Speaker Profile

Bernardis the founding Executive Director of Craft Alliance AtlanticAssociation. He was instrumental in the strategic development of theorganization in 2009, after two years of research and consultation.Craft Alliance Atlantic is a non-profit trade association operatingunder a private-public partnership structure. Bernard has beenworking in craft, in a pan-Atlantic capacity since 2000.Bernardhas been involved in the Canadian craft industry for the past 38years and has been involved in many aspects of the sector including:craft producer, retailer, administrator, collector and volunteer. Hehas done extensive research in the areas of art licensing and craftexperiential tourism, and has organized dozens of educationalmissions to many industry events like Surtex Licensing, SOFA Chicago,Collect UK, International Contemporary Furniture Fair, Wanted Designand others. In2024 Bernard was named a Fellowof the New Brunswick College of Craft & Design. An honour givenby the college to recognize those who have made a significantcontribution to the development and well being of the college and thepeople who work there. https://nbccd.ca/happening-here/fellows/

Berniehas a keen interest in International relations, exporting and theglobal craft community. He is currently Vice President of theCanadian Crafts Federation. In his capacity with Craft AllianceAtlantic he has participated and coordinated export, trade &market intelligence missions for the craft sector to Japan, China,Germany, Iceland, Ireland, United Kingdom and the United States. Hehas also served on other industry Boards, including; the CulturalHuman Resources  Council (Ottawa) and the Atlantic ECONOMUSEENetwork. He also served on the National Steering Committee for FITT –The Forum for International Trade Training, on studying HumanResource Trends in International Trade. The first ever HR study onInternational trade in the culture sector.

Bernie’sforay into craft began as Director of two retail craft cooperativesand his own craft gallery that paralleled with his interests inmaking with a jewellery production and weaving studio. A consummatecollector of craft for over 40 years, he has never met a piece ofpottery he didn’t love!  

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