Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia

Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia, M.A., B.A. is a multilingual, award-winning technology, business, and public policy executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning the private, public, non-profit, and academic sectors. Originally from Germany, she has built a global career across six countries and five continents and is widely recognized as one of Canada’s leading voices on technology and innovation policy.

Ulrike currently serves as Executive Vice President, Public Policy at TECHNATION, Canada’s leading technology association representing the full spectrum of the country’s tech ecosystem—from agile innovators and high-growth startups to domestic and global technology companies. In this role, she leads federal policy initiatives focused on privacy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, digital and data sovereignty, digital trade, and IT procurement modernization, helping shape and advance Canada’s position as a global technology leader.

Prior to joining TECHNATION, Ulrike was Senior Director, Digital Economy, Technology and Innovation at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. There, she led national policy files covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, telecommunications, quantum technologies, online safety, digital transformation, technology adoption, privacy, and data protection. She founded and chaired the national Cyber Security Council, Future of Artificial Intelligence Council, and Digital Economy Committee, bringing together nearly 200 organizations from across Canada’s business community to drive innovation, economic growth, and job creation. Between 2020 and 2022, she also launched and led the national Health Innovation Committee and established the Chamber’s biomanufacturing and life sciences portfolio. From 2023 to 2024, she additionally oversaw the Privacy and Digital Trade Council.

Before joining the Canadian Chamber, Ulrike served for more than seven years as President and CEO of Digital Nova Scotia, where she transformed the organization into a thriving provincial technology association and helped elevate Nova Scotia’s reputation as an emerging technology hub. Earlier in her career, she held leadership positions with the Government of Nova Scotia in economic development, international commerce, and trade, including roles with Innovacorp (now Invest Nova Scotia). She has also held senior executive positions with multinational technology corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and startups worldwide, including Intel, Compaq/HP, and McAfee.

A dedicated contributor to Canada’s innovation ecosystem, Ulrike has served on numerous boards and advisory committees, including Skills Canada, Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Computer Science, Saint Mary’s University’s Sobey School of Business, Nova Scotia Community College’s IT and Creative Industries Division, the Association of Industry Sector Councils, and the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC).

She currently serves as a member of Digital Moment’s National AI Council for Canada’s Future Workforce, The Canadian Internet Society’s Policy Committee, and the Governor General’s Innovation Awards Assessment Committee. She previously served on the Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel on the State of Science, Technology and Innovation in Canada and ISED’s Public Awareness Working Group on AI.

A passionate advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), as well as STEAM education and career development, Ulrike is widely recognized as a connector who builds bridges among industry, government, academia, and communities. Her contributions have earned numerous distinctions, including induction into the WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada Hall of Fame; Atlantic Business Magazine’s Top 50 CEO; RBC’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award; East Coast Top 25 Immigrant Award; Halifax’s Top 5 Immigrant Women Influencers; Women in Communications and Technology’s Top 15 Leadership Excellence Award (Innovator); Progress Women of Excellence Award (Innovator/Entrepreneur); Canadian Living Magazine’s Top 40 Change-Makers; the Mannesmann Teaching Award; and a Fulbright Scholarship during her graduate studies in the United States. In 2017, she was recognized as one of the “Canada 150 Women” in the bestselling publication of the same name.

Ulrike is married with a son and daughter and moved to Canada from Israel in 2002. Ulrike has called Canada her home ever since and as a self-described “nature nerd”, can be found in the great outdoors pretty much every day.