School of Business

2023 Keynote Speaker

Diane Campbell is President and CEO of Berkeley Holdings Limited, operator of four retirement residences in Halifax. Ms. Campbell was born and raised in Halifax. She graduated from Acadia University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and received her Bachelor of Law Degree from Dalhousie University. Ms. Campbell was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1968 and practiced law with Daley Black Moreira & Piercey for several years.

Ms. Campbell purchased The Berkeley Halifax after it was placed in receivership in 1993. After getting the business back on its feet, she realized there was potential for more locations throughout HRM. The Berkeley Dartmouth opened its doors in 1996, followed by The Berkeley Bedford in 1999. It was just as the idea of retirement living began to catch on that an opportunity came up in the heart of Halifax at Gladstone Ridge. In 2008, The Berkeley Gladstone became the largest location and the headquarters for the business. As the original building neared 30, it became clear that it was no longer serving its purpose. The Berkeley on Pepperell, which was under construction during the COVID 19 pandemic, opened in April of 2021. Following the opening of the newest building, the original building in south end Halifax was sold.

The Berkeley Retirement Residences provide apartments for seniors with included benefits – daily activities and exercise classes, full-service dining and weekly housekeeping. The Berkeley lifestyle is built on three wellness principles – Stay Active. Be Social. Eat Well. Guided by these principles The Berkeley ensures their residents ‘Love this stage of life’. The intention is for residents to live care-free, with an emphasis being put on maintaining their health and wellness while enjoying life in a community of their contemporaries.

Diane has served as Co-Chair of the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Door-to-Door Campaign as well as many boards, including the Canadian Cancer Society (NS Division), Halifax Herald Limited, NS Business Capital Corporation, Discovery Centre, Neptune Theatre, Victoria General Hospital Board of Commissioners, Canadian Stroke Network and Canadiana Fund. She was the Founding Chair of the Victoria General Hospital Foundation. She has also served on the Capital Campaign Committees for the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Neptune Theatre, and Mount Saint Vincent University’s Project TWENTY12.

Ms. Campbell is past chair of the Board of Trustees and former member of the Board of Management, Finance and Property Maintenance Committees of First Baptist Church Halifax, the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation and Medical Dean’s Advisory Board. Ms. Campbell served as Vice Chair of the Discovery Centre Rediscover Campaign Cabinet and served on the Advisory Board of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia and the AGNS Capital Campaign Council.

She served on the Acadia Board of Governors, Senate and various Committees of the Board and Senate over a period of more than 20 years.

In 2013 Ms. Campbell was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and was inducted into the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame in 2018. Most recently she received an Honorary Degree from Acadia in 2020 which was awarded in 2021.