Ayon Shahed, President of Branch Innovations & Vice President of Innovation and Business Development

Ayon is a strategic leader with over 15 years of experience spanning the realms of health, technology, social enterprise, housing, and public policy. With extensive business development, strategic planning and facilitation experience, Ayon brings a critical focus to ensuring strong communication and inclusive spaces that embrace divergent and convergent thinking.

As President of Branch Innovations and VP of Innovation and Business Development at Seafair, he spearheads transformative initiatives grounded in a deep focus on impact for community wellbeing, the healthcare system, and on entrepreneurial success. A skilled collaborator, Ayon forges strategic partnerships across government, private, non-profit sectors, navigating complex systems to drive ambitious, people-centred solutions. Prior his work with Seafair, Ayon held influential leadership roles at Choices for Youth and Engineers Without Borders Canada.

Ayon’s leadership extends to his active involvement in various boards and committees, including previous governance positions with the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association, the St. John's Tool Library, the City of St. John's Affordable Housing Committee, MusicNL, and the Catherine Donnelly Foundation. He is currently serving as Vice-Chair on the board of techNL.

In 2024, Ayon was recognized as one of Future of Good’s outstanding Canadians in Corporate Social Impact. In 2021, he completed the Strategic Innovation Programme at the Oxford University Saïd Business School. In 2019, he received an Engineering Excellence Award from Queen’s University; and in 2015, Ayon was named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 Under 40.