Krista Bezanson
Meet our team
Krista Bezanson, Manager of Innovation, Halifax, N.S.
Krista Bezanson has made a career out of working with money – and helping people, businesses and organizations in the process.
After graduating from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, the Newfoundland native joined the Royal Bank (RBC) in Fredericton as a commercial banker and then branch manager. She later moved to the Cayman Islands, where she worked for Scotia Bank and the Bank of Bermuda in their mutual fund department. When she returned to Canada, her plan was to rejoin RBC, but she heard about a job opportunity at ACOA. That was almost 20 years ago.
As the manager of innovation for the life science team based in Halifax, Krista understands the importance of the work companies in this sector are doing. “Working at ACOA has opened my eyes to the fact that there are some amazing entrepreneurs and companies in Atlantic Canada that are doing really great things in the world. We are helping clients cure cancer and put diagnostic devices on the space shuttle.”
“Our life sciences team and portfolio are continually growing,” she adds. “We are constantly meeting new clients and delivering millions of dollars. It’s very rewarding to play a role in the success of this sector.”
One of the achievements Krista is most proud of is founding the Atlantic Venture Forum. This annual conference, launched 11 years ago, connects clients to venture capital all around the country.
For Krista, one of the best parts of her job is: it makes her smile. “It is, quite simply, fun to be part of a company’s success story.”
Enjoying your job is also important, says Krista. “It’s valuable to surround yourself with good people and meaningful work, and ACOA is a great place to do just that.”