Driving Cross-Border Growth: CQBF Welcomes Douglas C. Power to Its Board of Directors
The Canadian‑Qatari Business Forum (CQBF) is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Douglas C. Power, a veteran business development professional with over 30 years of global advisory experience, to its Board of Directors. Representing Atlantic Canada, Mr. Power brings strategic insight and a vast international network spanning the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia.
His inclusion marks a significant step toward advancing CQBF’s mission: empowering cross‐border trade, innovation, and sustainable growth between Canada and Qatar. With a background that bridges public and private sectors, coupled with recent engagements in Doha, he is uniquely positioned to catalyze Atlantic‐Qatari business relationships.
In this comprehensive profile, we’ll explore his professional journey, leadership philosophy, and why his appointment signals bright prospects for bilateral collaboration—especially for Canadian entrepreneurs and institutions looking to expand into Gulf markets.
A 30‑Year Journey in Business Development
Mr. Douglas C. Power’s career spans more than three decades working across continents and sectors. His portfolio includes leadership in entrepreneurship, government advisory, and international business consultancy. Throughout his career, he has advised on projects ranging from energy development in East Asia to fintech partnerships in Africa, and trade innovation in the Middle East.
Educated in Canada, Power leveraged his early years working with small and medium enterprises before progressing into international strategic roles. His ability to navigate different regulatory environments, cultural contexts, and industry sectors has made him a valuable advisor to both public agencies and private organizations.
Power’s approach—rooted in relationship building, mentorship, and data-driven strategy—has enabled tangible outcomes: joint ventures, investment flows, and enhanced institutional capacity. His clients include government trade missions, innovation labs, and multinational corporations seeking footholds in emerging markets.
With his heartfelt belief in Atlantic Canada’s creative and economic potential, he’s fostered numerous cross-border initiatives—underscoring CQBF’s values of inclusive leadership and practical impact.
Recent Strategic Work in Qatar
In recent years, Mr. Power has engaged in several strategic initiatives in Doha, reflecting his deep understanding of Qatar’s evolving economic landscape. His involvement ranges from advising trade missions seeking Canadian‑based technology or education partnerships, to facilitating high-level meetings between Gulf and Atlantic Canadian institutions.
He has taken part in forums that bridge Canadian universities with Qatari research institutions, helping expand collaboration in areas such as health tech, sustainable energy, and business education. His ability to represent Canadian perspectives in Doha—with credibility and cultural sensitivity—has made him a trusted liaison.
Through workshops, roundtables, and advisory sessions, Power has helped Atlantic Canadian businesses explore opportunities in Qatar’s logistics, fisheries, agriculture, and fintech sectors. These engagements underscore the value he brings to CQBF: real-world operational intelligence, diplomatic grace, and a knack for connecting dots between regions.
Moreover, his strategic oversight assists in identifying gaps in trade flows—such as the underrepresentation of Canadian agri produce in Qatari markets—and in designing actionable networks to address them.
Atlantic Canada’s Opportunity on the Global Stage
Often overshadowed by larger provinces, Atlantic Canada has unique competitive advantages: strong seafood exports, renewable energy expertise, marine technology, and academic excellence. Mr. Power has long advocated for these strengths to be framed not merely as local assets, but as globally relevant solutions—especially for markets like Qatar.
Through CQBF, Douglas Power intends to amplify Atlantic Canada’s voice in Gulf trade dialogues. He envisions Canadian seafood, certified forestry products, marine innovation, and tech-enabled fisheries finding markets in Doha and beyond. He also supports educational exchanges: institutions in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island partnering with Qatari universities, promoting cross-border research and innovation.
By leveraging CQBF’s platform, Power can help develop market-ready business packages, grant-linked pilot programs, and trade missions that bring Canadian businesses face-to-face with Qatari buyers. His regional advocacy not only benefits exporters but also diversifies Qatar’s procurement ecosystem, aligning with broader economic diversification goals emphasized in Qatar’s national strategies.
Leadership, Diplomacy, and Vision
Mr. Power brings a leadership philosophy rooted in strategic diplomacy, ethical governance, and grassroots connectivity. He emphasizes the importance of co-created solutions—where stakeholders on both sides define success.
In Canada, he has led advisory councils, chambers of commerce initiatives, and policy dialogues involving both government and private enterprise. Internationally, his approach has been characterized by respectful collaboration: balancing respect for local customs with clear economic objectives.
His engagements in Doha reflect this balance—whether facilitating institutional partnerships or advising on regulatory norms for Canadian businesses aspiring to enter the Gulf market. He has built trust, stakeholder-by-stakeholder, across sectors.
In an era where soft diplomacy matters as much as contracts, Power’s aptitude for framing Canadian business interests within shared values—such as sustainability, education, and healthcare innovation—elevates CQBF’s narrative. His leadership signals that trade can be both profitable and purpose-driven.
Implications for CQBF and Its Stakeholders
The appointment of Douglas Power to CQBF’s Board brings tangible benefits for multiple stakeholder groups:
Canadian SMEs & Exporters: Access to curated market intelligence and contact networks in Qatar. From seafood to marine tech to educational exports.
Academic & Research Institutions: Greater opportunity to forge Qatar partnerships in research, innovation, and student exchange.
Policy Makers: Enhanced representation of Atlantic provinces in trade dialogues with Qatar—supporting evidence-based policymaking.
Qatari Investors & Institutions: Improved clarity and trust when exploring opportunities in Canada’s eastern provinces.
His participation means CQBF can now accelerate targeted trade missions across Atlantic Canada, support pilot programs in fisheries and ag-tech, and formalize education-industry collaborations—all reinforced by his credibility and vision.
Conclusion: A Catalyst for Bilateral Growth
Douglas C. Power’s appointment to CQBF’s Board is more than an addition—it’s a commitment to empowered, action-driven diplomacy. His depth of cross-sector experience, paired with his regional advocacy for Atlantic Canada, anchors CQBF’s ethos in real-world outcomes.
As we look ahead, Power’s leadership will help position Atlantic Canada and Qatar not as distant trading nations, but as strategic partners bound by shared ambition: quality, innovation, and sustained economic partnership.
We welcome him with confidence and excitement—and encourage enterprises, institutions, and thought leaders on both continents to engage with CQBF as this new chapter unfolds.
Ibrahim Abdelhalim
Board Member & Senior Business Advisor