Duncan Williams

Duncan Williams, BSW, MSW, ICD.D

Upper Tantallon, NS

Duncan Williams joined the Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS) as President and CEO in January 2011, and he sits on multiple boards. With over 20 years of experience at an executive level, he brings a strong balance of perspective as a director and C-suite leader.

His involvement with the Workers Compensation Board, Construction Safety Nova Scotia, Technical Safety Advisory Board, investment committees, governance and policy committees, finance and risk management committees and more has given him a well-rounded set of board competencies. Duncan is an expert in government relations, strategic planning, organizational performance, outcome measurement, and governance at the board and committee levels. He has significant experience in legislative reform, partnership development, board onboarding, CEO/executive-level selection, recruitment and strategic investment.

Earlier in his career, Duncan held executive-level and senior positions with CNIB in Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. As General Manager for Caterplan, CNIB’s food service operation, he was responsible for more than 50 catering and restaurant outlets across Atlantic Canada. He also served as Executive Director for CNIB Maritimes and other organizations.

Duncan has vision loss.

Board Memberships and Committee Experience*

  • Chair, Technical Safety Advisory Board of Nova Scotia (2023 – Present)
  • Industry Representative, Ministers Review Panel, Labour Skills and Immigration (2021 – 2024)
  • CANS Representative, Construction Industry Safety Coalition (2020 – Present)
  • Chair, Prompt Payment Coalition (2019 – Present)
  • Member, National Advisory Committee, Canadian Construction Association (2019 – 2024)
  • Director, Construction Safety Nova Scotia (2018 – Present)
    • Vice Chair (2023 – Present)Director, Executive Committee (2023 – Present)
    • Chair, Governance, Nominating and Human Resources (2023 – Present)
  • Director, Workers Compensation Board of Nova Scotia (2015 – 2024)
    • Director, Governance and Policy Committee (2015 – 2024)
    • Director, Investment Committee (2022 – 2024)
    • Chair, Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Committee (2022 – 2024)
  • Member, Governance Committee, Construction Association of Nova Scotia (2014 – Present)
  • Director, Technical Safety Advisory Board (Government Appointment) (2014 – 2016)
  • Member, Industry Education Taskforce, Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (2013 – 2018)
  • Member, Workforce of the Future Taskforce, Province of Nova Scotia (2012 – 2014)
  • Member, Standard Practices Committee, Construction Association of Nova Scotia (2011 – 2017)
  • Executive Committee Member, Construction Association of Nova Scotia (2011 – 2014)

Education and Credentials

  • Certificate, Agile Management, Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University (2023)
  • Certificate, Mercer School of Investment (2022)
  • Certificate, Aligning Team and Organization, Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University (2020)
  • Certificate, Applying Strategic Thinking, Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University (2019)
  • ICD.D, Directors Education Program, Rotman School of Management & Institute of Corporate Directors (2016)
  • MSW, Dalhousie University (2009)
  • BSW, Memorial University of Newfoundland (1998)

* Select appointments and experience; additional information is available on request.

Posted: May 2, 2024