Adrian Zee, J.D., BA, is an associate at the Thorsteinsson's Vancouver office. His practice focuses on commodity tax including Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), Goods and Services Tax (GST), provincial sales taxes, and realty taxes. Adrian regularly represents clients at the audit and appeal stages on provincial and federal tax matters. Prior to Thorsteinssons LLP, Adrian clerked at the Tax Court of Canada.

Affan Khalid, CPA, CA has over 17 years of public experience and provides international tax advice to Canadian and foreign-based multi-nationals with a focus on inbound and outbound tax planning and structuring, including financing structures, acquisitions and dispositions, tax due diligence, reorganizations, and repatriation strategies. He obtained his BBA from the University of Toronto and has completed the in-depth international course and in-depth tax program.

Aidan Roszak, CPA, is a Vice President in Deloitte’s Corporate Finance practice. Based in Calgary, he provides support in mergers, divestitures, and capital advisory.

Alex Garber has been in public practice since 2004, specializing in income taxation for Canadian owner-managed businesses and their shareholders.  Alex started his career with Deloitte & Touche LLP in Toronto.  He is currently an independent tax advisor, assisting various clients, sole-practitioners and CPA firms in the Greater Toronto Area.

Alex has a particular passion for tax education.  He is an adjunct professor at the Schulich School of Business at York University, teaching taxation to both undergraduate and master's students, where he has won multiple awards for outstanding teaching.  Alex also teaches at the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Program and delivers various tax seminars for CPA Ontario, CPA Saskatchewan and CPA Manitoba.

Amorell Saunders N'Daw is a seasoned leader and experienced consultant with broad experience in management, public relations, corporate governance, equity, diversity, and inclusion as well as human resources. She has held senior management roles for government ministries, broader public- sector organizations, public relations agencies and a national search firm. Amorell’s unique combination of training and experience is sought after by organizations looking for dynamic, strategic and pragmatic counsel, facilitation and training that’s delivered with panache and precision. A trained journalist who speaks English and French, Amorell completed her Master of Education degree at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, with a focus on adult education and community development. She has a certificate in diversity and inclusion from Cornell University.

Arun Mathur, FCPA, FCA, is the owner and lead instructor at UltimQuest Knowledge. He has presented to thousands of CPAs and business professionals around the world on business ethics, improving governance, ESG and related topics. He explains how operating ethically results in a return on investment to individuals and to businesses. In 2018, he was awarded the FCPA designation from CPA Ontario. He hopes to inspire the next generation of professional accountants to achieve fulfilling careers that create a positive impact in our society.

Babar Khan, CPA, MBA, BBA, MSc is an experienced tax professional with over 15 years of experience in tax compliance and advisory work. He specializes in taxation for Expatriates, Business Travelers, High Net Worth Individuals and Owner-Managed businesses. Babar also teaches at Canada’s Schulich School of Business, along with Canadian CPA bodies. Babar holds an MSc (Tax) degree from University of Oxford (UK) and an MBA from Schulich School of Business (Canada). He is also a dual US and Canadian CPA. Babar also serves on the board of a UK-based EdTech Company.

William (Bill) Wesioly, CPA, CMA is a Risk Management consultant and Leadership Coach who enriches the effectiveness of people and organizations through both skill and heart.

Bill’s background is from the Financial Services industry, first with BMO and then with RBC, where he assisted and led on the development of Enterprise Risk Management frameworks, and programs such as Risk and Control Assessments, Scenario Analysis and Risk Management Reporting.

His consulting assignments have been extremely varied. Some of the consulting assignments: Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Stewardship Services Alliance, Centre for Outsourcing Research and Education, Ktunaxa First Nations, Ukrainian Credit Union, Holland Christian Homes, and IMCD Canada.

Blair is a seven-time CFO, a director, and an educator at Executive Finance Partners - a professional development and executive coaching firm for financial professionals and executives. He also serves as a corporate director and audit committee chair of publicly listed companies: Terravest Industries and Clarke Inc. He is also the Chairman of the Devour Food & Film Festival and serves on various committees of CPA Nova Scotia. Blair is the author of The Illiterate Executive: An Executive’s Handbook for Mastering Financial Acumen.

Bradley Keefe, CPA, CA, is a partner at a local mid-sized firm in Manitoba. Bradley specializes in assurance engagements and has practiced in this area for over 20 years. His primary area of practice is with not-for-profit, charity and public sector entities. Bradley has extensive experience leading and updating professional development courses for CPA Manitoba. Bradley was also extensively involved with the CPA Canada and the CPA Western of School of Business where he was an experienced facilitator, session leader, exam reviewer, and author.

Brennen Schmidt is a leading expert in cybersecurity, emergency planning, and crisis response. As an award-winning management consultant and co-author of “Cyber City Safe: Emergency Planning Beyond the Maginot Line,” he excels at bridging the gap between people, process, and platforms.

Regularly featured on prominent media platforms such as Global News, CTV News, and CBC, Brennen is adept at distilling complex issues into digestible insights. His voice not only resonates through the airwaves but is also amplified in print and online via Troy Media, reaching over 1,800 newspapers across Canada and a digital audience of 5+ million.

Brennen’s expertise in technology strategy and digital transformation qualifies him as a trusted advisor in various fields, from product marketing and development to governance and operations. Collaborating closely with diverse teams, he emphasizes a strategy-to-execution approach that produces measurable outcomes and articulates business value.

As a respected thought leader, Brennen’s contributions significantly impact areas such as emergency planning and crisis response. His analyses and viewpoints help shape the conversation around today’s most pressing challenges, including governance, risk, and compliance for disruptive technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI).

A regular invitee to both industry and academic events, Brennen’s speaking engagements offer depth of insight and actionable strategies. Whether speaking to executives or students, he captivates his audience, inspiring meaningful discussion.

Outside his professional pursuits, Brennen is dedicated to nurturing future leaders. As a committed coach with the University of Regina’s Hill JDC West teams, he derives immense satisfaction from developing the next generation of problem-solvers and thought leaders.

Carolyn Stern is the President and CEO of EI Experience—an executive leadership developmentand emotional intelligence training firm.She is a Certified Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Development Expert, Certified Speaking Professional®, corporate trainer, award-winning author, and university professor.

Since launching her book, The Emotionally Strong Leader: An Inside-Out Journey to Transformational Leadership, Carolyn has quickly gained acclaim following her appearances on The Social, CTV Your Morning, Daytime Chicago, Global TV, Slice TV, OWN, Lifetime TV, MovieTime, Prime, and Tubi. Her book was awarded the Axiom Book Award for the Best Business Book in 2023 in the leadership category and the 2022 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in the career category.

She has also been featured in various media outlets across the globe, including Forbes, Fast Company, The European Business Review, The Globe and Mail, and Inc.com. Carolyn’s emotional intelligence courses and modules have been adopted by top universities, and she has trained over 60,000 business leaders across the continent in highly regarded corporations.

Chris Wyman, CPA, CIA, CRMA, is President of Pathfinder Business Consulting and a licensed partner with Leadership Management International. LMI is the largest and most successful personal and organizational development company in the world.

Chris has over 25 years of finance industry experience, spanning roles from Commercial Banking Account Manager to Internal Audit Director. He draws on his extensive range of experience when delivering seminars related to leadership and management principles, financial statement analysis, process management and corporate GRC (governance, risk management and compliance). Chris holds his CPA designation, the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation, and the IIA’s Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA).

David Crawford, CPA, CMA, is a former partner of the large international firm environment, who has broken from the pack to work with servicing clients of the small- to medium-sized accounting and law firms across the country. David has worked in the practice area for over 25 years and runs his practice from his Calgary office. David has worked in both public practice (Big 4+) and government and has been instrumental in devising unique indirect tax solutions and identifying savings opportunities for clients, while also managing their indirect tax compliance risks, including many years of indirect tax controversy and audit support.

David J. Elzinga, FCPA, FCA (Alberta), IFA, CFE has conducted financial investigations since 1988 on behalf of corporations, law firms, various levels of government and law enforcement agencies assessing financial issues in a variety of legal disputes in various industries across Canada, the U.S., and the Caribbean. David has held various senior leadership roles including Global Leader of Forensics for Grant Thornton International and the Investigation Unit of the Alberta Securities Commission. He is currently a Senior Director for Delta Consulting Group. In recognition of his exceptional service and bringing honour to the CPA profession, David was granted a Fellowship by CPA Alberta in 2018.

David Reiner, CPA, CMA has been practicing exclusively in the area of indirect taxes for over 30 years, with clients ranging from small local businesses to international corporations. He has advised banks, farms, grocery chains, furniture retailers, and oil and gas exploration firms on the requirements of the GST/HST, PST, and QST legislation. He has presented at industry-specific conferences and has co-hosted a workshop at CPA Canada's annual Commodity Tax Symposium. In addition, he has presented CPA Alberta courses for more than 15 years with a focus on GST/HST.

David Trahair, CPA, CA, is a writer, trainer, and eLearning content developer. He is also a national best-selling author. His books include Smoke and Mirrors, Enough Bull, Crushing Debt, Cash Cows, Pigs and Jackpots and The Procrastinator’s Guide to Retirement. Canadians appreciate the fact that his views are totally independent because he does not sell any financial products. He currently operates his own training and eLearning development firm and offers on-demand and live webinars on personal finance, ethics, AI and technology to organizations including CPA provincial bodies across Canada.

Diane E. McDonald, CPA, CA is a sole practitioner who has been in public practice for over 35 years in Ontario and BC. Today, Diane provides consulting and professional practice services throughout B.C. Diane works with companies and practitioners navigating Canadian and SEC financial reporting obligations and provides accounting and financial reporting consultation services on the application of IFRS, ASPE, ASNFPO and U.S. GAAP. Diane also works with practitioners performing audits and review engagements, assisting them with the design and application of assurance standards. Diane develops and provides professional development training for preparers of financial statements, their auditors and accountants and provides monitoring, EQCR and other services to practitioners.

Donna Porter, CPA, CMA is an associate with Gratitude Learning Associates Ltd. She brings over 32 years of varied experiences from financial management roles, teaching, public speaking and volunteer positions. Donna’s experience in financial management roles is both from private sector and Government. Experiences in executive level positions include Corporate Controller in Private industry, to Director and Executive Director positions in Government culminating with retirement in 2019 as CFO of a large Provincial Government ministry. Donna served on the Financial Curriculum Advisory Committee for the BC Public Service and has taught ethics and senior level financial management courses to Government employees for over 13 years, and accounting courses to college students for 9 years. Donna’s zest for life is infectious and spills over in her enthusiasm as a trainer. She holds various certificates including the Toastmasters International ATM Silver, CFO’s Leadership Program Certificate, and Strategic Management Certificate.

Doris Good, CPA, CMA, MBA is an Associate with Gratitude Learning. She has twenty years of experience with the private sector in international manufacturing and retail businesses. Doris worked as an auditor and training manager for the BC Provincial Government. During her tenure with the Ministry of Finance, she was awarded the Apex Award in Leadership for her work in professional ethics training. Doris has been involved with developing and delivering training to accountants for seventeen years, starting with the CMABC and CPABC Preparatory Program. She has also developed custom ethics programs for university business faculties and corporation accounting staff. Doris was appointed a director of the first board of CPABC after a directorship on the board of CMABC. She completed her CMA at Simon Fraser University, earning the David Aplin Leadership and Strategic Management Award. Doris earned her MBA from Royals Roads University, winning the Founders Award for Leadership and Sustainability.

Drew McDonald has been instructing and practicing taxation for the last 40 years in diverse areas such as international, domestic, GST. His experience in these areas allows him to give a unique perspective to some areas of taxation. His focus is on planning for the future and minimizing the negative effects and accentuating the positive taxation effects in small business and individual planning.

Ed Kroft, K.C., CPA (Hon.), is a partner of Bennett Jones LLP. Ed resolves tax disputes and conducts tax litigation. He is recognized as a top tax advisor in international guides and directories. Ed was the recipient of Canadian Tax Foundation’s first annual Lifetime Contribution Award and was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal to recognize contributions to the Canadian Tax Foundation. He is also the recipient of the 2006 CICA Award for Excellence in Income Tax Practice and Education for outstanding contribution to the profession and the Canadian tax community.

Erin Harwood, CPA, CA is a Director within the due diligence practice of Deloitte’s M&A Advisory group in Vancouver. With over ten years of experience providing merger and acquisition advisory services to financial and strategic clients across North America, he has focused a variety of industries critical to British Columbia, from owner managed manufacturers and technology start-ups to publicly traded resource companies. Erin started his career within the Deloitte audit group and spent two years as the VP Finance for a BC-based craft beer producer.

Erin Rao, CPA, CA, is a consultant, specializing in IFRS, providing financial reporting, complex technical accounting, transaction support, and professional development services to organizations. She is a member of the AcSB’s IFRS Discussion Group and has been an Adjunct Professor at UBC Sauder School of Business. Erin has developed and presented IFRS, ASPE and management accounting courses, and authored finance and accounting materials and cases. Prior to this, Erin was a Vice President at ABN AMRO Bank in the Netherlands where she managed the successful adoption of IFRS head-office reporting.

Fred Tang, CPA, CA, CBV, is an experienced valuation and financial advisory professional providing services in the practice areas of business and securities valuations, M&A and divestitures, transaction support, financial reporting, due diligence services and litigation support. He is qualified as an expert witness and has provided expert testimony in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Fred provides his valuation and advisory services to clients in his role as a Principal, Valuation and Advisory Services at Davidson & Company LLP and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Garrett Wasny MA, CMC, CITP/FITP is a Certified Management Consultant and widely recognized AI evangelist, digital navigator, and innovation amplifier based in Vancouver. Honored in 2025 with the MYCPE Award for groundbreaking contributions to AI and technology education, Garrett has trained tens of thousands of CPAs and accountants in over 60 countries. Garrett’s dynamic training unlocks new dimensions of AI synergy that inspire experimentation, drive collaborative intelligence, and transform CPAs into Chief Future Officers.

Garth Sheriff, CPA, CA, CPA (Illinois), CGMA CIA, is the founder of Sheriff Consulting, which designs and delivers continuing professional development programs focused on leadership, ethics, and technology, including artificial intelligence. Sheriff Consulting’s mission is to create a learning environment that is both engaging and impactful. Garth has over 20 years of experience as a learning provider for the CPA profession. He has also trained and worked as a professional actor, is a member of ACTRA, and is a graduate in improvisation from The Second City.  He has combined learned skills in acting with his CPA experience to create two podcast shows "The CPA Intelligence and Ethics Show"  and "The Fraud Complex".>

Greg Campeau, B.COMM, is a learner and teacher of timeless truths that govern both personal and organizational effectiveness. Greg has delivered over 3100 presentations and workshops throughout North America, and for 15 years has instructed courses in the School of Business at BCIT. Greg's broad and riveting appeal is rooted in his relevant, meaningful, thought-provoking and practical content that is always delivered in an interactive, humorous and inspirational style.

Hugh is an independent contractor to Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP, where he is a Director, Taxation Services. He is also an independent contractor to Video News Inc. where he is a member of the Editorial Board of Video Tax News, appearing regularly in their monthly video and newsletter. Hugh has over 25 years of public practice experience, focusing on income tax services for individuals and owner-managed private corporations. He is an author, mentor and instructor in the provincial Continuing Professional Education programs in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, has presented at the CPA Canada National Conference on Income Tax and The One conference, the Canadian Tax Foundation’s Prairie Provinces Tax Conference, the Banff Small Practitioners Forum and CPA Forum North. Hugh chairs the CPA Canada Small and Medium Practitioners (SMP) Tax Committee and serves on the Joint Committee on Taxation of the CBA and CPA Canada. Hugh is the 2014 recipient of CPA Canada’s Award for Excellence in Income Tax.

Hugh Wooley, CPA, CA, of Lewis & Company, specializes in income tax focusing on the reorganization of private Canadian companies. A former Revenue Canada Rulings officer, Hugh has authored several articles and is a frequent lecturer on income tax matters.

Jack is a licensed lawyer in Ontario with over 30 years of experience in handling professional liability claims. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1987 and spent the first 10 years of his legal career in private practice as a civil litigator. In 1997, Jack transitioned in-house to work for the professional liability insurer for lawyers in Ontario, where he spent the next 21 years managing professional liability claims and overseeing an active claims department. He has also adjudicated for the federal government and, more recently, has worked with the professional liability insurer for architects in Ontario.

He is the Vice President, Claims and Risk Education at CPA Professional Liability Plan Inc.

Jane Bowen, FCPA, FCA, has dedicated her career to the professional development and education of Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA’s) across Canada, and internationally.  Jane understands and can communicate complex technical matters in plain language.  This ability was developed through a strong technical background in serving small business clients, and her contributions to publications on the development of application guidance for CPAs as new standards are developed.

Jane has spent many years teaching in Ontario Universities and recently retired from her most recent position as an Associate Teaching Professor at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ontario.

Most recently, Jane has been working to facilitate a new professional certification program for the CPA profession.

Jasvin Singh Sethi is a CPA and an Indian Chartered Accountant with 14 years of experience in indirect taxation. His expertise spans across Canada, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain. He has worked with clients from various sectors including real estate, logistics, municipality, restaurant and hospitality, and information technology. Currently, he is a Senior Manager at KPMG, Canada, where he is involved in advisory and due diligence engagements, as well as assisting clients with GST/HST and PST audits. Prior to this, he was a Manager at EY, Canada, where he led the compliance practice in Western Canada. In the past, he has presented on various indirect tax topics at internal and external events.

Many great companies began behind a garage door. Jean-Guy founded his first business, Talbot & Associates, in his basement. In those early days, Jean-Guy’s biggest dream was to grow the accounting firm to one full-time employee. Now the firm has seven offices across Manitoba, one in Ontario and over 80 fulltime team members.

As a practice owner, Jean-Guy faced many challenges that he overcame with perseverance and the help of a great mentor. Over the years, he became passionate about practice management. Jean-Guy attended conferences in the United States, read books by great leaders like Simon Sinek and Napoleon Hill, and committed to learning everything he could about the topic. Then he found what worked and what didn’t, and developed ideas of his own.

Apart from being a revered FCPA, FCGA, and empathetic CEO, Jean-Guy also mentored several practice owners through the same issues he had encountered. Along the way he discovered proven methods to grow a business, hire the right team, and achieve work-life balance while turning a great profit; which gave him an idea for his second business, RêveNew Practice Management (RPM).

RPM is a consulting company that helps practice owners work less, make more profit, and live more fulfilled lives. Through seemingly counterintuitive advice, Jean-Guy has helped businesses understand his unique business philosophy and helped them double, triple, and quadruple their profits, just as his mentor did for him. Now he’s a keynote speaker who shares his knowledge and over three decades of experience running a successful business with audiences nation-wide.

Jeff Price, CPA, CGA is an Associate with Gratitude Learning Associates Ltd. He brings over 30 years of customer service, leadership, financial, and training expertise to the GLA team. Having worked in senior management in the private sector; director in a senior government, as well as in several director roles for Chambers of Commerce and soccer organizations, Jeff’s expertise ranges from managing and leading change, to financial statement, pro forma and business case development and includes delivery of governance, ethics, sustainability, financial management, change management, procurement and train the trainer facilitation training.

Jeff Wilts has been working as an architect, IT strategist, educator and consultant for the last 20 years. Jeff has had the chance to work in a variety of different Industries: Banking, Marketing, Retail, Chemical, Food Processing, Logistics, Multi-Modal Transportation, Overnight Courier, Government, Utilities. Jeff is recognized for his skills with Business Intelligence, Analytics and Enterprise Integration. Before his current role as Chief Architect for Trader Corp (AutoTrader Group of Companies Canada), Jeff has had the opportunity to champion and deliver Information Management projects for some of North America's leading companies including: Canadian Tire, Fleet Complete, Loblaw, PC-Bank, Mosaic / Acosta, Royal Bank, Canada Post, Purolator, JM-Schneider, Uniroyal and Maple Leaf Foods.

With over 30 years of experience in the accounting profession, Jennifer O’Neal is a recognized leader in audit and assurance, quality management, and professional training. She specializes in helping firms strengthen their Systems of Quality Management, optimize assurance methodologies, and meet evolving regulatory requirements with confidence.

Jennifer is an accomplished educator, delivering professional development courses for provincial CPA bodies across Canada and for 20-20 Services in the United States, whose clients include large and mid-sized accounting firms across North America. Her engaging and practical teaching style equips practitioners with the knowledge and tools they need to deliver high‑quality engagements and comply with the latest standards.

As the CEO and founder of Tilaus.io, Jennifer has developed TQX – The Tilaus Quality Experience, an innovative cloud-based quality management system designed specifically for small and medium-sized accounting practices. This software streamlines compliance with Canadian and international quality management standards, saving firms time while improving consistency and efficiency.

Jennifer’s contributions to the profession include authoring CPA Canada’s Quality Management Guide and co‑authoring the Professional Engagement Guide. She has also served on CPA Canada task forces, including the Compilation Engagement Implementation Task Force, influencing resources and guidance for practitioners nationwide.

Passionate about advancing the profession, Jennifer combines her deep technical expertise with a commitment to practical, real‑world solutions — empowering accounting firms in Canada and the U.S. to thrive in a competitive and highly regulated environment.

Jennifer Reid, CPA, CGA, TEP is Senior Manager, Tax – International Private Client Services, at RSM Canada LLP in Calgary. Jennifer specializes in assisting private clients with international tax and estate planning issues such as immigration and emigration, dual citizenship considerations, foreign inheritance and foreign investment and asset ownership. Jennifer also assists in designing meaningful executive compensation plans where cross border considerations are front of mind. Jennifer has practiced tax services in Calgary for over 14 years, with a focus on private companies and their owners, as well as trusts and estates. She has experience assisting clients in planning their estate, including considerations such as insurance, trust and probate planning, cross-border planning as well as in transitioning businesses to the next generation or new owners in a tax-efficient manner. Jennifer’s previous experience in Big Four and boutique tax groups, as well as unique experience gained in leading a wealth planning group at a financial institution, allows her to take a holistic approach to tax planning for entrepreneurial and high net worth clients.

Dr. Jim Murray, Hon BA, MA, MSc, EdD is CEO of optimal solutions international, a firm dedicated to helping people achieve their full potential. Jim has been teaching for us and other CPA jurisdictions for 43 years. His students have called him “a man of brilliance” and his courses have altered careers and changed lives. He has been nationally honoured by the university community for “excellence in the design and delivery of life-long learning”.

Joanne Spalton, Associate Senior Consultant at Kwela Leadership, is an experienced leadership development consultant, facilitator and coach, with over 20 years experience working with organizations to ensure leaders know how to engage, coach and build accountability, as well as understand their role in the co-creation of meaningful culture. She has built a strong track record within industry, having most recently served as the Chief People Officer for WhiteWater West Industries. In this corporate role, Joanne was a member of the senior leadership team, leading people operations in the USA, Middle East, Europe and China. Some of the key outcomes of her work are strategy development, key contributions to communication improvements and governance, a peer recognition plan, succession planning programs and the development and delivery of leadership programs. Her prior consulting experience includes work across a range of industries—high tech, government, legal, construction, manufacturing, engineering—with a range of structure as well: not-for-profit, private, public and cooperative. Value and impact are always the hallmarks of her work. Joanne is a fully trained coach through the Coaches Training Institute. She maintains a CHRP designation with the Chartered Professionals of HR BC. She holds a post-degree diploma from BCIT as well as a baccalaureate degree in Political Science and English from the University of Victoria.

Joel has 30 years of experience as a business leader and leadership consultant. He has trained and coached 1,000s of leaders across Canada and the US. His clients include ATCO, WestJet, Apache, BC Hydro, ICBC, RBC, and Accenture.

Joel teaches leaders how to build talent, manage culture, and make employees part of the solution for inspiring workplaces and sustainable results.

Joel earned a Ph.D. with Distinction in Philosophy and was a member of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team.

John Hetherington, PMP, CMC is a Technology Strategist, International Speaker and founder of We Deliver Your Vision. He helps CFOs and Controllers to take advantage of technology to automate processes, reduce costs and get time back in their day. John has led finance technology projects for over 25 years and has 10 years of strategy consulting experience from large international management consulting firms including Deloitte and Ernst & Young in the UK and North America. He lives in Calgary and likes hiking and camping in the mountains.

Karine Benzacar is Managing Director of Knowledge Plus Corp., an organization which specializes both in business training and in providing financial, accounting, and management information services. As a professional accountant, certified both in Canada and in the U.S., Karine’s practice has involved organizations all across North America. Her clients include many companies - large companies, such as the Bank of Nova Scotia, Magna, and IBM, start-up firms and the public sector, such as various departments of the Government of Canada.

Karine is a seasoned industry professional with over 25 years of solid industry experience. After beginning her career in the finance departments of Kraft Foods and Avon Products, she held senior financial management positions at three major Canadian Banks – Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Nova Scotia, and Bank of Montreal. Her career has spanned many areas including budgeting, accounting, finance, project management, re-engineering, and strategic management. She is fluently bilingual in English and French.

Karine has been teaching undergraduate, MBA, and Masters of Finance courses at several leading universities which include University of Toronto, Queens University, Concordia University, and Ryerson University. She is a highly acclaimed industry expert, has presented at national industry conferences, and published numerous articles in leading publications.

Katherine McDonnell is a Senior Associate at KPMG Law LLP and Senior Manager at KPMG LLP in Vancouver. Katherine is a member of KPMG’s national Corporate Reorganizations & Divestures group, specializing in Canadian domestic and cross-border income tax law, advising on corporate reorganizations, divestitures, mergers and acquisitions, clean energy projects and financial services. She is a frequent author and speaker, with recent publications in Canadian Tax Focus and CPABC, covering topics such as clean economy investment tax credits, safe income and corporate restructuring issues.

Ken Jiang is a partner in the Vancouver office of Thorsteinssons LLP, His practice focuses on domestic and international tax planning. His clients include individuals, private and public corporations, trusts, charities, financial institutions, and public bodies. He also represents clients in complex tax disputes and helps clients obtain relief under the Voluntary Disclosures Program. Ken currently teaches the Real Estate – Income Tax Course for The Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. He has written articles on various tax topics for Wolters Kluwer (CCH), Lexology and the Canada Tax Foundation. Being fluent in Mandarin and proficient in written Chinese, Ken is able to deliver legal services in both English and Chinese. Ken received his B.Sc. with Distinction (Biochemistry) from the University of Victoria and his J.D. with Distinction from the University of Alberta

Ken Lewchuk is a Chartered Professional Accountant (British Columbia) and a Certified Public Accountant (Texas). He graduated with a MBA from the Edinburgh Business School and with a MA in Applied and Professional Ethics from the University of Leeds (Distinction) where his dissertation focused on Enron and corporate responsibility. His career in the energy sector has spanned technical accounting, corporate finance, and assurance for corporations in the United States and Canada. He as taught technical accounting and finance classes to corporate employees in several countries, been a conference speaker, and a guest lecturer at Texas A&M University, Mays Business School, on the topic of business ethics. 

Kevin Zhao, CPA is the Director of Finance for Pixieset Media, a SaaS business that provides end-to-end software solutions for creative professionals and photographers. Kevin was previously a Vice President in the M&A Advisory practice at Deloitte LLP where he was an M&A specialist providing divestiture advisory services for private mid-market businesses and buy-side and sell-side transaction due diligence for financial sponsors and strategic companies both public and private. He has past transactional experience in the technology, healthcare, food & beverage, consumer products and services and manufacturing industries.

Kim Hyshka, experienced in both large and small-scale projects, has facilitated conversations on topics such as land use, energy, healthcare, government strategy, large-scale budgets, and private sector mergers. She is passionate about building communities’ capacity to participate in meaningful dialogue and finding opportunities for organizations and stakeholders to work together in mutually beneficial decision-making processes. She draws on her education in political science, collaborative conflict resolution and continuous learning as a licensed IAP2 Foundations trainer.

In everything she does, Kim embodies gratitude and excitement. Her aptitude for organization, combined with background in performing arts, enables her to intuitively incorporate structure, process, and flow into the messiness of human differences. From here, she ignites and fosters the beginning of new and beautiful futures.

Kirsten S. Albo, FCPA, FCA, is the founder of ASK KSA Consulting Inc., helping SMPs conduct effective and efficient engagements while meeting the requirements of being in public practice. With 30+ years of experience, she is a relied-upon technical advisor known for her practical and real-world approach.

Kirsten S. Albo is the founder of ASK KSA Consulting Inc., where she provides consulting and advisory services to small and mid-sized practitioners (SMPs). With over three decades of experience, Kirsten helps firms conduct effective and efficient engagements while meeting the requirements of public practice. Known for her practical and results-driven approach, she works closely with SMPs and delivers tailored solutions that enhance audit quality and firm efficiency.

Before founding ASK KSA Consulting Inc., Kirsten spent 23 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she served as an audit partner, working with both public and private companies across a range of industries. Her strong technical background and in-depth knowledge of accounting and assurance standards have made her a go-to resource for firms.

Kirsten is very engaged in the profession, currently serving as a member of the Audit Evidence and Risk Response Advisory Group for the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AASB). She has also contributed to numerous other advisory groups for the AASB and CPA Canada. A highly regarded speaker and instructor, Kirsten develops and delivers in-house courses for firms and instructs for substantially all provincial Canadian CPA bodies. She has also been a presenter for many professional bodies both nationally and internationally. Kirsten is also actively involved in her community and has served on many local boards.

As a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA, FCA), Kirsten is known for her drive, passion and leadership. Kirsten has a reputation for helping practitioners meet the standards in a practical, efficient way without sacrificing quality. And, she likes to have fun along the way.

Kristin Garner is a facilitator and instructional designer for Eclectic Communications. She has over two decades of experience in the field of education as a teacher in both the public and private school systems and has specialized in teaching emotional literacy and regulation over the past several years. She has presented to several large organizations on health and well-being and is committed to supporting the development of trauma-informed learning spaces. Kristin is a skilled communicator and writer who designs customized sessions to meet the unique needs of each group she works with, ensuring the learning experience is both relevant and meaningful. She is passionate about supporting each individual's learning journey in a safe, supportive, and friendly environment, encouraging learning with a playful and engaging approach.

Kurt is the owner of Upper Canada Capital, a "Family CFO" and Senior Financial Advisor with Manulife Wealth in Toronto. Kurt is the past co-founder of the billion-dollar wealth management practice at one of Canada's big four accounting firms and a national best-selling author on finance. Kurt has been an instructor at CPA associations across Canada for 18 years and is a regular in the national press on money topics.  His fast-paced, no-nonsense talk about investing and financial planning has made his courses core content for Canadians for years.

Laura Friedrich, MSc, CIA, FCPA, FCGA is the executive director of a professional research and education firm with over 25 years of experience conducting projects worldwide. The firm helps build institutional capacity and develops strategic governance, and ethics guidance for established and emerging professional and regulatory organizations. Laura frequently authors and presents on topics such as the impact of disruptive technology on professional ethics; sustainability and capacity development, with a focus on the future of professions. Laura is a former Technical Advisor to the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants and chairs CPABC’s Bylaws Committee.

Dr. Mark Morpurgo, FCPA, is an accountant with extensive senior management and executive experience in various industries, including manufacturing, wholesale distribution, and professional services. In 1998, he discovered his passion for teaching and learning, which led him to become a faculty member and Associate Dean, Innovation in the Athabasca University Faculty of Business. Dr. Morpurgo has also held sessional teaching appointments at Cape Breton University, Selkirk College, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), the University of Alberta, and MacEwan University.

Dr. Morpurgo currently serves as a Board Member on the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED), holding positions on the Education Committee and the Audit and Finance Committee.

Since 2019, Dr. Morpurgo has been a Session Leader and Facilitator in the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP). He has also facilitated professional development sessions for CPA Alberta, CPA Manitoba, and CPA Saskatchewan in various areas, including ethics, internal controls, lean operations, and more.

Martha Okot Thomas, CPA, CPA, CIA's 25 year career in Accounting and Finance started as a student at Camosun College where she was quickly inspired to become a professional accountant. With experience in public practice, progressive financial positions in the provincial government of British Columbia as well as time in the investment industry, Martha now brings her experience and knowledge to Education. Martha currently teaches full time at Camosun College as well as providing facilitation for CPABC and the Province of BC.

As the Executive Partner of FinEx Group, Massood Oroomchi B.Sc. (Econ.), FCA (U.K.) transforms and streamlines internal control and internal audit programs, corporate governance practices, enterprise-wide risk management, expedited financial close, and strategic procure-to-pay and order-to-cash processes. He implements a practical, risk-based roadmap for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) compliance and specializes in post-IPO compliance readiness for private entities. His clients encompass a diverse range of organizations across various industries in North and South America. He is guided by common sense and aims to add value at every step.

Melissa Louie, CPA, has been a CPA since 2017. After graduating with her Bachelor of Business Administration Accounting degree from Camosun College, she articled with Schibli Stedman King LLP, where she is currently a Senior Manager. Her focus is on accounting and tax including assurance engagements and tax planning for owner-managed businesses and corporate groups. Her accounting career started in 2004 and grew through Controllership roles in a variety of industries – automotive, insurance, music, real estate, and investments. Her broad experience gives her unique insight into the interests, issues, and challenges of owner-managed businesses.

Michael Kulbak, CPA, CMA is Managing Principal of Kulbak Trust Solutions a fiduciary firm that provides Professional Executor, Power of Attorney and Trustee Services. His areas of specialization include estate and trust planning, tax, administration and compliance. Michael has been a CFO, Trustee, Director, Officer, Treasurer and executive responsible for financial stewardship for a number of organizations and trusts. In these roles he was accountable for safeguarding assets, financial decision-making, tax planning, regulatory and statutory reporting.

Michael Lewis is Managing Director of Michael Lewis Training, Motivation and Development, a London, Ontario based training and development firm that was founded in 1994 and specializes in developing and delivering personal and professional development presentations, seminars, webinars, workshops, and team building facilitation to a wide range of clients. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a B.A. in 1983, began a career in training in the corporate world, and eventually started his own training and development firm.

Michael Lewis is a very experienced and popular speaker and trainer. As of June 2025 , he has spoken and/or presented workshops, seminars, webinars, and team-building sessions almost 6700 times in 429 different communities across Ontario and virtually all over Canada

He has a long association with speaking to and presenting seminars, webinars and workshops to accountants starting with the CGA Ontario and CMA Ontario and now to the members of various local CPA associations in Ontario as well as to the members of CPA New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, CPA Manitoba, and CPA Saskatchewan, CPA Alberta and to the members of the Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada.

Michael Monk has been with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for 35 years.  During that time, he has worked extensively with numerous complex GST/HST issues.

Michael’s current role in CRA’s Ottawa Headquarters (HQ) is with the HQ - GST/HST and Digital Compliance Directorate where he has managed CRA’s National GST/HST Presentations and Outreach services for the last 8 years.  During that time, he has created and facilitated several hundred GST/HST Presentations, across multiple sectors and industries.

Michael was a Team Leader and Senior Technical Interpretations Analyst for 12 years in GST/HST Rulings, Legislative Policy and Regulatory Affairs Branch.  He spent additional years in other GST/HST roles within the Compliance Programs Branch. Michael also worked as a CRA Facilitator over a 20 -year period developing training courses and facilitating many GST/HST Legislation and Audit Courses to hundreds of CRA staff.

Michael has several years of acquired GST/HST knowledge and experience, having worked with a multitude of GST/HST issues, across multiple sectors and business lines.  He has participated in several Conferences, preparing, and delivering GST/HST Presentations nationally, to a variety of accounting and industry associations.

Michael has volunteered with community and school groups over the years.  He has served as Director on the Board of a large charity, and on CRA’s Employee Assistance Program Committee.

Michael Morrison, CPA, CMA is a senior leader in the public service, an instructor, and is completing a Doctor of Business Administration degree. His research focus is in strategy and management and he presents CPA courses on these topics. He is an executive director in a regional health authority in BC. He has completed: an MBA; a Master of Defence Studies degree; a CMA, CPA designation; and graduate certificates in business topics from UBC’s Sauder School of Business. Michael has been an associate faculty member at Royal Roads University School of Business in the MBA program since 2008.

Mike is a partner of Dentons’ Tax Group. His practice is focused on corporate tax planning and reorganization, as well as tax litigation, compliance, and dispute resolution.

Mike advises clients on corporate reorganizations including share and asset rollovers, butterfly transactions among related parties, stock dividends, share redemptions, debt assignments/assumptions and debt-to-equity conversions. He also assists clients with GST issues, including on the sale of real property and applicability to amounts paid as settlements.

Mike also advises on employment benefit issues and salary deferral arrangements, and provides international clients with advice on “Canadianizing” share plans, specifically for US entities wishing to provide plans to Canadian employees and other Canada-US outbound and inbound investment issues.

Bio Coming Soon

Monique Levesque-Pharoah is an accomplished executive and governance professional with a strong track record in strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement and fund development. She is the owner of Unique Communications & Training. A highly experienced presenter and facilitator, Monique uses her energetic approach and real-life workplace situations to bring training alive. Participants regularly comment on her ability to make training fun and meaningful.

She holds a Certificate in Human Resources Management (Honours) and is a certified mediator through Mediation Services Manitoba. Monique has professional experience in employee development, communication & leadership and also enjoys working with organizations and leadership teams on conflict strategies.

As Director of Development for Peer Connections Manitoba, she enjoys working with organizations, donors and volunteers who are dedicated to supporting the mental health of Manitobans. Monique served on the national Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) board from 2020 to 2025.

Morgan is an ethicist, TEDx speaker and the President of MH Partners Inc., a boutique consulting firm adept at helping leaders and their organizations navigate a new era of business ethics and reputation risk. With a master’s degree in ethics from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, 11 years spent working in the ethics office of a large organization and real-life polarization experience as the founder and CEO of an Instagram-based ethical fashion marketing firm that generated over $1M in responsible sales in its first corporate year, Morgan brings together the academic, corporate and entrepreneurial aspects of business ethics in a way that doesn’t exist elsewhere.

Morgan has a unique ability to make ethics interesting and has become a well-known and respected instructor/speaker for professional associations across Canada including Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) provincial bodies, the Institute of Corporate Directors, and countless others. Her TEDx talk, now at 100K + views, is used in higher education classrooms across North America. MH Partners works with Boards and C-suites helping them understand, identify and mitigate risks relating to moral polarization.

Natalie Bessette-Asumadu, CPA, CA began her career at the Office of the Auditor General of Manitoba in 2008 after obtaining her B. Comm (Hons) at the University of Manitoba. She has spent much of her legislative audit career working on financial statement audits in the public sector, including as the engagement leader on the audit of the Public Accounts of Manitoba. Natalie has also been involved in educating the next generations of CPAs with CPA Canada and the CPA Western School of Business since obtaining her designation in 2010.

Nicholas is an experienced tax practitioner, educator and author. Specializing in tax and estate planning, he has served owner-managed companies of all sizes and their shareholders for over fifteen years. Nicholas keeps busy instructing courses at the University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, CPA Western School of Business and CPA Canada's In-Depth Tax Program, including various courses for CPA Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Bio Coming Soon

Pam has worked in the field of conflict resolution and relationship building for over 25 years.

As an instructor, she specializes in helping individuals develop their communication and conflict resolution skills. As a mediator, she works with Leaders and their teams to analyze and manage conflict in the workplace, finding creative solutions and strengthening working relationships. As a coach, she works with individuals to manage the conflict within, tap into their resourcefulness, and achieve personal goals.

She holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Management and is a certified coach with both the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Coaches Training Institute. She also worked (retired) at the Justice Institute of B.C. as an instructor and coach helping students develop their skills.

Patricia is a legacy Chartered Accountant and has been in public practice in some capacity since 1985.  Patricia has a diverse background, including being a practice reviewer for almost 13 years.  She was an Associate Partner with Deloitte for five years.  Her experience includes monitoring and implementation of quality control systems, technical assistance to engagement teams with respect to assurance, and ASPE and IFRS issues.  She also has provided quarterly and annual financial statement assistance to a few public companies.    Presently she has a small practice where she provides consulting services to various public accounting firms.  Over the past several years, Patricia has authored CPA courses in the areas of ASPE and internal controls.  She also teaches courses for CPA in the areas of IFRS, ASPE, auditing, review and compilation engagements and internal controls.  Finally, Patricia is passionate about sharing her experiences with those wanting to enter the profession and teaches various fourth-level accounting and assurance courses at SAIT.

Paul Mascarenhas is a specialist in Strategic Planning, Business Analysis, and an experienced facilitator in Information Technology Skills. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Science and a Master’s diploma in Business Administration.

Before beginning his career in training and facilitation, Paul worked with several large corporate organizations in areas of Strategic Marketing Services, Business Strategy, Business & Economic Research, and Communications.

Through his company, Avancer Learning Inc, Paul has conducted his brand of computing workshops for leading Canadian Corporations, Professional Bodies and departments in the Federal and Provincial Government.

He loves the outdoors, enjoys being out on the water on Lake Ontario, and holds a Canadian Recreational Pilots Permit.

Pauline Roberts, CPA is an accomplished finance and accounting professional with a broad range of experience in both corporate finance and audit roles. Pauline currently serves as Vice President in the Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory division. In her role, she has successfully managed sell-side and capital advisory engagements for mergers and acquisitions, overseeing valuation, market analysis, and transaction structuring. Prior to her role in Corporate Finance, Pauline held the position of Manager in the Audit & Assurance practice at Deloitte where she obtained her CPA. Pauline is currently working towards her Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) designation with a planned completion of Winter 2025.

Randy Nicholls, CPA, CA is an experienced finance professional with a long and varied career. He began his professional career in Winnipeg with Arthur Andersen & Co, where he obtained his Chartered Accountant designation and was a member of the firm’s audit, assurance and business advisory services practice.

Subsequent to achieving his designation, Randy moved into industry positions, eventually moving into CFO roles with both private and publicly listed companies. Following this, Randy spent 10 years as an Instructor at Red Deer Polytechnic, where he taught various accounting courses in the Diploma and Degree programs. In 2021, he accepted a position with CPA Alberta as Director of Member Engagement and Advisory Services, where he promoted volunteerism and the profession, as well as providing advisory services to members and the general public.

Since late 2024, he has provided advisory services on a part-time basis, enabling him the flexibility to return to his passion for teaching, including exploring his Metis heritage with the Indigenous Learners in Accounting program.

Richard Myers, CPA, CA, CFP is a Tax and Estate Planner for Odlum Brown Financial Services Ltd, having previously worked as a Senior Tax manager for public practice accounting firms. He works primarily in domestic income tax and estate planning for private corporations and their shareholders, advising clients on personal, corporate, and trust income tax matters. Richard is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC, the Canadian Tax Foundation, and has completed all three levels of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada's In-Depth Tax Course.

Robin Diehl, CPA, CA, CBV is a business valuator and a business analyst. Robin has vast experience presenting internal and external courses, including courses for undergraduates, professional designations and private firms. She has helped author various accounting courses and composed professional examination questions. Her areas of focus include financial accounting, financial reporting and assurance topics.

Samuel Lau, CPA is a Senior Manager with 8 years of tax experience in the Financial Institution and Real Estate practice at KPMG, advising clients ranging from mid-sized investment managers and real estate developers to large multinational conglomerates. He assists his clients with Partnership, Trust, and Corporate tax compliance, tax structuring on proposed acquisitions or external partnerships, and tax queries involving future business activities or changes to tax legislation.

A.G. (Sandy) Stedman, FCPA, FCA, is a partner with Schibli Stedman King LLP CPAs in Victoria. He has been a course author and instructor for the ICABC/CPABC and other provincial professional accounting bodies since 2002. His practice includes accounting and tax advice for professionals, owner managed business, high net worth individuals, and groups of privately held companies.

Sara has a variety of experience in public practice providing accounting, assurance, tax, forensic evaluation and litigation support services, as well as working with CPA and legacy bodies in various education programs.

Bio Coming Soon

Scott is a mindfulness coach and trainer, who gives CPAs the tools they need to delete the overwhelm, focus on what matters most and create the life they want. He helps them understand and better manage their reactive brain, teaching them how to be more focused, resilient and happier - even when stressed. <

Scott has delivered webinars, PD training and Keynote presentations to many of the CPA Associations across the country and his presentations are always highly engaging and practical.

He uses these tools every day in his own life and brings a practical, no-nonsense approach to it all. Scott is happily married to Meghan, is an engaged father of a 17-year-old son (Noah) and 15-year-old daughter (Kayla). He is a constant reader, avid mountain biker, passionate espresso maker and lover of craft-brewed IPA’s.

Shane Onufrechuk, FCPA, FCA, is a Partner, Tax at KPMG LLP. Shane's focus in the firm is in the area of Canadian Corporate Tax with an emphasis on PPP project finance structuring, corporate reorganizations, acquisitions and providing tax advisory services to other professionals. Shane speaks at CPABC PD events, plays an active role in CPABC professional development, and had been involved in teaching and course development for the CPA Western School of Business as well as the Sauder School of Business.

Shannon Wong, CPA is a Faculty member at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) where she teaches in the Accounting Diploma Program. She is also a Visiting Lecturer in the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and is involved in teaching and course development for the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP). Shannon has also worked at KPMG where she held several roles in assurance, tax, and training and development.

Dr. Shawn Ireland is a founding partner and managing director of HRC Group, Inc. He works extensively with Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments and international aid agencies. His expertise includes fostering critical thinking, strategic change, virtual teamwork, and managing human behaviour. He’s an adjunct Faculty member in the Doctor of Psychology Clinical Psychology graduate program at Adler University in Vancouver.>

Shayne Williams is a Certified Financial Planner professional with IG Wealth Management, specializing in helping small business owners grow their investments and develop long-term financial strategies. With a strong focus on practical, client-centered planning, Shayne brings clarity to complex financial topics. He has presented to various professional associations across Manitoba, including past sessions at the RBC Convention Centre. In 2024, Shayne served as a session instructor during CPA Public Practice Education Week, continuing his active involvement with the CPA communities in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Sheryne Mecklai, CPA, CA, TEP is a partner in Manning Elliott’s Tax Department, primarily focusing on estate planning and business succession services for Canadian owner-managed business in a wide range of industries. She has extensive experience working on engagements such as complex estate plans, corporate re-organizations and complex Canadian tax compliance. Sheryne was involved in the CPA In-Depth Tax Course as a tutor for a number of years and as a lecturer until 2023. Sheryne also teaches various seminars for the CPABC in the professional development program. Sheryne has spoken at a variety of internal and external tax update sessions focusing on private businesses and the issues and changes they face daily./p>

Simon Castonguay has been active in the world of corporate risk for over 20 years, having held strategic positions and decision-making responsibilities within global consulting firms, in North America and Europe. Over the years, he has positioned himself as a key business partner for his clients, structuring innovative solutions at the intersection of risk management, finance, corporate strategy and talent management. His clients are government entities as well as large corporations (Fortune 1000), in particular in the financial, telecommunications, transportation and energy sectors.

Simon Castonguay is a member of Quebec’s Order of Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA), the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and Investigative and Forensic Accountant (IFA). In addition to holding a Bachelor of Business Administration and Graduate Diplomas from HEC Montreal (Public Accounting) and University of Toronto (Forensic Accounting) , he holds a Minor in Law from the University of Montreal. He developed and teaches a course at the University of Toronto as part of the Master of Forensic Accounting program, which focuses on Forensic Data Analytics, Cybersecurity and Data Visualization.

Simon Castonguay sit on the Board of Directors of Downtown Montreal’s Commercial Development Society and as well as the Board of the Management Council of Quebec’s Parental Insurance Plan, where he chairs the Audit Committee.

Spenser is a senior consultant and leads the IPP team at Westcoast Actuaries. He holds a degree in actuarial science from the University of Waterloo and has 12 years of industry experience working with some of the pioneers of the IPP vehicle, who are also the founders of Westcoast Actuaries. Spenser educates business-owners and executives on how the IPP can enhance their retirement, optimize their tax and grow their wealth. He collaborates with advisors, accountants and regulators to continually improve the IPP client experience.

Stephen Priddle is the VP Finance and CFO of Fidus Analytics Inc., as well as President and founder of Practical PD, Seminars for Accountants. Stephen has nearly 40 years of business experience.  After working with KPMG for five years, he moved into industry.  He has held financial leadership positions in both public and private companies, in several different industries.  He has gained a wide range of experience in financial reporting, treasury management, merger & acquisition, and other business matters.   He is also a Board member of global aviation business SureWx Inc., of which he is a co-owner and former CFO.

Stephen has presented non-technical, practical work tip and ethics material to over 33,000 accountants. Stephen has taught in the CPA PEP program and at the University of Toronto and Carleton University, as well as for all three legacy accounting bodies. Stephen is also a prolific author.  His published business, accounting and finance cases are used by organizations across Canada. Stephen also advises a number of businesses and not-for-profit entities.  Stephen obtained his CPA, CA and CMA designations following graduation from Carleton University with a B.Comm.

Steve Chapelle has been providing information privacy and security education to Canadian organizations since 2006. Prior to that he spent over 20 years in information technology management, analysis and customer service, primarily in the financial services sector. Information management experience has included security, availability and disaster recovery planning. He is also an instructor and developer and wrote a book about the Spanish Flu pandemic, ‘No Decision: The 1919 Stanley Cup Final’, available at Amazon.

Steve Prentice is a consultant, author, university lecturer, and keynote speaker with over 30 years of experience at the intersection of people and technology in the workplace. His expertise lies in helping organizations navigate technological change— whether it’s adapting to hybrid work, strengthening cybersecurity, or integrating generative AI.

With a background in organizational psychology and project management, Steve simplifies complex technological concepts, making them accessible and actionable. He has consulted for global companies like Cisco and SAP, among many others, across diverse industries.

In 1994 he founded the Bristall Company, which continues to deliver professional development workshops and soft-skills education to busy corporate teams across North America and around the world through innovative online and asynchronous teaching methods.

Steve is the author of three business books and has ghost-written 10 other books for industry leaders. He teaches regularly on business strategy and technology topics at the Continuous Learning Department at Ontario Tech University. He is also a researcher, producer, and voice talent for Cyber Security Headlines, one of the top ten cybersecurity news podcasts in North America, as well as the Thales Security Sessions podcast, and the CloudTweaks (Cloud and IT security) podcast. He is widely recognized as an expert in the “human side of cybersecurity (and cybercrime).

Academically, Steve graduated from Concordia University in Montreal in 1989 with a B.A. in Communications Studies and was Valedictorian of the 1989 graduating year. Steve attended Law School in Toronto between 1989 and 1991 and was the official Rhodes Scholarship Candidate for York University for 1991. He returned to York University 10 years later and obtained his degrees in Psychology.

Tammy Robertson believes the greatest test of leadership today is captured in a simple message: “Keep Your Heart in the Game™!”

As a Resilience Play Maker, Tammy knows resilience isn’t built in theory — it’s forged on the field, in the midst of action, when the old playbook no longer works, the pressure is on, and new moves are needed. Resilience, grit, and energy don’t just happen; they emerge from daily practices that prepare leaders and teams to meet disruption head-on.

A former organizational leader turned keynote speaker and facilitator, Tammy awakens leaders to the deep and lasting impact they have with every decision and conversation. Her approach is equal parts challenging and compassionate: she dares leaders to face their doubts while equipping them with practical tools to lead with clarity and confidence.

Co-author of four books and a professional speaker across North America, Tammy is known for her straight talk, storytelling, and a dose of playfulness that ignites real intention in leadership. Her sessions give leaders strategies to step onto the field with grit, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Tammy has worked with organizations across Canada — with accountants, executives, and professionals — to strengthen culture, increase engagement, and bring back the fun at work.

She believes resilience is not an inborn trait but a habit we choose. With new insight and inspiration, Tammy shows leaders how to “Start at Start,” regaining confidence, enthusiasm, and lightness even when it’s anything but easy. Keeping your heart in the game is not passive — it’s a mighty choice that will change your life and leadership.

Tammy Towill, MBA, FCPA, FCMA is a partner in the Cordura Group and a faculty member with the Capilano University School of Business. A passionate enthusiast of the neuroscience of learning (the how and why we choose to learn what we do) who firmly believes that people want to make a difference with their work. Tammy is an accomplished C-suite advisor, entrepreneur, and CDI-accredited Board candidate with over 25 years of experience in complex business transformation, education, and governance and has been privileged to work throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

Terry Small, B.Ed., M.A., is a master teacher and Canada's leading learning skills specialist. He is the author of the Brain Bulletin with over 35,000 subscribers worldwide. Terry has presented on the brain for over 34 years to over 300,000 people in organizations around the world. His knowledge, warmth, humour and dynamic presentation style have made him a much sought-after speaker at workshops and conferences. Terry often appears on TV, radio, and in the press. He recently appeared on BCTV, Global, CKNW and Student Success. His presentations are practical and based on the latest brain science.

Tom Morton, CPA, CA, has 30 years of experience as a Canadian income tax practitioner in public practice, including 17 years as a tax partner with Smythe LLP in Vancouver. Tom describes himself as an “income tax generalist”, having practical experience with most provisions of the Income Tax Act, but most particularly corporate reorganizations, deferred income plans and executive compensation planning. Tom retired as a partner from Smythe LLP in January 2022 but continues to do income tax consulting related to purchasing or sale of incorporated businesses and family succession.

Victor's services have been retained by public sector bodies, municipal and national police forces, large federal and provincial regulatory agencies, and senior law firms. These services were initially provided while he was an employee of an international CA firm from 1984 to 1988, and since 1988 they have been provided through his own companies, either on a direct engagement basis or in alliance with other Canadian and international forensic accounting firms.

He has investigated many different types of matters, including:

• Fraud and secret commissions
• Money-laundering and other proceeds of crime matters
• Areas of potential economic crime, fraud and corruption

Regulatory reviews of provincial and federal matters Victor has testified in Manitoba on a number of occasions, at both the Provincial Court and the Court of Queen’s Bench. He also provides, or has provided, audit, accounting, income tax planning, management and controllership services to various entities.

Victor is also well known in the accounting profession for his involvement in educational matters, including developing and marking educational materials, lecturing, facilitating and acting as a technical resource for various organizations, including:

• Master of Forensic Accounting (MFAcc) / Diploma in Investigative & Forensic Accounting (DIFA) program, University of Toronto
• Education Committee of the Alliance for Excellence in Investigative and Forensic Accounting (IFA Alliance)
• IFA Alliance Standards Committee
• Masters in Accounting program, University of Manitoba
• CPA Canada / Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and CPA Manitoba / Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba, and other professional accounting organizations
• Various federal and provincial government departments from 2007 until 2013, Victor also was a member of the IFA Alliance Board, and Chair of the IFA Alliance Education Committee.
• Master of Forensic Accounting (MFAcc) / Diploma in Investigative & Forensic Accounting (DIFA) program, University of Toronto

Bio Coming Soon

Will House, JD is a Partner in KPMG Law and KPMG Canada. He advises on all aspects of income tax law with a focus on corporate mergers & acquisitions, divestitures, and reorganizations. He also provides practical advice, tailored to his clients’ business and commercial needs and is known for finding creative and innovative solutions to achieve tax-efficient results. Will received his Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2014.