New Halifax Convention Centre's board appointed

The province and Halifax Regional Municipality announced Friday the appointment of the first board of directors of the Halifax Convention Centre Corp.

The Halifax Convention Centre Act, which came into effect on April 1, requires the two levels of government to jointly appoint the board of directors.

The $169.2-million Halifax Convention Centre is the centrepiece of the new Nova Centre being built in downtown Halifax. The first convention is booked for April 2017.

The 10-member board consists of eight appointed members, in addition to the deputy minister of the Department of Business and the chief administrative officer of Halifax Regional Municipality.

"This board brings the right mix of skills, expertise and business background to ensure the organization's success now and into the future," Business Minister Mark Furey said in a release.

Directors on the volunteer board receive $150 per day for meetings, plus reasonable expenses. The chair is entitled to a rate of $200 per day.

Provincial appointees:

• Wayne Crawley, senior advisor for a number of private companies and current vice-chair for Trade Centre Ltd. board of directors.
• James MacNeil, managing partner of the law firm BOYNECLARKE LLP.
• Barbara Manning, past president and CEO of Genieknows, a digital advertising service provider.
• Justin McDonough, partner and certified financial planner with Matthews McDonough Financial Planning and the current chair for Trade Centre Ltd. board of directors.

"It was a very hard choice between extremely well-qualified candidates," Mayor Mike Savage said in a release. "The result is a board that will serve the Halifax Convention Centre and the broader community with experience and professionalism."

Municipal appointees:

• Louise-Anne Comeau, co-founder and managing director of CM Advisory, a business consultancy company.
• Jeff Forbes, president and managing partner of Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette and a member of the Trade Centre Ltd. board of directors.
• Greg Keefe, former chief financial officer for Halifax Regional Municipality who has held deputy minister roles with the province.
• Nancy MacCready-Williams, chief executive officer of Doctors Nova Scotia.

New president and CEO to be hired

One of the board's first tasks will be to appoint a permanent president and CEO to replace Scott Ferguson, who resigned in May to take a similar job with the World Trade Centers Association in New York.

Trade Centre Ltd. chief financial officer Carrie Cussons is acting as interim CEO and president until then.

Legislation requires the board to report to the provincial and municipal governments, including annual audited financial statements, a report on the effectiveness and competitiveness of the centre's operations and a five-year strategic plan.