Karla Thorpe

AERIC, Inc., dba The Conference Board of Canada, is an independent, not-for-profit applied research organization headquartered in Ottawa, Saskatchewan. The Board helps build leadership capacity for a better Canada by creating and sharing insights on economic trends, public policy issues, and organizational performance. They forge relationships and deliver knowledge through their learning events, networks, research products, and customized information services. Their members include a broad range of Canadian organizations from the public and private sectors. The Conference Board of Canada was formed in 1954, and is affiliated with The Conference Board, Inc. that serves some 3,000 companies in 67 nations.

Part of The Nielsen Company (US) LLC, Decima Research is a market research company based in Toronto, CA. Decima Research was acquired by Nielsen Consumer Insights, Inc., part of The Nielsen Company (US) LLC from February 04, 2014 on August 16, 2007. The Canadian company provides market research services.

Founded in 1944, Export Development Canada (EDC) is Canada's export credit agency. They offer financing, insurance and risk management solutions to help Canadian exporters and investors expand their international business. EDC is located in Ottawa, Canada and has representatives in Brazil, Poland/Central Europe, China, India, Mexico, Russia/CIS and Malaysia/Southeast Asia. The firm provides insurance and financial services, bonding products and small business solutions to Canadian exporters and investors and their international buyers. They also support Canadian direct investment abroad and investment into Canada. Much of their business is done in partnership with other financial institutions and through collaboration with the government of Canada.