ONTARIO BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Executive Assistant to the President
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Vice Chair
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
Aliya Ramji is a partner of McCarthy Tetreault in Toronto focused exclusively on start-ups, scale-ups and other fast-growth businesses. In addition to delivering tailored legal advice and other strategic value to high-potential businesses in the start-up or scale-up phase, Aliya regularly advises venture capital, angel and strategic investors, as well as parties looking to create strategic alliances or partnerships with founders or start-ups.
Prior to joining the firm, Aliya was Senior Director, Legal and Corporate Affairs, at Figure 1, a highly successful med-tech start-up for healthcare professionals. Aliya delivered diverse legal and business advice, supporting Figure1 through global expansion to more than 100 countries, various strategic alliances, multiple rounds of venture capital financing, and a host of privacy, data governance and complex regulatory matters.
Aliya is immersed in Canada's vibrant start-up sector, with particularly deep roots with founders, investors, incubators and academic programs in Toronto, Waterloo, Ottawa and Hamilton. Aliya brings a rare blend of technical legal expertise and business acumen, always underscored by a highly practical and results-oriented mindset. She "speaks the language" of start-ups and has a proven track-record of helping founders and investors seize opportunities, navigate challenges and grow successful businesses.
Aliya presents frequently on a broad range of issues facing founders and the start-up community, and authors a popular advice column "Ask Aliya", for lawyers who are the first legal hire at their company. She also teaches Legal Aspects of International Business and Business Law at Ryerson University, and is a committed mentor to several founders and young lawyers, particularly women in start-ups. In 2016, Aliya was named one of the "Top 10 Thirty-Somethings" by the Association of Corporate Counsel and the "Young Alumni of Influence" by the University of Toronto, University College.
Aliya earned a J.D. from Queen's University and a Masters in Law from NYU School of Law. She is called to the bar in Ontario and New York.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Public Affairs
- Media Inquiries
- Senior Manager of Public Affairs
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Managing Partner and Head of Deloitte Data, Deloitte Toronto
In his role as Managing Partner and Head of Deloitte Data, Bilal is responsible for helping develop and execute Deloitte's data and innovation agenda, as well as the development of data strategies and transformations for the firm's clients.
Prior to joining Deloitte, Bilal was the founding Chief Executive Officer of OneEleven, a scale-up innovation hub focused on helping Canada's most promising, high-growth start-ups commercialize their technologies and scale their operations. He previously held the role of Director of Policy and Senior Advisor to three consecutive Ministers of Economic Development, Trade and Innovation for the Province of Ontario, where he was responsible for establishing and implementing policies to help advance Ontario's economy. A lawyer, Bilal spent his early career practicing corporate and securities law as Legal Counsel to Russell Investments, a U.S. based multi-asset manager (acquired by the London Stock Exchange Group).
He has worked at the United Nations at the Centre for Business and Human Rights, is a Munk Fellow at the University of Toronto, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, and is a member of the Governor General's Innovation Council. Bilal sits on a number of Boards, including Toronto Global, the Canadian Club of Toronto, and TVO. In 2017, he was named one of Canada's Top 40 under 40.
Bilal holds a JD from the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, and is an alumnus of Singularity University at the NASA Ames Research Centre in the area of exponential technologies.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- General Manager of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
- General Manager, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
- General Manager, Ontario Federation of Agriculture / General Manager, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Cathy Lennon is the General Manager of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario's largest general farm organization, representing more than 38,000 farm family business members across the province.
An early career position with the Agricultural Adaptation Council ignited her passion for working for and with farmers. Over the last two decades, she has held senior positions with Ontario Sheep Farmers, Agricorp, Farm Credit Canada, and Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers before joining the OFA in 2019.
In addition to serving on the Ontario Chamber of Commerce board of directors, she is treasurer of the Poultry Industry Council, Community Director on 4H Ontario, and Chair of the Curriculum Advisory Committee for the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program.
Lennon is a graduate of Fanshawe College, the University of Waterloo, and the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice President, Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation and Network Director, Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator
Job Titles:
- Director of Policy
- Director of Policy at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Claudia Dessanti is the Director of Policy at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), where she manages the Policy Team, chairs the Energy Policy Council, and leads the chamber's work on a range of policy files, including climate, energy, economic development, data, DEI, and more. Claudia also sits on the Board of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, the Executive Committee of Partners in Project Green (Toronto Region Conservation Authority), and the Advisory Board of Innovate Cities.
Prior to joining the OCC in 2018, Claudia researched mortgage markets for National Bank Financial and measured social impact for Charity Intelligence. She has a Master's degree from the University of Oxford and a BA from the University of Toronto.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Policy at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Daniel Safayeni is Vice President, Policy at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) where he leads a team of analysts that sets the policy priorities and positioning of the largest provincial chamber of commerce in Canada through principled research and analysis. He is the founder and Co-Chair of the OCC's Workforce Development Council and Ontario Cannabis Policy Council. Prior to joining the OCC in 2018, Daniel held senior-level positions at the U.S. Department of State and the C.D. Howe Institute. Daniel is a Director at the Empire Club of Canada, a member of George Brown College's Program Advisory Committee and the Conference Board of Canada's Research Advisory Board.
Daniel is a business, public policy, and community leader, having held executive roles in government and the corporate sector, and senior governance roles at public institutions and non-profit associations. He is known globally as an expert in corporate communications, public policy, community engagement, crisis and reputation management.
From 2003 to 2023, Daniel was the CEO, majority owner and entrepreneurial force in building Argyle Communications into Canada's largest management-owned engagement, communication and reputation advisory firm growing to $38M in revenue, 155 employees and ten North American offices. Earlier in his career, Daniel held senior communications roles in the Canadian government, including serving as Senior Policy Advisor and Acting Chief of Staff to Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs. In the latter role, he was a member of the Canadian delegation to the G7 Economic Summit.
Daniel has spoken to business audiences on every continent, lectured at Queen's University's Smith School of Business since 1996, and contributed to leading public relations and marketing textbooks. He appears regularly in print and broadcast media, including weekly commentary on CBC Radio and Global News during the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections. In 2021, Daniel was named one of the world's "top 100" social media influencers on public relations.
Born in Spain to a Latin American family and raised in Toronto, Daniel speaks English, French and Spanish. He holds two degrees from Queen's University - a Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies and a Master of Business Administration. He is also a certified corporate director, with an ICD.D designation in corporate governance from the University of Toronto. Daniel has served as vice chair of the Queen's University Board of Trustees, a leader in the international Scouting movement and a board member of Social Venture Partners International.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Don leads a team of financial service professionals focused on helping small and mid-market companies succeed and grow in the marketplace. Previous roles at RBC include National Head of Specialized Sales, Vice President, Commercial Markets, Director of Corporate Strategy and Development and Senior Manager in the Corporate Marketing Department.
Prior to joining RBC, Don served as an Infantry Officer in the Canadian Army where he led soldiers on a number of domestic and international operations and worked in both staff and training roles. Don holds an MBA from McGill University, an MSC from the London School of Economics & Political Science and a BA from the Royal Military College of Canada.
In addition to serving on the Board of the OCC, Don also serves as a Director of Goodwill Enterprises (Great Lakes) and as the Chair of the Board of Northstar Trade Finance Corporation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President of George Brown College
Dr. Gervan Fearon became President of George Brown College in August 2021. Working with colleagues across the college, he aims to support career-oriented programs to meet the needs of students and the demands of employers; advance college-led research; and enhance community engagement. With a proven track record of collaboration, transformative leadership and engaging higher learning communities in a shared mission, he leads George Brown's efforts to provide transformative education opportunities that benefit learners, industry and the greater community.
Gervan has a strong professional background in post-secondary education. Prior to being President and Vice-Chancellor at Brock University (2017-2021) and Brandon University (2014-2017), he held numerous progressive roles in post-secondary education, including Dean of the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University; Associate Dean at York University's Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies; Visiting Scholar at the University of Washington; and as an Associate Professor at York University.
Dr. Fearon also has a strong teaching and research record. His career also included serving as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and a Senior Analyst at the Treasury Board, Ontario Ministry of Finance. He has also served on numerous community boards, including Ontario Trillium Foundation, Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples' Council, United Way Niagara, Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce, and the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto. He was also Co-Chair of the Niagara Region's Community Safety and Well-Being Planning Committee, Chair of the Budget and Audit Committee of Council of Ontario Universities, and President of Tropicana Community Services.
Gervan is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013), The Michaëlle Jean Foundation Influencer Award (2017), The University of the West Indies Vice-Chancellor's Award (2020) and several other awards of recognition. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Western Ontario and received his master's and bachelor's of science degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Guelph. He holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation (CPA, CGA) and Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D).
Job Titles:
- Senior Economic Analyst at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Ester Gerassime is a Senior Economic Analyst at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, where she is responsible for performing quantitative analysis and economic research on various public policy issues. In addition to her work for the Ontario Economic Report, she is the Chair of the OCC's Infrastructure Council. Ester holds a Master of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, with a concentration in Pure Mathematics, from King's University College at Western University.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Head, Market Access, Policy and Stakeholder Relations, Biogen Canada
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
Hélène is a proud franco-Ontarian with deep roots in Northeastern Ontario's Temiskaming region. As founder of Lavictoire Consulting Inc., she provides strategic advisory services in the area of health technology and digital health product innovation. She is also passionate about contributing to the development of public health policy recommendations through the Health Policy Council.
Hélène previously held the role of Executive Lead - Ontario Government at Medavie Inc. where she helped develop public sector strategies in health service delivery and digital health solutions. Prior to this, she led large, complex healthcare programs and teams for TELUS Health as Product Director and General Manager, Public Sector. With over 25 years of Canadian business leadership experience in the digital health sector Hélène has held senior program leadership positions with large provincial health programs working directly with government stakeholders in Ontario, Québec, British Columbia and Newfoundland & Labrador. Similarly, as product innovator, she has established trusted relationships with a wide range of national health care insurers to fulfill their health benefits and digital health strategies.
Hélène holds a bachelor's degree from Ryerson University, a Diploma in Adult Education from the University of Toronto and several designations including Product Management & Project Management certifications.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
- Senior Vice President of Customer Experience, Marketing & Innovation for Northbridge Financial
Ilda Dinis is the Senior Vice President of Customer Experience, Marketing & Innovation for Northbridge Financial, Canada's leading commercial insurance provider and a proud member of the Fairfax Financial family. With over 20 years of experience, she is a passionate customer advocate and champion of building culture, brands and reputation through integrated and creative strategies.
In her current role, she is responsible for working with partners and colleagues from across the organization to continuously evolve and operationalize Northbridge's customer strategy; and enabling the company's industry leading growth rate through strategic marketing strategies that build the company's brand and reputation in target industries. Ilda also led the development and launch of Canada's first direct to consumer small business insurance platform and brand, TruShield Insurance, which received the inaugural Fairfax Innovation Award and was featured as a "best in class" case study by CEB/Gartner.
She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a joint Master of Communication Management from Syracuse and McMaster Universities.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Regional Head, Business Banking BMO
Jamie Doolittle is a seasoned leader with 15 years of experience in business and commercial banking at BMO. She is currently the Head of Business Banking for Central Region East in Ontario. Over the years, Jamie has worked closely with entrepreneurs and business leaders and has been a strong advocate for the
advancement of women in business. As a dedicated leader, she has inspired and led a talented team of banking professionals to activate a winning culture and consistently exceed their performance objectives.
She's passionate about developing her team's talent and empowering them to unlock their full potential to have a real impact on the business. Eager to share her knowledge, Jamie has led several workshops and skill builders in the community on topics such as financial literacy, franchising, supporting female entrepreneurs, and business development, helping entrepreneurs succeed and build a brighter future. Jamie is a strategic thinker who builds strong partnerships to get results. She has been instrumental in BMO's success over the years and would be a strong asset to the Board for the OCC.
Jamie holds a bachelor's degree in Management and Organizational Studies from Western University and has obtained her CPA Designation from CPA Ontario. In her spare time, Jamie enjoys figure skating, travelling, reading, and spending time with her husband and their two young children.
Job Titles:
- Public Affairs Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Executive Vice President, Corporate and Chief People Officer, Burlington Enterprises Corporation
I am excited about the opportunity to be part of Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) Board of Directors and believe that I have the relevant skills and experience to contribute in a meaningful way to the organization. I have had the privilege to work in the Electrical Distribution Industry for over 25 years with 17 years at the senior executive level and am currently employed with Burlington Enterprises Corporation (Burlington Hydro Inc.) as EVP, Corporate and CPO. I also have approximately 10 years of Board/Governance experience and specifically with Burlington Chamber of Commerce as Board Chair, which I am confident will also add value to the Board.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
- Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and General Counsel and Member of the Executive Management Committee of Trudell Medical Limited
Joaquim Ballès is the Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and General Counsel and member of the executive management committee of Trudell Medical Limited, a multinational, privately held, Canadian medical device parent company with head offices in London, Ontario. In addition to English, he is also fluent in French, Spanish, and Catalan.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Senior Vice President, Business Development and Government Relations
John joined Air Canada as the Director, Business Development in 2019 following his role in Business Development within Air Canada Express. In Business Development, John is responsible for new client identification and acquisition and for managing the Business Development team's event presence.
Prior to Air Canada, John was President & CEO of Private Air Inc., the aircraft management and charter division of Levaero, the Canadian Dealer for Pilatus aircraft. John has an Airline Transport Pilots License and has a passion for the airline industry. John received his MBA from University of Toronto and has also worked in the merchant banking sector.
John is active in the community through his committee involvement with the Wanderluxe Gala and the RBC Innovator's Ball, as well as his work with Jake's House, a charity supporting children and families affected by Autism.
Job Titles:
- New Vice President, Member Services of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
- Vice President, Member Services
Keanin is the new Vice President, Member Services of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. His role oversees business development for the OCC, serving its corporate members and the provincial network of local chambers of commerce.
Keanin was employee number one and Chief Operating Officer of Innovation Factory, Hamilton's Regional Innovation Centre, before being hired in 2013 to be the President and CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. Over his 9 years at the Hamilton Chamber, Keanin led its complete transformation into a relevant, impactful and thriving organization, twice earning recognition as Ontario's top chamber of commerce executive. In 2022, Keanin announced that he was stepping down from the Chamber to run for Mayor of Hamilton. His grassroots, issues-based campaign inspired thousands of citizens from all corners of Hamilton. His passion for Ontario's economic prosperity and business success led him to joining the OCC in February 2023.
Keanin has served on many committees and boards, including Chair of Supercrawl, Ontario's top festival in 2015, and he is a Director at the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority. He and Trish proudly live in Hamilton's Lower City, raising three children.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Manager
Job Titles:
- Vice President, SME Programs
- Vice President, SME Programs & Global Growth Fund Contact
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Partner
- Partner, Assurance & Accounting, BDO Canada LLP
Luigi Ciciretto is a Partner in BDO's Assurance & Accounting practice and has over 20 years of professional experience serving private companies of all sizes as well as subsidiaries of international entities. Prior to joining BDO in January 2017, Luigi worked in the private company group of another global accounting firm.
Over the course of his career, Luigi has provided assurance, accounting and advisory services as well as internal control assurance services to various clients across several industries, including manufacturing, retail and consumer business, real estate, and technology. As part of his client service responsibilities and his involvement in various programs aimed at private companies, Luigi has advised his clients on matters such as complex accounting transactions, financial reporting, business strategy and operations.
Luigi is a past Chair of the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and continues to be actively involved in his community.
Job Titles:
- Senior Accounting Officer
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Senior VP, Ontario Market, Desjardins
As the Senior Vice President, Ontario Market with Desjardins Group, Marilyn is responsible for the organization's strategy to drive Canada-wide corporate initiatives, growth, brand visibility, and innovation. Desjardins is committed to enriching the lives of its 7.5 million members and clients and their communities. Desjardins provides Canadians with a wide range of financial services including wealth management and insurance products. They are present across the province of Ontario, and Marilyn finds herself engaged in important issues from north to south and east to west all with a view to addressing challenges facing members and clients and creating opportunities for them to thrive. She believes strongly in the power of partnership, effective communication, collaboration, and a shared objective. In an effort to boost regional development and socioeconomic recovery, she has led a number of recent projects that support our communities' priorities, including youth, sustainable development, and entrepreneurship.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President, CEO, ORIGIN
Recipient of the 2021 RBC Innovative Company of the Year award. Recognized from the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund for our Achievement and Growth for 2021. Recipient of the Indigenomics Top 10 Indigenous Business's To Watch in Canada. Recipient of the 2019 Northern Ontario, Influential Women's Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Recipient of the Confederation College President's Award 2019. I was also very honoured to be a nominee for the Ontario Premier Award at the end of 2019!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Management Consulting Partner National Industry Leader for Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare KPMG, Toronto
Job Titles:
- Business Development Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- CEO & President of the Windsor - Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Founder of AyeWork
- President and CEO Windsor - Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce
Rakesh Naidu is the CEO & President of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is responsible for initiating and executing the strategy at the Chamber of Commerce to create economic prosperity in the region. Rakesh has over 15 years of experience in economic development. Prior to that he spent over 12 years in Automotive and Environmental Engineering companies. Rakesh works closely with the members, leaders in the industry and different sector heads to identify and maximize the potential in each sector. He facilitates activities with other Windsor Essex area agencies, economic development organizations and key stake holders to ensure the broad level of support for new and existing companies and members.
Rakesh is the Founder of AyeWork, a unique On-Demand; Just-in-time recruiting platform. Rakesh has been a resident of Windsor-Essex since 2004 and is extremely proud of the region. As an ambassador of the Windsor-Essex region, he takes immense pride in the intrinsic strengths, achievements, and diversity of the region. Rakesh is a Chemical Engineer with a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management. He is a volunteer teacher in the ‘Art of
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- CEO, Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce
In 2016 Mr. Ring (Rory) joined the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce moving from Sarnia where he lived for 15 years and ran the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce for 3 years. Rory has always been focused on the need for a community to build a sustainable and growing economic base from within, while maintaining a strong open for global business philosophy.
He is a firm believer in the leadership that is provided by the Chamber of Commerce Network and those professionals who have dedicated their professional careers to doing what no other leadership role does in each of the Chamber Communities. He is a past Director of the Canadian Chamber Executive of Canada, Sault Ste. Marie Downtown Association, Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation, Past Chair and current Director of the Canadian of Chamber Executives of Ontario, Executive Director of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives as well as a former and current Director of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
Prior to joining the Chamber of Commerce profession, he was a Commercial Banker and innovation lender with strong roots in cultivating and financing successful business operations. He has his MBA from Queens University and a degree in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario.
Mr. Ring recognizes that diversity and inclusion are multifaceted issues and that we need to tackle these subjects holistically to better engage and support all underrepresented groups within the business community. To do this he believes we also need to address, honestly and head-on, the concerns and needs of our diverse employers and employees to increase equity for all, including, but not limited to, Indigenous peoples, Black, Asian and other racialized communities in Canada, members of the 2sLGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, and women. Collectively, as business leaders we must do more to ensure welcoming workplaces for all, not only to address current labour market shortages but to ensure economic prosperity and the future of our communities.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Honourary Treasurer & Vice Chair
Sahezad is a graduate of the University of Waterloo where he obtained both his Bachelors and Masters degrees and holds CPA, CA, and CF professional designations. As an active community leader and a strong champion of diversity and inclusion, Sahezad currently serves as a Board member for both the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Ascend Canada. In his spare time, he enjoys travelling and spending quality time with his wife and two children.
Job Titles:
- Senior Public Affairs Specialist
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager, Chamber Success
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President and CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
Tabatha is Anishinaabe, a proud member of Nipissing First Nation. As CCAB's president and CEO she is committed to help rebuild and strengthen the path towards reconciliation and a prosperous Indigenous economy to benefit all Canadians. As an electrical engineer, Tabatha is committed to supporting Indigenous inclusion and diversity in Canada's energy sector.
Serving the Indigenous community through CCAB's commitment to support the Indigenous economy, Tabatha is often asked to provide input to the federal government, including through her attendance at the 2023 North American Leaders Summit with delegates from Canada, Mexico, and the USA. She participated on the Indo-Pacific Advisory Committee, providing perspectives and recommendations on the Indo-Pacific strategy that aims to advance Canada's goal within trade diversification, inclusive growth, and climate change. And as a past member of the government's COVID-19 Supply Council, advocating for Indigenous businesses to be included in Canada's response to the pandemic.
In 2022, Tabatha received the award of CEO of the Year from for the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Business Achievement Awards (OBAA). The award is given to a CEO who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership.
Tabatha advocates for the Indigenous economy through her work with various organizations, committees, and boards on Indigenous economic development.
An appointee of the Catalyst CEO advisory board in Canada, Tabatha collaborates with some of the world's most powerful CEOs and leading companies to help build workplaces that work for women. Also, a member of Queen's University Dean of Engineering's Circle of Advisors, Centennial College's Indigenous Circle, C.D Howe Institute's Energy Policy program, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce board, and the Board of the Dexterra Group, Tabatha is dedicated to diversity and removing systematic barriers to improve opportunities and business competitiveness across all industry sectors.
Tabatha is an appointee of CN's inaugural Indigenous Advisory Council. The Council is comprised of accomplished and respected representatives of Canada's First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities of every province and territory. Their mandate is to advise CN's Board and company President and Chief Executive Officer on issues relevant to CN's relationship with the more than 200 Indigenous communities in which CN operates.
Tabatha has appeared on numerous occasions in the Senate and House of the Parliament of Canada, discussing, advocating, and advising on various Indigenous business issues. She was recommended to the Deputy Minister of International Trade at Global Affairs Canada to join the Trade Advisory Council where she is one of a 12-member panel. The Council's overarching mandate is to advise on issues related to export promotion, investment attraction, trade policy and negotiations, and international science, technology, and innovation.
Tabatha is also a main judge on Bears' Lair, an Indigenous TV series that aired on APTN, which was dedicated to the growth of Indigenous entrepreneurs.
Above all else Tabatha is a mom to two incredible young men and is most comfortable cheering them on from the side of the hockey rink or lacrosse field.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Manager, Government Relations, General Motors Canada
In January 2012, Tammy Giroux joined the Government Relations staff at General Motors of Canada Company. Tammy has public policy responsibility for substances of concern management in products and vehicles, extended producer responsibility, and end of life vehicle issues as well facility related climate policy, workplace health and safety, and consumer product safety. Tammy's passion for solving challenges and finding environmental solutions has created opportunities to work with government partners or community stakeholders. This work has contributed to the construction of the St. Catharine's renewable cogeneration facility, the first multimedia environmental ECA and the rapid launch of medical mask production at the Oshawa manufacturing site.
Tammy began her career with GM Canada as an intern in the Environmental Department in 1997. After graduation, Tammy joined the Oshawa Vehicle Assembly Plant and progressed through increasingly responsible positions. Tammy was responsible as the lead for the development of an environmental management system and its certification to the ISO 14001 standard. Tammy joined the Corporate Affairs department in September 2003 as a Senior Environmental Analyst responsible for coordinating all facility environmental reporting as well as supporting the Government Relations staff with policy analysis and lobbying for facility environmental initiatives including waste, water and air policies.
In 2009, Tammy joined the Ontario Ministry of Environment in the Air Policy and Climate Change Branch as a Senior Policy Analyst with responsibility for policy coordination and development under the provinces Climate Change Action Plan until her return to GM Canada's Government Relations department in January 2012. Tammy holds a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Environmental Science from Queen's University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Director of Events for StepUp
- Executive Vice President, Operations and Customer Experience, Hydro One & President and CEO, Hydro One Communities Inc
- Hydro One 's EVP, Operations and Customer Experience
Teri French is Hydro One's EVP, Operations and Customer Experience. In this position, Teri brings together teams responsible for driving operational excellence across Hydro One's transmission, distribution, reliability and maintenance functions, as well as customer and system operations.
Teri is also responsible for Hydro One Remotes Inc., which is the leading electricity utility and a trusted partner to remote communities in Ontario.
Since joining Hydro One as the Vice President of Forestry, Teri has distinguished herself as a people-focused leader committed to employee engagement, delivering results and exceptional customer experience.
Teri also is the Executive Chair of Hydro One's "Power to Give" Campaign for community and charitable giving and is the Executive Sponsor of the Forestry Chapter for the Women in Technology and Trade Employee Resource Group.
Teri has significant experience in customer operations and procurement. At Enercare, she served as Vice President, Operations, Procurement and Franchise Operations and prior to that as Vice President, Customer Operations and Retention at Enercare Home Services. Prior to that, Teri led several teams at Direct Energy starting in 2004 leading the Operations team supporting Residential Energy markets. Over the eight years that followed, she progressed to lead the North American Operations group supporting an extensive portfolio in Texas and the Northern United States. Most notably, prior to Direct Energy, Teri held varied and progressive leadership roles at ATCO and Finning (Caterpillar) in both Finance and Operations.
Teri currently serves as the Director of Events for StepUp, a not-for-profit board looking to promote equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and energy sector. In addition, Teri is a panelist for an ESG working group for Chartered Professional Account (CPA) Canada, with a direct focus on ensuring ESG is well represented in both the CPA student curriculum and part of the continuous learning role for the management professional. Teri has been a session leader for CPA Canada since 2004, facilitating key components of the Professional Education Program for CPA.
Teri earned her undergrad degree in Psychology (B.A.) from Simon Fraser University and is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chairman Elect
Vasudha began her professional career at Dofasco in 1988. She has had the opportunity to work in diverse areas of the company, including Technology, Strategic Planning, Environment & Energy and Commercial Marketing. During her career she has also been part of several transformation initiatives at Dofasco, and business integration efforts when Dofasco was acquired by ArcelorMittal in 2006.
Vasudha has worked on several growth and improvement initiatives during her time Director of Marketing and Strategy at ArcelorMittal Dofasco. She is currently the Director of General Industry Sales at ArcelorMittal Dofasco, a position she moved into in 2021. In this role she is responsible for Sales and Service to customers in the Construction & Manufacturing, Industrial & Consumer Packaging, Distribution and Tubular industries across North America.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Finance
Job Titles:
- Human Resource ( HR ) Generalist
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Director & Team Lead, Meridian Credit Union
Yasser Ghazi has been in the financial services field for the past 11 years with a focus on providing support for commercial clients. As Director & Team Lead, commercial services at Meridian Credit Union, he manages and leads the growth of the Diversified industries in the Eastern Ontario region covering Ottawa to Kingston.
Yasser is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs through their journey and ensuring they get all the support they can to grow and prepare for economic downturns. Yasser sits on the board for the Ottawa Board of Trade and is the current Chair for the Young Professional Advisory Board (YPAB) for Cornerstone Housing for Women charity. In his spare time, Yasser loves spending time with his wife and child and as an immigrant himself, loves to spend time with newcomers to help bridge the gap after immigration.
Job Titles:
- Senior Policy Analyst
- Senior Policy Analyst at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Zeus Eden is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), advancing sustainable and inclusive growth. At the OCC, he leads Economic Reconciliation, Health and Housing Policy and supports strategic emerging sectors including critical minerals.
Prior to joining the OCC, Zeus served in a variety of policy and communications roles including in the federal government as Press Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services and FedNor, as a consultant at national public affairs firm Navigator, and in the private sector at Kinross Gold and CPP Investments. He holds a BA from the University of Toronto in economics and political science.