Nir is a top business speaker leading innovation for high performing leaders and individuals around the globe. As founder and CEO of The Creator Mindset® LLC, he helps organizations and leaders foster a culture of innovation with his groundbreaking creativity keynote speeches that supercharge business models to improve profitability, increase sales, and boost customer service.

Sylvie Bernier made history by winning a gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984. She became the first Quebec athlete to win gold at the Olympic Games and she remains, to this day, the only Canadian to win Olympic gold in diving. This exceptional performance revealed to us a fiery, passionate and determined woman.

Jovanka Charbonneau is a senior economist at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). She is responsible for the organization’s economic monitoring and macroeconomic forecasting, as well as BDC’s monthly economic newsletter, an electronic publication that provides entrepreneurs with information on current economic conditions affecting their businesses. Charbonneau holds a master’s degree in economics from the Université du Québec à Montréal and a certificate in big data and machine learning applied to economics and finance.

A former engineer, Fine is the author of the bestselling book The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills—and Leave a Positive Impression (Hachette) translated and published in two dozen countries across the globe. A 25+ year member of the National Speakers Association, Fine presents programs to hundreds of audiences around the world that include Encana (now Ovintiv Inc.), PCL Construction, Suncor Energy, Risk and Insurance Management Society, JP Morgan Chase and United Airlines along with many ACFO-ACAF symposiums across Canada.

Ron Fournier had a 14-year career as a professional referee, consisting of four years with the World Hockey Association and 10 years with the National Hockey League. He has been a radio host since 1987 (CJMS/CKAC), where he hosts a phone-in sports show called “Bonsoir les sportifs.” He is also a speaker on leadership and motivation.

Roch Huppé was appointed Comptroller General of Canada in October in 2017, a position he held until his retirement in 2024.

As Comptroller General, he was responsible for government-wide direction and leadership for financial management, internal audit, federal assets, and acquired services (project management). He also led the Financial Management Transformation initiative within the Government of Canada.

Hamza Khan believes the future of work is more human, not less. He’s on a mission to help organizations achieve inclusive and sustainable growth by rehumanizing the workplace. Rather than be reactive to rapidly changing external conditions, Khan shows leaders how to embrace a bold “people first” approach to better support diverse, engaged, and connected teams in a hybrid environment. In doing so, they’ll unlock the tremendous upside of a loyal, thriving, and innovative workforce. Rehumanizing workplaces is the winning strategy of the future.

Althia Raj is a multiple award-winning journalist, ranked as one of the top 100 most influential people in Canadian politics by The Hill Times since 2015.

She is currently a national columnist with the Toronto Star; the host/producer of the podcast, It’s Political; and a regular weekly panelist on CBC’s At Issue panel.

Ayanna Alleyne, is a dedicated bilingual professional specializing in management, operations and finance, studying at John Molson School of Business and acquiring Project Management Certification at McGill University.
 
Ayanna serves as a public servant, holding the position of Senior Financial Policy Analyst at Health Canada, working within the Chief Financial Officer Branch.
 
She assumes the role of co-chair of the Black Employees Matter Network for both Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, where she champions equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives for Black employees there and within the Government of Canada. Ayanna is also a departmental union representative for the Association of Canadian Financial Officers (ACFO), sitting on their finance, collective bargaining and EDI committees.
 
Whether it’s with her children’s sports teams, local activities or governing boards, Ayanna is an indispensable volunteer wherever she dedicates her time. Ayanna sits as the Executive Chair of the Board of Directors of the Côte-des-Neiges Black Community Association (CDNBCA) in Montreal, Quebec. This non-profit organization has served the English-speaking Black community of Montreal for over 50 years. Growing up in Côte-des-Neiges, the ‘BCA’ holds a special place in Ayanna’s heart and she gives her time to match her commitment in keeping the organization operating successfully for another 50 years.
 
Ayanna has recently been named 2024 CBC Quebec Black Changemakers, recognizing her as an innovative Black Quebecer whose efforts are making a meaningful impact and inspiring others in the community. Her work embodies her humble mantra of “working hard and being nice to people’; overall principles that guide her efforts in all spaces daily.

Thérèse Ngo has worked 25 years for Canada’s public service in various areas: Immigration and Citizenship, Public Law, Human Rights, Human Resources, Pensions, Harassment, Discrimination and Violence, Litigation Management, Risk and Compliance. She is a seasoned leader with over 10 years’ experience as an Executive.

After completing her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Ottawa, she re-entered university in pursuit of a teaching degree. Having obtained her teaching credentials, Thérèse next decided to study law. Three years later, law degree firmly in hand, Thérèse realized that continuous learning was a priority in her life. Thérèse was an instructor in the Paralegal Program at La Cité Collégiale and at the University of Ottawa’s Common Law Program for a few years before starting her family.

She believes in diversity, inclusion and creating safe spaces in the workplace and makes conscious decisions to building an inclusive culture and improve team engagement. She likes to take on roles that would help foster this vision both in a formal and informal capacity.

In addition to the versatility of her work and the opportunity to advance her interests, Thérèse also enjoys dedicating her time to the Maverick Volleyball Club – as a social media facilitator, coach, team manager, treasurer and leader. She has two children who are currently in the program and one who recently graduated from the program and playing volleyball for the Université de Moncton women’s varsity team. Thérèse supports her husband with their family business – pottery supplies and studio – by not standing in his way!

Atif Rashid’s life narrative exemplifies resilience through profound adversities, making him an embodiment of the principles he teaches.

From his modest beginnings in Pakistan, where he faced numerous adversities including partial deafness and societal challenges, Atif moved to Canada as an international student, where he pursued his BCom at Dalhousie University, followed by an MBA and CPA certification from Saint Mary’s University.

His career took a dramatic turn when he was diagnosed with cancer, leading to the amputation of his leg. This profound personal crisis propelled Atif into becoming a resilience expert, mindset coach, and an impact speaker. Atif initiated the global movement “Inspire 1 – Impact Billions,” channeling his experiences into empowering others to overcome their challenges.

His professional engagements as a public servant and financial strategist, coupled with his personal triumph over adversity, render him a sought-after speaker at international forums including the TEDx stage. He has delivered keynote addresses at various conferences, workshops, and seminars, focusing on resilience, diversity, inclusion, and mental health. Atif’s workshops and seminars integrate resilience with practical leadership and financial strategies, making him a beacon of hope and a guide for many navigating personal and professional challenges.