Catherine Swift
From September 1987 to date, Catherine Susan Swift has been with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. She became Chairwoman in June 1999 after being named Chief Executive Officer in July, 1997 and President in May of 1995. She first served CFIB as Vice-President of Research and Chief Economist, then as Senior Vice-President, Provincial Affairs, Senior Vice-President, Administration, Senior Vice-President, Legislative Affairs and subsequently Executive Vice-President. Ms. Swift is a CFIB Board Governor and Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Board. Among her various responsibilities is coordinating policy issues at both federal and provincial levels of government and representing CFIB with politicians, government, business and other groups.
Ms. Swift worked with the federal government in Ottawa from 1976 to 1983, holding several positions with the Departments of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Industry and Communications. Her areas of specialization included corporate and industrial analysis, international trade and computer communications.
From 1983 - 1987 Ms. Swift was Senior Economist with the Toronto-Dominion Bank in the Department of Economic Research. Her work included industrial analysis and forecasts, provincial economic and financial analysis, and special advisory projects with Bank clients.
Catherine Swift studied at the University of Toronto and Carleton University in Ottawa, obtaining a BA (Honors) in Economics in 1977 and an MA in Economics in 1980.
She has published numerous articles in journals, magazines and other media on such small business issues as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship and women small business owners.
Ms. Swift is the Immediate Past President of the Empire Club, a Director of the C.D. Howe Institute and a member of the Executive Committee of the International Small Business Congress. She was cited as one of the top 100 most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network in 2003.
