Leslie Magee Appointed NBIF Board Chair

Leslie Magee

Board Chair

 

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Leslie Magee as the new Board Chair of the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF).

As Principal at Maytree Developments and Executive-in-Residence with East Valley Ventures, Leslie has extensive business and investment leadership experience, coupled with a deep commitment to supporting startups. Her board experience in community, real estate, and economic development reflects her passion for advancing the economic prosperity of New Brunswick.

Leslie joined the Board of Directors in 2020, and her appointment as Chair builds on the strong governance and leadership that NBIF has established over the past 20+ years, ensuring continued progress as we foster innovation and support the creation and scaling of New Brunswick tech companies.  As Chair, Leslie will lead the Board’s renewed focus on direct and indirect equity investments and an expanded mandate that includes provincial start-up business acceleration and incubation strategies.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Cathy Simpson for her exceptional leadership and service during a pivotal period of growth and transition for NBIF.  Since her appointment as Chair of NBIF’s Board of Directors in 2015, NBIF has invested over $100 million directly into New Brunswick tech startups while expanding our investment strategy to include indirect investments.  With her strategic stewardship and effective collaboration with our CEO, Board of Directors, and our government funding partners, a new NBIF organizational model and business strategy was developed that better provides venture capital and support to the startup community, founders, and scaling companies.

Cathy will continue as Board Secretary and Chair of the Human Resources and Nominating Committee until the end of our fiscal year. 

Please join us in congratulating Leslie on this appointment and in recognizing Cathy’s outstanding contributions to NBIF.

Quotes

“I am truly excited for the opportunity to take on this new challenge and contribute to the continued success of NBIF. It is a privilege to be part of the leadership team for such an important organization that plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and driving economic growth for New Brunswick. I look forward to working alongside talented colleagues to support early-stage startups as they evolve into global tech companies, propelling economic growth and prosperity in our province.” – Leslie Magee, NBIF Chair

“I am thrilled that Leslie has been appointed as the new Chair of NBIF.  Under her leadership, I am confident that NBIF will continue to thrive and drive innovation, expand and grow the value of NBIF’s portfolio of early-stage New Brunswick tech companies and attract new investment to New Brunswick.” – Cathy Simpson, Former Chair of NBIF

About NBIF

The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) is fueling the province’s tech sector by strategically investing in the creation and scaling of New Brunswick tech companies.  NBIF offers a comprehensive support system, including venture capital direct and fund of fund investments, alongside start up acceleration and incubation strategies. This commitment to investment impact extends beyond individual companies, fostering innovation, diversity, and economic growth across New Brunswick’s priority sectors to drive generational returns.

Media inquiries

Heather Libbey

VP Strategy & Operations

heather.libbey@nbif.ca

506-471-0480