EFC’s annual Economic Forecast returns in a dynamic webinar format, delivering essential global, national, and regional economic insights from top-tier economists. Longtime EFC contributor Maureen Farrow, President of Economap Inc., is joined by Donald Leavens, Chief Economist at NEMA, to provide clear and candid analysis of the economic landscape shaping Canada’s future.
This year’s session will focus on key economic drivers, including:
- Tariffs and US/Iran war are reshaping economic dynamics as commodity-driven cost pressures intensify
- Market uncertainty/volatility are reshaping business strategies. Canada embarks on new economic development initiatives to address the new global realities
- Global recession should be avoided but growth to remain muted and stagflation risk remains a possibility.
This key event is especially relevant for senior executives, finance leaders, and management professionals engaged in budgeting, strategic planning, and forecasting.
Featured Economists
Maureen Farrow
President | Economap Inc.
Economic Outlook 2026/2027
Maureen will address the new global economic dynamics that are being shaped by U.S. tariffs and the US/Iran war. A base line forecast will be presented for the major national economies focussed on business cycle dynamics, inflation, monetary policy and currencies. Canada’s challenge to this changed political/economic environment will be assessed with particular attention given to trade issues/trade diversification, and large infrastructure projects aimed to enhance our competitiveness and sovereign robustness. The regional implications of the development strategies will be discussed for BC, Alberta, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
Biography
Maureen Farrow is President of Economap Inc., a strategic economic advisory consultancy service for businesses and government. The firm specializes in interpreting the impact of global economic trends on financial markets to assist portfolio managers with asset allocation decisions. During her career, Maureen has specialized in applied economics, forecasting and policy development.
Maureen currently serves as a member of the Investment Committees of the WCB of British Columbia and the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board of Ontario. In 1991, Maureen was made a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants, in honour of her contribution as an economist to the business community. In 1996, Maureen received the Commemorative Medal marking the 125th Anniversary of Confederation.
Consensus Economics out of London UK has awarded Economap Inc. with the Forecast Accuracy Award 2023 for Canada.
Donald R. Leavens Ph.D
Senior Vice President & Chief Economist | NEMA
The US Electroindustry Economic Outlook
Strong demand for electric grid equipment to support growing data center and electric power sector investment has helped to sustain growth in the US electroindustry despite the dampening impact of extended conflict in the Middle East and persistent trade policy uncertainty. While electrical sectors exposed to data center and grid investment are booming, sectors tied to construction are struggling as residential and commercial construction markets languish. In this presentation we will discuss the impact of this two-speed economy on the outlook for the electrical industry.
Biography
Donald R. Leavens, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association’s Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, holds a Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University. He also received a master’s degree in economics from Virginia Tech and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Virginia.
At NEMA, he heads a quantitative analysis division known as NEMA Business Intelligence, which provides econometric modeling, macroeconomic forecasting, market research, economic analysis, and industry data collection services to a wide range of businesses including many of the world’s largest companies. He is a frequent speaker at industry and company events where he focuses on the economic outlook and business trends.
In addition, Donald serves as an observer on the board of the Industry Data Exchange Association, IDEA, which operates an industry data warehouse and EDI services for the electrical industry.
Prior to joining NEMA, he served as Director Tax Policy Research for the National Association of Realtors and Director Federal Budget Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and has held academic appointments at George Mason University and Virginia Tech. He has also written articles on public choice and public finance economics that have appeared in academic journals and has contributed articles to several books. In addition, he has served as a member of the Governor of Virginia’s Advisory Board of Economists.
