Deborah Yedlin

President & CEO at Calgary Chamber of Commerce

Speaker

Deborah Yedlin is a first-generation Canadian from Edmonton, the daughter of educators who emigrated after WWII. She holds a B.A. in Economics and English from the University of Alberta, an MBA from Queen’s University, and earned her ICD.D designation from the University of Calgary.

Deborah began her career in finance with Goldman Sachs and other investment banks in Toronto and Calgary before pivoting to journalism. Since 1996, she’s been a leading business columnist and commentator for outlets like the Financial Post, The Globe and Mail, and CBC.

A civic leader since moving to Calgary in 1992, Deborah has served on numerous boards, co-chaired major fundraising campaigns, and was the 14th Chancellor of the University of Calgary.

Since July 2021, Deborah has served as President & CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, where she leads efforts to support, grow, and advocate for Calgary’s business community. Under her leadership, the Chamber has focused on economic diversification, small business resilience, innovation, and inclusive growth. She has worked to elevate the Chamber’s voice in policy conversations at all levels of government and position Calgary as a globally competitive business hub. Her cross-sector experience has helped bridge private sector interests with public policy and community priorities, reinforcing the Chamber’s role in shaping Calgary’s future economy.

Known for blending data with clear, strategic communication, Deborah brings a unique perspective shaped by her work in finance, media, education, and public service.