Browser not supportedIris Petten is an entrepreneur, community volunteer, and senior executive. Born and raised in Port de Grave, Newfoundland and Labrador, a vibrant fishing community, Ms. Petten has maintained a close connection with coastal communities over her 35 years in the fishing industry.
In 1984, Ms. Petten began her career with Fishery Products International and worked in its trawler division. By 1998, Ms. Petten was a founding shareholder and Vice-President of Grand Atlantic Seafoods, a processing company wholly owned by fish harvesters. She then co-founded Ocean Choice International (OCI) in 2000 and served as a vice-president until 2008, and remained in a consultancy role with OCI until February 2023.
Ms. Petten has also proudly served on several corporate boards, including Canship Ugland Ltd., Penney Ugland Ltd., Oceanex, and Canada Post, and has the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Ms. Petten has been a life-long volunteer, working with numerous organizations, including Kids Eat Smart, the Newfoundland and Labrador Angel Network, Easter Seals, Port De Grave Peninsula Heritage Society Inc., the Advisory Committee of the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, and the International Women’s Forum.
Ms. Petten served three terms as the chair of the Board of Regents of Memorial University of Newfoundland, from 2013 to 2022. She was a member of the 2019 Premier’s Economic Recovery Team and the Atlantic Premiers’ Panel on Impacts of Changes to Employment Insurance.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Vocational Education, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Memorial University of Newfoundland.