Valerie Payn

Valerie Payn is President of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. The 2,000-member business association is the largest Chamber of Commerce in Atlantic Canada, and seen to be a leader in its field in Canada.

She has held this position since 1995, when the Chamber was formed from the four previous Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce from Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and Sackville. 

Prior to that, Valerie was General Manager of the Halifax Board of Trade for four years, and spent 13 years in Prince Edward Island – eight with the provincial government and the remaining time as General Manager of the Summerside Chamber of Commerce.

Valerie obtained her background and education in Public Administration while in Prince Edward Island at UPEI. She also holds an MBA from St. Mary's University in Halifax.

In addition to her role at the Chamber of Commerce, Valerie also Chairs the Board of the Canadian Professional Sales Association and the Halifax International Airport Community Consultative Committee.

She is also a Board Member of the Canadian Center for Ethics in Public Policy, The Greater Halifax Partnership, and the Business Development Bank of Canada.

Valerie has been recognized as one of Atlantic Canada's Top 50 CEO's by Atlantic Business Magazine, as well as Executive of the Year by the Canadian Chamber Executives of Canada, and The Women of Excellence Award in Public Affairs by the Halifax Progress Club.

A native Newfoundlander, Valerie is married to Robert, a retired RCMP officer, and has two adult sons, Adam and Nick. She resides in Bedford, Nova Scotia.