Arlene Dickinson was the first woman to become a regular Dragon in the Canadian version of the format.
The Canadian programme is titled Dragons' Den and is based on the same international business-pitch format as the UK show. Dickinson joined the Canadian panel in the early years and became one of its most prominent investors.
She founded Venture Communications, a Canadian marketing and advertising agency, and brought expertise in branding, communications and business growth to the panel. She also became known for supporting entrepreneurs through investment and mentoring.
The UK and Canadian editions have different investor histories. Deborah Meaden is associated with the British panel, while Dickinson is a Canadian Dragon; the similar programme titles can make those roles easy to mix up.