Kate Parker

Director, International & ECA Relations at Export Development Canada

Speaker

Kate brings strong experience and passion for trade, international relations and export finance. Throughout her 18+ year career at Export Development Canada, Canada’s export credit agency, she has worked directly with Canada’s entrepreneurs and exporters helping them mitigate risk to take on international opportunities and grow trade for Canada. She has covered diverse industries, including aerospace, automotive, critical minerals, technology and seafood, among others.

Currently, Kate leads the international relations team and is responsible for bilateral relations with export credit agencies and multilateral development banks, a role in which she seeks opportunities to collaborate while creating trade opportunities. She is also responsible for policy negotiations on export finance rules to ensure a level playing field for Canadian exporters and the representation of Canadian interests at the OECD, Berne Union and international forums. As EDC’s chief negotiator in multilateral forums, Kate works to build consensus on global trade frameworks that shape export financing, sustainability standards, and international cooperation.

Kate’s early career included experience as an account manager in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she worked directly with Canadian exporters across sectors like fisheries, ocean tech, and agriculture. Known for her ability to bridge practical business insight with complex global policy, her hands-on experiences continue to inform her approach to international partnerships.

Kate holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and an MBA.