Daniel Tisch is a business, public policy, and community leader, having held executive roles in government and the corporate sector, and senior governance roles at public institutions and non-profit associations. He is known globally as an expert in corporate communications, public policy, community engagement, crisis and reputation management.

From 2003 to 2023, Daniel was the driving force in building Argyle Communications (now Changemakers) into Canada’s largest management-owned engagement, communication and reputation advisory firm growing to $40M in revenue, 175 employees and ten North American offices by 2023. Earlier in his career, Daniel held senior communications roles in the Canadian government, including serving as Senior Policy Advisor and Acting Chief of Staff to Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. In the latter role, he was a member of the Canadian delegation to the G7 Economic Summit

Daniel has spoken to business audiences on every continent, lectured at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business since 1996, and contributed to leading public relations and marketing textbooks. He appears regularly in print and broadcast media, including weekly commentary on CBC Radio and Global News during the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections. In 2021, Daniel was named one of the world’s “top 100” social media influencers on public relations.

Born in Spain to a Latin American family and raised in Toronto, Daniel speaks English, French and Spanish. He holds two degrees from Queen’s University — a Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies and a Master of Business Administration. He is also a certified corporate director, with an ICD.D designation in corporate governance from the University of Toronto. Daniel has served as vice chair of the Queen’s University Board of Trustees, a leader in the international Scouting movement and a board member of Social Venture Partners International.

In 2025, Daniel was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contributions to his community, the province and the country.

Frances Donald is the Chief Economist at RBC and leads a team of economists who deliver economic analyses to help inspire and empower informed decision making in an evolving world. Frances is a leading voice on economic issues and is highly sought after by clients, government leaders, policy makers, and media in the U.S. and Canada for her deep insights on the macro-economic environment and financial markets in North America. She is recognized for her ability to effectively communicate complex economic issues to wide audiences. 

Frances joined RBC from another financial institution where she served as global chief economist and strategist. In this capacity, she was responsible for forecasting global macroeconomic and financial trends, analyzing the economy and capital markets for potential opportunities and risks, and serving as a thought leader both within the firm and externally.

She’s a frequent public speaker and regularly appears in international media, including Bloomberg and CNBC.

Frances obtained a Bachelor of Economics from Queen’s University and earned her master’s degree in economics from New York University.

Victor Dodig is the President and CEO of CIBC and leads a team of over 48,000 team members globally.

Under his tenure, CIBC has transformed into a relationship-oriented bank for a modern world, with a North American platform for growth and a commitment to enable a more sustainable future for all stakeholders.

Before becoming CEO of the bank, Victor held a number of senior leadership roles within CIBC, led several businesses with UBS and Merrill Lynch in Canada and internationally, and was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company.

Victor is a strong advocate for Canada on the world stage and a proponent of economic growth to enable a more prosperous and inclusive future. He is Past Chair of the Business Council of Canada, a Trustee of the Brookings Institution, and also serves on the board of Telus Corporation Inc. He has held numerous positions with organizations focused on inclusion, including the Black North Initiative and Catalyst Canada.

Victor resides in Toronto with his wife, Maureen. They are the proud parents of four children.

James Scongack is the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at Bruce Power. In this role James is responsible for organizational transformation and a wide-range of operational and capital project services at the world’s largest operating nuclear facility and Canada’s largest private-sector electricity infrastructure project. He also has responsibility for procurement, supply chain, nuclear regulatory affairs, external affairs, environment, sustainability, asset dispatch, medical isotopes and business development.

During his over 20-years of service at Bruce Power, he’s served in several diverse leadership roles at the company including the Vice-President of the Bruce B Generating Station where he was responsible for the safe, reliable operations and project integration at the facility consisting of four large-scale CANDU nuclear reactors. He’s also served as the company’s Vice-President of Environment & Corporate Affairs and in leadership roles reporting to the President & CEO dating back to 2005.

James has provided leadership in several large-scale commercial transactions and labour agreements including the 2015 agreement with the Province of Ontario extending the life of the facility to 2064 through a multi-Billion investment program.

James serves as Chair of the Independent Electricity System Operator Strategic Advisory Committee, Chair of the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council and Chair of the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO). He’s previously served as a Director on LifeLabs, Canada’s largest community laboratory services provider and the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

James has been recognized by the Globe and Mail Report on Business 2022 Best Executive Awards and awarded the Platinum Jubilee Award in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th Anniversary on the Throne for his work on COVID-19 Provincial vaccination efforts. He’s also a recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 by Caldwell/Bloomberg.

James has an Executive MBA from London’s Ivey Business School and a Chartered Director through McMaster’s DeGroote Business School. James holds a master’s degree from the University of Guelph College of Management and Economics in Leadership and a BA (Hons) and has completed Master’s-level Project Management certification through York University’s Schulich Business School. He is also a graduate of the US-based Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Senior Plant Management Program and Bruce Power’s Enhanced Operational Training Program.

Dr. Jason Field is President and CEO of Life Sciences Ontario (LSO), an organization that works collaboratively with government, academia, industry, and life sciences partners across Canada to support the sector’s commercial success and growth.

He holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts and a B.Sc. from the University of Waterloo. Jason’s career spans both the pharmaceutical industry and the Ontario government. He joined LSO as Executive Director in October 2011 and was appointed President and CEO in April 2014.

Jason serves on several boards and advisory committees, including the University of Toronto’s Translational Research Program, ReMAP, BioTalent Canada, and Research Canada. He also co-chairs the Resilient Healthcare Coalition.

He is a recipient of the University of Waterloo’s 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award, served as Chair of Ontario’s Life Sciences Council (2023–2024), and was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

As Vice-President for Radioligand Therapy, Celine leads the commercialization strategy of innovative targeted radioligand therapies in the field of nuclear medicine to help Canadian patients with advanced cancer. Celine joined Novartis in 2014 and, during her tenure, has been in a variety of commercial and leadership roles in various geographies including Europe, Asia, Middle East and North America.

Prior to joining Novartis, Celine worked at AstraZeneca and Boston Consulting Group. Celine holds a master’s degree in business from ESSEC Business School in France.

Celine has great passion for developing and leading high performing teams. She is energized by helping patients gain access to innovative therapies that will transform their lives.

Priya leads all Ontario Mining Association (OMA) activities and represents the association publicly. She is a member of OMA's Board of Directors and its Executive Committee and provides broad policy guidance to the OMA Chair. Priya joined the OMA following a distinguished career in the public sector. She embarked on public service in 2009 as a legislative assistant in the Minister's Office at the former Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, and soon became Chief of Staff to the Ministers of Natural Resources and Northern Development and Mines. She joined the Ontario Public Service as the Director of the Corporate Policy Secretariat at the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines in 2015 and became Director of the Strategic and Indigenous Policy Branch at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in 2020. Priya brings a background in engineering and public policy to the organization.

David has served in a number of roles in the United Kingdom and overseas, both across government and in the private sector.

David joined the UK foreign service in 1999. His most recent role was in London, as the Deputy Director for International Strategy in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Prior to this, he served as Her Majesty’s Consul General in Miami. In addition, David has served abroad in Belgium as Deputy Ambassador and Argentina as Head of Trade and Investment. In the UK, he held roles that have included policy oversight for European security, the Middle East and Central America.

Prior to joining the UK civil service, David was a Chartered Surveyor and geographic information specialist. He worked on a range of domestic and international projects on land reform, oil and gas exploration and geodemographic modelling.

David is married to Tiffany and has three children.

Jordan Brennan is Head of Thought Leadership at RBC and a Senior Fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute.

Previously, Jordan served as Vice President of Public Policy and Chief Economist at the Insurance Bureau of Canada and as Chief Economist at Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector labour union.

Jordan has held advisory roles to senior public sector officials and has published widely in economics and public policy. He was a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School and holds a PhD in Political Economics.

Claire Sault was elected Chief on December 9, 2023, and served on the Missisaugas of the Credit Council through a bi-election since October 22, 2022. She formerly worked as the CEO of Northwind Business Development, a company wholly owned by Caldwell First Nation. Prior, Chief Sault served as the CEO for Kettle & Stony Point First Nation Administration with a large staff. During the Covid pandemic, Ms. Sault worked in a consulting capacity and prior to that, served as CEO of Noozhoo Nokiyan Limited Partnership owned by the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. She was the President of a non-profit in California called Divine Choices and Vice President and Director of Human Resources for a large public company and its subsidiary called First American Trust. Both, in the United States.

She was born and raised on the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation with deep roots and strong ties to her mother’s First Nation (Six Nations) as well.

After returning to Canada, she functioned in various consultative capacities including working with a First Nation in Saskatchewan. Prior to moving to the United States though, she gained experience within various Aboriginal agencies, including tourism, addictions treatment, First Nation governments and various service organizations.

As President of a non-profit and services company, from 2007 through 2013; she travelled extensively promoting the mission and cause of child sexual abuse prevention through public speaking engagements, social media, and TV commercials.

She’s also an author and co-author of various papers, teaching materials and a book called “The Lie That Binds”.

Ms. Sault received a master’s degree in business administration from Simon Fraser University with her focus on Aboriginal Business and Leadership.

Her background provides a broad expertise in business and financial management and more importantly, an understanding of the Indigenous way of life.

Ms. Sault is the second youngest of a large family and resides on the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

As President of McKesson Canada, Dimitris is responsible for leading McKesson’s portfolio of businesses in Canada including pharmaceutical distribution operations, Specialty Health, and McKesson’s network of independent pharmacies comprised of I.D.A., Guardian, Remedy’sRx, The Medicine Shoppe, Uniprix, and Proxim.

Dimitris joined McKesson Canada in 2005 following the acquisition of Phase 4 Health, a specialty and manufacturer-facing services company he helped build and grow. This acquisition resulted in the creation of McKesson Specialty Health, which offers a comprehensive range of services to manufacturers. Under his leadership, the group expanded to become Canada’s largest specialty services provider.

Over the past two decades, Dimitris has held executive leadership roles across every operational business unit within the Canadian portfolio, driving transformational growth across the organization. He is recognized as a strategic business leader committed to customer success, operational excellence, and building high-performing teams.

Dimitris holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Toronto and has served on several boards in the healthcare industry including positions at the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia Pharmacy Programs and the Canadian Association for Pharmacy Distribution Management (CAPDM) as Chair. He is a current board member of the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (NPAC) and the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA), where he chairs the National Pharmacy Business Council.

Saga Williams, LL.B. is the Principal and Owner of AS Williams Consulting, a boutique Indigenous consulting firm specializing in mineral development, governance, and resource extraction. A proud band member and resident of Curve Lake First Nation, Saga also has ancestral ties to the Namekosipiing Anishinabeg of Lac Seul First Nation, located in Treaty #3 territory.

Saga holds an Honours degree in Indigenous Studies from Trent University and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2000.

With over 25 years of experience, Saga has led and advised on numerous high-profile initiatives across the energy, mining, policy, and economic development sectors, including land claims settlements. Her expertise in Indigenous governance is rooted in years of work with First Nations governments, including a term as an elected Councillor for Curve Lake First Nation, where she held multiple portfolios and chaired several committees.

She has served as an advisor to Cabinet Ministers and Indigenous leaders on Indigenous-Government relations, and is currently a Senior Advisor with the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, where she leads work on Critical Mineral development and supports Indigenous equity ownership in mining infrastructure and the mineral value chain.

Saga is also an Adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, where she teaches on Indigenous rights, reconciliation, and negotiation. She has chaired a national non-profit youth services board and currently serves as a director on several publicly traded mining company boards.

Monica is an Assurance Partner at PwC Canada and the firm's National Mining Leader. For over 20 years, Monica has worked with large, complex global mining companies. She has extensive experience with complex transactions including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and initial public offerings.

Monica is passionate about building the Canadian mining sector and the opportunities that Ontario has to contribute to the sector's full economic potential. She is also passionate about attracting talent to the mining sector and inspiring the next generation of mining leaders. She is a past participant in two of PwC's global leadership development programs for top talent, Genesis Park and the Network Leadership Development Program.

Mark Patterson is the Executive Director of Magnet, a centre of innovation focused on the future of work at Toronto Metropolitan University. Under his leadership, Magnet built a platform that connects millions across talent, industry, education, and training, helping Canadians develop the skills needed for a rapidly evolving job market. One of Canada’s top thought leaders in workforce innovation and technology integration, Mark offers valuable insights into how artificial intelligence is reshaping skills and employment. His leadership continues to influence how individuals and organizations adapt to these changes.

Dr. Wendy Cukier is one of Canada’s leading experts in disruptive technologies, innovation processes, and diversity and inclusion and coauthor of the best seller Innovation Nation: Canadian Leadership From Java to Jurassic Park. Her early career included technology market research and forecasting projects with the Institute for the Future in Menlo Park California and the International Data Corporation. Formerly the Vice President of Research and Innovation, she has extensive expertise in developing and implementing supports for incubation and acceleration and has helped create and scale several successful startups and social ventures including Flybits, 7D Surgical, Think2Thing,  nPower, Magnet, Growing North (now Green Iglu), the Lifelong Leadership Institute, Magnet and more and serves on many boards.

With 80 full time research staff, 10 hubs across the country, and 300 partners, the Diversity Institute undertakes research to advance growth, sustainability, innovation and inclusion. Recent research includes examining the AI Paradox, AI adoption in SMEs and developing an AI competency framework based on the premise all Canadians now need basic AI literacy.

In addition to serving as the Academic Research Director for the Future Skills Centre, Wendy leads the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub and the Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network and is a coinvestigator on a new project, led by the University of Toronto, on responsible AI. Wendy received many academic, industry and community awards for her work including  a YWCA Women of Distinction Award, the International Women’s Forum Global Women Who Make a Difference Award, the inaugural Mary Kilfoil Award for Entrepreneurship, the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance Sara Kirke Award, and two Harry Jerome Awards among others. She was awarded a Meritorious Service Cross, one of Canada's highest civilian honours and was named among 100 alumni who shaped the century by the University of Toronto.

She has an MA, MBA (Toronto), a PhD in Information Systems (Schulich York) and two honorary doctorates (Concordia, Laval).

Charles Todd joined the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) in 2019 and is a Managing Director on the Investments team. He currently leads the CIB’s investments in Transit and its Building Retrofits Initiative. Charles also supports the CIB’s Indigenous infrastructure investments as a senior advisor. He has led the closing of over $3.4 billion of investments at the CIB. 

Before joining the CIB, Charles worked on numerous large infrastructure projects and investments across Canada in legal and commercial capacities. He was a senior lawyer and Commercial Director at Aecon Group Inc., supporting its largest and most complex pursuits and projects. Charles was also Contracts Director for Crosslinx Transit Solutions, the consortium delivering the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, where he was responsible for all contractual aspects of the project. Charles started his career practising corporate/commercial law at a major Canadian law firm.

Charles holds a JD from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and a BA in economics from the University of Waterloo.

Charles is based out of the CIB’s Toronto office.

Nicole DeKort is the President and CEO of Medtech Canada – the industry association representing Canada’s Medical Technology Companies – pursuing opportunities to demonstrate the value of innovative medical technology to government, stakeholders, and key partners in the health care system.

She previously served for 10 years as the Vice-President of Ontario & Marketing for Medtech Canada, overseeing Ontario government relations and national marketing programs for the association. In response to the heath system challenges we’ve faced in the last few years – both the pandemic and the wait times and decreased access to health services in Canada – Nicole worked with her colleagues to launch www.medtechinnovation.ca which highlights the vast impact the medical technology had in response to the pandemic, and also highlights the tremendous role that the medical technology industry is playing to help address the medical services backlogs in Canada.

Prior to joining Medtech Canada, Nicole has a 15-year background in politics and government in a diverse portfolio of roles. Nicole’s last role in government prior to joining Medtech Canada was serving as the Executive Director of Strategic Planning for the then Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Nicole was proud to receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal from the federal government in April 2025, through a nomination by Premier Doug Ford of Ontario. This prestigious honour recognizes individuals who have made a profound and lasting contribution to Ontario and to Canada.

Aliya Ramji is a partner of McCarthy Tetreault in Toronto focused exclusively on start-ups, scale-ups and other fast-growth businesses. In addition to delivering tailored legal advice and other strategic value to high-potential businesses in the start-up or scale-up phase, Aliya regularly advises venture capital, angel and strategic investors, as well as parties looking to create strategic alliances or partnerships with founders or start-ups.

Prior to joining the firm, Aliya was Senior Director, Legal and Corporate Affairs, at Figure 1, a highly successful med-tech start-up for healthcare professionals. Aliya delivered diverse legal and business advice, supporting Figure1 through global expansion to more than 100 countries, various strategic alliances, multiple rounds of venture capital financing, and a host of privacy, data governance and complex regulatory matters.

Aliya is immersed in Canada’s vibrant start-up sector, with particularly deep roots with founders, investors, incubators and academic programs in Toronto, Waterloo, Ottawa and Hamilton. Aliya brings a rare blend of technical legal expertise and business acumen, always underscored by a highly practical and results-oriented mindset. She “speaks the language” of start-ups and has a proven track-record of helping founders and investors seize opportunities, navigate challenges and grow successful businesses.

Aliya presents frequently on a broad range of issues facing founders and the start-up community, and authors a popular advice column “Ask Aliya”, for lawyers who are the first legal hire at their company. She also teaches Legal Aspects of International Business and Business Law at Ryerson University, and is a committed mentor to several founders and young lawyers, particularly women in start-ups. In 2016, Aliya was named one of the “Top 10 Thirty-Somethings” by the Association of Corporate Counsel and the “Young Alumni of Influence” by the University of Toronto, University College.

Aliya earned a J.D. from Queen’s University and a Masters in Law from NYU School of Law. She is called to the bar in Ontario and New York.

Chris Benedetti is a Managing Partner with Sussex Strategy Group. With experience in both federal and provincial governments, Mr. Benedetti provides an in-depth insight and expertise into various policy development and political processes and has an extensive background in strategic communications, advisory services, and public affairs.

For over 25 years he has helped clients to better understand policy and political imperatives and has worked with governments at all levels to support results-based decision-making. He is an expert in energy-related matters, infrastructure, trade and the environment, as well as in public administration and political affairs.  He has also spoken at numerous conferences and has been published in several leading journals. 

While managing the interests of several high-profile public and private sector clients, Mr. Benedetti serves as an elected Board Director of the Ontario Energy Association, the Association of Power Producers of Ontario, the Empire Club of Canada, and Outward Bound Canada. He is a member of the Advisory Board of Red Jar Capital. He also previously served as Chair of the Recycling Council of Ontario, Director of the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy, President of the Public Affairs Association of Canada, Board Director of the Toronto ZooShare Biogas Cooperative, and Senior Advisor to the Canada-Europe Roundtable for Business. He has also been a member of the Energy Policy Council of the C.D. Howe Institute.

In March 2025, Mr. Benedetti received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his exceptional contribution to Canada in the fields of environmental stewardship and youth education. He was also selected in 2024 as the Hedley Palmer award winner from the Association of Power Producers of Ontario. The Hedley Palmer Award recognizes individuals who have contributed exceptional contributions to Ontario’s power generation industry.

Prior to joining Sussex, Mr. Benedetti was Vice President and Government Relations Practice Leader for a global public affairs and communications company. He has held several positions in the federal government with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and as a political advisor within the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada. 

Mr. Benedetti holds a BA in law and a BA (High Hons.) in political science from Carleton University, and an MA in political science (International Relations) from McMaster University and the University of Bath, England.  Active in his local community, Mr. Benedetti has served as President of Horizons for Youth, a United Way agency and one of Toronto’s largest youth shelters, and is a former Director for Common Ground Co-Operative, providing business training opportunities for individuals with development disabilities.