Katie Desharnais

Katie Desharnais leads Niagara Region Economic Development’s strategic marketing initiatives to attract new businesses and residents to the Niagara region. Katie brings extensive experience in some of Niagara’s core industries to her role, including wine, tourism, and sport. In addition to spending over a decade for Canada’s largest wine producer executing international marketing initiatives, Katie further honed her communications skills in a variety of positions focused on strategic and executive communications. Those assignments included time with Google, Canadian Olympic Committee, Niagara Children’s Centre, and the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation. Katie received her Executive Certificate in Marketing Strategy from Cornell University in addition to her degree from Brock University.

Further professional accomplishments Katie is a talented photographer whose work has been featured in national publications. In her personal life, Katie blends her photography and communications skills with her passion for accessibility and inclusion supporting charitable organizations, including Niagara Children’s Centre, The Bruce Trail Conservancy, and the National Ballet of Canada.