As Head of Trade & Investment, Bill brings over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors where he has successfully driven growth and development initiatives across various industries, particularly in international trade, policy, and business expansion.

Prior to joining Sussex, Bill has held senior roles in Canada’s federal and provincial governments, including Principal Secretary to Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister and Chief of Staff to the Minister of International Trade and Asia-Pacific Gateway. During his time in government, he played a key role in securing free trade agreements with 45 nations, including the European Union, South Korea, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Provincially, Bill was deeply involved in the restructuring of Ontario’s electricity sector, driving major policy and industry shifts.

In the private sector, Bill founded GROWTHBRIDGE, a firm dedicated to helping Canadian businesses expand into high-growth markets. He has also held senior leadership roles in a private investment firm focused on Food Security and AgTech as well as in an Ontario-based financial services group specializing in risk management and human capital services for Canada’s electricity distribution industry.

Bill holds an MBA and Post-MBA Graduate Diploma from the Schulich School of Business, a Public Policy and Administration Diploma from University of Guelph, and BA from McMaster University.

Outside of work Bill’s focuses include an active family life, being chief walker of the family dog, and with spare time spent travelling with the family, fishing, and keeping up with the never-ending mechanical needs of a cantankerous-but-beloved 4x4 project truck.