Laura Barron joined the econext team as Chief Executive Officer in August 2025. Based in Newfoundland and Labrador, on the east coast of Canada, econext is a not-for-profit association that works with businesses, communities, researchers and governments to solve environmental challenges and grow the green economy. For more than 30 years, econext has been Newfoundland and Labrador's leading voice on the green economy, working on behalf of 200 members across many sectors to support environmentally sustainable economic development. Laura's background is in strategic communications and stakeholder relations in public sector, private sector and not-for-profit environments, including World Energy GH2, m5 Marketing Communications, Ray Creative Agency, and Memorial University of Newfoundland. Laura has a Master of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University, a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts from Memorial University, and a post-graduate certificate in Strategic Public Relations from University of Toronto. Laura also obtained a strategic communications management professional (SCMP) certification in 2018 through the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). Laura serves as a mentor ('big sister') with Big Brothers Big Sisters Newfoundland and Labrador, and serves on the board of irectors for the Katie Sullivan Instrument Library