Robert Youden, B. Comm.
CEO, Jacques Whitford Group Ltd. (Halifax)

Bob Youden is the Chief Executive of Jacques Whitford, a consulting leader in environmental, engineering, scientific and planning disciplines with special focus on challenges in the natural and built environments. Jacques Whitford has more than 1000 colleagues in forty offices across Canada, the United States as well as several internationally.

As Chief Executive, Mr. Youden is chair of the firm's Leadership Team which includes its national President's, CFO, CTO and Executive Vice Presidents. In addition he is a member of the company's Board of Directors which includes a number of distinguished business leaders drawn from leading businesses throughout North America.

Mr. Youden came to Jacques Whitford after 17 years with J.D. Irving Limited where he held a number of senior positions. Most recently he was Vice President, Transportation where he was fully responsible for six operating companies. Earlier with J.D. Irving, he held senior management roles in Irving Pulp and Paper and other Irving subsidiaries, including serving as Corporate Treasurer for J.D. Irving Limited.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Youden served as Corporate Controller of Bow Valley Offshore Drilling and Chief Financial Officer of Schwartz Inc. He has served on a number of national and regional advisory bodies, including the National Marine Advisory Board of the Canadian Coastguard, the Protection Mutual Insurance Business Advisory Board and the University of New Brunswick (Saint John) Business Advisory Board.

Mr. Youden holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University and is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.