My role revolves around maintaining controls and developing analytics capability to manage over $500m of farecard revenues one of North America’s largest transit agencies. This involves a mix of accountancy, finance and analytics skills (tools and methods) as well as community and organizational awareness working for a 15,000 employee, GTA centered organization. I have degrees in Engineering, Science and Business Administration. I have worked in large consultancies and global companies ($500m+ revenues) across a dozen countries (mainly UK and Canada) on initiatives ranging from start-up investment cases, business modelling and restructuring. I serve on the Boards of the Science Teachers Association of Ontario and the Guitar Society of Toronto.
Jennifer Mak
Jennifer is an experienced Chief of Staff (Director) to the CEO of a major global professional organization with proven track record of managing complex projects and building trust with multiple stakeholders, developing and communicating key strategic messages, and executing CEO priorities. She is also a versatile leader with a cross-functional background encompassing business transformation, finance, change management, talent development and communication.
Jennifer Flexman
Jennifer Flexman is currently responsible for advancing research and development, industrial collaboration and commercialization in the laboratories of Prof. Ted Sargent and Prof. Shana Kelley at the University of Toronto in the areas of advanced materials, solar photovoltaics, biosensing and drug delivery. She brings diverse experience at the interface of industry and academia. She worked in the semiconductor industry at Teradyne, Inc. in Boston and was a Science and Technology Policy Fellow for the University-Industry Demonstration Project (UIDP) at The National Academies in Washington, DC. Prior to her current position, she developed commercialization strategies for new inventions and developed industry partnerships while working in the University-Industry Liaison Office at the University of British Columbia. Jennifer has a bachelor’s of electrical engineering from McGill University and a PhD in bioengineering from the University of Washington in Seattle.
James Pang
Platform Computing – Pioneer in High Performance Computing and Cloud/Grid Computing
– Joined as a 5 person startup, helping to grow to 500+ person company with ~$100M in revenue, 2000+ customers
– Acquired by IBM in 2012
– Held variety of leadership roles in R&D, Support, Product Management
– Was part of leadership team as VP Product Management at time of acquisition
– Incubated and lead all new product initiatives, growing from a single product to 5 product lines spanning multiple markets. Co-Leader of 6 person services company delivering Cloud solutions for High Performance Computing market
– Started company from scratch, acquiring leading enterprise accounts such as Cadence, GlobalFoundries
James Macintosh
30 Years of experience in Consumer Packaged Goods in Sales, Marketing and General Management with Procter & Gamble, Schick, Energizer, Playtex and Edgewell.
Leader of the Canadian divisions of Schick & Energizer for over 10 Years and was the Global Leader of Playtex Infant and Feminine Care businesses.
Jacqueline Foley
Jacqueline is a high-energy leader and brand builder with great commercial instincts, She has spent the last 25+ years helping companies across North America grow and win in the marketplace – including leading brands such as The Body Shop, Home Depot, Manulife Financial, NetSuite, Symcor and, most recently, Odgers Berndtson.
She is passionate about two things: people and results. This has been a winning formula for her in helping organizations attract new customers and deepen existing relationships, reposition and rebuild their brands, increase innovation and market share, and drive new revenue and repeat business. And she is proud to have become known for being a trusted advisor and partner, and for building effective teams that deliver.
Jacqueline also strongly believes in paying it forward and her side hustle has been mentoring and coaching career women through her book Flex Time, and young leaders and entrepreneurs through programs like CEOX1Day, Futurpreneur and U of T’s The Hatchery.
Harneet Singh Panesar
Executive Board Member – Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) – East Toronto
Past-Chair – Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) – Toronto Humber
Chair – Government Liaison Program – Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) – East Toronto
Licensed Professional Engineer (Province of Ontario) – High Voltage Power System Reliability and Performance Management
Hydro One – Asset Management – System Investment & Planning (Load Connections)
Hydro One – Asset Management – Performance Management (Transmission Reliability and Balanced Scorecards)
Hydro One – Corporate and Customer Relations – Key Account Management
Rotman School of Management – MBA (Specialization – Strategic Management; Majored in Consulting and Entrepreneurship).
Gisèle Godin
Global digital cloud professional services leader accomplished in developing and growing professional
services practices in creating a vision and strategy focused on customer satisfaction. Developed
positive team culture with a strong focus in delivering the best solution for the customer by “Getting it
done and Doing it right”. Digital Cloud Professional Services, Client Advisor, Portfolio / Project Management, Strong Delivery, Customer satisfaction, Business Operations, Talent Management, 3rd Partner Management and Budgets (P&L)
Gene Amdur
Honours B. Math from U. Waterloo with double major Computer Science/Combinatorics & Optimization
M. Sc. from U. Toronto in Computer Science
Started at the ground floor as a programmer and worked my way up to VP R&D and site manager for a company on the FTSE 100 and most recently COO. Involved in 10+ acquisitions from both sides.
Gabriel Matzner
Gabriel’s expertise lies in Product Management, Business Development, Marketing and Strategy expert with eight years of experience in the tech and gaming industry.
Gabriel’s specialties are: Analytics, Excel Modelling, SEO, Marketing, Business Development, Advertising, Social Media, Community Management, Online Tech/Gaming Market, Bi-lingual (English and Spanish)
Frank Pizzolato
Frank is responsible for advising the executive team on the overall operations and strategy to ensure continued growth of Obero. Frank founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Clarity Systems. Clarity Systems evolved from a consultancy firm to a software firm, providing the office of finance with Performance Management solutions. Clarity’s acquisition by IBM was one of Canada’s noteworthy technology transactions in 2010. As CEO, Frank led Clarity through years of continuous profitable growth and reinvention taking advantage of market opportunities. He led the opening of global markets, the continuous improvement of Clarity’s human capital, the acquisition of strategic software and the establishment of their global partner channel community. Frank is a Ryerson University Alumni.
Felix Acosta
Felix specializes in the architecture, design and enablement of complex service models with a balanced focus on technology, people and process and overall business value.
His specialties include Enterprise Service Management, operations and service automation, serviceNow solutions architecture, implementation and development
IT services costing and business case development for operational efficiency
Project/Program Management, Outsourcing/Offshoring, Organizational Change and Transformation and Information Technology Management and Strategy.
Eric Williamson
Eric Williamson is a registered dietitian with a special focus on fat loss, muscle gain and sports performance. In addition to his graduate studies, he provides individual nutrition coaching and public speaking to a variety of individuals, from those looking for health optimization and body composition changes to elite physical and mental performance. He has a BSc in Nutrition, BA in Kinesiology, MSc in Exercise Nutrition and Metabolism, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and is a currently a PhD candidate. He recently received the young investigator award at the annual American College of Sports Medicine conference for his contributions to the exercise and nutrition community. Eric has worked with a broad range of clientele including the OHL’s Oshawa Generals, the University of Toronto’s varsity basketball teams, Hannah McKeand’s Ultra Endurance Polar Expedition Training Company and hundreds of everyday people juggling busy work and family lives. Eric’s goal as a dietitian and nutrition coach is to help people find the most effective nutrition strategies for their health and goals while balancing the many other important areas of their lives to achieve overall success and fulfillment.
