Board of Directors
The Board of Trade is led by an enthusiastic volunteer Board of Directors, who represent the interests of local business. Our Board of Directors consists of 14 members along with our CEO as Ex-Officio.
Anna Cook
Chair
Anna is a partner in the St. John’s office of Cox & Palmer. Anna’s keen insight into the needs of the local business community can be attributed to her professional and volunteer experience.
Anna has been growing an extensive and dynamic corporate commercial practice for twenty-five years, advising a broad and diverse group of this province’s business community in all areas of business law and in all sectors of the province’s economy. She is known for strategic, practical, experience-based advice and her approachable, solution-focused style. She is a trusted business advisor who is dedicated to our community and the businesses that operate within it.
In addition to her professional pursuits, Anna volunteers her time and expertise to many organizations that fuel and strengthen our city. Throughout her career, she has served on numerous boards and committees including the Newfoundland & Labrador Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), the Newfoundland & Labrador Employers’ Council, Enactus Memorial (formerly SIFE Memorial), the St. John’s Boys & Girls Club, and the Eating Disorder Foundation of Newfoundland & Labrador and Opera on the Avalon. Anna and her dog Ruby are a volunteer therapy dog team with St. John Ambulance. They visit retirement homes in the city to bring comfort and puppy love.
Outside of the practice of law and her board and committee work, Anna is extremely passionate about rowing and the Royal St. John’s Regatta, where she has been rowing competitively for several years and finally made it to the ladies’ championship race in 2025 – watch out 2026!
She lives in St. John’s with her husband Brian, two teenage daughters, and two large dogs.
Geoff Spencer
Vice Chair
Geoff is the Office Lead Partner in McInnes Cooper’s St. John’s office. As a regional leader, Geoff oversees many of the firm’s business activities and community involvement. Geoff is a proud supporter of the McInnes Cooper “Start up” program, which lowers the barriers to legal assistance for budding entrepreneurs in our community and he frequently attends and supports local start up events with the firm.
Geoff has a well-respected corporate/commercial practice that focuses on commercial financings and secured transactions. He manages a commercial litigation practice as well, where he provides advice to creditors and trustees/receivers on issues involving commercial insolvencies and related litigation. Geoff also has significant experience dealing with commercial fishery matters and has appeared in all levels of court in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Geoff is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and he is past chair of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency section. He is also a member of the Insolvency Institute of Canada, a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and a presenter at the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar Admission Course.
Geoff has served on various boards, including the Canadian Transport Lawyers Association, where he served as President in 2007-2008, and CALOS Youth Orchestras (formerly Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra), where he served as Chair of the Board of Directors from 2016-2022.
Karen Veitch
Second Vice Chair
Karen has worked for over twenty years in the energy industry, focusing on strategic management, business operations, quality, and customer delivery. As Chief Operating Officer, she is responsible for the continued growth of the following companies: Atlantic XL, Additive XL, and iEAS XL here in Canada, as well as Caribbean XL in Guyana, and is also part of the management team of XL Global Group in Aberdeen, UK.
Karen has worked on several boards and continues to look for opportunities to use that experience and education. In 2022, she finished her tenure with EnergyNL where she served four years as director and three years on Executive as Vice Chair, Chair and Past Chair. In 2021, she was Co-Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industry Task Force, which was mandated to review ways to innovate the industry, as well as create an energy transition roadmap. Karen also sits on the board of Atlantic XL, Tampnet Canada, and Nalcor’s Bull Arm Fabrication Facility. She is part of the 2025 Canada Games Governance Committee, and recently finished her term with the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation board.
Karen graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) at Memorial University, and Strategic Management at Oslo’s Norwegian School of Management. Most recently, she completed the Directors Education Program at the Institute of Corporate Directors, also obtaining her Director designation.
Byron Chubbs
Immediate Past Chair
Byron Chubbs is Vice President, Engineering and Energy Supply, for Newfoundland Power Inc., a company that has proudly served the people of our province for 135 years. Byron is responsible for energy supply, system planning, engineering and information technology. He also has corporate responsibility for inclusion and diversity.
Byron joined Newfoundland Power in 2006, holding progressively senior roles including Director, Eastern Region, and Director, Operations Technology. In 2016, he joined our sister company, Maritime Electric, as Vice President, Customer Service, with responsibility for transmission and distribution operations, safety, customer service and communications. Byron rejoined Newfoundland Power in 2018 in his current role, with a focus on innovation and sustainability in the electricity sector.
Byron is from St. Lewis in Labrador and holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) Degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He has completed the Advanced Leadership Program at Memorial’s Gardiner Institute. Byron is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland & Labrador. Byron also serves on the Electricity Canada Distribution Council and Memorial University’s Electrical & Computer Engineering Industry Advisory Council.
He lives in Paradise with his wife, Charlene, and two sons Daniel and Gregory.
Tarah Schulz
Treasurer
Tarah is Audit Partner with Deloitte LLP with over 16 years of experience in the Power, Utilities & Renewables (PU&R) industry. She holds several degrees and professional certifications including BBA – Accounting, University of Cincinnati; MS – Accounting, University of Cincinnati; CPA – Certified Public Accountant, Ohio; and CPA – Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition, Tarah has extensive experience providing audit services to a wide variety of publicly held clients in the PU&R industry in the United States of America and Canada. Her areas of expertise include regulatory accounting, internal controls, securities reporting requirements, and audits of publicly listed entities.
AnnMarie Boudreau
Ex-Officio and CEO
As CEO, AnnMarie is dedicated to working alongside the Board of Trade team and Board of Directors to provide guidance, support, and solutions to members. Throughout her career, AnnMarie has worked with the region’s largest and often most complex organizations to help shape their vision, build meaningful relationships, establish connections with stakeholders, and achieve their business objectives. She channels her depth of experience in strategic marketing and communications into her role as CEO and comes to work every day focused on helping to ensure businesses in our city can grow, evolve, and thrive.
Constanza Safatle Ferrari
Director
Constanza Safatle Ferrari is the Founder and CEO of Newbornlander Baby Store Inc., a purpose-driven Canadian company that designs and manufactures sustainable baby accessories in Newfoundland and Labrador. Originally from Chile, she built the company from her living room into a nationally recognized social enterprise that empowers newcomer and refugee women through employment, training, and entrepreneurship.
She is the creator of Sewing Hope, the province’s first private-sector settlement employment program for refugee women, integrating English classes, sewing training, and economic opportunity under one roof. Constanza has raised over $1 million to launch and expand the initiative and has hired more than 35 refugee women.
Her leadership has earned her the Atlantic Canada Craft Award for Excellence as Outstanding Exporter, the Confederation 75 Anniversary Medal, and NLOWE’s 2025 Change Maker of the Year Award. She was also named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Atlantic Canada. In 2025, she represented Canada at the G20 Youth Entrepreneurs’ Alliance Summit in Brazil, advocating for sustainability, inclusion, and innovation on the global stage.
Steve Clark
Director
Steve is the President with the locally owned and operated Baine Johnston Corp.—one of the longest-standing businesses in our province. His role includes overseeing and leading the various subsidiary businesses, including Leon’s and Baine Johnston Properties.
He has spent his career in operations and is driven by identifying opportunities, developing, executing and delivering plans, and then taking time to celebrate success. He has worked in many industries from health, IT, data & telecommunications, research & development, legal, professional services, retail, commercial property, marine, and more. Steve was previously the COO with Cox & Palmer, President & CEO with the NL Centre for Health Information, and served in other executive and financial leadership roles in the technology and engineering sectors over his career.
Steve has volunteered on other Boards and currently sits on the Board for the College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland & Labrador.
He is a Chartered Professional Accountant, completed a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts Degree (Economics & Business). He holds the Project Management Professional designation and the Director’s designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
He lives in St. John’s with his wife Heidi, and daughter Julia.
Judy Sparkes Giannou
Director
Bio to come
Paul Grant
Director
Bio to come
Farrah Carrim
Director
Farrah is the Deputy General Counsel, Global Operations and Strategic Projects of Vale Base Metals. She is an internationally experienced commercial lawyer and business advisor. Globally minded, she has a proven track record in navigating complex joint ventures and driving strategic business initiatives. Her leadership is characterized by her team-based focus and risk mitigation approach - making her a pivotal figure in several transformative deals during her ~15-year tenure with Vale. She manages a global legal team and, in crisis and uncertainty, is calm, considered and decisive. In addition to being a negotiator and trusted confidant, Farrah has served as a Board and Governance Committee member of Vale’s ~US$4B publicly traded Indonesian JV company.
Prior to Vale, Farrah worked as an Associate at Cox & Palmer Law Firm from 2008 to 2010, specializing in corporate and commercial law with significant experience in natural resources, energy, financial services, insolvency and commercial litigation.
Farrah was called to the Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario) in 2010 and the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2008. She obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Dalhousie University (2007) as well as her Bachelor of Commerce (Co-Operative) and Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from Memorial University (both 2004).
Farrah is passionate about the vitality of the broader business community; she recognizes the importance of practical, solutions-oriented dialogue. She is excited to actively engage with stakeholders - focusing on the levers that matter most to Board members.
Marsha Burke
Director
As Chief Financial Officer of KMK Capital Inc. Marsha has overall responsibility for the financial strategy, capital structure, reporting and information technology for the diverse group of real estate related firms, comprising the KMK Group of Companies. These companies include commercial construction, land and building development and ownership, mechanical, structural, electrical and civil engineering firms, property management and brokerage, seniors living operations, and health technology.
Throughout her 12-year tenure with KMK, Marsha has overseen significant organic and acquisition growth, making KMK the largest vertically integrated real estate group in Newfoundland and Labrador, with most recent expansion being in the United States and United Kingdom.
Prior to joining KMK, Marsha held a senior role in the assurance practice of Arthur Morris & Company Limited (now part of Doane Grant Thornton LLP). Marsha holds the designation of CPA, CA and has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she also played varsity basketball.
Chris Sparkes
Director
Chris Sparkes was born in St. John’s and grew up immersed in entrepreneurship. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Clayton, and father, Steve, who built Clayton Hospitality, Chris gained early exposure to business and leadership. Today, he owns and operates several Mr. Lube + Tires locations in the St. John’s area and serves as President of DAC Holdings Inc., a company focused on automotive services and operational management.
A graduate of the University of Southern Maine with a business degree, Chris combines formal education with hands-on leadership experience. He is actively involved in the day-to-day operations of his businesses, with a strong focus on team development, financial performance, and leveraging technology to improve both customer experience and internal systems.
Chris serves as Vice President of the Mr. Lube Franchisee Association (MLFA) and sits on several national committees, including the National Advisory Committee and the Technology Committee. In these roles, he collaborates with franchisees and corporate partners across Canada to improve operations and support long-term brand growth.
Sports have played a major role in Chris’s life. Having played competitively growing up, he credits sports with teaching him important life lessons, with resilience in the face of rejection being the most significant. Chris is a strong supporter of the local sports community and youth athletic programs in the region, believing that athletics play a vital role in building confidence, discipline, and community.
Outside of business, Chris is a proud father of two young sons. He enjoys teaching them the same outdoor values he grew up with in Newfoundland—spending time hunting, fishing, and being outside. When he isn't outdoors, you can usually find him playing ice or ball hockey.
Scott Vatcher
Director
Scott Vatcher is a healthcare executive with a strong foundation in finance and corporate growth. As Chief Operating Officer at Provincial Homecare, he leads operations, strategic growth, and partnership development across Newfoundland and Labrador, with a focus on building scalable systems, strong teams, and sustainable expansion in the home care sector.
Scott’s background includes experience in investment banking, commercial banking, and corporate development. In these roles, he advised organizations across the mining, technology, real estate, and health care sectors on equity capital markets transactions, strategic initiatives, and alternative financing solutions before transitioning into executive leadership.
He is actively engaged in community and sector leadership as Past-President of the Home Care Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (HCANL). Through his involvement with HCANL, Scott sits on various advisory boards and committees with the goal of advancing health care outcomes for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. He also serves as Chair of the Investment Committee for Memorial Universities Student Managed Investment Fund where he has the opportunity to mentor the provinces next generation of finance and business leaders.
Scott holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) (Co-op) from Memorial University and as a lifelong resident of Conception Bay South he is committed to advancing the long-term economic and social prosperity of Newfoundland and Labrador.
