SESSIONS

TUESDAY, JUNE 1

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Welcome Reception
An evening in Quebec with Alexandre Bilodeau

Welcome to the 2021 conference from the Conference Chair, Marc Ouellet. Enjoy a virtual tour of Quebec City, Videotron and prizes followed by a fireside chat with Alexandre Bilodeau, CPA, Gold Medalist at the Vancouver Olympics and Senior Associate at Walter Capital Partners.  Following the fireside chat join Alexandre and your peers at the Networking tables.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Pre-Conference Seminar
Diversity, the largest untapped resource for economic growth
MARTIN FOX
Managing Director, Canada
Robert Walters
Moderator
CAROLINE CODSI
President & Founder of Women in Governance

Many studies have shown that diverse boards lead to better outcomes for all stakeholders. Moreover, diversity and inclusion within an organization has a direct impact on customers, improving its ability to better understand them and fill their needs.

 

And yet, a 2018 study of Fortune 500 boards found 22.5 percent of directors were women, and 4.6 percent were “minority women.” Fewer than 1 in 5 of the companies studied had a single woman of color in the boardroom.

 

While uniting to include would unlock an unprecedented potential for business and society alike, the progress is slow and the initiatives to change this situation are scarce. What should be done to turn the tide? What are the best global practices and initiatives?

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM LUNCHEON SEMINAR
A Pandemic Refresher: Why Life Insurance is Integral to Personal and Corporate Planning

Sponsored by:

SUSAN KICHUK
Chief Executive Office
The Targetcd Strategies Group
ROB LAMKA CPA, CA
Principal
The Targeted Strategies Group
Harley Mintz, FCPA, CFP, TEP, CPA
Principal
The Targeted Strategies Group

One trend that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic was that it acted as a trigger event, prompting people to get their future affairs in order. The number of people making wills and buying life insurance surged as the formerly remote idea of falling ill or unexpectedly passing away became more top-of-mind.

 

While business owners are putting more focus on planning for the future, it is time to look at why life insurance is an integral part of both personal and corporate planning. Join Susan Kichuk, CEO, and Rob Lamka, Principal, of The Targeted Strategies Group, as they share a refresher on life insurance and provide insights and strategies to help entrepreneurs and their families prepare for uncertain times.

1:00 PM – 1:20 PM WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS
Photo of Mark Shickele
JEFF SHICKELE
Chair of the Board of Directors
MARC OUELLET
Chair of the 2021 Annual Conference
Image of Georgina Blanas
GEORGINA BLANAS
Executive Director
1:20 PM – 2:20 PM OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Premier Tech’s Journey into a Diversified Group and the Challenges of Digital Transformation
MARTIN NOËL
Senior Vice President & CFO
Premier Tech
Moderator
JEAN BÉLANGER
President and Chief Executive Officer
Premier Tech

Jean Belanger, CEO of Premier Tech, will share the origin of his company and how it became what it is today. He will share how Premier Tech has been able to generate sustained growth over the last 30 years while constantly reinventing itself through its focus on strategic planning and innovation, and now through its own digital transformation.

2:20 PM – 3:25 PM NETWORKING BREAK

View presentations and exhibitors here

3:25 PM – 4:40 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
SESSION 1: Mergers & Acquisitions – Canada’s Competitiveness in the Global Economy
KEN BROOKS
Partner & EVP Strategy & Transitions
EY
MELISSA GILBERT
Executive VP & Lead, Finance
Beneva (created through the merger of La Capitale & SSQ Insurance)
ALEX POURBAIX
President & Chief Executive Officer
Cenovus Energy
JO MARK ZUREL
Corporate Director
Fortis Inc.

Join our panel members Alex Pourbaix, President & CEO Cenovus Energy, Jo Mark Zurel, Corporate Director Fortis Inc., Melissa Gilbert, EVP Finance, Corporate Actuarial & Risk Management, La Capitale, Beneva, and Ken Brooks, EY Partner, EVP Strategy and Transactions for a discussion on Canada’s active and vibrant mergers and acquisitions market.  The rise of globalization has exponentially increased the necessity for companies to be innovative and competitive.  Listen as the panel shares insights on the Cenovus Energy acquisition of Husky Energy, Fortis growth strategy, La Capitale and SSQ ‘mergers of equals’ and Ken’s view on the pulse of the market.

 

Lessons learned?  Canada’s brand?  Where do we go from here?

3:25 PM – 4:40 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
SESSION 2: Who Needs Cyber Insurance & What Does it Cover?
MARTIN KYLE
Chief Information Security Officer
Payments Canada
DAINA PROCTOR
Associate Partner, Security Intelligence & Consulting
IBM
RUBY RAI
Cyber Practice Leader
Marsh Canada Limited

Cyberattacks are becoming a significant problem for all sizes and types of organizations; an attack can impact your operations, client data, finances and your brand.  Recent tends highlight this increase in Cyber-threat activity.

 

cyber-threat (noun):  the possibility of a malicious attempt to damage or disrupt a computer network or system.

 

While having some form of cyber insurance in place will help a business in the event of an attack, in this new world, businesses are also responsible for implementing and maintaining their own cybersecurity program.  Join our panel discussion to find out more about risk mitigation in a wired environment.

3:25 PM – 4:40 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
SESSION 3: Private Company Committee: Insights on Private Company M&A, Finance, Successions and Family Businesses
HARLEY MINTZ
Partner
The Targeted Strategies Group
Moderator
ROSS CAMPBELL
Co-Founder
The MBO Group
JOHN FORESTER
CFO
DBG Canada Limited
DR. HOWARD E. JOHNSON
Managing Director and Canada Market Leader
Duff & Phelps
Photo of Mark Shickele
JEFF SHICKELE
Vice President Finance and Technology
Amacon
AMANDA VELLA
Senior Director, Business Advisory & Transition Consultant
ATB Financial

Join the leadership of your Private Company Committee in a discussion on the current key issues facing private company CFOs in the areas of Private Company Finance, M&A, Family Businesses and Entrepreneur Successions and learn how to get the most from your new Private Company Committee.

3:25 PM – 4:40 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
SESSION 4: The Future of Pay: The 5 trends reshaping how your team pays your people, improves processes and protects your bottom line
MARC OUELLET
Chair, 2021 Conference
Moderator
KHADIR AHMED
Vice President, Canada Payment Operations
ADP

While payroll may be a goldmine of workforce and financial data, few organizations today are leveraging it effectively to drive strategic business decisions.  In most cases, an organization’s payroll function tends to go unnoticed by executives, until something goes wrong.

 

Or we experience a pandemic.

 

Led by ADP Canada’s Khadir Ahmed, VP of Canada Payment Operations, you will learn about the driving technologies enabling a digital payroll transformation on our post-pandemic path to resiliency.

 

Key insights include:

  • The latest developments in fraud management and security protocols
  • How your payroll department can embrace artificial intelligence
  • Which metrics best identify payroll inefficiencies
  • Your company’s appetite for Non-Traditional payment methods; and
  • The Road Ahead: Payroll Trends to Watch in 2021
4:40 PM – 6:00 PM CLOSING KEYNOTE ADDRESS
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK PANEL
CLÉMENT GIGNAC
Senior Vice President Investments & Chief Economist
iA Financial Group
Moderator
BRUCE KASMAN
Chief Economist & Head of Global Economic Research
JP Morgan Chase & Co
ROBERT HOGUE
Senior Economist
RBC
DAN NORTH
Chief Economist
Euler Hermes North America

March 2020 saw a global pandemic shutter the world’s economy leading to a stock market crash and oil prices falling off a cliff only to see it all come roaring back by the end of the year.  What will 2021 and beyond bring?  A return to growth spurred by as before unseen levels of stimulus spending or a hangover crash as Governments tighten their coffers?  Come listen to a panel of 4 of Canada’s most senior economists prognosticate on the future of Canada’s economy and what may be on the horizon.

6:00 PM – 6:15 PM DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD CELEBRATION
LOUIS MARCOTTE
Senior Vice President & CFO
Intact Financial Corporation
2021 Capon Award Winner

Each year, Financial Executives International Canada (FEI Canada) recognizes a member who has made significant contributions to advocating and improving FEI Canada.

 

The Frank S Capon Distinguished Service Award seeks to identify and reward an FEI Canada member who has had a significant impact on FEI Canada over the years. It is the highest award that FEI Canada gives to a volunteer.

 

Join us as we honour a distinguished, very deserving Capon Award Winner.

6:15 PM – 7:15 PM  SOCIAL NETWORKING EVENING
From CFO to Mixologist : is it in your DNA ?

Sponsored by:

NICOLAS DUVERNOIS

Hear the amazing story:  From Night Janitor to creating the World’s Best Vodka!

 

Nicolas Duvernois is the founding President of Duvernois, Canada’s most important independent spirits producer behind the success of PUR Vodka and Romeo’s Gin.

 

Join the mixologist and try your hand at some specialty drinks created specifically for FEI Canada

Interested in becoming an FEI Canada member?

THURSDAY, JUNE 3

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM LUNCHEON SEMINAR

Sponsored by:

The Approach to Moving Toward Financial Management Modernization
DAVID RUMER
Vice President, Market Development
Sage
Moderator
GAYATRI WOOD
Head of Digital
Factotum
GEOFF GROVER
Director of Operations
Pedalheads

One of the biggest challenges facing today’s financial leaders is managing an increasing level of business complexity at pace. Add in a shifting business landscape and it becomes clear that a monthly financial check-in isn’t good enough for today’s CFO.

 

Modern finance requires you to perform financial closes faster, leverage automation, and deliver powerful business insights across your organization.

 

Watch for a lively conversation as Geoff Grover, Director of Operations at Pedalheads, Gayatri Wood, Head of Digital at Factotum, and David Rumer, VP of Market Development at Sage, talk about cloud-based accounting and financial management software and what it can do to help overcome your business challenges.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM LUNCHEON SEMINAR

Sponsored by:

The Modern Workplace: Securing the Path Towards Business Success
FINBARR BEGLEY
Senior Analyst
Cavell Group
Moderator
ALI BARAKAT
Interim Vice President, Great Plains & Atlantic Provinces, TELUS Business
TELUS Business
SHRI KALYANASUNDARAM
Director of Cybersecurity
TELUS

Technology has transformed the way we work. From hybrid models of working to a steep rise in security threats, laying the foundation for a successful modern workplace is now more important than ever. In order to actively carve a path for the company’s future progress, today’s CFO must go beyond the finance function and become key drivers of digital transformation across the entire organization.

 

But with employees increasingly sharing time between the office and at home, long-term changes to IT investment strategy and the potential impact a cybersecurity incident could have on an organization and its share price  – how can the modern CFO navigate these troubled waters and chart a new course for the future of work?

1:00 PM – 1:10 PM WELCOME REMARKS
1:10 PM – 2:10 PM OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Steering The Ship In Times of Crisis: It’s All About Leadership
SCOTT MILLIGAN
Executive Vice-President & COO
LifeWorks
Moderator
CARL BOUTET
Retail Strategist & Board Advisor
DOMINIQUE BROWN
CEO of 52 Chocolats Favoris stores across Canada

There is nothing like a good crisis to exacerbate the worst and the best in people. It can lead to chaos or unity. A crisis can be a powerful force in your organization that, if channeled right, can help reinvent your organization in ways that you never thought possible. Come and listen to a discussion with Chocolats Favoris CEO about his learnings on managing a team through a crisis and turning it into an opportunity. Interview led by Carl Boutet, Chief Retail Strategist at StudioRx.

2:10 PM – 3:15 PM NETWORKING BREAK

View presentations and exhibitors here

3:15 PM – 4:15 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Session 1: Ethics: Unconscious Bias – The Hidden Influences Behind the Conscious Curtain
ERIKA SANDOVAL
Strategic Advisor III
UKG
Moderator
TAMMY TOWILL
Partner in the Cordura Group & Chair of the School of Business with Capilano University

We make tens of thousands of decisions every day. How can we better understand the hidden bias that shape our efforts to build innovative, dynamic, and inclusive organizations. In this session we will consider the drivers of unconscious bias and the impact on organizational decision making.

3:15 PM – 4:15 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Session 2: How Internal Audit Supports CFOs & Overall Effective Governance
TONY MALFARA
Partner
KPMG Canada
STEPHEN FITZPATRICK
CFO
Currency Exchange International Corporation
NANCY RUSSELL
Senior Vice President & Chief Internal Auditor
Great-West Lifeco Inc.

In many organizations, the Internal Audit function is considered an adjunct of the CFO – a backstop to ensure internal controls are in place and are working.  But in a growing number of businesses, both privately and publicly owned, a new model has emerged – the 3 Lines Model and Internal Audit is at the heart of it.  It is a model for stronger governance, improved investor confidence and better management

 

Learning objectives:  Driven by the financial services sector in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, attendees will learn why and how the new model has evolved, as well as how it is being applied in practice through a case study.  In particular, attendees will learn how Internal Audit and the CFO being part or the second line are integral to management and the Board in getting full value from the 3 Lines Model.

3:15 PM – 4:15 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Session 3: Une saine gouvernance : un vecteur de croissance pour votre entreprise
MARC OUELLET
Conference Chair
Moderator
DIANE FUGÈRE
Vice President
BDO Québec
LISE LAPIERRE
Corporate Director

Mettre en place et optimiser une structure de gouvernance est un facteur clé de saine gestion d’une entreprise. Comment identifier la structure adaptée à votre organisation? Quels sont les éléments essentiels du succès d’une telle mise en place? Toutes ces questions ainsi qu’un portrait d’ensemble d’une gouvernance efficace seront abordés de façon claire par une administratrice de sociétés et formatrice chevronnée.

3:15 PM – 4:15 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Session 4: Effectively executing your growth strategy: from strategic planning to financing to execution
CONSTANTINE HATZIPANAYIS CFA
Partner, Growth Equity | Associé, Investissements de croissance
BDC
JESSICA LABRIE
Business Advisor, High Impact Firm | Conseillère d’affaires, Entreprises à impact élevé
BDC
NATHAN MCADAM CPA
Director, Corporate Financing | Directeur, Financement corporatif
BDC

Financial executives are integral to the successful execution of the long-term strategic growth plans developed by their company’s executive team (often in conjunction with a strategic consultant). We’ll delve into how financial executives can maximize their contribution to the implementation of a strategic plan, focusing on their core value add in the three critical phases of corporate strategy: strategic planning, financing and execution. We’ll draw on our team’s diverse set of backgrounds to give you multiple perspectives regarding the critical role you play in the strategic process.

4:15 PM – 5:30 PM CLOSING KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Sponsored by:

From CFO to CEO: The Evolution of the Modern Finance Leader
STEPHEN MILL 
President
Robert Half Executive Search
Moderator
Photo of Michael Rousseau
MICHAEL ROUSSEAU
President & Chief Executive Officer
Air Canada
STÉPHANE LEFEBVRE
CFO & COO
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group
KEITH WADDELL
CEO & Former CFO
Robert Half

The role of the CFO has transformed significantly in recent years with today’s senior finance executives drawing on their extensive knowledge and understanding of a company’s financial position to drive strategic business decisions and foster unparalleled organizational success.

 

Lead by three of Canada’s most recognizable C-Suite executives, this session will explore the trajectory of the CFO to CEO journey, including:

 

  • Key Skills and Attributes: Evolving from the CFO office into the CEO space
  • Challenges and Benefits: Executing a successful CFO/CEO merger
  • Knowledge Transfer: Embedding financial knowledge and a metrics-driven approach into the leadership portfolio accountable for all business functions
  • Capital Investment: Handling large capital ventures within a non-traditional leadership structure
  • Lessons learned: What CFOs transitioning to the CEO role should consider
5:30 PM – 5:45 CLOSING REMARKS & LAUNCH OF 2022 CONFERENCE
MARC OUELLET
Chair of the 2021 Annual Conference
Image of Georgina Blanas
GEORGINA BLANAS
Executive Director
Image of David Bezanson
DAVE BEZANSON
Incoming Chair of the Board of Directors
Interested in becoming an FEI Canada member?

NETWORKING BREAKS

PRESENTATIONS – WED, JUNE 2
2:25PM – 2:35PM
SageWebsite
2:35PM – 2:55PM
Logo_Wolters_Kluwer
2:45PM – 3:05PM
UKG_rgb
PRESENTATIONS – THU, JUNE 3
2:35PM – 2:45PM
telus_logo (1)
2:45PM – 3:05PM
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NETWORKING TABLES

• FEI Canada

• Robert Half / Protiviti

• Blackline

• RBC

• Private Companies

EXHIBITORS