Donna Gillespie is an accomplished leader with extensive experience managing small and medium enterprises across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. Throughout her career, she has spearheaded major community economic development initiatives, specializing in investment attraction, strategic planning, brand development, and corporate restructuring.

As CEO of Kingston Economic Development, Donna has been instrumental in securing the highest levels of foreign direct investment in Kingston’s history. Under her leadership, the city welcomed major international companies, including Portuguese fruit processor Frulact and Chinese infant formula manufacturer Feihe – Canada Royal Milk. She is also the founder of the award-winning Queen’s Career Apprenticeship: Kingston program, recognized with a gold-rank award by the International Economic Development Council for its successful partnerships with post-secondary institutions. Additionally, she played a key role in developing the Kingston-Syracuse Path, one of four cross-border economic corridors in Canada, focused on health innovation.

Donna’s achievements have earned her significant recognition. In 2021, she was named Economic Developer of the Year by the Ontario East Economic Development Commission for her contributions to the region and support for businesses during the pandemic. In 2024, she received the prestigious Joseph A. Montgomery Economic Development Achievement Award, the highest provincial honour for her contributions and leadership in economic development.

Donna serves on several boards and advisory groups, including the Great Lakes Economic Development Council, Tourism Kingston, Kingston Accommodation Partners, Kingston Immigration Partnership Steering Committee and the City of Kingston’s Planning and Climate Leadership Advisory Groups. In her volunteer capacity, Donna is a Board Director for the Kingston Kid’s Triathlon, Theatre Kingston, and the Sydenham District Association.

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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 member 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 has more than 25 years of project management experience, and an extensive knowledge of the small business, real estate and development community within the city. During his nearly 20 years with the Downtown Kingston! Business Improvement Area, Rob’s focus was on maximizing economic development opportunities for Kingston’s downtown core by encouraging, supporting and initiating activities that were beneficial to both businesses and property owners.

Rob’s current role is to oversee the many programs which support Kingston area SMEs, including WE-CAN, Digital Main Street, Queen’s Career Apprenticeship, and My Mainstreet.  He is also working to advance activities related to the Small Business Enterprise Centre.  He is always happy to chat with local business owners on a wide variety of topics to help foster growth within the greater Kingston community.

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Norman is an experienced small business and start-up advisor, and a start-up entrepreneur. He is a 2018 graduate from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University with a Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

Norman enjoys helping and supporting entrepreneurs, early-starge entrepreneurs, and small and medium business owners. His previous experience involved working on business plans, feasibility studies, facilitating business workshops, organizing business plan competitions, and advising small businesses.

Born in Rwanda, Norman has had the opportunity to live and work in more than seven countries on three different continents. He enjoys travelling by road, so that he can have the opportunity to meet new people in their communities.

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Judith is the former CEO & Co-Founder of Eastern Fluid Power Inc, she successfully sold her business of thirty years in 2019, and is current principal at Judith Pineault Consulting.

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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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Simon is a recent graduate of Brock University and NEOMA Business School, where he spent the past four and a half years studying business administration, entrepreneurship, and international policy. Throughout his studies, Simon gained valuable international experience, working abroad and developing an understanding of the distinct operational and market differences across French, German, American, and Canadian markets.

As part of the Kingston Economic Development team, Simon coordinates key funding programs, including Starter Company Plus and Summer Company, aimed at supporting entrepreneurs, startups, and established businesses. Additionally, he serves as the Community Outreach Coordinator, managing partnerships, community engagement, and various networks within the organization.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Simon dedicates his time as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for ACFOMI, a French-language employment and support center, where he represents Kingston’s young Franco-Ontarian community. With a growing interest in Economic Development, Simon is particularly focused on fostering youth entrepreneurship through the Summer Company program and exploring Kingston’s vibrant food sector, driven by his personal passion for cooking.

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Ghazal is the Investment Outreach Coordinator at Kingston Economic Development. In her role, Ghazal identifies high potential companies to attract investment in the sectors of sustainable manufacturing and life sciences. Her role includes lead generation and maintaining communication with decision-makers and stakeholders.

Ghazal is a recent graduate of a Double degree masters’ program in International Business and Management from Queen’s University and University of Mannheim. Prior to this, Ghazal has interned with UNICEF, Apollo International Ltd. and led the Korean Film Festival Canada’s tour in Kingston.

In addition to her professional commitments, Ghazal serves on the board of Queen’s University Alumni Association and regularly volunteers at local events.

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Micah, an immensely talented creative marketing professional with over 7 years of industry experience, brings a distinctive fusion of technical expertise and strategic guidance to the forefront. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and a Graduate Certificate in Digital Marketing Communications, he currently holds the position of leading the Canada Digital Adoption Program at Kingston Economic Development. In this role, he leverages his extensive knowledge to propel digital transformation within Kingston’s business community.

Prior to his tenure at Kingston Economic Development, Micah made a lasting impact on the marketing landscape in Nigeria. There, he orchestrated groundbreaking marketing strategies and executed highly impactful advertising campaigns for an impressive roster of clients. His notable achievements include significantly enhancing the brand visibility of industry titans such as Maybelline, Hennessy, Belvedere Vodka, Moët & Chandon, and L’Oréal, resulting in remarkable success in expanding their market presence.

His journey continued at Spark Creative Agency at St. Lawrence College, where Micah held the role of Marketing Account Manager, further solidifying his reputation as a marketing luminary. His international engagements exemplify his commitment to providing exceptional service and his talent for strategic digital empowerment. Micah is always poised to assist the next business or individual seeking a boost in their digital strategy.

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Abby Fitzhugh is the Operations Coordinator at Kingston Economic Development. She pursued her career at the Corporation while serving as an E-Commerce Advisor for the Canada Digital Adoption Program in 2023, after earning a certificate in Digital Marketing from York University School of Continuing Studies.

Prior to her role as Operations Coordinator, Abby worked as a self-employed social media marketer, graphic designer, and web designer.

Abby is a dedicated advocate for individuals with invisible disabilities. She has shared her story and insights as a volunteer speaker at events such as RBC’s 2023 Women’s Day Luncheon and the Girls Inc. Annual General Meeting in 2022, shedding light on self-advocacy in the workplace and advocating for the elimination of discrimination against employees with disabilities.

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