Western Ontario, and clerked at the Supreme Court before spending several years in commercial and civil litigation. She most recently served as the CEO of Nova Scotia Business Inc., where she oversaw a team of professionals dedicated to attracting investment and supporting export development.
Fluently bilingual, Laurel lives in Halifax with her husband and two teenaged sons.