Prince George, B.C. – Joel McKay is the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT).

McKay was formerly the Trust’s director of communications and succeeds outgoing CEO Janine North who announced her retirement earlier this year.

He will officially take over on October 3, 2016. McKay has been with NDIT since 2012 and during that time has lead the Trust’s communications and marketing, economic research and analysis along with the ‘Fabulous Festivals and Events’ program.

Prior to 2012 he was an award-winning business journalist in Vancouver where he covered the province’s resource industries including forestry, mining, oil and gas and renewable energy.

McKay  says he doesn’t expect to  see any changes in the way the Trust  is administered  “I think the Trust has been really successful  at being responsive to  communities and being responsible with the capital that we steward.  We heard from communities that that’s what they want, and that’s what  we are going to continue doing.  We are led by communities in the North , it’s the  communities that tell us how they want the Trust to respond and strengthen the economy and we’re going to continue doing that. and that’s my goal, that’s my vision.”

Because he has  worked with  many small communities  over the past four years, McKay  has already developed positive relationships throughout the North ” I’ve done a lot of time  in these communities over the past number of years, it’s been fantastic. I love  every opportunity I get to go out  and travel the North.  I  am originally from Vancouver and moved  here 4 years ago, it’s the best decision I ever made,   you couldn’t  pay  me enough to go south again.  I  love the North, I love the communities that we serve and I look forward to continuing to have a life here and serving the region.”