The Sweden-Canada Opportunity: Economic Outlook, Innovation & Investment
Thursday October 8, 2026 11:10 - 11:50 Auditorium (W280)
Presenter: Lena SellgrenPanelists: Andreas Netz, Joanne Tognarelli, Nicole Simone
As geopolitical tensions reshape global markets, supply chains, and investment flows, Sweden stands out as a stable, innovative, and globally connected economy. This session examines Sweden's economic outlook, innovation ecosystem, and investment opportunities, while exploring how Sweden and Canada can strengthen commercial ties and create new opportunities for growth, competitiveness, and long-term resilience.
Lecturers
Lena Sellgren Presenter
Chief Economist
Business Sweden
Lena Sellgren is Chief Economist and Head of Research at Business Sweden, the Swedish Trade and Investment Council, jointly owned by the Swedish Government and the Swedish business community. Business Sweden supports Swedish companies in expanding their global sales and assists international companies seeking to invest and grow in Sweden, leveraging an extensive network across more than 40 markets worldwide.
In her role, Lena Sellgren leads Business Sweden’s research function, which continuously monitors global markets and macroeconomic trends and analyses their implications for Swedish companies’ internationalisation. She is a highly experienced speaker and a regular contributor to public debate, including in national and international media.
Prior to joining Business Sweden, she served as Chief Analyst at Nordea Markets. Her career also includes senior roles in the public sector, notably as Head of Public Finances at the National Institute of Economic Research and more than ten years at the Swedish Ministry of Finance, where she was Deputy Head of the Tax Policy Analysis Division. She has acted as an expert in several Swedish public inquiries and represented Sweden in EU and OECD working groups and bilateral negotiations.
Lena Sellgren holds or has held a number of advisory and board positions, including Board Member of the Research Council of Norway (Tax Policy Programme), Member of the Council at Skandia, Member of the Economic Policy Forum at the Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum, Expert to the Productivity Commission at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Southern Sweden, and Member of the advisory board of the Forum for Global Business at the Karl‑Adam Bonnier Foundation. She has also been a columnist for the German business newspaper Handelsblatt.
In addition, she is Chair of the Advisory Board for Economic Statistics at Statistics Sweden, Board Member of the Expert Group on Public Economics (ESO), Member of the Swedish Industrial Council and Member of Dagens Industri's Shadow Board of Directors to the Riksbank.
She holds degrees in economics from Lund University and the Stockholm School of Economics (PhD programme) and also has a degree in Civil Engineering in Urban Planning.
Andreas Netz Panelist
Head of Invest North America
Business Sweden
Andreas Netz is Head of Investment Promotion, North America at Business Sweden, leading the U.S. team in attracting investments to Sweden across technology, transport, energy and life sciences. He has nearly two decades of experience in technology and innovation, including roles at IBM, Vinnova and Nordic Innovation House Silicon Valley.
Joanne Tognarelli Panelist
Managing Director EMEA, Global Business Development
Export Development Canada (EDC)
Joanne Tognarelli is the Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Export Development Canada (EDC), where she leads the organization’s engagement across one of Canada's most strategically important regions. She was appointed to this role in 2026, reflecting EDC’s and the Government of Canada’s focus on Europe as a priority market to advance Canada’s market diversification and strengthen global trade.
Joanne joined EDC in 2001 after beginning her career in the telecommunications sector. Over more than two decades, she has built deep expertise across corporate finance, commercial lending, and insurance, serving in senior business development and underwriting roles across multiple industries and regions.
Prior to her current role, Joanne was the Vice President of EDC’s Global Business Development and Global Corporate Partnerships teams, overseeing relationships across international markets.
Joanne holds a Master of Business Administration from the Telfer School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree with a specialization in Economics.
Nicole Simone Panelist
Director, Partnerships and Investor Services
Invest Ontario
Nicole Simone is a results-driven leader with over 15 years of experience in government relations, partnership development, and strategic planning. As Director of Partnerships and Investor Services at Invest Ontario, she has helped drive billions of dollars in investments in Ontario in sectors such as life sciences, technology, and advanced manufacturing. Known for her strong relationship-building skills and strategic insight, she works across global markets to advance high-impact partnerships and power economic growth.
Nicole holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Arts (Hon) in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour from McMaster University.