Christina Kakaflikas, MAES, EcD, CEcD

Director, Economic Development
City of Mississauga

In her role as Director, Ms. Kakaflikas brings with her significant years of experience in municipal economic development. She reports to the Commissioner of Planning and Building and oversee three key areas of focus: Business Investment and Sector Development; Business Initiatives and Planning; and Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Tailoring services to fit the needs of all businesses large and small,

Mississauga’s Economic Development Office has a primary focus of supporting and expanding Mississauga’s business community, providing research, industry analysis and marketing as well as offering guidance and support to entrepreneurs and small businesses.  

Previously, Ms. Kakaflikas served as Director, Economic Growth, Culture and Entrepreneurship for the City of Markham. Ms. Kakaflikas and her team led Markham's international partnerships and stakeholder relationships and focused on increasing business investment and job growth. In this capacity, where she developed and oversaw multiple business missions to India, China, Germany, Japan, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America.

Ms. Kakaflikas  volunteered for many years on the Board of Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) and in 2017 served as President. She  has also represented Markham on the Board of ventureLAB, York Region’s Regional Innovation Centre.

Ms. Kakflikas  is a graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Master of Economic Development and Innovation program and has an undergraduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Ryerson University.