Bennett Jones is pleased to announce that public-private infrastructure leader Jane Bird has joined the firm as a Senior Business Advisor. She will be based in the Vancouver office.

Jane was most recently responsible for the Canada House renewal project on Trafalgar Square in London, U.K., as an attaché with Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Development. She was previously President and CEO of Columbia Power Corporation, where she led the construction of a $900 million, 335MW hydroelectric project at Waneta Dam.

From 2001-09, she was CEO of Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc. She was responsible for the highly successful 19 km, $2 billion Canada Line rapid transit project connecting downtown Vancouver with Richmond and the Vancouver International Airport. Canada Line was finished on budget and on schedule, and was one of the earliest transit public-private partnerships in North America.

"Jane brings a stellar track record of success in leading high profile infrastructure projects. Infrastructure investment is in the spotlight provincially and nationally and Jane will bring tremendous value to our clients in this area. She is renowned in Vancouver and British Columbia for her leadership and work and will be an outstanding addition to our infrastructure team," says Hugh MacKinnon Chairman and CEO of Bennett Jones.

From 1986 to 1999, Jane was a lawyer in Vancouver where she practiced corporate, commercial and real estate law. Before leading Canada Line, she managed the City of Vancouver's involvement with the provincial Millennium rapid transit line. Jane was honoured as one of Canada's Most Powerful Women in 2009 in the corporate executive category by WXN Top 100.

About Bennett Jones

Bennett Jones is one of Canada's premier business law firms and home to over 380 lawyers and business advisors in nine offices. With exceptional experience in complex cross-border and international transactions, the firm is well equipped to advise foreign businesses and investors with Canadian ventures, and connect Canadian businesses and investors with opportunities around the world.

Media contact

Peter Zvanitajs
Senior Media Advisor
Bennett Jones
T: 416 777 6128 | C: 437 999 6214
E: zvanitajsp@bennettjones.com
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