Brampton Economic Development Manager Erica Henry-Jackman Profiled
Erica Henry-Jackman recently earned the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®) designation in December 2025. The credential marks a significant milestone for the Manager of Investment Attraction and International Relations at the City of Brampton Economic Development Office. For Henry-Jackman, this recognition is not just a professional accolade but the culmination of a career that has always viewed trade through a human lens. She sees international commerce less as a series of transactions and more as a network of bridges connecting people, markets, and opportunities.
Her path to this point did not start in a boardroom. It began on the global stage in 1997. That year, she was selected as a delegate to the Commonwealth Youth Programme. There, she engaged with international leaders on issues ranging from youth empowerment to sustainable development. In the same year, she contributed to the United Nations “Awake Beyond Awareness” campaign. She worked alongside former South African President Nelson Mandela on this initiative. These early experiences exposed her to the mechanics of international collaboration.
From Youth Ambassador to Trade Strategist
Following those early engagements, Henry-Jackman joined the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. She started as a youth ambassador and later moved into a trade intern role. This transition marked a shift in her career. International trade moved from a personal interest to a defining professional path. One of her earliest high-stakes assignments involved supporting the nation’s participation in a dispute at the World Trade Organization. The case concerned cross-border online gambling services against the United States. It was a landmark moment for the small economy.
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The experience provided her with firsthand exposure to trade law and the realities smaller economies face within the global system. She recalls being drawn to the transformative power of strategic negotiation and fair market access. That formative period laid the foundation for a career that would span diplomacy, foreign direct investment, and economic development. She learned that while technical frameworks are essential, they are only the skeleton of a deal. The flesh and blood come from trust.
Over the next two decades, she built a reputation for connecting governments, businesses, and investors. As Vice-Consul and Director of Tourism for Antigua and Barbuda in Canada, she strengthened trade and investment relationships between the two regions. The role reinforced a central lesson: successful economic partnerships rely on relationships as much as policy. She has led high-level missions involving diverse stakeholders, often managing conflicting priorities to build consensus. In an era marked by tariff uncertainty, organizations are increasingly looking for partners who can handle complexity with confidence.
Her approach to trade differs from the purely technical focus common in the field. While she mastered regulations and policy early on, her experience suggests that trust is the variable that allows trade to thrive. The strongest agreements are not built solely on rules. They are built on understanding people and their perspectives. When markets are uncertain, stakeholders look for partners who respect their priorities. This shifts a simple transaction into a lasting partnership. Her advice to emerging professionals is to invest in relationships early. Listening carefully and approaching partnerships with patience is the most valuable currency in international trade.
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Bringing Global Experience to Brampton
Today, Henry-Jackman applies this global perspective to local economic development in Canada. In her role with the City of Brampton, she works to position the city as a competitive destination for global investment. She also helps local businesses access international markets and partnerships. She has also spearheaded investment attraction initiatives that have strengthened Brampton’s position as a destination for foreign-direct investment while supporting cross-cultural partnerships focused on innovation, sustainability, and inclusive economic development.
Henry-Jackman has also spearheaded investment attraction initiatives that have strengthened Brampton’s position for foreign direct investment. These efforts focus on inclusive economic development. For her, these accomplishments represent the convergence of decades spent working across diplomacy and trade. The diplomatic skills developed through international representation now inform her approach to one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities. It is global experience applied locally, creating benefits for businesses and communities alike.
Validating Experience with a Global Standard
After more than twenty years in the field, pursuing the CITP designation felt like a natural progression. Henry-Jackman cited the credential’s international recognition as a primary motivator. She views it as a benchmark of credibility and professional excellence in global trade. For her, the designation validates decades of practical experience against internationally recognized standards. It strengthens confidence among investors, governments, and global partners who may not know her work history.
