The Empire Club of Canada
Hybrid
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
On Tuesday May 12, The Empire Club of Canada will host the Second Annual State of the Airport featuring President and CEO of Toronto Pearson Deborah Flint. Deborah’s address will reflect on the state of air travel at Canada’s gateway airport, and preview how the airport is entering its next era that will be defined by change and growth across Pearson’s facilities, customer experiences, commercial enterprises and in partnerships.
The Pearson Economic Zone is a powerful engine of growth for the country that is increasingly enabling collaboration with Canadian companies, which will be explored further in a panel discussion that shows how strategic alignment across the Pearson ecosystem can drive growth, competitiveness and long-term national prosperity.
Following her keynote speech, Deborah will be joined by Alison Nankivell, President and CEO of Export Development Canada in fireside chat moderated by Andrew Willis, Business Columnist at The Globe and Mail.
Buy your tickets today!
Deborah Flint, a Canadian-born business leader is the President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which leads Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada’s biggest passenger and cargo airport with daily direct connectivity to the world’s largest economies.
At the helm of Toronto Pearson, Flint is focused on ‘Putting the Joy Back into Travel’, by creating a world-class passenger experience and sustainably building the airport of the future through LIFT: Long Term Investment in Facilities & Terminals.
Ms. Flint has a track record of spearheading airport infrastructure and capital transformation. As the Chief Executive Officer of Los Angeles World Airports (LAX, VNY), Flint initiated a $14 billion airport modernization plan, including the first Airport Rail Connector Project, standing up the largest rental car facility in the United States, and accelerating a terminal development plan to better service over 90 million annual passengers at LAX and VNY, one of the busiest general aviation airports in the world.
Ms. Flint is a Director of the Airports Council International World Governing Board, and the Toronto Region Board of Trade. She formerly served as a Director on the Federal Reserve Bank (San Francisco Branch), and as Chair of the National Academy of Science’s Airport Cooperative Research Program. She is a proud recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Alison began her appointment as EDC’s president and CEO in February 2025, returning to lead the organization where she spent 14 years on various teams early in her career.
Alison’s work life has spanned businesses and continents, from leading EDC’s Asian private equity investment strategy while based in Beijing, to holding several vice presidencies and a senior leadership role at BDC Capital in Ottawa and Toronto.
During her time in Asia, she gained an understanding of the challenges Canadian exporters can face when working to scale their business in markets overseas.
Throughout her career in finance, Alison has had the privilege of working with Canadian companies of all sizes and across all sectors. She knows the potential of these businesses is limitless, and that growing their presence in the international marketplace will help ensure prosperity in the Canadian and global economies.
Her desire to drive EDC’s raison d’être – to make Canada and the world better through trade – is a key reason Alison accepted the offer to take on the presidency.
She also brings with her a 25-year track record of mentoring and leading high-performing teams, building strategic relationships with businesses, investors, fund managers and a range of stakeholders to drive success.
Her profound experience in global trade finance, capital markets, risk management, international business development and the innovation economy will be critical as EDC and its customers continue to navigate today’s complexities, challenges and opportunities.
Just prior to returning to EDC, Alison was CEO at MaRS Discovery District, North America’s largest urban innovation hub.
Alison earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, in commerce and economics and with Honours, from the University of Toronto, before earning a Master in public administration and public policy from the London School of Economics and her Chartered Financial Analysts Designation.
She is a founding member of the Private Equity Women’s Investment Network Canada, sits on the board of Toronto’s Good Shepherd Ministries and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors.
The corporate value that resonates most: Alison embraces and identifies with all of EDC’s values but, if forced to rank them, puts passion for customers and caring at the top of the list.
Andrew Willis is a business columnist for Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper. He been in journalism and communications for more than three decades, including serving for six years as senior vice-president at Brookfield Asset Management. He has co-written two books and frequently serves as a commentator on radio and BNN Bloomberg television.
