SESSIONS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM LUNCHEON SEMINAR

Sponsored by:

Redefining Work: Successfully Solving for Digital Transformation – One Process at a Time
JONATHAN BOWNESS
Solutions Consultant,
Ricoh Canada
Moderator
JOHN LUSINK
President & Broker of Record,
Right at Home Realty
SANJEEV PATEL
Vice President Finance,
Right at Home Realty

Canadian Finance leaders have never had to face more complex challenges and responsibilities – and that trend didn’t evaporate when we rang in 2021. This year promises to be full of formidable obstacles – and amazing opportunities!

 

Join us in our discussion with senior leadership from Canada’s largest real estate brokerage, Right at Home Realty Inc, as we delve into their proven system of success in targeting and investing in digital transformation once step at a time to gain operational efficiencies and greater accountability while increasing data security and driving top-line growth.

1:05 PM – 1:20 PM WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS
Photo of Mark Shickele
JEFF SHICKELE
Chair 2021 Interchange
Image of Georgina Blanas
GEORGINA BLANAS
Executive Director
1:20 PM – 2:30 PM OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Sponsored by:

Coronavirus, Climate change & the future of oil
DAVID YAGER
Author & Writer,
Energy Policy Analyst
SCOTT CALVER
CFO
Trimac Transportation Group of Companies

The global coronavirus pandemic has changed the world more quickly than we have changed our thinking.  Governments have borrowed and spent trillions of dollars to mitigate the impact of the forced lockdown of the economy. Yet many believe that the post-COVID priorities of people and governments will be same as they were before the dramatic events of 2020 occurred.  No major social, geopolitical and economic file reflects this more than the discussion and debate about climate change and the future of fossil fuels.  David Yager will link coronavirus, climate coronavirus, climate change and the future of oil together in a way that demonstrates how the post-COVID world will be much different than what we were told it will be or should be.

3:35 PM – 4:35 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
SESSION 1: Elevating Business Through Artificial Intelligence
CORY JANSSEN
President and Co-Founder,
AltaML
ALYSSA LEFAIVRE
Senior Manager, Business Development
AltaML

In this session we will discuss:

  • What exactly is AI/ML and why is it happening now?
  • When is AI/ML a fit, and how do you even take a first step towards a project?
  • And, most importantly: how do we embark on an AI/ML strategy where we can actually get ROI?

No jargon, no geek-speak – just a basic look at artificial intelligence, machine learning and what they can do for business.

3:35 PM – 4:35 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
SESSION 2: Leadership in 4-D
MARTY MURRAY
Director of Business Performance Improvement Practice,
Protiviti
Moderator
BRETT BOURGON
President and Founder
B Inspired
KUMBI CHADENGA
Associate,
Bridging Finance
GERALD HUESCH
Senator, CEO, Founder,
Global Leadership School
WINNIE LEUNG
Chief Financial Officer,
Moneris
DR. CHARLES PELLRIN
Former Director Astrophysics,
NASA

Best in class finance organizations can no longer be one dimensional. This session will discuss the benefits of leading a 4-D finance organization which emphasizes behavioural strength in four dimensions; relationships, collaboration, strategy and execution. The session will kick off with a video interview from Dr. Charles Pellerin, former director of NASA’s Astrophysics division, leader of the Hubble Space Telescope, and creator of 4-D Leadership. Our panel has a wonderfully diverse blend of experience that will discuss the importance and benefits of creating finance organizations that excel in these four dimensions.

3:35 PM – 4:35 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
SESSION 3: Private Company CFOs Challenges & Opportunities – Introducing your Private Company Committee
CRAIG SKAUGE
President & CEO,
Olympia Trust Company
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

A review of critical issues facing our private company members in the areas of Private Company Mergers & Acquisitions, Multi-Generational Family Businesses, Private Company Finance and Entrepreneur Successions through the introduction of your new FEI Canada’s Private Company Committee with its over 25 national volunteers.

4:40 PM – 5:40 PM CLOSING KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Sponsored by:

Digital Transformation – What does it mean in the new world we are operating in and beyond
DRUVA SUTHAR
DIRECTOR, SECURITY SOFTWARE & SERVICES,
IBM Canada
Moderator
CHIEL HENDRIKS
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE,
Google
COLIN MOONEY
Chief Digital Officer, Business Transformation,
Robert Half
GREG WOLFOND
Founder & CEO,
SecureKey
  • How do companies safely work and suport clients anywhere?
  • What role does AI and ML play in digital transformation? What are the risks and benefits?
  • As companies transform, how do you ensure privacy and manage digital identity safely?
5:45 PM – 6:45 PM CAPON AWARD CELEBRATION AND SOCIAL NETWORKING
Image of Mr. Ferguson
NORM FERGUSON
2020 FRANK S. CAPON DISTINGUISHED SERVICE 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 at the Tuesday, February 16 social networking event.

Ready to book attendance?

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM LUNCHEON SEMINAR

Sponsored by:

The Changing Role of Finance Leaders in Today’s Environment
BRIAN SIEKES
Marketing Director,
Sage Intacct
Moderator
SCOTT SETTERSTEN
Chief Financial Officer, 
Ultra Beauty
TANYA YAKHNIS
Chief Financial Officer,
Tandem Family of Companies

With today’s ever-changing environment, business leaders need the insights of their finance leaders now more than ever. This goes beyond building financial reports, and can encompass everything from strategic planning, navigating government stimulus plans, and even providing consulting services to your customers.

Finance leaders that have successfully evolved to meet these challenges have been able to increase profits by up to 20%. But how?

In this session, we will cover:

 

  • Evolution of the CFO – from data management to analysis
  • Components of a great finance leader – thinking beyond the numbers
  • Things to know and have under your control – people, technology and strategy
  • Being a leader in today’s environment – accelerate in the new norm
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Sustainability and the finance industry
SEAN CLEARY
Executive Director
Smith School of Business,
Queens University
Moderator
ANDREW CHISOLM
Director,
Royal Bank of Canada
MARGARET GUNAWAN
General Council & Chief Compliance Officer,
BlackRock Canada
CRAIG STEWART
Vice-President, Federal Affairs,
Insurance Bureau of Canada

This session will discuss the role and impact of sustainable finance issues on the major players in the Finance industry – banks, pensions, insurance and asset managers, with representatives from the major groups. Discussions will focus on the macro level (ie the financial sector as a whole – including some discussions re the recommendations of the Canadian Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance) and at a more micro level (ie what it means to banks, pensions, etc) in particular.

3:20 PM – 4:20 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Session 1: The Inclusion and Ethics Imperative
ALEXANDER AMONETT
Global Leader of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
MARSH

In 2020, BLM sparked the largest global civil rights movement in history, creating an unprecedented appetite and commitment to creating a more diverse and equitable market and industry practices.  As our client base and communities within which we do business grow more diverse, we know it’s critical that we’re elevating our roles in the diversity and inclusion agenda.

 

In this interactive presentation, we will dive into some of the more complex issues around DE&I for Executives and Senior Leaders. This presentation will boost your fluency around this topic, identify potential risks and barriers, and learn practical ways to overcome them.

 

OBJECTIVES

  • Understand the diversity, equity and inclusion imperative and why it’s so difficult to talk about
  • Build capability in responding to complex situations and conversations around DE&I
  • How to overcome your own biases and build inclusive leadership capabilities
  • Feel confident in your own fluency and sharing your inclusion story
3:20 PM – 4:20 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Session 2: The COVID-19 Pandemic – A Watershed moment for workplace mental health and employee financial wellbeing
PAULA ALLEN
Global Leader and Senior Vice – President Research and Total Wellbeing
Morneau Shepell
TERESA SMITH
Strategy Consultant Manager
UKG
JAMIE GROSSMAN
Managing Principal
Cresa
  • A discussion of the Canadian Mental Health Index, a monthly measure of the state of mental health, and the Financial Wellbeing Index, which is a quarterly measure of the financial wellbeing of working Canadians, the impact of current pandemic business strategies and the mitigation of burnout
  • Learn why understanding the whole employee is the key to a positive employee experience
  • Define and understand the psychological contract and its implications on Business Leaders and your workforce
  • Identify strategies to foster employee well-being leading to organizational success
  • Build cultures of faith and trust in remote locations with employees
  • Identify the new workplace strategy
3:20 PM – 4:20 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Session 3: Cyber Resillience – Plan for the When, Not the If
BILL ROSS
Business Executive
Vercerta Inc.
Moderator
ANDREW LEMKE
Cyber Resilience Lead, North America
IBM

The year 2020 has reminded us of the critical interdependencies and systemic risks that are presented to us all. The World Economic Forum highlights cyber security risk as one of the top-5 risks to all organizations worldwide and the cost of cyber security attack has been rising dramatically. This talk will discuss a “cyber resilience” approach that focuses on planning for the worst case cyber security scenario and being able to recover quickly and predictably.

4:25 PM – 5:30 PM CLOSING KEYNOTE ADDRESS
CANADA’S CFO OF THE YEAR™ PANEL

Sponsored by:

Managing through Covid-19 and the evolving role of the CFO
STEPHEN MILL 
Senior Group Managing Director,Canada
Robert Half Executive Search
Moderator
GORD NELSON
Chief Financial Oficer,
Cineplex Entertainment
Photo of Michael Rousseau
MICHAEL ROUSSEAU
Deputy CEO & Chief Financial Officer,
Air Canada
PAMELA STEER
Former CFO & Chief Financial & Corporate Strategy Officer,
Payments Canada
Photo of Nadeem Velani
NADEEM VELANI
Chief Financial Officer,
Canadian Pacific

These Canada’s CFO of the Year™ winners will share their story of how these major Canadian Corporations managed through COVID-19. They will discuss how their organizations and business models had to pivot, the impact on their corporations both financially, internally and publicly and where they are nine months later. This session will touch on the role of the CFO in today’s challenging times and how this role had to evolve to manage through a world pandemic. We have read about it in the news every day. What does it take to be a leader at the helm so that recovery can be accomplished.

5:30 PM – 5:45 CLOSING REMARKS
Photo of Mark Shickele
JEFF SHICKELE
Chair 2021 Interchange
Interested in becoming an FEI Canada member?