FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2019
HALIFAX – Nicole Johnson-Morrison has been selected as the next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EduNova.
“Nicole’s deep experience in international trade and her past work with Colleges and Institutes Canada and EduCanada will be strong assets for the advancement of EduNova’s 2019-2024 strategic plan,” said Peter Ricketts, Chair of the Board of Directors of EduNova and President and Vice-Chancellor of Acadia University. “She has a proven track record of promoting Nova Scotia and Canada internationally, which will support the work of EduNova and its members on recruitment, retention and internationalization of student experience.”
Johnson-Morrison is joining EduNova from Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI), where she served as Manager of Trade Market Intelligence and Senior Trade Strategist. In her four years at NSBI, Nicole was instrumental in leading policy initiatives and strategic direction to grow global opportunities for businesses within Nova Scotia and within Atlantic Canada.
Before NSBI, Johnson-Morrison served as a Senior Trade Commissioner with Global Affairs Canada for 10 years, where she successfully led Canada’s regional trade policy and international trade efforts in the Guiana’s Basin. During her time with Global Affairs, Nicole was also responsible for growing Canada’s educational promotion efforts internationally and was the delivery partner for Colleges and Institutes of Canada (CICan) and EduCanada in the region. With her extensive experience working in a global context, Nicole was recognized in 2012 with the Global Affairs Transformation Champion Award and a United Nations Women in Business Award.
“There was a lot of interest in the role of EduNova CEO from around the world,” said Saeed El-Darahali, Board Treasurer and Chair of the CEO Search Committee. “This demonstrates the strength and credibility of the organization built up over the last 15 years.”
Nicole holds both a Bachelor of Science in Economics and an MBA from the University of Leicester and is currently in the final stages of her Doctorate in Science with a focus on Organizational Behaviour from the same institution with expected completion in 2020. She is a certified Project Management Professional by the Institute for Commercial Management in the UK and a Certified International Trade Professional through Concordia University. Nicole serves as a member of the Women’s Business Forum with Elevate International and as a board member with multiple organizations, including the Black Business Initiative and the National Congress of Black Canadians.
Ricketts and El-Darahali thanked former board member Rob Batherson for serving as interim CEO since the departure earlier this year of former CEO Wendy Luther. Batherson will be returning to the private sector.
Johnson-Morrison’s first day as President and Chief Executive Officer is January 6, 2020.
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About EduNova Co-operative Limited
EduNova is a co-operative association of public and private-sector education providers in Nova Scotia, committed to promoting Nova Scotia’s knowledge economy internationally, with a focus on attracting and retaining international students.
Media Contact:
Saeed El-Darahali
Treasurer and Chair CEO Search Committee
902.220.7233
Saeed.eldarahali@simplycast.com