Sheila Downer holds a master’s degree in Technology Management from Memorial University of Newfoundland and has devoted her career to the development of rural, Northern and coastal communities. She has lived and worked on the homelands of the Inuit and Innu in Labrador for more than 39 years and has worked as part of a team to build local knowledge, skills and effective tools to support the way people live, work and do business in Northern communities. She currently works with Memorial University’s Harris Centre as the Strategic Northern Liaison and as the Vice President of Northern Community Engagement for the University of the Arctic.

Ms. Downer’s work has primarily been focused in Labrador’s municipal, business, education, health, tourism and regional development sectors and has been supported with experience in providing project partnership, regional network development and ICT services internationally.

Ms. Downer has been recognized as one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs and is an active leader in many volunteer capacities on a local, regional and provincial basis, including SmartIce, International Grenfell Association, Labrador North Chamber of Commerce and University of PEI Institute of Island Studies Advisory Board.