2010 Speakers

Gurbaksh “G” Chahal

Chairman & CEO of gWallet, Inc

Gurbaksh “G” Chahal is an Indian American self-made entrepreneur, author, TV personality, and motivational speaker. By the age of 25, he founded two advertising companies worth $340 million. In his interview with Oprah Winfrey, she introduced him as “one of the youngest and also the wealthiest entrepreneurs on the planet Earth.” He is now the Founder, Chairman & CEO of gWallet, Inc. He left high school at sixteen to form Click Agents, an Internet advertising company, which he sold two years later for $40 million. In January 2004, he launched a second company, BlueLithium – the next generation in Internet advertising. The company was focused on data, optimization, and analytics and became a pioneer of behavioral targeting. BlueLithium was named one of the top 100 private companies in America three years in a row by AlwaysOn, and in 2006, it received highest honor as Top Innovator of the Year. (Previous winners included Google, Skype, and Salesforce.com.) On September 4th, 2007, Yahoo! announced that it was acquiring BlueLithium for $300 million in cash.

G starred on FOX’s prime-time network show The Secret Millionaire. He has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Bonnie Hunt, EXTRA, Neil Cavuto, among others, and has been profiled in such publications as The New York Times, Entrepreneur magazine, and The San Francisco Chronicle. He completed his memoir, “The Dream” which globally released Q4 2008. On January 8, 2009, he was featured on Extra TV as America’s Most Eligible Bachelor. In September 2009, Chahal started his third Company, gWallet, a virtual currency platform for social media.

Glen Murray

Member of Provincial Parliament – Toronto Centre Riding

Glen Murray was, until February of 2010, the President and CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute and has been a life-long champion for healthy, sustainable communities and better social services. He and his partner, Rick, have lived in Toronto Centre for over five years.

Since moving to Toronto he has also been a visiting Fellow with the Faculty of Architecture and Landscape Design at Massey College (University of Toronto). Glen is also a Board Member of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research and serves as a member of Premier McGuinty’s Advisory Panel on Climate Change and the Places to Grow Expert Panel.

Glen was the Mayor of Winnipeg from 1998 until 2004 and served as the Chair of the Big City Mayors Caucus. Glen is a community builder, environmentalist, a health care advocate, and human rights activist. Finally, Glen serves as the Member of Provincial Parliament for the Toronto Centre riding, in which Ryerson University is primarily geographically located.

Nadir Mohamed, C.A.

President and CEO – Rogers Communications Inc

Nadir H. Mohamed was appointed President and CEO, Rogers Communications Inc., in March 2009. Mr. Mohamed joined Rogers in August 2000, as President and Chief Operating Officer, Rogers Wireless and in July 2001, Mr. Mohamed was named President and CEO, Rogers Wireless. Under his leadership, Rogers Wireless experienced 13 consecutive quarters of double digit network revenue growth, 14 consecutive quarters of double digit operating profit growth, and improved free cash flow from in excess of negative $800 million in 2001 to over $270 million positive in 2004. In addition, Mr. Mohamed led Rogers Wireless through the acquisition of Microcell Telecommunications in 2004, making Rogers Wireless the largest wireless carrier in Canada, that today has approximately 8 million customers from coast to coast. In May 2005, Mr. Mohamed was appointed to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of the Communications Group of Rogers. As President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Mohamed was responsible for the wireless and cable divisions, a group representing $10 billion in revenue and over $4 billion in operating profit. Mr. Mohamed is on the Board of Rogers Communications, TD Bank Financial Group and Ryerson University.

Larry Rosen

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer – Harry Rosen Inc.

Larry Rosen, son of Harry Rosen, was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Harry Rosen Inc. in 2000. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and went on to earn a Masters of Business Administration and Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Western Ontario.

After practicing corporate law in Toronto, Larry joined Harry Rosen as a buyer in 1985. He then became involved in store operations at a senior management level, becoming General Merchandise Manager and later a Director of the company.

Larry is a volunteer member of The President’s Council at the University of Western Ontario and a member of the Ivey Advisory Board. He spearheads the Harry Rosen United Way campaign and major initiatives to raise funds for prostate cancer research, including Harry’s Spring Run-Off, which have raised more than $1 million to date. (source)

Bill Thomas, FCA

Chief Executive Officer – KPMG LLP

Bill Thomas is Chief Executive Officer and Senior Partner of KPMG, providing leadership and direction for the firm’s business across Canada. In addition to his leadership role in the Canadian firm, Bill is a member of KPMG’s Americas Board and Global Executive Team.

Since beginning his career with KPMG in Vancouver in 1990, Bill has delivered audit services to some of the firm’s largest clients in many industries. He served as Audit Leader for the firm’s Greater Vancouver practice, and was subsequently appointed Office Managing Partner. In 2007 he relocated to Toronto to serve as the firm’s Deputy CEO, and was appointed CEO and Senior Partner on January 1, 2009.

Bill was the recipient of Business in Vancouver’s Forty-under-Forty award in 2002, which recognizes BC’s top 40 outstanding young entrepreneurs, executives, managers and professionals. In addition to his Chartered Accountant designation he holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia.
Active in the community, Bill currently serves on the Board of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and is a member Toronto Board of Trade and the Canadian Council for Chief Executives. He is a past director of British Columbia’s CA School of Business, the BC Business Council (BCBC), and Arts Umbrella, a fine arts school for children. He also chaired the Finance Committee of the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships.

Tim Hockey

Group Head, Canadian Banking and President and Chief Executive Officer – TD Canada Trust

As Group Head, Canadian Banking and President and CEO, TD Canada Trust, Tim Hockey‘s primary responsibility is the leadership of TD’s Business Bank and Personal Bank, which offer a broad array of financial services and products to TD Canada Trust’s 10 million customers through more than 1,000 branches, a vast network of ATMs, EasyWeb, and EasyLine telephone banking. Tim is also a member of TD Bank Financial Group’s senior executive team.

Over a 25 year career with TD, he has held senior positions in a variety of areas including mutual funds, retail delivery, information technology, core banking and small business, Visa and personal lending.

A recipient of Canada’s “Top 40 Under 40″ Award, Tim obtained an MBA from the University of Western Ontario in 1997, and now sits on the Advisory Board of the Richard Ivey School of Business.

Tim served as Chair of the Canadian Bankers Association from June 2007 – 2008 and continues to serve as an Executive Member. He was named to the board of directors of SickKids Foundation, the largest non-governmental granting agency in child health in Canada. He has also served on the boards of VFC, OBSI (The Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments), and TD Bank USA.

Tuan Nguyen

President and Founder of Open Space Marketing

Tuan Nguyen is a partner and VP Marketing for multi-million dollar Internet portals – www.CanadianTourismNetwork.com, www.Autocatch.com and www.Healthgenie.ca. These portals span across 100 cities in Canada representing tourism, businesses, used-cars, and health care. He is the founder of OpenSpace Marketing, a marketing firm that provides consulting services specializing in customer retention strategies. However, his passion is in the community. Tuan co-founded in 1998, an NPO called CASCO with chapters at the University of Ottawa and McGill University, and has raised over $500,000. By 30, Tuan raised millions for communities across Canada and the globe. His name appears on the Wall of Inspiration at the Ottawa’s City Hall, and received many awards including Top Forty Under 40, United Way`s Community Builder Award and Top Philanthropist Under 40, Philos Award, Community Excellence Award from Heart and Stroke Foundation, and he was inducted into the Order of the Good Bear at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Peter C. Newman

Legendary Journalist and Best Selling Author

The recipient of seven honorary doctorates, Peter Newman has won every journalism award there is and has been appointed first an Officer and then promoted to a Companion in the Order of Canada. His career has included a stint as a magician at Eaton’s Toytown, service in the Canadian Navy as a full-ranking Captain, being the Editor in Chief of Canada’s largest newspaper, The Toronto Star and Editor of Maclean’s, Canada’s national magazine, which he turned into a newsweekly.

Newman’s 24 books have sold more than two million copies. His 2005 book, The Secret Mulroney Tapes: Unguarded Confessions of a Prime Minister was one of the most controversial books ever published in Canada. (source)

Donna Messer

President of ConnectUs Canada

Donna Messer is an author, speaker and trainer for ConnectUs Communications Canada. She founded the company on the premise that everyone can learn to network and get work, they just need to find their own communication style.

Combining interactive training, strategic planning and an exploration of the natural fears of networking, Messer demystifies the process by providing techniques that can be immediately used. Messer has received rave reviews for her seminars and speeches and is increasingly sought after as an expert resource on the subject of networking. Since founding ConnectUs, Donna Messer has played a critical and active role in introducing networking training to the curriculum of colleges and universities, boardrooms and government offices. She has received rave reviews for her seminars and speeches and is increasingly sought after as an expert resource on the subject of networking.

Donna has conducted workshops and delivered keynote speeches for corporations, organizations and educational institutions throughout the Canada, the United States and Europe. The Power of Positive Linking is one of the most comprehensive, interactive network training programs in North America. Clients include: Royal Bank of Canada, PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Cassels Brock, Government of Canada, University of Texas at Austin, CMED, and Rotman School of Business, just to name a few. She serves on the Executive Board for Women in International Trade, chairs Women in Food Industry Management. She volunteers her time to support the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, Women in Motion, and many other charities directed towards improving the status of women of all ages.

Dr. James Norrie, M.Ed, M.A.Sc, DPM, CHRP

President, e-Venture Consulting, Inc.

Entrepreneur, JobLoft and Speechbobble (separate companies)

Former Vice-President/General Manager, iMG

Entrepreneur, former F-500 executive and currently the Associate Dean, Administration of the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, James has an international reputation as both a scholar and though leader to industry. His proven expertise spans governance; organization strategy; spurring innovation; studying social computing trends; performance management tools and processes; project management, leadership development and executive coaching.

As an author, frequent speaker, and practicing academic, Professor Norrie has delivered hundreds of keynote addresses, workshops, and conference presentations or papers globally, a complete list of which is available upon request along with references from past clients. Each year he produces 2 – 3 new keynote topics drawn from his most recent research and emerging work that stimulate and entertain audiences on thought-provoking topics where his demonstrated expertise challenges the status quo.

James’ personal mission is expressed as, “To Be Passionately Productive!” He enjoys helping individuals, teams and organizations unleash their passion and achieve their full potential by encouraging and advising others on how to explore, discover and create purposeful, passionate ways to unlock energy and innovation.

Mira Sirotic, CMA

Regional Director – GTA West, Halton and Peel Certified Management Accountants of Ontario

Mira joined CMA Ontario in Sept. 2007 after working 10 years for Imperial Oil Limited (IOL). During her time at IOL, she held eight diverse roles in six different business units. From product costing and process improvement to financial reporting & analysis, business reorganizations and major systems implementations, Mira has had many opportunities to apply her CMA training and create value by bringing together an integrated perspective that combines strategy, management and accounting. Her mission is to help people maximize their potential and she looks forward to sharing her insights to support people in their overall growth and career development.

Leanne Pepper

General Manager of The Faculty Club – U of T

Leanne graduated from the Culinary Arts program in 1984 and became General Manager of the Faculty Club McMaster almost immediately. Since 1994, she has been General Manager of the Faculty Club of the University of Toronto. Leanne also offers business and dining etiquette instruction. The club offers its members (faculty, staff, alumni and donors) a place to socialize with colleagues from other disciplines as well as a location to host special events like receptions, graduations, weddings and business meetings.