Announcement: New Director, Business & Community Partnerships

The Ottawa Board of Trade is pleased to announce the appointment of Kara Higdon as our new Director, Business & Community Partnerships. Kara brings over 15 years of experience in partnerships, external affairs, and stakeholder relations to her new role.

Most recently, as Director, Bayview Yards Growth and Success at Invest Ottawa, she led partnership and sponsorship revenue generation for Invest Ottawa and oversaw the city building and stakeholder experience strategy for Bayview Yards, Ottawa’s innovation centre.

A former Ottawa Board of Trade and Ottawa Business Journal Forty Under 40 recipient, Kara has held roles in outreach, grants management, and external relations in the United States and southeast Asia. Kara began her career in public finance investment banking at J.P. Morgan and in local government at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey before moving to Ottawa in 2016.

In her new role, Kara will lead OBOT’s membership growth and engagement strategy and build business, community, and eco-system partnerships, with a focus on fostering strong economic relations within the region.

We are confident that Kara's expertise, drive, and vision will further strengthen the Ottawa Board of Trade’s role as the voice of business in the National Capital Region. Please join us in welcoming Kara to our team. She can be reached at kara.higdon@ottawabot.ca.