CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Our speaker lineup is growing every day!

Check back often to see the latest thought leaders and industry trailblazers joining the 2026 FEI Canada National Conference.

Board of Directors Lunch & Board Meeting

May 25 • 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM • Adam Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Early Arrival Reception

May 25 • 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM • Drawing Room Foyer, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Sponsored by:

Leadership / Alumni Dinner 

May 25 • 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM • By Invitation 

Private Dinner Opportunities

May 25 • 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM • By Invitation

6:00 AM

Bus Departs to Golf Course

May 26 • 6:00 AM • Lobby, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

6:30 AM

FEI Canada Golf Tournament 

May 26 • 6:30 AM – 2:30 PM • Camelot Golf & Country Club

Presenting Sponsor:

8:00 AM

Registration & Information Desk

May 26 • 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM • Drawing Room Foyer, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Sponsored by:

 

Early Arrival Breakfast

May 26 • 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM • Renaissance Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

3:00 PM

Pre-conference Workshop Session

AI NEEDS BETTER DATA: How CFO’s Can Build a Data-Driven Foundation for Trusted AI in Finance

May 26 • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Drawing Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

TOM KELLY • Director of Product Management, Oracle NetSuite

AI is rapidly reshaping how finance operates, from real‑time forecasting and automated variance analysis to closing the books and scenario planning that keeps pace with the business….read more

4:30 PM

New Member Reception

May 26 • 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM • By Invitation • Burgundy Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

5:30 PM

Welcome Reception

May 26 • 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM • Exhibition Hall • Ballroom & Laurier Rooms, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

7:00 PM

Offsite Evening Experiences

May 26 • 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM • More Information to Follow

Various sponsors, including:

7:00 AM

Registration & Information Desk

7:00 AM – 5:00 PM • Drawing Room Foyer, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Sponsored by:

HUB’s Executive Cappuccino Bar

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM • Drawing Room Foyer, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Sponsored by:

Wednesday Breakfast Seminar 1

THE FINANCIAL KILL SWITCH FOR RANSOMWARE IN 2026

7:15 AM – 8:30 AM • Drawing Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

RICHARD HYDE • Strategic Solutions Consultant, Ricoh Canada Inc.

RAMSEY SULLIVAN • Southeast Territory Manager, BullWall

In 2026, CFOs no longer ask if a cyber incident will occur. The real questions are how large the blast radius will be—and how quickly the organization can recover and prove containment. This breakfast session is designed exclusively for CFOs and senior financial executives who understand that ransomware is no longer an IT issue—it is a direct threat to liquidity, continuity, insurance coverage, and regulatory confidence…read more

Sponsored by:

Wednesday Breakfast Session 2

THE CFO’s ROLE IN AN AI-DRIVEN ECONOMY

7:15 AM – 8:30 AM • MacDonald Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

In today’s volatile environment, CFOs are navigating a complex mix of economic uncertainty, evolving regulation, geopolitical pressures, and intensifying competition—all while being asked to do more with less. At the same time, AI is rapidly reshaping what’s possible across the finance function…read more

Sponsored by:

8:45 AM

Welcome & Opening Remarks

8:45 AM – 9:10 AM • Adam Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

WINNIE LEUNG • Chair, FEI Canada Board of Directors

HOWARD KERBEL • Executive Director, FEI Canada

10:15 AM

Refreshment Break

10:15 AM – 10:50 AM • Exhibit Hall • Ballroom & Laurier Rooms, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

10:50 AM

Executive Lab

YOU CANNOT OUT-SPREADSHEET A LEADERSHIP PROBLEM

10:50 AM – 10:55 AM • Adam Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

PURDEEP SANGHA • Founder & CEO, The Executive Lab

10:55 AM

Keynote Panel

AI / INNOVATION : moderated panel

10:55 AM – 11:55 AM 

Moderator

JORDAN BEALLOR • Board Member & Past President, FEI Canada, Toronto Chapter

Panel

ROGER DAOUD • Chief Financial Officer,  Canada, SAP

KEVIN SPENCERVice President Public Services Canada, SAP

Canada’s data‑sovereignty conversation is accelerating, driven by federal policy, provincial regulation, and massive new investment in sovereign AI‑ready data centres. The country is positioning itself as a secure, geopolitically stable jurisdiction for sensitive data—an issue that matters enormously for CFOs, boards, and any organization handling regulated or mission‑critical information.

12:00 PM

Lunch

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM • Exhibit Hall • Ballroom & Laurier Rooms, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

1:05 PM

FEI Canada Update

1:05 PM – 1:15 PM • Adam Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

HOWARD KERBEL • Executive Director, FEI Canada

1:15 PM

Executive Lab

YOU CANNOT OUT-SPREADSHEET A LEADERSHIP PROBLEM

1:15 PM – 1:20 PM • Adam Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

PURDEEP SANGHA • Founder & CEO, The Executive Lab

1:20 PM

Keynote Session

CAPITAL, PARTNERSHIPS & INVESTING IN CANADA

1:10 PM – 2:10 PM • Adam Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier 

Moderator

STEPHEN MILL • President, Executive Search, Robert Half

Panel

STEPHEN BERNA • Managing Director, Indigenous Relations, National Bank

TYSON JONES • Senior Vice President, BDC

VISHAR YAGHOUBIAN • CEO & FOUNDER, Toothpod

Canada’s investment landscape is undergoing a profound shift—one where capital, innovation, and national strategic priorities are converging.

 

This forward looking panel brings together leaders from across the financing ecosystem to explore how  different forms of capital and partnership models are reshaping growth opportunities for Canadian enterprises. Designed for senior financial executives and C Suite leaders, this session delivers strategic insights, practical takeaways, and a compelling look at how capital is driving Canada’s next wave of economic growth.

 

You will hear a young entrepreneur, who will share real world journey securing early stage funding and building an innovation driven company.

 

Tyson Jones, Senior VP at BDC, who will outline how development bank financing is strengthening Canadian SMEs and accelerating growth. Steve Berna, Managing Director of Indigenous Relations at National Bank of Canada, will explore how Indigenous investment funds and equity partnerships are reshaping large scale business opportunities across the country.

 

Discover how Canada’s capital ecosystem is transforming—and what it means for your organization.  Attendees will gain a panoramic view of current financing conditions, emerging opportunities, and the evolving expectations of investors. The discussion will illuminate how capital is being mobilized to fuel innovation, scale high potential companies, and strengthen Canada’s economic resilience.

2:25 PM

Concurrent Session #1 

DEALMAKING IN A VOLATILE WORLD

2:25 PM – 3:25 PM • Drawing Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Moderator

HOWARD JOHNSON • Canadian Market Leader & Managing Director, Kroll

Panel

GARRETT HAMEL • Partner ,Gowling WLG Canada

MELANIE RUSSEL • Founder,Kalex Partners Inc.

AMANDA VELLA • Chief Financial Officer, HCI Filtration

CUSMA still intact?  New Tariffs?  Emerging geopolitical tensions?  Who knows where things will stand on May 27th, 2026!  But our panel of experts will fearlessly delve into these and other issues in terms of how they’re impacting mergers and acquisitions in real time.  They’ll address topics such as how buyers are assessing target companies and using acquisitions to reduce risk through geographic expansion and diversification.  From a sell-side perspective, they’ll discuss what would-be sellers of private companies are doing to position themselves to be an attractive acquisition target.  Transaction structuring in the face of uncertainty will also be addressed.  Finally, we’ll hear from legal counsel on how key provisions in purchase and sale agreements can be used to get deals over the finish line.

Concurrent Session #2

MORE INFO TO COME

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM 

3:30 PM

Refreshment Break

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM • Exhibit Hall • Ballroom & Laurier Rooms, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Sponsored by:

6:00 PM

Buses Depart for Gala Evening

6:00 PM – 6:30 PM • Hotel Lobby, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Gala Evening • Canadian Museum of History

6:30 PM – 10:00 PM 

RHYTHM, CULTURE & CONNECTIONS

Step into an unforgettable night of elegance, culture, and connection set within one of Canada’s most breathtaking venues.  This signature gala experience transforms the museum into a series of curated vignettes throughout the space, each offering its own distinct atmosphere.

Sponsored by:

10:00 PM

After Party

10:00 PM • Lowertown, ByWard Market

7:30 AM

Registration & Information Desk

7:30 AM – 1:30 PM • Drawing Room Foyer, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Sponsored by:

HUB’s Executive Cappuccino Bar

8:30 AM – 1:00 PM • Drawing Room Foyer, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Sponsored by:

7:45 AM

FEI Canada Talk Presentations

LIFT: Accelerate Your Productiviiy, AI and Technology Investments

7:45 AM – 8:00 AM • Adam Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Sponsored by:

FEI Canada Talk Presentations

AI AGENTS IN ACTION: Empowering Accounting Teams With AI

8:00 AM – 8:20 AM • Adam Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

WASEEM MALIK • National Sales Manager, Canada FloQast 

ANDREA CHRISMAN • Solutions Consultant FloQast 

DAVID BRASSOR • Managing Director, Consulting Services RSM 

The accounting profession is at a turning point. It’s no longer just about addressing the talent shortage; it’s about reimagining how accountants work amidst a shifting workforce and growing complexity.

 

Join FloQast for an eye-opening session that explores how purpose-built AI agents are transforming accounting operations. This isn’t generic, one-size-fits-all automation. It’s about intelligent, traceable workflows that auditors can trust. We’ll also do a live demo of FloQast Transform AI Agents, showing you firsthand how they save time, ensure control execution, and fit securely into your existing tech stack.

 

Don’t miss this opportunity to discover how AI can empower accountants to move beyond manual tasks and step into the role of strategic business partners and trusted advisors.

Sponsored by:

10:15 AM

Exhibitor Prize Draws

10:15 AM – 10:30 AM • Adam Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Refreshment Break

10:35 AM – 11:05 AM • Ballroom and Laurier Rooms, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

11:10 AM

Executive Lab

YOU CANNOT OUT-SPREADSHEET A LEADERSHIP PROBLEM

11:10 AM – 11:15 AM • Adam Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

PURDEEP SANGHA • Founder & CEO, The Executive Lab

12:20 PM

Concurrent Session #1

AI WAR STORIES & FAILURES FROM THE TRENCHES

12:20 PM – 1:20 PM • Drawing Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Moderator

VLADLEN STARK • Chief Financial Officer, Remuda Building

Panel

WISH BAKSHI • Founder, Energy Data & AI Consultant

SOPHIA KUDLYK • Cyber Security & Incident Response Leader, Senior VP, Cyber, HUB International

IMRAAN BASHIR • Parnter & National Public Sector Cyber Leader, KPMG Canada

We all heard the promise: AI will cut costs, accelerate decisions, and transform operations. What the vendor decks leave out are the write-downs, the breach notifications, the board conversations no one wants to have, and the regulatory scrutiny that follows when automation fails at scale.

 

This session cuts through the noise.

Concurrent Session #2

12:20 PM – 1:20 PM • MacDonald Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Sponsored by:

BRAD DEAN • Senior Enterprise Sales Executive, Wolters Kluwer

SADEK FAHMY • Presales Director, Partners,Wolters Kluwer