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:
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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:
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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
4:00 PM
Pre-conference Workshop Session
STRONGER TOGETHER: Global Growth Decisions at the Enterprise Level
May 26 • 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM • MacDonald Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier
Moderator
STEPHEN CALLAGHAN• Vice President Mid Market Business, EDC
Panelists
GEORGE ANGUS • Chief Financial Officer, Ross Video
PATRICK HOUSTON• Chief Executive Officer, Calian Group
JOANNE TOGNARELLI • Regional Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, EDC
Sponsored by:
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Sponsor & Exhibitor Reception
May 26 • 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM • By Invitation • Renaissance Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier
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:
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HUB’s Executive Cappuccino Bar
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM • Drawing Room Foyer, Fairmont Chateau Laurier
Sponsored by:
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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 SPENCER • Vice 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
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:
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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:
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HUB’s Executive Cappuccino Bar
8:30 AM – 1:00 PM • Drawing Room Foyer, Fairmont Chateau Laurier
Sponsored by:
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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:

8:50 AM
Welcome Remarks & Presentation of Capon Award
8:50 AM – 9:05 AM • Adam Room, Fairmont Chateau Laurier
WINNIE LEUNG • Chair, FEI Canada Board of Directors
HOWARD KERBEL • Executive Director, FEI Canada
MARK SUTCLIFFE • Mayor, City of Ottawa
9:10 AM
Opening Keynote
MENTAL HEALTH: Prioritizing Mental Health While Achieving Professional Success
Qualifies for an Ethics Credit
9:10 AM – 10:10 AM
Moderator
HAILEY HECHTMAN • Executive Director, Unsinkable
Stories from UNSINKABLE, Panel
VENASSA BAPTISTE • Partnership,Unsinkable
CAROL DAGHER • In-House Legal, HomeEquity Bank
MICHAEL HERMAN • Partner, Gowling WLG
FEI Canada and Unsinkable together want to share inspiring stories and practical strategies for fostering resilience and mental well-being in high-pressure leadership roles.
Unsinkable is a platform supporting resilience, wellness, and mental health for professionals. They empower executives to manage stress, maintain well-being, and build resilient organizations while driving business performance.
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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

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