Ottawa, ON — September 9, 2026 — The Kanata North Business Association (KNBA) is pleased to welcome Lisa Hewston to its team as Director of Operations and Experience, bringing more than 30 years of experience creating engaging environments, delivering impactful events and building strong, connected communities.
In her new role, Lisa will lead operations and experience across KNBA, helping shape how members, partners, talent and the broader community engage with Canada’s Largest Technology Park. Her portfolio will span day-to-day operations, community experiences and some of KNBA’s largest annual events, including the Technata Hackathon, Discover Technata Career Fair and Canada Tech Connect Conference.
“Kanata North is an incredible community, and what immediately stood out to me was the energy, ambition and sense of connection that exists here,” said Lisa Hewston, Director of Operations and Experience at KNBA. “I’m excited to create experiences that bring people together, whether that’s through one of our major events, a new initiative or the everyday moments that make people feel connected to this community. There is so much happening across the Park, and I’m looking forward to working with the KNBA team, our members and partners to build on that momentum.”
Lisa joins KNBA following 12 years with Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards, where her work spanned operations, placemaking, events, tenant experience and community engagement. Throughout her career, she has developed a reputation for collaborative leadership and for transforming ideas into thoughtful, engaging experiences.
That combination of operational leadership and community-building will support KNBA as its programming and ecosystem continue to grow. From large-scale conferences and career events to industry gatherings and experiences across the Park, Lisa will help ensure KNBA’s initiatives create meaningful opportunities for people and organizations to connect.
“Lisa understands that a strong innovation ecosystem is built by people and the experiences that bring them together,” said Kelly Daize, Executive Director of the Kanata North Business Association. “She has an exceptional ability to take an idea, understand what people need from it, and turn it into an experience that feels intentional, welcoming, and memorable. As our events, programs and community continue to grow, Lisa’s leadership will be instrumental in helping us deliver at an even higher level for our members, partners and everyone who engages with Kanata North.”
As Director of Operations and Experience, Lisa will work across KNBA’s programming to strengthen operational delivery while bringing a people-first lens to the experiences the Association creates. Her focus on partnership, creativity and execution will support KNBA’s work to connect the people and organizations driving innovation across Kanata North and beyond.
“I’m a firm believer that the best experiences are the ones where people leave feeling like they were part of something,” added Lisa. “That’s what I’m most excited to help create here — opportunities for people to meet, collaborate, share ideas and feel genuinely connected to what’s happening in Kanata North.”
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About the Kanata North Business Association (KNBA)
The Kanata North Business Association (KNBA) is the voice and champion of Canada’s Largest Technology Park. Located in Ottawa, Ontario, Kanata North is home to more than 800 companies creating over 63,000 jobs nationally and generating approximately $18 billion in annual economic output to Canada. We possess global strengths in semiconductors, photonics, AI, cybersecurity, telecommunications, autonomous systems, defence, quantum, software, and advanced manufacturing. KNBA brings together industry, government, academia, investors, and community partners to attract companies, investment, and talent, accelerate innovation and commercialization, and help technology companies start, scale, and compete globally.
Media Contact:
Kanata North Business Association
Hannah Manierka
hannah.manierka@kanatanorthba.ca
(416) 460 0799
