Donna Gillespie is an experienced economic development leader with more than 20 years of experience across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

Under her leadership, Kingston has achieved record levels of foreign direct investment, while strengthening its position as a destination for innovation, entrepreneurship and business growth. Donna has championed startup development and is deeply committed to helping local businesses start, grow, adapt and succeed.

She has led the development of award-winning initiatives including the Kingston-Syracuse Pathway, Queen’s Career Apprenticeship: Kingston and Succession Ontario.

Her contributions to the profession have earned national and provincial recognition, including being named one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect, receiving the Joseph A. Montgomery Economic Development Achievement Award from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario, and being named Economic Developer of the Year by the Ontario East Economic Development Commission.

Donna serves on a number of boards and advisory committees supporting economic development, tourism, planning and community growth locally and internationally.

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Shelley Hirstwood specializes in Investment Attraction and Business Growth. Her core responsibilities encompass the identification of prospective business opportunities and the facilitation of foreign direct investment to encourage enterprises to establish a presence in Kingston. In her capacity, she engages various stakeholders, including all levels of government, real estate professionals, site selection experts, and key industry partners, to streamline investment opportunities.

With a career spanning 18 years in the field of economic development, Shelley brings a wealth of experience to her role. Prior to joining the Kingston team, she served as an Economic Development Manager in Gananoque, ON and Gravelbourg, SK. Throughout her career, her focus has remained centered on investment attraction, business retention and expansion, entrepreneurship and community development.

Shelley’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Science degree from Trent University, complemented by the EDAC Economic Development Certificate from the University of Waterloo. Furthermore, she has honed her expertise through Training for Small Business Counsellors at Acadia University and completed the Queen’s Executive Program at Queen’s University, Smith School of Business.

In addition to her professional commitments, Shelley is actively engaged in the industry as a Board President of the Economic Development Association of Canada. She has also served as the past president of the Ontario East Economic Development Commission.

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Abdul Razak is a seasoned international business development professional with expertise in international trade and FDI in North America, Europe & Asia. He also serves on the SWITCH Board of Directors. Throughout his career, Abdul Razak gained experience working in organizations that are publicly traded, privately held, family-owned, and non-profit.

Before joining the Kingston Economic Development team, Abdul Razak held the position of Economic Development Manager at ROI, a Montreal based consulting firm, playing a pivotal role in managing and delivering lead generation programs, in-market representation, and industry analysis for domestic and international clients in Canada, the USA, and Europe. In the United Arab Emirates, he managed over 100 contracts worth $6.5 billion while working with National Central Cooling Co PJSC (DFM:TABREED). Working in the steel industry, Abdul Razak closed several deals including a landmark steel pipes deal from Turkey to India worth $14 million to build a chemical processing plant. Abdul Razak also served as the Deputy Director for the Global New York Canada Office assisting companies to expand and grow in the State of New York, as well as supporting New York based companies enter the Canadian market.

Brought up and raised in the United Arab Emirates Abdul Razak graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance with a minor in Economics from the American University of Sharjah and is currently completing his Master’s in Economics at Concordia University.

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Ben is an economic development professional specializing in health and life sciences for the City of Kingston. With 18 years of experience spanning government, industry, non-profits, and business development, Ben has a proven track record in facilitating growth and fostering foreign direct investment for health and life sciences companies.

Born in Kingston and a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Ben excels at leading complex, multi-disciplinary projects and programs. His current focus is on making Kingston an ideal environment for both existing and new life sciences companies to establish, grow, and thrive.
Ben also serves as a key point of contact in Kingston for the Kingston Syracuse Pathway, where he builds relationships and assists companies in soft landing into new markets.

A seasoned contract management specialist, Ben has led numerous projects for hospitals and managed various contract portfolios in the healthcare sector. Before joining the Kingston Economic Development team, he worked at Shared Support Services Southeastern Ontario (3SO) and the Ministry of Government Services, where he played key roles in project management that advanced healthcare and strategic sourcing initiatives.

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Rob works as part of the Small Business team, with a particular focus on existing SME’s.  He has more than 25 years of project management experience, and an extensive knowledge of the small business and development communities within the city.   He has spent much of his career in economic development helping to create a sense of community in Kingston, particularly in the downtown core.

He is always happy to chat with local business owners on a wide variety of topics.  The city is an amazing place for businesses to call home and Rob looks forward to continuing to work with them to foster growth within the greater Kingston community.

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Norman Musengimana is an experienced business and startup entrepreneur business development expert and advisor. He holds two master’s degrees: a Master in Leading Innovation and Change Management from York St. John University in the UK and a Master of Management in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

With a strong passion for supporting both aspiring and established entrepreneurs, Norman brings a wealth of expertise gained through his work with business membership organizations, consulting roles, and the ownership of his own ventures. His professional portfolio includes crafting business plans, conducting feasibility studies, developing strategic plans, creating funding strategies, facilitating business training workshops, organizing business plan competitions, and advising small enterprises so that together, they can work on strategies to help these businesses sustain their operations and devise a plan for growth.

Having been born in Rwanda and lived and worked in more than seven countries across three continents, Norman’s multicultural and global experience enriches his approach to entrepreneurship. He has a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and enjoys road travel, cycling, jogging, networking, and engaging with new people to understand their ways of life. A dedicated lifelong learner, Norman embraces challenges and continuously seeks opportunities for growth.

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Daniel is the Marketing & Communications Manager, in his role, he leads the development, writing and production of business collaterals, media strategies and public relations.

Daniel Solorio is a Creative Marketing Strategist with 15 years of experience in advertising. Throughout his career, Daniel has been leading projects in the creative industry in diverse roles from graphic designer, photographer, creative director, project manager, and video producer.

In 2021, he earned an MBA from the Universidad de Guadalajara, producing research on Media Entrepreneurship. In 2023 and 2024, he earned graduate certificates in Project Management and Digital Marketing Communications from St. Lawrence College. Daniel is a PMI-certified Project Management Professional.

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Abby Fitzhugh is the Operations Coordinator and Corporate Secretary at Kingston Economic Development, supporting the day-to-day operations of the Corporation and working closely with the Board of Directors and its committees.

Central to Abby’s role is bringing people together. She leads the coordination and delivery of Kingston Young Professionals 40 Under 40 Awards, celebrating the incredible young people making an impact in Kingston, and coordinates the annual Business Forecast Lunch, which convenes local business and community leaders for an economic outlook on the year ahead.

With a background in digital marketing and design, she supports the development and improvement of the Corporation’s internal systems and processes, helping make day-to-day work more organized, efficient and effective.

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Gillian Stewart is the Administrative Assistant supporting program development and execution, marketing, events, and communications, and serving as the primary liaison for business inquiries. Gillian is committed to continuous learning and is currently a mentee in the Economic Developers Council of Ontario’s (EDCO) mentorship program.

Previously, as an Investment Outreach Coordinator, Gillian supported Kingston’s business growth through lead generation by researching prospective businesses, conducting outreach, and building a strong pipeline of investment and partnership opportunities.

Gillian graduated from Queen’s University with an Honours Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature, a minor in Sociology, and a certificate in Employment Relations. To further her skills, she earned a graduate certificate in Digital Marketing Communications from St. Lawrence College.

An active volunteer, Gillian contributes her time to the City of Kingston’s Rural Economic and Community Development Working Group and enjoys organizing events that promote meaningful community engagement and connections.

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Ghazal is the Project Coordinator for Life Sciences and Health Innovation at Kingston Economic Development Corporation, where she supports initiatives that strengthen Kingston’s life sciences sector, foster business growth and attract investment to the region.

In her role, Ghazal coordinates the delivery of the Kingston Life Sciences Initiative, including Helix Funding, managing financial tracking, reporting and performance requirements. She works closely with industry, healthcare, research, government and economic development partners to connect life sciences companies with the expertise, infrastructure and resources needed to grow and scale. Her work also encompasses investment attraction, business development, industry partnerships and event coordination, including representing Kingston at regional and national conferences and industry events.

Ghazal holds a double master’s degree in International Business and Management from Queen’s University and the University of Mannheim. Prior to joining Kingston Economic Development Corporation, she gained international experience through roles with UNICEF and Apollo International Ltd. and led the Kingston component of the Korean Film Festival Canada tour.

Ghazal previously served on the Board of Directors of the Queen’s University Alumni Association and remains actively engaged in the Kingston community.

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Kena Dave is the Project Coordinator for the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) Regional Technology Development Site at Kingston Economic Development Corporation. In her role, she supports program delivery through stakeholder engagement, research, and coordination of initiatives that strengthen the region’s vehicle and smart mobility innovation ecosystem.

Before joining Kingston Economic Development Corporation, Kena worked at Kingston Process Metallurgy, where she supported pilot plant operations, reporting, and coordination across teams, while also contributing to business development through lead generation and client communication.

Kena holds a Master of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University, with a focus on energy and environmental systems and a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from Silver Oak University, GTU, India. As a student, Kena led campus cultural initiatives, organized large-scale events, and supported social impact efforts such as waste segregation awareness. Kena enjoys being part of Kingston’s community and is motivated to help advance local innovation and economic growth.

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Sarah is the Succession Ontario, Project Coordinator at Kingston Economic Development Corporation. Funded by the Government of Ontario, the Succession Ontario program seeks to raise awareness of the importance of succession planning, among small and micro-business owners across the province. Sarah leads the coordination of the program’s initiatives and goals alignment, stakeholder engagement, and performance tracking.

Sarah is known for her strong relationship management, reporting accuracy, and a collaborative approach that drives innovation and inclusion. Prior to joining Kingston Economic Development, Sarah studied at Queen’s University earning a bachelor’s degree in life sciences, followed by a Graduate Diploma and a Master of International Business at Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. Coupling her diverse academic background with her professional experience in program management, she is adept at organizing events, leading workshops, and delivering training. Sarah is eager to put these skills to work with the small business community.

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Josh Bowry is the Startup Programs Coordinator supporting the Business Programs like Summer Company and Starter Company Plus, where he contributes to initiatives that encourage entrepreneurship and engagement within the local business community.

Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Ottawa, majoring in Finance with a minor in Economics, he is a proud former participant of Kingston’s 2023 Summer Company program. This experience that sparked his entrepreneurial journey and led him to launch and operate his own business which continues to run successfully today. This hands-on experience has strengthened his understanding of small business operations, financial management, and market dynamics.

Josh serves as a Co-President of the Telfer Finance Society, where he helps lead initiatives that foster professional development, industry exposure, and healthy competition among students. He also serves as a representative on St. Lawrence College’s Program Advisory Committee (PAC) for the BComm Social Innovation degree, contributing a recent-student perspective on program development and student experience.

Driven by a passion for growth, entrepreneurship, and a love of good competition, Josh is eager to apply his financial and analytical skills to support youth-focused economic development initiatives.

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A fifth generation Kingstonian and Wolfe Islander, James Davis was born and raised in Kingston and served 42 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. Joining Kingston’s Reserve Regiment the Princess of Wales own Regiment where he served for five years before enrolling in the regular force. Rising through the ranks, he commanded at every level on overseas operations in theatres of Cyprus, Bosnia, Somalia, Haiti and Afghanistan, at both the tactical and operational levels. His experience at National Defence Headquarters exposed him to the strategic level of both military and geo-military issues and contributing to Canada’s national counter-terrorism strategy, domestic counter-terrorism operations and world affairs whilst working in Associate Deputy Minister Policy division responsible for Africa, Middle East policies and support to Global Affairs Canada for the Disaster Assistance Response Team and Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations contingencies on behalf of the government of Canada.

James was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross for leading the Canadian Armed Forces contingent intervention in Haiti in 2004. He has also been awarded the United States Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal for service alongside deployed American forces. His last posting was Military Attaché to the US Army where he worked between both the Canadian Army and US Army in identifying and working to achieve industry capability compatibility.

Recently retired back in Kingston, he joins the KEDCO team to provide defence advice and insights to the team in their goal of attracting defence industries to the Kingston area.

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