Derek Butler
Executive Director
Derek Butler is the Executive Director (and past Board Chair 2006–2016) of the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP), having joined the Association in 2004. As CEO of ASP, Derek is responsible for Association operations, board management, public policy, and industry, government and media relations. He has served on various industry boards, including One Ocean and the Business Coalition, and served previously as a director on the federally-appointed Fisheries Resource Conservation Council. Derek has also taught as a sessional lecturer in political science at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Immediately prior to working with ASP, Derek served with the Washington-based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. He was based in the Middle East and Africa, heading up NDI’s offices in Madagascar, Yemen and Morocco, with shorter stints in West and Central Africa. Derek began his professional career with Foreign Affairs Canada, later working with the Canadian Institute for International Peace and Security. He later worked as a Legislative Aid in the Canadian parliament for the Chief Government Whip in the House and Senate, and the Government Leader in the Senate. He holds a BA (1988) and MA (2002) in political science from Memorial, and studied French for two years at Laval University in Quebec City.
Sherry Day
Executive Assistant
Sherry graduated with honours from Bishop’s College and subsequently obtained a diploma in Business Administration/Secretarial Studies from the NL Career Academy. She worked for 17 years with Sun Life Financial, working her way up from receptionist to Branch Management Secretary and Branch Technology Specialist, while also obtaining her FLMI degree (Fellowship of the Life Management Institute). Sherry then went on to work at the St. John’s Port Authority and started with ASP in April 2004 as Executive Assistant to the CEO. She is responsible for such things as maintaining the Executive Director’s calendar, arranging Board meetings and General Membership meetings, preparing for collective bargaining negotiations, accounting and many other duties required to run an efficient office.