The Honourable Iris G. Petten is an entrepreneur, community volunteer, and senior executive who was appointed to the Senate of Canada on May 3rd, 2023. Born and raised in Port de Grave, Newfoundland and Labrador, a vibrant fishing community, Ms. Petten has maintained a close connection with coastal communities over her 35 years in the fishing industry.
In 1984 Ms. Petten began her career with Fishery Products International and worked in its trawler division. By 1998, Ms. Petten was a founding shareholder and Vice-President of Grand Atlantic Seafoods, a processing company wholly owned by fish harvesters. She then co-founded Ocean Choice International (OCI) in 2000 and served as a vice-president until 2008, and remained in a consultancy role with OCI until February 2023.
Ms. Petten served three terms as the chair of the Board of Regents of Memorial University of Newfoundland, from 2013 to 2022. She was a member of the 2019 Premier’s Economic Recovery Team chaired by Dame Moya Greene, and the Atlantic Premiers’ Panel on Impacts of Changes to Employment Insurance.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Vocational Education, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Memorial University of Newfoundland.