Canada is facing a pivotal moment. With threats to our sovereignty, a slowing economy, and growing strain on the social foundations we depend on, this is the time for urgent action and leadership.
On April 22, join the Globe and Mail at INTERSECT/26 and gain direct exposure to national decision-makers, emerging policy directions, and cross-sector leaders as we explore an action plan for national growth and renewal.
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Pippa began reporting for The Globe and Mail in 2023 while finishing her degree at Carleton University. During her short stint as an academic intern, she managed to secure herself a spot as a finalist for the Canadian Association of Journalists’ award for student excellence for a piece she wrote about stray dogs in Ukraine. Since then, she has worked on major stories, such as a gold heist at Toronto Pearson Airport, a major strike at WestJet and historic flooding in Toronto.
After completing The Globe’s summer reporting program, she joined as staff in 2024. Pippa has written for a number of The Globe’s newsletters, including Globe Climate, Carrick on Money and Amplify. She has also been a regular contributor to a personal finance series about the great wealth transfer.
Prior to joining The Globe, Pippa was lead editor for The Tyee's What Works series on sustainable enterprises. She also reported breaking news for CityNews Vancouver, freelanced for Canada’s National Observer and worked as a research associate for the Climate Disaster project. She published her findings on the lack of climate change attribution in Ottawa media in J-Source.
Originally from the Ottawa Valley, Pippa has reported from The Globe's Vancouver and Toronto bureaus.Pippa is an avid trail runner, gravel cyclist and climber, and is awful at sitting still.
Goldy Hyder is a seasoned strategic leader with more than 25 years’ experience advising business leaders, boards of directors, government officials and a broad spectrum of community stakeholder groups.
As President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of Canada (BCC), he represents Canadian business leaders across the country and around the world. The BCC is a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose membership is comprised of more than 170 chief executives and entrepreneurs of Canada’s leading and largest companies. Mr. Hyder works directly with these leaders to develop and promote sensible public policy solutions in support of economic growth, including in the areas of the energy transition, innovation and industrial policy, cybersecurity, supply chain resilience, workforce development, and trade diversification. He led the BCC through the COVID-19 pandemic, helping coordinate the Canadian business community’s response to the crisis.
Mr. Hyder is a member of the Board of Directors of Open Text Corporation. In addition, he has a long track record of service on behalf of several charities and non-profit organizations, including the Coalition for a Better Future, the Business + Higher Education Roundtable, and Canada’s World Trade Organization Business Advisory Council. He sits on the advisory boards of two leading organizations promoting advancement of women leaders: Catalyst Canada and the 30% Club (Canada) and is a member of the selection board for A Seat At The Table, an initiative to encourage greater representation of people with disabilities on corporate boards.
Prior to the BCC, Mr. Hyder was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Canada. In a series of increasingly senior roles, he provided clients with strategic counsel on public policy reform and regulatory approvals for corporate transactions.
Mr. Hyder is a regular commentator in Canadian media on business, politics and leadership. He is also the host of the Speaking of Business podcast, which features interviews with Canadian innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders. He holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Calgary.
A globally respected aerospace and technology executive, Marc Parent brings more than three decades of experience leading complex, mission-critical businesses through transformation, innovation, and sustained growth. Over his 15-year tenure as President and CEO of CAE, Marc led the nearly C$5B company to become the undisputed leader in global aviation training. An experienced public company board director, he brings an engineer’s discipline and CEO’s vision to accelerating shareholder value and optimizing operations in rapidly changing environments.
As CEO, Marc transformed CAE to more than double annual revenue to C$4.7B, with more than two-thirds derived from high-margin, recurring services. Embedding a culture of agility and innovation, he leveraged emerging technology to differentiate the company’s business model, forged new corporate partnerships that disrupted the competitive dynamic, and landed pivotal contracts with Canadian and US government defense agencies. Battle-tested in times of crises, Marc rapidly pivoted CAE’s manufacturing lines during the pandemic to produce 10K ventilators and spearheaded private-sector initiatives that helped vaccinate 10% of Canada’s population.
Earlier in his career, Marc led the turnaround of CAE’s core Civil Simulation Products business. This returned it to profitability, and it outpaced low-cost market competitors within a year. Marc then went on to double the profit margins of military business revenue through a new approach to influencing government procurement. Before CAE, Marc spent 20 years at Bombardier, where he played a key role in evolving the rail- and recreation-focused enterprise into an aviation powerhouse, overseeing complex operations across major North American hubs. Marc began his career as an aerospace engineer at Canadair.
First elected in 2000 and re-elected eight times since, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc has represented the riding of Beauséjour for 25 years.
A senior member of Cabinet, Minister LeBlanc has held a number of portfolios over the years, including International Trade, Finance, Intergovernmental Affairs, Public Safety and Democratic Institutions, and Infrastructure and Communities. He has also served as President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada, as Minister of Northern Affairs and Internal Trade, as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and as Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. Additionally, he has served as Deputy Government Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence.
During his time on the Hill, Minister LeBlanc has gained a wealth of experience delivering on national commitments and priorities that depend on strong relationships with other orders of government to create more jobs and grow the economy. In his various roles in Cabinet, he has led the delivery of important initiatives for Canadians, including establishing the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians and modernizing the Fisheries Act to help protect fish stocks and habitat. As Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, he led major efforts to strengthen internal trade and increase infrastructure investments across the country.
Prior to his election to the House of Commons, Minister LeBlanc practiced law as a barrister and solicitor with Clark Drummie in Shediac and Moncton, New Brunswick. From 1993 to 1996, he served as Special Advisor to then Prime Minister of Canada Jean Chrétien.
Minister LeBlanc holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick, and a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School. A proud Acadian with deep roots in francophone rural New Brunswick, he is married to Jolène Richard, a former Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of New Brunswick.
Raymond Gatcliffe was appointed CEO of Citibank Canada on April 1, 2025.
As CEO of Citibank Canada, he is Citi’s central representative in Canada and is responsible for the governance and continued growth of Citi’s Canadian business, a top 10 country franchise with roots dating back to 1919. Citi currently employs approximately 3,300 financial services professionals across Canada. In addition to his role as CEO, Raymond is the Banking Head for Canada and a member of the Citibank Canada Board of Directors.
With 30 years of banking experience across several regions with Citi, most recently Raymond was the Head of Citi Commercial Bank (CCB) in North America, based in New York. Previously, he was based in London as the Head of CCB for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
From 2015 to 2019, Raymond was the regional Corporate and Investment Banking Head for Central America and the Caribbean, in addition to the company’s Caribbean Region Head. He served as the Citi Country Officer for Panama from 2012 to 2014 and for Puerto Rico from 2009 to 2012. Raymond first began his career at Citi Trinidad in 1994 as a Credit Analyst and Relationship Manager.
Raymond represents Citi in industry affairs as Vice Chair of the Foreign Banks Executive Council and a member of the Executive Council of the Canadian Bankers Association and the Business Council of Canada. Raymond has also served as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in various Latin American countries and as chairman of St. Andrews School in Trinidad.
Stepan Arman is the Senior Director, Public Sector for Indeed Canada, where he leads the vision and strategy for Québec, Eastern Canada, as well as the federal public sector. With nearly 20 years of leadership in human capital, Stepan brings his expertise and knowledge to solving complex workforce challenges for organizations ranging from agile SMEs to global enterprises. A champion of innovation, he leverages deep labour market insights to design high-impact workforce strategies that modernize the employer-employee experience and drive institutional growth.
Rachel Zimmer is the Co-Founder and CEO of Simple Ventures (SV), a Canadian venture builder backed by TD, Sun Life, Sobeys, and leading founder-operators including Mike Katchen (Wealthsimple), Harley Finkelstein (Shopify), Joanna Griffiths (Knix), Joe Canavan, etc. Prior to SV, Rachel led Entrepreneur First in North America, the Reid Hoffman and Patrick Collison–backed studio. An exited founder and investor, she has been recognized as Emerging Entrepreneur by the Toronto Board of Trade and featured as a thought leader in Canadian outlets such as The Globe and Mail, BNN Bloomberg and the Financial Post
April Fong is a senior editor with The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business. She was previously Executive Editor of The Logic, where she helped oversee the publication's editorial strategy, led its daily newsletter to multiple SABEW Best in Business awards and was a frequent moderator in live events.
A former senior digital producer at BNN Bloomberg, April has also worked at the Financial Post and China Economic Review in Shanghai. She taught Business Reporting at her alma mater, Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication from 2021 to 2024.
Temur Durrani is a national reporter for The Globe and Mail, focusing on Manitoba. He is also the host of Better For It, a Globe business podcast about how our failures shape us.
Previously, he was a technology reporter for The Globe’s Report on Business, based in Toronto. In that role, he broke news and wrote extensively about Canadian firms like Shopify, turbulence in global cryptocurrency markets, privacy violations, the impact of Big Tech on the country, and hacks at major companies. He’d also ended up on stage with Beyoncé.
A globe-trotting newshound hailing from British Columbia, Temur has covered protests in Hong Kong, graffiti art in India and Pakistan, crashes in Alaska, crime in the GTA, federal politics in Ottawa, small business in the Maritimes, finance on the Prairies, and even the Raptors’ historic run to the NBA final. He is now stationed in Winnipeg.
Before joining The Globe in February of 2022, Temur worked at BNN Bloomberg, where he reported investigative stories and business features for broadcast and digital audiences. Prior to that, he was a staffer at the Winnipeg Free Press, the Toronto Star, iPolitics (Ottawa), and the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal.
A juror since 2021 for the annual Dalton Camp Award, which grants young writers with a $10,000 prize for the best essay on the link between media and democracy, Temur frequently appears on live-audience, TV and radio panels to provide news analysis.
He speaks in six languages fluently or conversationally (guess which ones!), takes his caffeinated beverages very seriously, and loves a good meme.
Lauren Mostowyk leads the Corporate Affairs & Partnerships functions at Interac ensuring effective brand and reputation management. In her role, she is responsible for developing channel strategies that are instrumental in promoting our products and fostering partnerships. Lauren plays a key role at Interac in maintaining consistency in our narrative across various platforms, aligning closely with our corporate strategy to effectively communicate to both internal stakeholders and external audiences. Over the past five years, Lauren has advanced through senior roles, successfully growing our employee engagement strategy, enhancing our brand’s market presence, and providing steady leadership in issues management
Sherrill Sutherland is the host of The Decibel, The Globe and Mail’s daily news podcast. She’s been part of The Globe for more than a decade, working as a video producer and as an editor in the Opinion section. Before sitting in the host’s chair, Sherrill spent four years producing The Decibel, helping to shape the show’s coverage and bringing the stories that matter to Canadians.
She started her career at CBC Television, where she worked in a wide range of roles including as a writer and associate producer.
Sherrill is passionate about the biggest stories of the day, especially the ones Canadians are talking about. Whether it be breaking news or political developments on Parliament Hill to the zeitgeist cultural conversations people are having with their friends and family, Sherrill wants to be in the middle of it, talking to reporters, newsmakers and Canadians with a story to share.
Brice Scheschuk, CPA is the Managing Partner of Globalive Capital (www.globalive.com), an advisor to WealthONE Bank and co-founder of ZeroStone AI. He was a co-founder and CFO of WIND Mobile as well as CEO of Globalive Communications. Brice has over thirty years’ experience building and operating companies at Globalive, WIND Mobile, Leitch Technology and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He obtained his CPA designation at PricewaterhouseCoopers and B.Comm (Hon.) Finance from Dalhousie University. Brice served as a Maritime Surface Officer in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve.
Brice serves on numerous boards and advisory committees (public, private, and not-for-profit) and is a frequent speaker on scale-up entrepreneurship and innovation. He is a co-founder of MindFrame Connect (www.mindframeconnect.com), a not-for-profit focused on elevating the craft of mentorship, improving entrepreneurial resiliency, and alternative capital paths to venture capital. Brice is a supporter of Build Canada (www.buildcanada.com). His interests include Canada’s innovation and start-up ecosystem, entrepreneurial finance, mentorship excellence, resiliency, financial literacy, political moderation/centrism, military veteran transition, fitness, travel, good food, good books, and great friends.
Eliot Pence is a builder of frontier defense and industrial companies. He is the founder of Dominion Dynamics, a defense firm working to establish sovereign capability in aerospace, autonomy, and command-and-control. From 2018–2022, Eliot led global growth at Anduril Industries, joining as one of the company’s very first business development hires and playing a central role in building it into one of America’s most consequential defense technology companies. He created Anduril’s international go-to-market strategy from scratch, bootstrapped overseas growth, and built teams across three continents—shaping how Anduril scaled as a global defense prime. He was the Chief Business Officer at Osmo and Cambium Biomaterials, leading government and enterprise go-to-market efforts to translate frontier R&D into deployable platforms. Previously, he was a senior director at McLarty Associates, the Washington, DC–based advisory firm. He serves on the U.S. Trade Representative’s Advisory Committee and the Yale University President’s Council on International Activities. Eliot earned his M.A. from Yale University and his B.A. from the University of Victoria.
Rajat Marwah joined Algoma Steel in 2008 as General Manager of Finance and Cost, with accountability for credit, cost, budgeting, pricing, planning, and financial accounting. He was appointed Vice President of Finance in 2012 and became Chief Financial Officer in 2014.
Effective January 1, 2026, Rajat was appointed Chief Executive Officer, leading Algoma through its next chapter of transformation and growth as the company completes its transition to Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking and advances its position as a leading producer of green Canadian steel.
Throughout his tenure as CFO, Rajat has been responsible for all finance, procurement, business planning, and information technology functions, while also serving as Algoma’s Chief Risk Officer. He has played a pivotal role in strengthening the company’s financial performance, advancing operational excellence, and supporting strategic initiatives that have positioned Algoma for long-term success.
Rajat is a Chartered Accountant who began his career with KPMG before joining ArcelorMittal, where he served as Head of Internal Audit in Romania and later as Financial Controller in the Czech Republic. He brings extensive international experience across Europe, Asia, and North America and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Shri Ram College of Commerce in Delhi, India.
Bruno Suppa is the CEO of BDO Canada. Under Bruno's leadership, BDO will continue to build on the remarkable growth the firm has experienced over recent years. In collaboration with the firm's board, executive leadership team and partnership, Bruno remains committed to delivering and expanding the firm's service offerings, designed to support clients on their paths to growth, and evolving the firm to meet the changing needs of clients across every sector which has been the cornerstone of BDO's client centric approach.
Prior to becoming CEO, Bruno was the Managing Partner for BDO Canada's Markets and Offices, leading approximately 3,000 people across sectors and service offerings, in more than 100 locations. He has been instrumental to the firm's strategic growth and diversification of offerings, driving its innovation agenda, and a valued member of the executive leadership team.
Over the course of his career, Bruno has held several leadership positions at BDO Canada, including leading the firm's Greater Toronto Area practice, its Transaction Advisory Services group, Private Equity group, and represented Canada on BDO Global's Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and Private Equity Steering Committees.
Andrew Coyne is a columnist for The Globe and Mail. Raised in Winnipeg, Mr. Coyne is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the London School of Economics. He has worked previously for The National Post, Maclean’s and Southam News, contributing as well to a wide range of other publications in Canada and abroad, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, National Review, and The Walrus. He is also a weekly panelist on CBC’s The National.
Kluane Adamek – Aagé (she/her) is a citizen of Kluane First Nation and honours the Matriarchs who welcomed her into the Dakl’aweidi (Killer Whale) Clan. Family grounds her work and values; she and her husband, Scott, live in Whitehorse, Yukon with their daughter, Tayāna Copper-Jane, and hold close their wider family.
The teachings of her grandparents, to stay grounded, be consistent, and never compromise integrity, have shaped her ability to walk in what her Grandmother called “both worlds.” These teachings remain the foundation of how she shows up: with humility, courage, and a deep sense of responsibility to future generations.
Kluane’s work centres on bringing people together and creating space for voices too often left out. As the Assembly of First Nations Yukon Regional Chief from 2018–2025, she helped lead the advancement of a national First Nations climate strategy and represented northern and Indigenous perspectives in key national and international policy discussions.
In all of her work, Kluane brings forward perspectives rooted in her values, lived experience, and the realities of northern and Indigenous peoples. Whether serving on the Indigenous Advisory Council to the Major Projects Office or as a Trustee for the Kluane First Nation Trust, she works to make complex systems more accessible, inclusive, and responsive. She is deeply committed to creating space for women, young people, and the next generation to shape decisions that will impact them most — always grounding her leadership in values, relationships, and responsibility.
Harry Culham leads a team of over 48,000 team members globally who live CIBC’s purpose every day: to help make your ambition a reality.
With a proven track record of leading key areas of CIBC’s businesses and head office groups, Harry has instilled a strategic, client-focused and growth-oriented mindset across the organization, building an exceptional team and delivering outstanding business results.
Harry first joined CIBC as an intern in Vancouver and participated in one of the bank’s first graduate programs. He then gained extensive experience in senior banking roles in Europe and Asia before rejoining CIBC in 2008, ultimately taking on the leadership of CIBC’s global Capital Markets business in 2015. He has been responsible for leading and optimizing several areas of the bank including CIBC Caribbean, CIBC Mellon and the Strategic Client Office. He has also led the bank’s Enterprise Strategy and Corporate Development function and Global Asset Management.
Prior to being appointed President and CEO, he was CIBC’s Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the bank’s four Strategic Business Units.
His commitment to community service and creating a culture of care is reflected in his roles as Co-Chair of the CIBC Foundation, Executive Chair of CIBC Miracle Day, the United Way Finance Sector lead, and as a member of the Board of Sinai Health. He holds a degree from the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business and is a Leslie Wong Fellow.
John was appointed President & CEO of CPP Investments in February 2021. He is responsible for leading the organization on its critical mission: to help ensure a strong foundation of financial security in retirement for millions of Canadians. The CPP Fund has over C$714 billion in assets under management and is projected to reach C$3 trillion by 2050.
John’s experience at CPP Investments has spanned the globe, having worked in our Toronto, London and Hong Kong offices. In 2008, he joined the Total Portfolio Management group (now Total Fund Management) before transitioning to Private Investments. He went on to become Managing Director and Global Head of Principal Credit Investments in 2015 and was subsequently appointed Senior Managing Director & Global Head of Credit Investments in 2018. Under his leadership, Credit Investments has grown its exposure globally and developed expertise across the entire credit spectrum.
John champions the delivery of superior investment returns on behalf of generations of Canadians. He has been instrumental in shaping CPP Investments into an organization defined by growth, high performance and a spirit of collaboration. In addition to sitting at the helm of CPP Investments,
John has served on the board of FCLTGlobal since 2021 and has been Chair since September 1, 2024. FCLTGlobal is a non-profit organization with a mission to focus capital on the long term to support a sustainable and prosperous economy. CPP Investments is the co-Founder of Focusing Capital on the Long Term, the joint initiative that led to the creation of FCLTGlobal in 2016.
The Honourable Jason Kenney recently completed a distinguished twenty-five year career in public service. In his twenties he built the Canadian Taxpayers Federation into one of Canada's most influential advocacy groups, serving as its President and CEO. He was elected to Parliament in 1997, and was re-elected six times with an average of 76% of the vote. He served in key opposition roles, including Shadow Finance Minister. As a senior member of the Harper government, he led some of the largest federal departments as Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism; Minister of Employment and Social Development; and Minister of National Defence, while chairing the influential Cabinet Operations Committee. The National Post called him "perhaps Canada's best immigration minister, ever." In 2016 Jason launched a successful campaign to unite Alberta’s free enterprise parties, going on to win a landslide majority to become Alberta’s eighteenth Premier. His government focused on the successful renewal of Alberta’s economy, while working with Indigenous people to create economic opportunity. Jason holds two honourary doctorates and was voted "best overall parliamentarian" by his colleagues. He now serves as a Senior Advisor at Bennett Jones LLP, and BMO, is a Senior Fellow of the C.D. Howe Institute, and is a member of several corporate boards.
James Bradshaw is the Institutional Investing Reporter for the Report on Business, based in Toronto. In that role, he is responsible for coverage of Canada's largest pension plans, private equity firms and alternative asset managers, which collectively control trillions of dollars of investments ranging from real estate to public infrastructure.
Previously, he spent six years as The Globe's banking reporter, covering the financial services sector, including the largest banks, fintechs and financial regulators.
Since joining the Globe and Mail in 2007, James has covered media, higher education, arts and cultural policy, and national news. He has occasionally written Editorials as well.
He has won a SABEW Canada Best in Business Award and the Edward Goff Penny Memorial Prize.
Bill Lomax is the President and CEO of the First Nations Bank of Canada (FNBC) and a member of the Gitxsan Nation. Bill grew up in Terrace, B.C. and studied in Vancouver before heading south to spend 22 years working on Wall Street and in Private equity in the United States. As a graduate of UBC’s law school, Mr. Lomax began his career as a lawyer facilitating land claim negotiations for the British Columbia Treaty Commission. After obtaining his MBA at Columbia University, he later worked for the Canadian Federal Department of Justice before entering the investment sector in the United States, working for firms such as Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs.
Lomax believes the First Nations Bank of Canada will be a catalyst to create economic growth that is inclusive and sustainable in Indigenous Nations and communities. His deep experience in the US will serve him well. He worked with Native American Tribes across the US and was entrusted with managing multi-billions in Indigenous assets over the course of his career.
The First Nations Bank of Canada is a federally chartered bank, with decades of experience serving Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples throughout Canada. The FNBC has 10 branches and 11 community banking centres in six provinces and three territories and more than $1B in holdings.
An international agri-food, strategic business and financial thinker, Murad founded AGT Foods in 2001, building a Canadian start-up into a global billion-dollar value-added, plant-based protein company supplying pulses, staple foods and ingredients to customers around the globe.
Murad has a varied experience in board roles including appointments to the Industry Strategy Council of the Government of Canada in 2020; Chair, Government of Canada National Agri-Food Strategy Roundtable; Chair of the SME Advisory Board for Canada’s Trade Minister; Chair, Executive Committee, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; the Board of Pulse Canada and as Board Chair of Economic Development Regina. Murad’s current Board appointments include the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association, the Protein Industries Canada Supercluster, the Century Initiative and the Board of Directors of Saudi Arabia Milling Company, the recently privatized flour mills of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Murad is also a graduate of the Rottman Institute of Corporate Directors ICD course.
Murad is a passionate advocate of Canadian agriculture speaking extensively on the opportunities and challenges facing the Canada’s agriculture sector. Murad is also passionate about entrepreneurs, championing compassionate entrepreneurism and working to expand female, youth and First Nations participation in business start-ups, advocating the role of entrepreneurs in driving social change and innovation in the new global economy.
Murad has been recognized with a number of awards including the 2024 ABEX Hall of Fame, the 2024 the 2024 USask Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award, 2021 ABEX Business Leader of the Year, 2020 Globe and Mail “Innovator CEO of the Year”, the 2021 Canadian Western Agribition “CWA Top 50 in Canadian Agriculture”, the 2017 Saskatchewan Order of Merit, a University of Regina Honorary Degree, the 2017 “Oslo Business for Peace” Honouree, 2017 EY “World Entrepreneur of the Year”, 2016 UN Association of Canada “Global Citizen Laureate”, PROFITGuide Magazine’s “30 Most Fabulous Entrepreneurs of the Past 30 Years” list, Globe & Mail “Canada’s Top 40 under 40” and the Western Producer “44 Innovators Who Shaped Prairie Agriculture”.
Kristian Aquilina was appointed GM Canada president and managing director in January 2024, reporting to Rory Harvey, executive vice president and president of GM Global Markets.
Kristian leads GM Canada at a pivotal time of growth and opportunity, as the industry prepares for an all-electric future and the company continues to build on its recent investments in Canadian manufacturing, EV supply chain and software development work.
Kristian joined GM Canada in 2023 as vice president of vehicle sales, service, and marketing, bringing his global experience and perspective to the GM Canada dealer network and the entire GM Canada enterprise. Under his leadership, GM Canada led the industry in total market share and total sales for 2023 – the first time since 2009.
Prior to joining GM Canada, Kristian was the managing director of Cadillac International Operations and Cadillac Middle East. During this time, he led Cadillac’s strategy across certain international markets as well as its operational activities in the Middle East and achieved strong profitability growth while laying the groundwork for an all-electric future in the region.
In his 25 years with General Motors, Kristian has held several leadership roles in sales and marketing as well as business unit leadership including as managing director for Holden, New Zealand and executive director of sales and marketing at GM Holden. He was appointed chairman and managing director GM Holden in 2019 and led the transition of the business to the newly formed General Motors Australia and New Zealand.
Joyce Carter is President & CEO of Halifax International Airport Authority, overseeing the management, development and operation of Halifax Stanfield International Airport. She holds leadership roles in various aviation organizations, including being the first female Past Chair of the Canadian Airports Council. A strong advocate for women in leadership, she mentors others and participates in programs like the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Mentorship Program. Joyce has received numerous accolades, including being named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs (2017-2020) and one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women (2023). In 2024, she was appointed by the RCAF as Honorary Colonel of 12 Wing Shearwater, and in 2025, she was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her contributions to transportation and commerce.
Heather Chalmers is President for GE Vernova Canada and leadsInternational Advocacy for GE’s suite of technology and products across power, renewables, and digital for the newly announced GE VERNOVA, GE’s portfolio of energy businesses. As well, she leads the GE Vernova North American Hydro business. GE Vernova Canada hasproduced world-leading solutions for 130 years and employs thousands of employees across multiple sectors delivering innovation and outcomes to customers in Canada and across the world.
Heather’s leadership supports the future of the energy transition and Canadian economy in addressing the climate crisis for sustainable, affordable, and reliable electricity in partnership with business and government leaders. This responsibility includes both domestic and international advocacy directed to enabling the technology ecosystem, with regulatory and fiscal policy required for a net-zero future. A recognized Canadian thought leader, she is co-chair of the Canadian Chamber's Net-Zero Council (2021-22; 2022-23) and is solicited by national and global organizations to provide advisory for business, economy, and sustainability forums.
Throughout her extensive career with GE, Heather has consistently developed and led high performing teams that are industry leaders in bringing innovative technology and digital solutions to solve complex challenges in both Canadian and global markets. Heather joined GE Plastics in 1995 and held both engineering and commercial roles. Following that she moved to GE Healthcare and was promoted to President in 2014. She’s had the pleasure of leading the GE Canada team since 2018.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce awarded Heather as 2023 Business Leader of the Year Award and awarded the Rotman School of Management’s 2022 Arbor award and Women Leaders in Digital Health 2020 award.
Doug Ford is the 26th premier of Ontario and the Member of Provincial Parliament for Etobicoke North. Previously a successful businessman with operations in Toronto, Chicago, and New Jersey, as well as a Toronto city councillor, Doug Ford has served as premier since 2018.
In 2025, Premier Ford won his third successive majority mandate, increasing his share of the popular vote each time. He ran on a platform focused on protecting Ontario workers, businesses, and communities amid tariffs and global economic uncertainty by cutting red tape, investing in infrastructure, and positioning Ontario as the most competitive place in the G7 to invest, create jobs, and do business.
Tim Houston is Nova Scotia’s 30th Premier.
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Tim was raised in a military family and grew up on military bases in Summerside, PEI, Trenton, Ontario and Comox, British Columbia before the family ultimately returned to Nova Scotia for his father’s retirement posting to Shearwater.
First and foremost, Tim is a dad. He and his wife, Carol, have been married since 1995 and have two children, Paget and Zachary.
Tim attended Saint Mary’s University where he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce. He then earned his Chartered Accountant designation in Halifax. After graduation, he and Carol moved to Bermuda where he worked with both Deloitte and in the reinsurance industry. In 2007, knowing that they wanted to raise their children closer to their extended family, Carol and Tim returned to Nova Scotia and have lived in Pictou County ever since.
On November 2, 2020, Tim was awarded his profession’s highest mark of distinction, the Fellow (FCPA) designation, by Chartered Professional Accountants of Nova Scotia.
Tim’s love for this province and its people — and discussions in hockey rinks — sparked his interest in politics. He successfully sought the Pictou East PC nomination in 2012 and was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2013 provincial election. He was re-elected in 2017, 2021, and again in November 2024.
In 2018, Tim was elected Leader of the PC Party of Nova Scotia. He was sworn in as Premier of Nova Scotia on August 31, 2021, and started his second term in office in December 2024. Premier Houston also serves as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade.
Debbie is a visionary technology leader with a passion for leveraging digital innovations to improve people’s lives. With over 35 years of experience in payment and secure transaction technologies, she has led ground-breaking initiatives in digital ID, crypto currencies, contactless and mobile commerce, AI and micro-finance on an international scale.
Debbie champions collaboration and diversity of thought, inspiring her staff to achieve award-winning success in their fields. Her leadership and expertise have been recognized through numerous industry awards, including Top 50 Canadian Executives, FemTech Leader of the Year, Top 50 Women in FinTech and Most Influential Women in Payments. Through her work, Debbie is driving the success of the digital economy and transforming the way we think about technology leadership.
Michael Katchen is the co-founder and CEO of Wealthsimple, a leading Canadian financial services company offering investing and saving products. Today, over three million Canadians trust Wealthsimple with more than $50 billion assets. In 2024, he launched Simple Ventures, a venture studio building the next generation of great Canadian-founded companies. Michael currently sits on the board of Intact Financial and Wealthsimple Foundation, an initiative that helps children from modest-income families save for post-secondary education
Dawn Madahbee Leach is a proud member of the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation on Manitoulin Island in Ontario where she has served as a member of her community’s elected Council. Since 1988, she has been General Manager of the Waubetek Business Development Corporation, an Indigenous Financial Institution that provides financing and economic services to Indigenous entrepreneurs and First Nation communities throughout North-East Ontario. Under her leadership, Waubetek has proudly invested more than $155 million in nearly 4,000 Aboriginal businesses who experience a business success rate of 94%. Ms. Madahbee Leach also studied at York University and Laurentian University where she earned a degree in Political Science with a minor in Law.
Dawn shares her knowledge and expertise on various Boards and committees including the National Indigenous Economic Development Board where she currently serves as Chair. She also serves on the Boards of the Peace Hills Trust Company, NioBay Minerals Inc., TC Energy, the Des Nedhe Group of Companies, and the Indigenous Centre of Excellence for Mineral Development. She participates on the Indigenous Working Groups on Indigenous Procurement, the Indigenous Innovative Housing Initiative, and with Global Affairs providing input into Canada’s free trade agreements. She championed an initiative on Indigenous economic inclusion led by the international Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. She worked alongside National Indigenous Organizations to develop the 2022 National Indigenous Economic Strategy for Canada, the first national strategy of its kind penned exclusively by Indigenous People.
Dawn’s work has been acknowledged by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business who honoured her with the 2023 Business Lifetime Achievement Award. She also received the 2020 INDSPIRE Award in the Business and Commerce Category and was celebrated as one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2018. She received the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General in 2018. She has been a speaker at international forums in Australia, Chile, New Zealand, Sweden, Taiwan, Paris, Germany, the US and the UN on Indigenous economic development.
Michael Sabia is the President and CEO of Hydro‑Québec. He served as the Deputy Minister of the Department of Finance Canada from 2020 to 2023. He is also the former Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto.
From March 2009 to January 2020, Mr. Sabia served as President and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), where he oversaw the strategic direction of CDPQ and the global growth of the organization.
Before joining CDPQ, Mr. Sabia held senior positions with BCE, including President and CEO. From 1993 to 1999, he was a senior executive with Canadian National Railway, where he became Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Sabia spent the preceding decade working as a senior official in the Government of Canada, as the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet and in senior positions in the Department of Finance.
Mr. Sabia has been Chair of the Board of the Canada Infrastructure Bank. He was also a member of the Canadian Government’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth. Mr. Sabia serves on the Mastercard Foundation Board of Directors. Mr. Sabia is an Officer of the Order of Canada. He obtained a BA in Economics and Politics from the University of Toronto and an M. Phil. in Economics and Politics from Yale University.
David MacNaughton is former Canadian Ambassador to the United States. He has held various positions with both the federal and provincial levels of government, including serving as Canada’s Ambassador to the United States from March 2016 to August 2019. He also served as Principal Secretary to the Premier of Ontario from 2003 to 2005. Previously, he was the Chairman of StrategyCorp (public affairs consulting) from June 2005 to March 2016. He was also the Chairman of Aereus Technologies Inc. (manufacturing) from 2014 to 2016. He has served on the boards of the North York General Hospital, the Stratford Festival, the National Ski Academy, TV Ontario, the Toronto French School and the Toronto International Film Festival. Mr. MacNaughton holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of New Brunswick.
Laura Stone is a reporter for The Globe and Mail's Queen's Park bureau. She joined the Globe in February 2016, reporting on federal politics in the Ottawa Parliamentary bureau until October 2018. Before that, she was an online and TV reporter for Global News in Ottawa. Laura was the first recipient of the Michelle Lang award at the Calgary Herald, where she wrote a national series about women’s prisons. In 2015, she won the Canadian Journalism Foundation’s Greg Clark Award, which allowed her inside the RCMP’s Senate investigation. Most of all, Laura likes to profile politicians over lunch. She always picks up her own tab.
Alison is the President and CEO of EDC, appointed in February 2025 after 14 years in various leadership roles. With a career spanning global markets, she has led EDC’s Asian private equity strategy in Beijing and held senior positions at BDC Capital in Ottawa and Toronto. Her expertise includes global trade finance, capital markets, risk management, and innovation.
Prior to rejoining EDC, Alison was CEO at MaRS Discovery District. She holds degrees from the University of Toronto and the London School of Economics, is a CFA charterholder, and actively contributes to industry and community organizations. Alison is recognized for her commitment to mentoring teams, building strategic relationships, and advancing EDC’s mission to support Canadian exporters worldwide. She values passion for customers and caring as core EDC values.
Vass Bednar is the Managing Director of the Canadian SHIELD Institute for Public Policy, a think tank focussed on economic sovereignty. With a career spanning think tanks, government, academic, and media, Vass has built a reputation as a fearless and independent voice on the policies that share our daily lives. In 2020, she cofounded the Master of Public Policy program at McMaster University, where she also taught courses on policy design.
Vass is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, a Fellow at the Public Policy Forum, and an advisor to both the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project and Social Capital Partners. She is the co-author of The Big Fix: How Companies Capture Markets and Harm Canadians, and is a contributor columnist to the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business.
Mohammed Hashim is the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, and has worked as a human rights advocate in Canada for the past two decades.
He has dedicated his career to supporting equity, inclusion, and community empowerment, and has contributed to various legislative and policy agendas to prevent and address racism and hate in Canada.
As CEO of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Mohammed leads the national Hate Crimes Taskforce with the RCMP to better understand the systemic challenges and gaps in addressing hate crimes and incidents in Canada, to support communities, and to equip policing services to prevent, investigate and support prosecutions related to hate crimes.
Carol Wilding was appointed by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario's Council as the President and CEO in October 2014. In her role, Carol leads the qualifying and regulatory body of Ontario’s more than 100,000 members and over 20,000 students. CPA Ontario serves the public interest by developing, monitoring and enforcing the highest standards of professional competence and ethical conduct.
Prior to joining CPA Ontario, Carol harnessed her accounting background to work in civic growth and policy as President and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade; in healthcare, research and philanthropy as President of Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation; and in international development as President of Plan Canada. She holds an Honours degree in Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University, earned her accounting designation in 1987 and was named a Fellow in 2009
Citi provides corporations, governments, investors and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services - and employs more than 3,800 people, making it one of the largest foreign bank employers in Canada. The company has offices in Toronto, Mississauga, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver.
SFU is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Ranked the #1 university in Canada for innovation, SFU is recognized worldwide for research excellence in AI, quantum and climate innovation, partnership across sectors and industries, and providing a world-class education for over 37,000 students each year.
WSP is one of the world’s leading professional services firms, uniting its engineering, advisory and science-based expertise to shape communities to advance humanity. From local beginnings to a globe-spanning presence today, WSP operates in over 50 countries and employs approximately 75,000 professionals, known as Visioneers. WSP in Canada’s team of close to 13,000 professionals pioneer solutions and deliver innovative projects across the Transportation and Infrastructure, Earth and Environment, Property and Buildings, and Energy, Resources and Industry sectors.
In today’s challenging labour market, the need for a modern, data-driven, and efficient hiring solutions has never been greater. With unmatched labour market data and insights, Indeed is uniquely positioned to transform the Canadian public sector. With one third of the Canadian labour force active on our platform each month, Indeed’s scale and reach provide a unique perspective and unparalleled dataset that can inform hiring and talent strategies, as well as policy and decision-making.
Interac empowers Canadians to transact digitally with confidence by providing payment and value exchange services. In helping to develop the future of money movement in Canada, security is at the core of everything we do. We help keep Canadian customers safe and secure when transacting. With nearly 300 financial institutions connected to our network, Canadians choose Interac products over 20 million times a day on average to exchange money. Interac champions workplace culture, community, and corporate citizenship. We are proud to be one of Canada’s leading and most trusted financial brands.
CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 14 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. Across Personal and Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets, CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services through its leading digital banking network, and locations across Canada, in the United States and around the world. Ongoing news releases and more information about CIBC can be found at www.cibc.com/ca/media-centre.
At Deloitte, our Purpose is to make an impact that matters. We exist to inspire and help our people, organizations, communities, and countries to thrive. Our work underpins a prosperous society where people can find meaning and opportunity. It builds consumer and business confidence, empowers organizations to find imaginative ways of deploying capital, enables fair, trusted, and functioning social and economic institutions, and allows our friends, families, and communities to enjoy the quality of life that comes with a sustainable future. And as the largest Canadian-owned and operated professional services firm in our country, we are proud to work alongside our clients to make a positive impact for all Canadians. Deloitte provides industry-leading consulting, audit and assurance, tax, advisory and managed services to nearly 90% of the Fortune Global 500® and thousands of private companies. We bring together world-class capabilities, insights, and services to address clients' most complex business challenges. Find more at https://www2.deloitte.com/ca/en.html
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) is a federal Crown corporation mandated to raise public awareness of the causes and manifestations of racism in Canada. We work to strengthen the social fabric of our society by supporting, enabling and convening community groups and organizations through our grants, services and network of public, research and community partners
Export Development Canada (EDC) is a financial Crown corporation dedicated to helping Canadian businesses make an impact at home and abroad. EDC has the financial products and knowledge Canadian companies need to confidently enter new markets, reduce financial risk and grow their business as they go from local to global. Together, EDC and Canadian companies are building a more prosperous, stronger and sustainable economy for all Canadians.
CPA Ontario protects the public interest by ensuring that our 105,000 members and 19,000 students meet the highest standards of integrity and expertise. We help them stay ahead of global market trends and abreast of regulatory change. We believe that success happens when both business and society benefit.
BDO helps businesses do more. We offer an integrated offering of accounting, assurance, tax and consulting services grounded in deep industry knowledge. With an understanding of domestic and global business needs, we work alongside our clients to help them turn complex problems into compelling results.
OpsGuru is North America’s leading AWS Premier Partner, specializing in Managed Cloud Operations, Cloud Native Development, Migration and Modernization, Data, and Generative AI. Holding the AWS Migration, DevOps, Networking, SaaS, and AI Services Competencies, OpsGuru delivers expert guidance and innovative solutions spanning Networking, Big Data, DevOps, Migration, and IoT. Leveraging cutting-edge agentic and generative AI technologies, OpsGuru architects and delivers transformative cloud solutions that drive innovation, enhance customer experiences, and ensure robust security, positioning businesses for success in an AI-driven future. The company empowers clients across Financial Services, Energy, Media, Entertainment and Gaming, Utilities, Manufacturing, Sports, and more.
CIMA+ provides complete consulting engineering services in the areas of Energy and Resources, Infrastructure, Transportation, Buildings, Project Management, Operational and Digital Technologies (including Telecommunication Systems), and Earth and Environment. The search for
excellence has been part of our DNA since our founding in 1990, and our teams draw on decades of experience acquired across Canada to deliver quality projects that meet our clients’ expectations. This commitment to excellence and quality has allowed CIMA+ to rank among the largest private consulting
engineering firms in the country. Today, with over 40 offices across Canada, CIMA+ employs more than 3,600 people, most of whom share ownership in the company.
Our multidisciplinary team is driven by a shared passion to deliver sustainable solutions that make our world a better place. From our Board of Directors to the communities we serve, our commitment to people is evident in our drive to innovate, in the projects we carry out and in every action we take.