Speaker Biography
Audiences and media have turned to McKenna for his insights on NAFTA, Canada-US relations, trade, energy, supply, and more.
Frank McKenna is Deputy Chair of TD Bank Financial Group. He supports the Bank in its customer acquisition strategy, particularly in the area of Wholesale and Commercial Banking. In addition, he is representing TDBFG as it works to expand its North American presence as one of the ten largest banks as measured by market capitalization. Prior to joining TDBFG, he was posted to Washington, D.C. and served as the Canadian Ambassador to the United States of America. He was also tapped by the Canadian government to lead a team to find the new RCMP commissioner.
In 2024, McKenna was on hand for the launch of the new program called the Centre of Best Practices, which will be facilitated through STU university’s newly renovated Frank McKenna Centre for communications and public policy.
McKenna describes his passion for public policy that emerged once he left public office, saying that “it’s like malaria in my bloodstream. I live it, breathe it and to me it’s extraordinarily important, but the intersection between public policy and communication is critical.”
Previously he served as Counsel to the Atlantic Canada law firm of McInnes Cooper and Consulting Counsel to Osler Hoskin and Harcourt in Toronto. During this same time, he played leading roles in numerous provincial, national and international companies. McKenna served as Premier of New Brunswick for 10 years, successfully winning three elections before honouring the promise he made when elected that he would not stay a day beyond 10 years.
McKenna graduated from St. Francis Xavier University with a Bachelor of Arts, completed his post-graduate studies in political science at Queen’s University and graduated from the University of New Brunswick Law School as a silver medalist. McKenna also holds more than seven honourary doctorates from Canadian universities. McKenna’s career has included participation as a member of the Saucier Committee on Corporate Governance and the Canadian Security Intelligence Review Committee.
In a volunteer capacity, McKenna was a past National Head of Career Edge, a member of the Fund Raising Committee for the National Ballet School and has been involved with a number of organizations including the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, National Adult Literacy Database, New Brunswick Foundation for the Arts and the C.D. Howe Institute, as well as the capital campaigns of two major universities in New Brunswick. He is also the owner of Glenwood Kitchens, a manufacturer of kitchen cabinets for the Canadian, U.S. and Caribbean market.
McKenna and his wife Julie have three grown children. They reside in both Cap Pele, New Brunswick and Toronto, Ontario.
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