Arlene Dunn
Chief Executive Officer
With over 30 years of experience in labour relations, Arlene Dunn is a seasoned professional who has broken barriers throughout her career. Notably, she was the first woman to serve as a business manager in the construction industry and later became the Director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU), representing over 500,000 skilled trades across the country.
Arlene has a wealth of experience managing labour relations for large-scale projects, having worked in Newfoundland and Labrador managing labour relations for the Hebron Project Employers Association and subsequently, the Newfoundland and Labrador Building Trades Council. In 2019, she launched her own company, Innovation at Work, Inc., to offer strategic labour relations solutions across Canada. Her career took a new direction in 2020 when she was elected to the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, where she served in multiple cabinet roles, including Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Minister responsible for Opportunities NB, Economic Development and Small Business, Immigration, and Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.
In 2024, Arlene became the CEO of the Saint John Construction Association, where she leads negotiations and labour relations on behalf of member contractors. A fierce advocate for underrepresented groups, vulnerable populations and her community, Arlene is also deeply committed to raising awareness around mental health and substance use disorder.