She is a career banker and rose to be an Executive Vice President at BMO. Deanna was a Corporate, Commercial and Investment Banker, led the International Bank, cash management, Operating Services and the startup e- businesses of Merx and epost.
Deanna is a pioneer in micro finance and social entrepreneurship globally. She was the founding President and Chief Executive officer of the MasterCard Foundation. She advocated for women to become economically self-sustaining through her dedicated involvement, with Women's World Banking and Calmeadow.
Deanna is committed to CSR, working with the Advisory Council on Corporate Social Responsibility of Export Development Canada.
She co-authored the Canadian bestseller, Dreams Have No Expiry Date, which has been translated into four languages.
Board memberships included: Empire Life, Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, Hospital for Sick Children, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Women's World Banking (New York), Calmeadow and Omega Foundation, Canadian Memorial Services (Mount Pleasant Cemetery Group), Cebra Inc., Harris Bank International Corporation, Chairperson of the Ontario Film Development Corporation
Deanna lives in Toronto and is married with children and grandchildren.