Ms. Beale has been President and CEO of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council since 1996. Prior to that, she worked for 10 years as a consulting economist, advising senior levels of government on regional planning and economic strategies for Atlantic Canada. Her policy and research interests cover a wide range of topics related to the economy of Atlantic Canada including energy, the labour market and innovation strategies. Ms. Beale has authored numerous studies on public policy topics and is a frequent media commentator.

Under Ms. Beale’s leadership, APEC has grown to become an influential voice furthering the economic development of Atlantic Canada. Ms. Beale has also participated on a number of external advisory panels including the Labour Market Information Advisory Panel which reported in June 2009 to the Forum of Labour Market Ministers and the Nova Scotia Economic Advisory Panel which reported to Premier Darryl Dexter in November 2009. Ms. Beale resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She holds a B.A. from the University of Toronto and an M.A. in Economics from Dalhousie University. Ms. Beale has taken an active role in a number of professional and community organizations. She is a past Governor of Dalhousie University, and is currently a member of the National Statistics Council and a Director of the Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development at Memorial University.