Kristina Cleary is the Founder and Chief Leadership Coach of Accelle Inc., a leadership development company dedicated to helping professionals master the art of high-performance leadership. She is also a highly sought after speaker, facilitator and Executive in Residence at

N2Growth, The Talent Company, and the MaRS Discovery District; in these roles she advises and coaches leaders across multiple roles and layers including the C-Suite through to Mid-level Management on leadership, scaling strategies, and go-to-market execution. 

Before founding Accelle, Kristina spent 22 years in senior marketing roles including her most recent role as Chief Marketing Officer at the global technology company Ceridian Dayforce. At Dayforce she played a pivotal role in transforming the company into a global human capital management leader culminating in an IPO on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges. Over her tenure, she led the organizations rebrand, expanded its market presence, and built a world-class marketing organization that fueled significant business growth to over $1B in revenue.

With over 25 years of industry experience in speaking and leadership development, as a certified executive coach Kristina works with people at all levels from manager to the C-Suite in companies of all sizes, from startups to enterprises and government to help them accelerate their success. She is known for her creativity, innovation, unique coaching toolkit, and ability to help leaders be as successful as possible, in and out of the workplace.

Deb Pimentel is the President of IBM Canada and the General Manager of Technology Canada where she is responsible for driving the IBM Technology business unit strategy and growth for the country. 

Throughout her career at IBM, Deb has brought visionary leadership and strategic acumen to support Canadian organizations in leveraging cutting-edge technologies to solve complex business challenges. Deb's tenure at IBM is marked by her relentless focus on delivering value to clients through IBM's robust hybrid cloud and AI capabilities. She believes in the transformative power of these technologies to reshape industries, enhance operational efficiencies, and fuel sustainable growth. 

Prior to her current role, Deb held several executive positions at IBM including Vice President, Data, AI and Automation for IBM Canada and before that, Vice President, Technology Market Leader, Canada East, where she consistently used her deep expertise in various industries and technologies to drive growth, innovation and operational excellence. 

Deb is a graduate of York University where she studied Business and Psychology. Beyond her professional achievements, Deb is passionate about empowering the next generation of technology leaders and creating opportunities for girls in STEM. 

John Comacchio is the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Teknion Corporation, where he is responsible for providing enterprise-wide technology vision, leadership and management. As Chief Information Officer, John is a member of the company's Executive Committee, contributing to the strategic decision-making process, shaping strategic technology initiatives and fostering innovation.

Previously, John was a Principal at KPMG Consulting, General Manager US Interactive Toronto, the Information Technology Officer at Nissan Canada, and a member of the Nissan North America CIO Council.

John sits on a series of Advisory Boards, bringing external strategic insights into view through his expertise, skills, and knowledge. A believer in sharing direct experience and effective leadership skills, he is passionate about mentorship and developing the next generation of

digital leaders who will be fully capable of meeting the complex challenges and expectations of our times.

John holds a Master of Business Administration, Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario.

Anneke Olvera is a seasoned leader specializing in stakeholder-funded Programs at the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).  She has worked at the SCC for 27 years occupying several roles across the organization.  Her main areas of work have been on the crafting and executing of impactful initiatives in programs such as the AI and Data Governance Standardization and Standards to Support Resilience in Infrastructure. As the Secretariat to the AI and Data Governance Standardization Collaborative, Anneke focuses on fostering partnerships to maximize national opportunities through the influence of standardization. Anneke is a strong advocate for Canada's leadership in the realm of standardization in support of the health and safety, and economical welfare of Canadians.  Anneke holds an BA in English literature and Theatre from Mount Allison University, and an MA in English Literature from Carleton University.

Melissa Carvalho, RBC Global Security Identity and Access Management Vice President, leads the Global Cyber Security Strategic Services group, providing cyber solutions and services for RBC’s 100,000 employees, RBC’s subsidiaries and 19 million clients.

Melissa is a results-driven professional recognized for successfully delivering critical, high-risk initiatives for large organizations. She is known as an adept and innovative leader with extensive experience in managing all aspects of information technology, including business

needs impact assessments, software development and infrastructure implementations.

Melissa consistently leads and motivates individuals to maximize productivity while managing relationships with diverse stakeholder groups.

Throughout her career, Melissa has developed and implemented identity strategies to promote organizational growth and improve operational efficiency, including implementing Identity Programs at Canada’s five major banks and consulting on over 50 IAM programs across North America.

Melissa is on the Board of Directors for William Osler Health System and is also the Vice Chair for the Women in Identity (WiD) Global Board of Directors. WiD is a global non-profit organization focused on breaking bias to create a world where “Digital identity solutions built for everyone are built by everyone”. With WiD, Melissa combines her two passions,

advancing people and advancing technology. Melissa looks to bring people together and create new opportunities for a future without biases.

Melissa is a focal point in Cyber Security and is frequently a keynote speaker/panelist for various security focused events across the globe. Recently she was the winner of siberX Cyber Lifetime Achievement award 2024, Globe and Mail Best Executives 2022, Women In

IT awards - IT team of the year award (led by a woman), the IT World Canada Top 20 Women in Cyber Security 2021 and has been featured on TheFutureEconomy.ca and IT Media Group CIO roundtable. She holds various Directorships like the CyberArk Enterprise Customer Advisory Board and the IT Media Group CIO Advisory board to help CIOs across

Canada better understand Cyber Security. In her spare time, Melissa loves to travel. She has been over 85 countries across all 7 continents.

Pamela Snively is the Chief Data & Trust Officer at TELUS. She leads the team responsible for privacy, data and AI governance and data ethics, along with data management and a number of compliance functions. Pam approaches overall data governance through the lens of customer trust, leveraging TELUS’ Customer First principle to drive the organization’s commitment to privacy and data ethics.

Under Pam’s leadership, TELUS has significantly transformed its approach to transparency about its data handling practices. This has included a refresh of the TELUS Privacy Centre to include layered information on TELUS' data management practices, as well as some best practices to help our customers protect their information. 

She participates in a number of national and international think-tanks and governance bodies related to AI, privacy and data governance, including the Information Accountability Foundation and Privacy and Data Advisory Committee for the Canadian Marketing Association. She is also a founding member and Chair of Canada’s Business Privacy Group, which is focused on building trust in Canada’s digital ecosystem. 

Pam is a frequent speaker on responsible AI, privacy and data ethics and she actively encourages other organizations to join her in her mission to earn and elevate consumer trust in our digital ecosystem.

Jutta Treviranus is the Director of the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) and professor in the faculty of Design at OCAD University in Toronto (http://idrc.ocadu.ca ).  Jutta established the IDRC in 1993 as the nexus of a growing global community that proactively works to ensure that our digitally transformed and globally connected society is designed inclusively.  Dr. Treviranus also founded an innovative graduate program in inclusive design at OCAD University. 

Jutta is credited with developing an inclusive co-design methodology that has been adopted by large enterprise companies such as Microsoft, as well as public sector organizations internationally.  Jutta has coordinated many research networks with and by people with disabilities. Jutta was recognized for her work in AI by Women in AI with the AI for Good - DEI AI Leader of the Year award as well as by Women in AI Ethics. She is the chair of the Accessible and Equitable Artificial Intelligence standards committee for the Accessible Canada Act.

Sally is a Managing Partner of Women’s Equity Lab (Toronto) and is also on the Advisory Board of Women’s Equity Lab’s national organization. Women’s Equity Lab (WEL) operates all-female investment funds across Canada focusing on early-stage, high growth ventures.  WEL’s mission is to increase the representation of women investors while prioritizing funding for women-led businesses.

Sally is an active angel investor and is a member of Maple Leaf Angels, a Toronto-based angel group, where she sits on the Investment Review Committee.

Sally completed the Directors Education Program and earned the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.  She has sat on several private company and not-for-profit Boards.

Paul Lewis is a seasoned technology executive with over 30 years of experience driving innovation in artificial intelligence (AI), data management, and cloud services, currently serving as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Pythian, a leading global firm specializing in Data, Analytics, and AI. Recognized as a visionary in AI, Paul leverages his deep expertise to educate and activate enterprises, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance decision-making, optimize operations, and drive sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. His strategic leadership leading very large global teams has helped clients across industries—spanning finance, healthcare, and technology—leverage AI to achieve measurable business outcomes, including improved operational efficiency and data-driven insights.

Paul’s career is marked by strategic leadership in AI and data initiatives, where he has pioneered the development and implementation of real-word physical technologies within Hitachi Global for a decade, including predictive analytics, natural language processing, and generative AI, to solve human-impactful challenges. As CTO at D+H (Canadian bank) for 17 years, he drove the company’s technology strategy and IT management teams, steering technical innovations such as analytics, multi-cloud architectures, and data mobility solutions. 

Paul’s thought leadership in AI extends to guiding enterprises on risks, governance, ethics, and the transformative potential of AI/ML.  Paul is a frequent speaker and contributor to industry discussions on AI innovation, data mobility, and digital transformation. He co-founded The Suite Spot, a platform dedicated to initiating change strategic thinking of CIOs / CTOs / CDOs / CISOs, alongside technology leaders Howard Holton and Carlos Vargas.
 

His insights have been featured in prominent industry publications, such as Forbes Insights, Edge Computing Association, and GigaOm, where he shares expertise on harnessing AI to address real-world challenges while maintaining ethical standards. Paul also serves on the advisory boards and teaches for the Master of Business Analytics (MBAN) and Master of   Artificial Intelligence (MAI) programs at the Schulich School of Business, as well as serving on the corporate boards of IT Media Group (global CIO publications and roundtables) and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), providing guidance on AI, IT leadership, security and digital transformation.

With a background in Computer Science and 20 years of experience in digital transformation, Janet has made significant contributions to the Canadian banking, payments, retail, healthcare sectors. Janet’s passion lies in leveraging technology to enrich the lives of Canadians. She has an impressive track record of launching groundbreaking digital products, including one that won a Global Innovation Award. Janet’s achievements

have earned her numerous recognitions, including the Women in Technology Award Canada, The Stevie Global Award, Forbes Global 100 Outstanding Chinese, and Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada.

In her new role as Chief Information Officer at Equitable bank, Janet is sharpening the bank’s competitive edge as the leading challenger in Canadian banking. Her expertise in innovation and digital strategy ensures Equitable bank remains at the forefront of digital transformation.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Janet is also a passionate community builder.

At Loblaw, Janet co-founded the Loblaw’s Women in Technology committee, growing it from five members to a thriving network of over 500 women. At Equitable Bank, Janet actively contributes the Newcomers ERG. Janet has mentored hundreds of women through the Scala Mentorship Network. She serves on advisory boards and judging panels for the WIT Canada and the Women in AI North America. She also serves as a steering committee member on DMZ Women Innovation Summit. In 2024, she was appointed the Chair of the Board, at Information Technology Council (ICTC) of Canada.

2023 Women in Technology Award Canada

2023 The Stevie Global Award – Woman of the Year Bronze

2022 Forbes Global 100 Outstanding Chinese

2021 Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women

2019 Global Innovation Award by Oracle

Maya Beri is Chief Information Officer of Sun Life U.S., leading teams that focus on developing digital solutions that connect members to the care and coverage they need and simplify benefits and health experiences through a balance of innovation, AI capabilities, and digital development. Maya has a wealth of experience leading global teams enabling technology strategy, advancing digital solutions, client experience, agile delivery and operational strength. Beyond her professional work, she is passionate about equal access to education, physical and mental wellness, and participation in sports. As a competitive adult figure skater, she is an active advocate of Skate Canada's "skate for life" philosophy, promoting equal access to sport for all ages and diversity groups. She is proud to have represented Canada at International Skating Union (ISU) competitions, actively promoting healthy lifestyles and work-life balance.

Joelle Pineau is the VP, AI Research at Meta, leading its Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) team, with labs across Canada, US and Europe.  She is also a core member at Mila and a Professor at the School of Computer Science at McGill University. She holds a BASc in Engineering from the University of Waterloo, and an MSc and PhD in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Pineau's research focuses on developing new models and algorithms for planning and learning in complex domains. She also works on applying these algorithms to real-world problems in robotics, healthcare, and conversational agents. She is a past President of the International Machine Learning Society, the inaugural Reproducibility Chair of the NeurIPS conference, and is the creator of the ML Reproducibility checklist and the ML Reproducibility challenge. She is a recipient of NSERC's E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship (2018), the Governor General's Innovation Awards (2019), a CIFAR Canada AI (CCAI) chairholder, a Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC).

Lisa Bragg helps leaders and businesses gain the recognition they

deserve in a world where talent alone isn’t enough. Too often,

professionals assume their work will speak for itself, only to find

themselves overlooked. A former broadcast journalist turned

entrepreneur, Lisa has worked with Fortune 500 companies, global

associations, and industry leaders to help them amplify their

success and increase their influence.

She is the author of Bragging Rights: How to Talk About Your Work

Using Purposeful Self-Promotion and a sought-after speaker across

the U.S. and Canada. Lisa teaches people how to claim credit for

their work and turn visibility into new opportunities.

As a Partner and Senior Vice President, CIO Strategy at the IT Media Group, a tech leadership centric media company, Nasheen oversees strategic initiatives impacting the Canadian tech executive community. She chairs a cross-industry CIO Advisory Board, offering guidance on compelling issues and topics for both CIOs and the IT vendors serving them. 

With over two decades in the technology industry, Nasheen co-founded the IT Media Group in 2011, following a successful tenure at Oracle (SUN Microsystems), Infor (Workbrain), and IBM (Platform). 

Nasheen is a passionate advocate for women in technology and leadership, leveraging her position and platform to influence positive change. She actively participates in global leadership and technology advisory boards such as Harvard Business Review, Women in IT and Woman in AI, directing her efforts towards advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech sector. 

Additionally, Nasheen is a Limited Partner with the Women’s Equity Lab, an all-female angel investment fund focusing on early-stage, high-growth ventures with the mission to increase the representation of women investors while prioritizing funding for women-led businesses. 

Grateful for the opportunity to have lived on three continents and pursued three careers, Nasheen gives back by providing pro-bono coaching, mentoring, and sponsorship to her network, spanning from new graduates to senior executives.

Dorian Spears believes the solutions and brilliance to solve community challenges exist within residents pushed to the margins via institutional racism and systemic oppression.

She is the Principal of D’Emile Global Strategy & Insight where she specializes in helping teams build psychologically safe workplaces where everyone can thrive authentically. Her strengths lie in cultivating inclusive leadership practices, implementing sustainable strategies, and building genuine connections that drive organizational success. She believes that when we center equity and psychological safety, we don't just create better workplaces—we build stronger organizations and communities. 

As Director of Partnerships & Strategy at Gender Equality in Tech (GET) Cities Initiative (seeded by Pivotal Ventures, a Melinda French Gates Company), she led a team that spearheaded initiatives that increased the representation of BIPOC women, transgender, and nonbinary individuals in tech through strategic relationships and innovative programming. She understands the challenges of creating meaningful change—she’s sat at tables where she was the only person who looked like her, but she’s made it her mission to ensure she won't be the last. 

In her role as Chief Partnerships Officer at Momentum Nonprofit Partners, she built cross-sector relationships in her hometown of Memphis, TN, to uplift what works while addressing community challenges. She recruited organizations on the journey of operationalizing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace facilitated by Beloved Community called Equity at Work. The pinnacle of this role was serving as chair of the committee hosting Michael McAfee and Angela Glover Blackwell, of PolicyLink as keynote speakers in partnership with The Vanderhaar Symposium at Christian Brothers University. 

Her former professional roles include project managing a mayoral transition Team; an Economic Development Specialist; and a Project Manager on the Mayor’s Innovation Delivery Team funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 

She is an alumni of the 2023 cohort of the Willie’s Warriors Leadership Initiative with the Chicago Foundation for Women; Leadership Tennessee NEXT Cohort 2; New Memphis Institute Fellows Program; and Leadership Memphis – Grassroots Program. She enjoys time with loved ones, travel, reading, yoga, and engaging in arts and cultural events.

Monique Allen is the SVP and CIO for Canadian Technology and Enterprise Architecture at Sun Life, with accountability for technology strategy and execution for the Canadian businesses, and architecture and digital solutions globally. An advocate for leadership in equity, diversity and inclusion, Monique serves as a director on the boards of Hackergal, Women in Capital Markets, and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. She is a founding member of CILAR, the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism. Her strengths in leadership and community involvement have been recognized by the Women in IT Awards Canada with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Monique is a contributing author to The Collective Wisdom of High Performing Women. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo, and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, York University. She is an avid runner, cyclist, and musician; hobbies she shares with her husband and stepchildren.

Professor Renée Cummings is an award-winning artificial intelligence innovator, renowned for her pioneering work in AI, data, and technology ethics, safety, risk management and competitive vigilance. 

As the first data activist-in-residence at the University of Virginia’s (UVA) School of Data Science, she holds the esteemed title of Professor of Practice in Data Science. Her influence extends to The Brookings Institution, where she serves as a nonresident senior fellow and co-director of Brookings’ AI Equity Lab. She is also a respected member of the World Economic Forum’s Data Equity Council and Global AI Governance Alliance, contributing to international standards for AI ethics, safety and governance.

Additionally, Professor Cummings is a member of the Global Academic Network at the Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP) in Washington, D.C., reflecting her global leadership in shaping responsible technology policy. 

With a multidisciplinary background as a criminologist, criminal psychologist, terrorism expert, therapeutic jurisprudence, and substance abuse and rehabilitation specialist, she serves as co-director of the Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) at UVA, where she champions the integration of technology in service of public good, public sector innovation, inspiring a future generation of civic-minded technologists.

Ranked among the world’s top 100 women in AI ethics, Professor Cummings is celebrated as a thought leader, motivational speaker, and mentor. Her global influence spans audiences from policymakers in the U.S. Senate to the Supreme Court of Brazil. 

An internationally recognized expert, she provides cutting-edge analysis on a multitude of topics, weaving together imagination, intelligence, innovation, initiative, implementation, introspection, ingenuity, interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration, inspirational communication, and impactful leadership. Her insights reflect a profound ability to transform complex ideas into actionable strategies, driving meaningful change and empowering individuals and organizations to thrive in an increasingly dynamic, AI-driven world.

Professor Cummings has mastered the art of creative storytelling, transforming complex subjects into accessible and impactful conversations that educate, inspire, and resonate. Her work embodies the principles of responsible AI, ethical data science, and the transformative power of imagination, making her a leading voice in technology we can trust. 

With her exceptional ability to engage, inform, and empower, Professor Cummings continues to inspire change and innovation on a global scale.

Joelle Pineau is the VP, AI Research at Meta, leading its Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) team, with labs across Canada, US and Europe.  She is also a core member at Mila and a Professor at the School of Computer Science at McGill University. She holds a BASc in Engineering from the University of Waterloo, and an MSc and PhD in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Pineau's research focuses on developing new models and algorithms for planning and learning in complex domains. She also works on applying these algorithms to real-world problems in robotics, healthcare, and conversational agents. She is a past President of the International Machine Learning Society, the inaugural Reproducibility Chair of the NeurIPS conference, and is the creator of the ML Reproducibility checklist and the ML Reproducibility challenge. She is a recipient of NSERC's E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship (2018), the Governor General's Innovation Awards (2019), a CIFAR Canada AI (CCAI) chairholder, a Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC).

A multicultural leader with a Ph.D. in Physics, founder of two technology startups, and a seasoned corporate executive, bringing over a decade of experience in translating complex business challenges into customer-centric, data-driven solutions. Passionate about driving a data culture anchored in quality, simplicity, sustainability, and reliability, with a focus on delivering tangible value through an objective, analytical, and results-oriented mindset.

Proven expertise in leading diverse, cross-functional, and distributed teams of AI, data, and software professionals. Adept at harnessing emerging and disruptive technologies across industries including Clean Energy, Healthcare, Retail, Fintech, and Financial Services. Committed to building future-proof, innovative solutions that empower businesses to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.