Pass Types

Beanfield Centre
105 Princes' Blvd, Toronto,
ON, M6K 3C3

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  • October 26 & 27, 2023

Pass Types

Who's speaking
We’ve got a great line of speakers this year!
BFUTR Speaker Ludacris Recording Artist
BFUTR Speaker
Ludacris Recording Artist The career of the multitalented CHRIS “LUDACRIS” BRIDGES can best be described as remarkable. As a recording artist, he has sold more than 24 million albums worldwide, thanks to the blockbuster success of such singles as “Stand Up,” “Get Back,” “Southern Hospitality,” “Number One Spot,” “Money Maker” and “My Chick Bad.” These records were accompanied by ingenious videos demonstrating Bridges’ far-reaching imagination and willingness to stretch the boundaries of what rap videos should look and feel like.

With an unrivalled match of lyrical acumen, wit, and imagery, Ludacris has become one of music's premier entertainers. His versatility and artistic complexity also enabled him to seamlessly transition to acting, including the fan-favourite role of "Tej" in Universal Pictures’ box office phenomenon Fast & Furious franchise, where he was introduced in 2003 in 2 Fast 2 Furious. He will reprise his role of “Tej” for the seventh time in Fast X, which is set to release on May 20, 2023.

His other notable feature film credits include Garry Marshall’s ensemble comedy New Year’s Eve, Ivan Reitman’s romantic comedy No Strings Attached, Paul Higgin’s Crash, which received an Academy Award for Best Picture in 2006 and Hustle & Flow, which earned Bridges a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

As a father of four girls, his latest ventures fittingly include launching his educational platform devoted to the enrichment of children called "KidNation". In addition, Bridges created the animated series KARMA’S WORLD, which launched in the Top 10 in 42 countries on Netflix, received two NAACP Award nominations and is already in its fourth season. The series for children ages 6-9 is a coming-of-age story about a young Black girl finding her voice and using it to change her world -- initially inspired by Chris’s oldest daughter Karma and based on the interactive educational website of the same name created by Karma’s World Entertainment in 2009.

A consummate businessman, Ludacris is enjoying success outside of entertainment. One of his most successful ventures includes opening his long-anticipated restaurant “Chicken-n-Beer” at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport, with a new location opening at LAX in 2023.

Bridge’s philanthropic efforts rival his entertainment accomplishments. He started The Ludacris Foundation in 2001, which focuses on helping the youth in his hometown of Atlanta and has partnered with No Kid Hungry and FeedingAmerica.
BFUTR Speaker Krista Satterthwaite Senior Vice President and General Manager Mainstream Compute at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
BFUTR Speaker
Krista Satterthwaite Senior Vice President and General Manager Mainstream Compute at Hewlett Packard Enterprise Krista is a technology business leader with 25 years of experience across operations, product and services strategy, quality, marketing, and Go-to-Market. She is the Senior Vice President and General Manager leading Hewlett-Packard Enterprise’s (HPE’s) $9+ billion Mainstream Compute business. Krista has a proven track-record of driving results including creating a new category of servers that grew from zero to a multi-billion-dollar annual run-rate business. Krista also serves as a Board Member for H3C. H3C is an HPE Joint Venture Company located in China with a market-leading portfolio (#1 in networking and a leader in servers and storage). She is a member of the Tech Committee on the H3C board.

Fostering a positive culture of inclusion is one of Krista’s passions. She has served on the HPE CEO’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council and is the executive sponsor for HPE’s Houston Black Employee Network. In 2021, she was awarded the HPE Black Employee Network’s Legacy Award for her contributions. She is also a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC), a national organization comprised of Black CEOs and senior executives at Fortune 1000 companies. In 2023, Krista was awarded BPTN’s Black Tech Executive of the Year and was named one of the Top 50 Women to Watch for Boards by 50/50 Women on Boards. In 2019, she was recognized by Savoy Magazine’s as one of the Most Influential Women in Corporate America. Krista received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Illinois in Chicago.

Krista is a real estate investor and enjoys reading and traveling.
BFUTR Speaker Yves-Gérard François VP Transformation and Client Inclusion National Bank of Canada
BFUTR Speaker
Yves-Gérard François VP Transformation and Client Inclusion National Bank of Canada Working at the National Bank since 2017, Yves-Gérard has more than 20 years of experience in the IT sector, mainly as part of transformational initiatives with large companies in several sectors such as aeronautics, retail, loyalty and finance. After four years as an IT Leader, he joined the Transformation Network in June 2022 to take charge of the Client Inclusion Chair as part of our objective to become one of the most inclusive banks.

He holds a Bachelor of Science with a major in Sociology from the Université de Montréal, a diploma in Applied Information Technology from the Information Technology Institute in Ottawa, and a Master's Certificate in Project Management from UQAM. He is recognized as a leader of integrity who is accessible, prioritizes the customer experience and favours an approach centred on action, proactivity, simplicity, innovation, diversity and inclusion in how we approach and act.
BFUTR Speaker Tim Clark Senior Vice President, Commercial and Corporate Platforms TD Bank Group
BFUTR Speaker
Tim Clark Senior Vice President, Commercial and Corporate Platforms TD Bank Group Tim has been with the bank for over 11 years, most recently taking on the position of SVP, Commercial and Corporate Platforms (C&CP). In this role, Tim supports Platforms & Technology's NEW mandate. He is responsible for the Canadian business technology teams, comprising six NEW platforms and Corporate Technology for HR, Risk and Finance.

Tim serves as Chair for the Platforms & Technology Inclusion & Diversity Leadership Council (IDLC), and he is committed to building and developing an inclusive and diverse workforce. He is an advocate for TD's longstanding partnership with Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN), including the ideation and launch of Obsidi Academy, a training-to-desk initiative helping Black-identified individuals launch their careers in technology. Tim is also a proponent of TD's returners program, where individuals are supported in returning to work after a career break. The pilot program, while open to all applicants, focused on growing the representation of women in TD's technology workforce. Outside of work, Tim is an advisor to a local Toronto startup and a passionate member of a not-for-profit cycling community, Les Domestiques, a charitable giving community that welds passion for two wheels with giving back to the communities we serve.

Originally from Scotland, UK, his wife, three daughters, and two dogs reside in Greater Toronto.
BFUTR Speaker Alysse Anderson VP Frontline Platforms CIBC
BFUTR Speaker
Alysse Anderson VP Frontline Platforms CIBC Alysse is a technologist at heart with a creative lens. She started her career in FinTech and Financial Services over ten years ago at CIBC as a frontline representative on the phones and is now a Vice-President of Frontline Platforms and enablement who leads a team supporting CIBC's innovation and digitization of tools and platforms used by a 7000+ group of front line team members to sell, serve, and advise clients across personal and business banking. Alysse, with her background in the arts, remains connected to the art community. She is also a board member of the Black Artists Network & Dialogue (BAND), working to achieve greater visibility and opportunity to emerging black artists in our communities.
BFUTR Speaker Deland Kamanga Group Head, BMO Wealth Management Bank of Montreal
BFUTR Speaker
Deland Kamanga Group Head, BMO Wealth Management Bank of Montreal Deland has over 30 years of experience in the financial industry and currently, as Group Head, leads the strategic direction of five business units. He is a BMO’s Executive Committee member and sits on multiple boards of directors and foundations.

Deland is a proud champion of diversity and drives change as an active participant and member of various BMO employee groups and initiatives.
BFUTR Speaker Isabelle Hudon President and CEO BDC
BFUTR Speaker
Isabelle Hudon President and CEO BDC Recognized as a mobilizing leader with a keen sense of strategy, Isabelle Hudon has systematically brought an ambitious and resolutely action-oriented vision to all the organizations she has led. She was appointed President and CEO of BDC in August 2021 after serving as Ambassador of Canada to France and Monaco for four years and holding the positions of President and CEO (Quebec) and Senior Vice President (Canada) of Sun Life Financial.

Since joining BDC, Ms. Hudon has dedicated herself to putting the ‘D’ in BDC at the forefront of the activities and priorities of her 2,500 colleagues. Driven by a strong desire to increase the organization’s contribution to the country’s development through its entrepreneurs, she is accelerating the deployment of multiple initiatives across BDC that will enable the organization to increase its impact and contribute to fair, inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
BFUTR Speaker Alex Coleman Chief Information Officer/Assistant Deputy Minister of the Children, Youth and Social Services I+IT Cluster Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services
BFUTR Speaker
Alex Coleman Chief Information Officer/Assistant Deputy Minister of the Children, Youth and Social Services I+IT Cluster Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services Alex Coleman is the Chief Information Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister for the Children, Youth and Social Services I+IT Cluster in the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. He is a technology and business executive with over 20 years of strategic leadership experience, including his previous role as the Chief Information Officer with the Saskatchewan Workers Compensation Board. 

Alex has implemented complex, multi-disciplinary, statewide, national, and international technology solutions with multiple stakeholders for various industries during his career. A few notable client-centric projects include the Aid Management Platform, which was implemented in 21 countries and impacted more than 500 million people; the State of Maryland Courts document management system, which impacted 5 million people; and the eHealth Sask and WCB Saskatchewan portal, impacted up to 1.2 million people each. 

Alex has provided leadership in business and digital transformation, strategy development, business intelligence, high-performance teams, innovation, change management and IT governance. He is proficient at applying continuous process improvement and other methods to organizational cultural transformation. With multiple degrees in architecture and IT and various other certifications, Alex has demonstrated his ability to balance the science of management with the art of leadership and innovation. 
BFUTR Speaker Susan Friedman Vice President, Service Delivery Sun Life
BFUTR Speaker
Susan Friedman Vice President, Service Delivery Sun Life Technology executive successful in leading business and digital transformation.

A technology leader, with nearly 25 years of technology leadership experience, Susan delivers complex business solutions and builds digital capabilities.While leading Service Delivery her teams are the central hub on Intake, Agile Portfolio Planning, CTO VRO, Global Asset management (license management and technology currency), Vendor Relationship Management, Digital Business Automation, Lean Design and Process Improvement, US relationship management.

Susan supports Sun Life’s Digital Enterprise Journey. Susan is an advocate for her team as an active member of the Digital Business Technology Solutions Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and the Sustainability Committee.

Susan has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science from McGill University and well as a Master of Business Administration from Durham University Business School. Susan is also Fluent in English, French and Spanish.
BFUTR Speaker Eben Hewitt Global CIO Hyatt
BFUTR Speaker
Eben Hewitt Global CIO Hyatt Eben Hewitt is the Global CIO at Hyatt and has worked in technology for 25 years. Before Hyatt, he was CTO and Fellow at Sabre Hospitality, CTO at Choice Hotels, and CIO at O'Reilly Media. He is the author of the international best-seller Technology Strategy Patterns (translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Persian) and seven other software architecture and development books.
BFUTR Speaker Ruth Nyaamine Assistant Vice President - Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Ontario Tech University
BFUTR Speaker
Ruth Nyaamine Assistant Vice President - Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Ontario Tech University With over 20 years of business leadership, including senior leadership roles across varied sectors (Technology, Health, and Academia) Ruth is passionate about the incredible opportunities we collectively have to create pathways for all. Formerly the first Chief Diversity and Inclusion officer at TELUS, she supported creating an inclusive talent sourcing strategy, ensuring large organizations can begin to better connect to diverse, driven talent. Ruth further supported amplifying TELUS's brand in connecting to key community organizations such as BPTN, ensuring intimate familiarity with underserved communities and working in partnership with BPTN to advance and create pathways for black professionals.

Following her role at TELUS, she recognized the efforts for inclusion start before the professional work world- it begins with equity gaps in access to education. She’s proud to have joined Ontario Tech University as AVP of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. Within my mandate, she’s continued opportunity to ensure Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging are embedded into all aspects of academia, including campus culture, policies and practices, knowledge acquisition and learning, etc. Passionate about the promise of tomorrow for the next generation, predominantly passionate about underserved youth populations - this served as a catalyst to Ruth being the founder of Ladder 2 Rise - A non-profit organization centred on creating a bridge for youth as they navigate their formative years.
BFUTR Speaker Bruce Ross Group Head, Technology & Operations RBC
BFUTR Speaker
Bruce Ross Group Head, Technology & Operations RBC Bruce Ross, Group Head of Technology & Operations, is responsible for the strategy and overall management of global technology and operations for RBC’s five businesses, including applications development, infrastructure and enterprise operations. As a member of the Group Executive, Bruce is one of 10 executives responsible for setting the overall strategic direction for Canada’s biggest bank. He is also a member of the Group Operating Committee, responsible for leading operations across the Bank. Since joining in 2014, Bruce has spearheaded a transformative technology strategy, playing an instrumental role in delivering on RBC’s ambition to become the #1 digitally enabled relationship bank. He is passionate about investing in top tech talent to drive key imperatives for RBC.
BFUTR Speaker Ranji Narine Chief Information Office Canada Intact Financial Corporation
BFUTR Speaker
Ranji Narine Chief Information Office Canada Intact Financial Corporation Ranji Narine is the Chief Information Officer for Intact Canada. Ranji is responsible for leading technology for Canada’s largest home, auto and business insurance company, serving over four million consumers. His team builds industry-leading digital environments for our customers, brokers, and employees.

Over his 25-year career, Ranji has extensive experience in technology transformation and in both financial services and start-ups. He began his career as a software engineer, holding infrastructure, architecture, product development, and software engineering positions. In his prior role for five years at RBC, he was Senior Vice-President of cloud and Transformation. In this role, he oversaw the bank’s infrastructure modernization and next-generation developer platforms to ensure agile, safe, and efficient technology delivery across the bank’s entire footprint.

Ranji is a University of Toronto graduate specializing in Computer Science and lives in Toronto.
BFUTR Speaker Chantel George CEO & Founder Sistas In Sales
BFUTR Speaker
Chantel George CEO & Founder Sistas In Sales Chantel George is the founder & CEO of Sistas In Sales (SIS). This global organization bridges the diversity gap in sales and creates opportunities for women of colour in professional sales through networking, training, and career opportunities. She began SIS after working as an account executive for major companies like Twitter and noticing a need for more regarding women of colour in sales.
BFUTR Speaker Rich Porter Vice President, Annuity Distribution, National Sales Manager Nationwide Financial
BFUTR Speaker
Rich Porter Vice President, Annuity Distribution, National Sales Manager Nationwide Financial Rich Porter is a leader with a history of proven sales results. He has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, with over 7 in sales leadership. Before joining the financial services industry, Rich practiced bankruptcy law, focusing on corporate restructurings.

Rich leads a high-performing sales team comprising over 100 salespeople and a more extensive support staff.
BFUTR Speaker Tyrone Webb Jr. Chief of Staff, Enterprise Sales DocuSign
BFUTR Speaker
Tyrone Webb Jr. Chief of Staff, Enterprise Sales DocuSign As a strategic and emotionally intelligent leader, Tyrone has over ten years of success in large to mid-sized global tech companies. His methodology is to discover roadblocks and barriers, execute the solution by applying for the right programs, and lead with influence to bring projects to completion while delivering high impact and value.

In his current role, Tyrone is the Chief of Staff and Director of Communications, Enterprise Sales at DocuSign. His responsibility is to drive strategy to execution, including partnering with sales leadership and sales operations on GTM strategies, sales governance, and customer experiences to drive growth. He works cross-functionally to build thought leadership campaigns to bring structure and communication across multiple audiences - including employees, customers, partners, and the market.

Tyrone spent ten years at SAP globally in multiple marketing, communication, and sales support roles. During his tenure at Skillsoft, Tyrone led GTM initiatives for North America and APJ.

Tyrone lives in Atlanta with his fiancé, Eric, and their Great Dane, Goku.
BFUTR Speaker Tiffany Taylor Group Vice President- Enterprise Sales Development Oracle
BFUTR Speaker
Tiffany Taylor Group Vice President- Enterprise Sales Development Oracle Tiffany Taylor is a Group Vice President of Enterprise Sales Development at Oracle. She joined Oracle in 2013 and has held positions as a Technology Sales Representative, Applications Sales Manager and Director of Business Development.

Before joining Oracle, she spent ten years in pharmaceutical sales and several years in finance roles. Transitions to multiple functional areas and industries have taught her that careers don't have to be linear and that opportunity will manifest when you invest in your development.

Tiffany holds an MBA from the University of Missouri and recently completed the Harvard University Leadership Development Program. She is a native of St. Louis, MO and currently lives in Northern Virginia with her two daughters.

Tiffany is an avid mentor and passionate about supporting the growth and development of young professionals. Pillars of her leadership philosophy include "Do the Job That's Required." and Infinite Learning.
BFUTR Speaker Fred Kneip President CyberGRX + ProcessUnity
BFUTR Speaker
Fred Kneip President CyberGRX + ProcessUnity Fred Kneip founded CyberGRX in 2016 with a threefold vision: to make a difference in the world, to solve hard problems and to create a company that he (and his colleagues) would enjoy working for. With third-party cyber incidents reaching unprecedented levels, Fred established CyberGRX’s mission to build the world’s most comprehensive cyber risk data set, and launched the world’s first and largest cyber risk exchange. As CEO, Fred is responsible for guiding CyberGRX’s overall direction and strategy, developing its leadership team, and fostering its unique culture.

Prior to founding CyberGRX, Fred held senior management positions at Bridgewater Associates, including head of compliance and head of security. As an associate principal at Mckinsey & Co, he co led the company’s corporate finance division. An experienced investor, he’s also worked with two later stage private equity investment firms. He holds a B.S.E from Princeton University and an M.B.A from Columbia Business School.
BFUTR Speaker Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson Vice Président, Technology Operations & Services and Cloud Transformation Export Development Canada (EDC)
BFUTR Speaker
Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson Vice Président, Technology Operations & Services and Cloud Transformation Export Development Canada (EDC) Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson is an award-winning leader, entrepreneur, author, professional athlete and inspirational speaker devoted to uplifting people and helping them live more fulfilling and purpose-driven lives — but that's not all. An experienced Information Technology professional with more than 25 years in the I.T. space, she has held a variety of progressively senior roles within various organizations, including Director, Data Center Operations at Rogers Communications, Delivery Project Executive at IBM, Associate Vice President, Technology Solutions at TD Bank Group, and most recently, Vice President, Technology Operations & Services and Cloud Transformation at Export Development Canada (EDC).

In her current role as Vice President, Technology Operations & Services and Cloud Transformation at EDC, I am accountable for the operations, support, maintenance and modernization of all Technology leveraged by the organization.

A graduate of Concordia University, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science. In addition, she completed a Financial Acumen Executive MBA Program at Rotman's School of Management. She received the 2020 WXN Most Powerful Women in Canada – Top 100 Award for her dedication to empowering and championing others and influencing change.
BFUTR Speaker Karina Montilla Edmonds Senior VP, Global Head of Academies and University Alliances SAP
BFUTR Speaker
Karina Montilla Edmonds Senior VP, Global Head of Academies and University Alliances SAP Karina Montilla Edmonds is a globally recognized visionary leader in innovation, technology transfer, and commercialization. She is a strategic thinker and strong problem solver adept at building partnerships and influencing key stakeholders. Her strong interpersonal skills emphasize her ability to lead with empathy and trust. She has decades of experience working with the private sector, universities, and national laboratories nationwide.

Dr. Edmonds currently serves as SAP's SVP and Global Head of Academies and University Alliances. In this role, she leads university partnerships that inspire, expose and educate students through engaging SAP curriculum. She also oversees the Customer Success and Engineering Academies, which develop early talent and emerging leaders to build the world's best sales and engineering talent.

Before joining SAP, Edmonds was the Global Lead for Cloud AI at Google in Sunnyvale, California. At Google, her primary role was facilitating research collaborations in AI between Google Cloud and top academic researchers. Edmonds joined Google Cloud from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where she served as the Executive Director for Corporate Partnerships. At Caltech, she implemented and managed an integrated strategy with the private sector and significant federal funding agencies across numerous research areas.
BFUTR Speaker James Burnette VP Global Accounts LinkedIn Sales Solutions
BFUTR Speaker
James Burnette VP Global Accounts LinkedIn Sales Solutions James Burnette has built teams and customer relationships at some of the most successful technology companies in the world. He joined LinkedIn in 2009 and has held various leadership roles over 14 years, helping the company scale from 50M members to over 900M+ today. Currently, Burnette leads LinkedIn Sales Solutions Global Accounts Business. He's also the founder of LinkedIn’s LEAD program focused on advancing Black & Latino talent in the technology sector and a member of LI’s Black Leadership Council. Originally from Massachusetts, he lived in New Jersey and earned a political science and Black studies degree from Providence College. Burnette serves on the board of OneGoal New York, an innovative college persistence program working to make college graduation possible for all students. He is married and has two children.
BFUTR Speaker Tony Gauda VP of Technology Intuit Inc
BFUTR Speaker
Tony Gauda VP of Technology Intuit Inc Tony Gauda has over 25 years of experience in management, strategy, and technical executive roles, spanning multiple industries such as payments/banking, cybersecurity, storage, and ad-tech. He has founded and scaled several SaaS companies, including two that received venture backing, participated in Y-Combinator, and authored six patents (3 granted) ranging from insider threat detection filesystems to dedicated encrypted storage systems. Tony Gauda has over 25 years of experience in management, strategy, and technical executive roles, spanning multiple industries such as payments/banking, cybersecurity, storage, and ad-tech. He has founded and scaled several SaaS companies, including two that received venture backing and participated in Y-Combinator. He has authored six patents (3 granted) ranging from insider threat detection filesystems to deduplicated encrypted storage systems. Tony is passionate about identifying and mentoring leaders and excels at building diverse teams to execute within tight timelines. Currently, he serves as the Chief Architect for Security, Risk, and Fraud at Intuitders, and he excels at building diverse teams to execute within tight timelines. He serves as the Chief Architect for Security, Risk, and Fraud at Intuit.
BFUTR Speaker Darcie James Maxwell Head of Canadian Operations, Data and Platform Solutions Bny Mellon
BFUTR Speaker
Darcie James Maxwell Head of Canadian Operations, Data and Platform Solutions Bny Mellon As Head of Canadian Operations, Data and Platform Solutions, BNY Mellon, Darcie works with institutional and wealth investors to assess and analyze their business strategy, requirements, current state environment and technology choices, bringing forward alternatives designed to meet their business needs. She works across Canadian and global organizations to translate a client strategy into operational reality.

Darcie has more than 20 years of data, investment technology, performance and attribution experience. Her previous roles across the BNY Mellon global enterprise include project management, implementation consulting, and relationship management.
BFUTR Speaker Frank Otele VP, Technology & Risk Management, Technology Infrastructure Royal Bank of Canada
BFUTR Speaker
Frank Otele VP, Technology & Risk Management, Technology Infrastructure Royal Bank of Canada Frank is a visionary technology professional, currently serving as the VP of TP&RM and Intern Group Manager of CNB AI&O. My expertise lies in core infrastructure technology, application, engineering, cloud, infrastructure risk management and cloud governance for Tech Infrastructure. Leading a dynamic team, we strive to provide a robust global backbone, seamless connectivity, and risk prevention for RBC banking applications. By designing, integrating, and supporting critical infrastructure, we ensure the high availability of essential systems and safeguard them through proactive risk mitigation.

Beyond my professional endeavors, I value work-life balance and find inspiration through my family.

Embracing challenges and change, I remain dedicated to propelling RBC and CNB to greater heights. My relentless pursuit of staying ahead in the rapidly evolving tech landscape motivates me to transform ideas into tangible, cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of our industry.
BFUTR Speaker Issa Guindo Chief Data & Analytics Officer PwC Canada
BFUTR Speaker
Issa Guindo Chief Data & Analytics Officer PwC Canada Issa is an experienced leader in analytics and digital transformation journeys using his deep data, analytics, AI, cloud transformation, decision intelligence, technical delivery and business strategy knowledge. Issa is actively involved in several diversity and social impact groups, including a mentor in PwC’s Black Professionals Inclusion Network and Trails Youth Initiative board member.
BFUTR Speaker Temi Odesanya Director of Automation, AI Governance Thomson Reuters
BFUTR Speaker
Temi Odesanya Director of Automation, AI Governance Thomson Reuters Temi Odesanya is a seasoned technology professional with a strong background in automation, machine learning, and emerging technologies. With a passion for driving innovation and leveraging data-driven insights, Temi has significantly contributed to various organizations throughout their career.

Currently serving as the Director of Automation - AI Governance at Thomson Reuters, I have successfully built platforms, designed assessments, and led automation efforts to ensure compliance with regulations and ethical practices across global operations. She's worked on portfolios across consulting, telecommunication, manufacturing and financial services industries.

Temi has also served as a part-time Advanced-Data Analytics instructor at Conestoga College and an AI Professor at Durham College. They have contributed to the education sector by redesigning the Advanced Analytics Post Graduate Course and teaching machine learning algorithms to students. She holds two postgraduate degrees in Business Analytics from Ivey Business School and Seneca College and continues mentoring and coaching professionals in achieving their dreams.
BFUTR Speaker Sharon Auma-Ebanyat Research Director-Healthcare Industry Info-Tech Research Group (ITRG) 
BFUTR Speaker
Sharon Auma-Ebanyat Research Director-Healthcare Industry Info-Tech Research Group (ITRG)  Sharon is the Research Director for the Healthcare Industry at Info-Tech Research Group, where she provides healthcare IT & business leaders with practical & tactical best-in-class research to help achieve their IT goals. Having worked for 10+ years in hospital department operations and digital health consulting, she holds expertise in hospital operations and management, physician practice optimization, digital health product development, digital health strategy and clinical services planning. She has previously worked for leading consultancies in Canada, including Deloitte, Mercer and large US academic health centers such as the Cleveland Clinic and MedStar Health. Sharon holds a Master of Science in Health Administration (MHA) degree from the University of Maryland, College Park School of Public Health and an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Health Administration and Policy with a minor in Sociology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
BFUTR Speaker Réginald Jean-Gilles Vice President, IT Service Delivery Information Technology Intact Financial Corporation
BFUTR Speaker
Réginald Jean-Gilles Vice President, IT Service Delivery Information Technology Intact Financial Corporation Réginald has over 20 years of experience as a technology leader and a strong track record of managing technology operations and infrastructure. He spent ten years at Aéroports de Montréal (Airports of Montreal), where he owned and executed transformation projects such as implementing self-service terminals and registering passengers via mobile. He also spent ten years in the banking sector, also in the context of transformation, where he held several senior roles across the delivery of processes and team optimization and integration, tech governance, major outsourcing contract management and infrastructure projects in network, cloud, collaboration tools and telephony.

As Vice President of IT Services at Intact, Réginald is responsible for all our front-end services and end-user computing in terms of technology and service management. Recognized as a highly effective leader, Réginald is a great communicator and team player who knows how to guide his teams to collaborate effectively to find winning solutions.
BFUTR Speaker Audrea Golding Law Firm Partner Fragomen LLP
BFUTR Speaker
Audrea Golding Law Firm Partner Fragomen LLP Audrea is a partner with Fragomen, a global immigration firm. Based in Silicon Valley, California, she represents companies in the information technology, engineering and related sectors and works with entrepreneurs and start-ups, supporting them through complex immigration processes. Audrea received her B.A. degree from McGill University in Montreal and her Juris Doctor degree from Osgoode Hall Law School.
BFUTR Speaker Mary Aina AVP, PCT Delivery Support Cooperators Group Limited
BFUTR Speaker
Mary Aina AVP, PCT Delivery Support Cooperators Group Limited Mary is a thought leader with many years of experience across multiple functional groups, including Technology, Operations, Project Management, Business Development, Enterprise Risk and Anti-Money Laundering (AML); she’s led multiple technology transformative initiatives and continues to look for opportunities to improve how work is done. She currently leads a team of experts supporting core IT functions at the Cooperators. She serves as a director with a few Fintech Startups, including Opolo Global (an innovative platform that bridges the fintech industry gaps globally) and IntelYtics Limited.

She has lent her expertise as a keynote speaker and panellist at various fintech conferences and technology and compliance events, promoting diversity. In addition, she is the current chairperson of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) – Canada Branch and Governing Council Member of CIBN.

She mentors students and newcomers looking to restart their careers in Canada and mid-level career individuals positioning themselves for growth. She has participated in, coached, and judged multiple competitive programming events to improve financial literacy, particularly for Women.
BFUTR Speaker Jennifer Ponder National Program Director, Emerging Technologies STEM Atlanta Women
BFUTR Speaker
Jennifer Ponder National Program Director, Emerging Technologies STEM Atlanta Women Jennifer Ponder is an emerging technology solutions leader with experience in software engineering and technology program management, leading agile and global engineering teams. She has held roles as a software engineer, cloud engineer, and technology director, solving complex problems and implementing agile methodologies for B2B and B2C organizations.

In Jennifer's current role, she serves as the National Program Director for Emerging Technologies at STEM Atlanta Women. She oversees emerging technology-focused program development and training for youth and adult courses provided around Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, and Robotic Process Automation. Likewise, one emerging technology she specializes in is virtual reality, where she enjoys building things with React 360 for immersive VR experiences.

Another hat Jennifer wears is public speaker; this allows her to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech. She has helped technical organizations plan their diversity and inclusion development strategies for minorities and underrepresented groups in tech. Over the last few years, Jennifer has partnered with several startups and non-profits for events nationally, where she has given technical talks and talks around women creating their unique pathways into technical career leadership. Jennifer has been a moderator and speaker who has appeared on several webinars, podcasts, and panel events. Some past speaking events she has spoken at include Allyship & Inclusion, hosted by General Assembly Atlanta, How to Get Started in Software Engineering, hosted by General Assembly NYC; Power of Technology Foundation Tour Atlanta; International Women’s Day Google Developer Group Women Techmakers San Francisco, 2021 VR/AR Global Summit, Black Women In Tech: Disrupting The Industry hosted by BPTN (Black Professionals in Tech Network). STEMM The Tide Webinar hosted by Arcadia Consulting.
BFUTR Speaker Patrice Njoh Partner, Consulting Deloitte
BFUTR Speaker
Patrice Njoh Partner, Consulting Deloitte As a Consulting leader in Deloitte’s Organization Transformation (Strategic Change) practice, Patrice leads the customer and marketing transformational change division. She specializes in helping her clients tie their purpose to outcomes through technology-enabled transformation and successfully implement enterprise change. A passionate advocate for social change, diversity, and inclusion, Patrice plays at the intersection of evolving customer and employee needs and rapid digital modernization. She is also the co-leader of Deloitte's Black Action Counsel with Deloitte's CEO Anthony Viel, who supports a wide range of accounts in the US, Canada and Chile.
BFUTR Speaker Aisha Greene Senior Manager, Director Generative AI Deloitte
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Aisha Greene Senior Manager, Director Generative AI Deloitte Aisha is passionate about driving innovation and shaping new business opportunities. She has worked closely with early-stage entrepreneurs to commercialize medical devices, therapeutics and information technology applications. She has previously held management and consulting roles at Lakeridge Health, The Government of Alberta, MaRS Discovery District, Mount Sinai Hospital, and PharmaMedica Research Inc.

Aisha is professionally trained in advanced negotiation strategies from Harvard University. She holds both an HBSc. and an MSc. in Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry from the University of Toronto, an MBA from Schulich School of Business, York University, and is certified as both a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Canadian Healthcare Executive (CHE).
BFUTR Speaker Vincent Cohan Senior Vice President & CIO, Global Technology and Enterprise Platforms Scotiabank
BFUTR Speaker
Vincent Cohan Senior Vice President & CIO, Global Technology and Enterprise Platforms Scotiabank Vinny leads the team at Scotiabank responsible for IT infrastructure and enterprise applications worldwide. Since Vinny joined the Bank in 2018, he and his team have driven a significant IT infrastructure transformation, consolidating data centers in Latin America and Canada, accelerating the use of private and public cloud technologies and leveraging the Bank’s scale via a new global service delivery model.

Vinny has over 30 years of successful IT leadership experience in multiple industry sectors, including financial services, media and healthcare. He led Time Warner Inc.'s IT infrastructure and was Chief Technology Officer at AXA Technology Services. He led IT infrastructure strategy and transformation for the AXA Group, with operations in 60 countries. Vinny has also held global technology leadership roles at the Thomson Corporation and Thomson Reuters, and he has worked as an independent consultant providing IT advisory services in business development, transformation and IT operations.
BFUTR Speaker Natalia Williams Chief Product Officer Hootsuite
BFUTR Speaker
Natalia Williams Chief Product Officer Hootsuite Natalia is Hootsuite’s Chief Product Officer responsible for the company’s strategic product direction, product management, and product design. She excels at fostering a culture that encourages experimentation and creativity while staying focused on the company’s vision. Natalia has over 15 years of product and technology experience, as Chief Product Officer of Mailchimp prior to joining Hootsuite, and before that a decade at Bloomingdales starting as a senior producer of internet production and then working her way up to vice president of product management and e-commerce operations.
BFUTR Speaker Hesham Fahmy Chief Information Officer TELUS
BFUTR Speaker
Hesham Fahmy Chief Information Officer TELUS As Chief Information Officer (CIO) at TELUS, Hesham Fahmy leads the team spearheading TELUS’ transformation to a fully-digital, software-centric and cloud-enabled technology leader. An agent of transformation and innovator with seven granted patents, Hesham has a track record of launching disruptive products and platforms in retail, IoT, fintech and development tooling. In 2023, Hesham was recognized as “CIO of the Year” by IT World Canada.
BFUTR Speaker Don Dele VP Digital Technology – Regulatory and Components Royal Bank of Canada
BFUTR Speaker
Don Dele VP Digital Technology – Regulatory and Components Royal Bank of Canada Don is a seasoned technology leader with hands on work experience garnered over nearly 2 decades and across some of the largest financial institutions in Canada. He has over 10 years of senior leadership experience, managing large cross-functional teams. Don has valuable leadership experience on a broad range of technology products and has led the implementation of modern software practices including Agile/ Scrum, CI/CD and test automation across multiple organizations. In his current role as VP Digital Technology at RBC, he is an integral part of RBC’s Technology & Operations senior leadership, providing technical direction for the Digital Hub which designs industry leading re-usable capabilities for areas such as Open Banking, Security & Digital Services. He also leads the teams responsible for the delivery and governance of the downstream banking regulatory program. Don is passionate about leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as cloud, AI, Blockchain and IoT to create value for the clients and services that RBC provides.
BFUTR Speaker Jackson Aimiuwu Head of Solutions Architecture, AWS Canada Enterprise Amazon Web Services (AWS)
BFUTR Speaker
Jackson Aimiuwu Head of Solutions Architecture, AWS Canada Enterprise Amazon Web Services (AWS) Jackson Aimiuwu joined AWS Canada in July 2019. He is a Senior Leader for the Solutions Architects (SA) in AWS Canada's Enterprise business. Jackson empowers the SA organization to be trusted advisors to customers seeking to achieve their business objectives. His team partners with customers, the AWS Partner network, and several other internal teams to craft highly scalable, flexible, and resilient cloud architectures for the most critical workloads that support customers’ digital transformations and journey to the cloud. Prior to AWS, Jackson was a Technology Executive at Canadian Tire (CT) – Canada’s 2nd largest retailer. At CT, he achieved early success transforming the productivity of over 20,000 employees across multiple retail acquisitions to foster better collaboration organization-wide. He also successfully built an industry-leading team to support the transformation of the CT customer’s digital experience. Jackson is passionate about developing the best and creating an inclusive, diverse and equitable society; he believes that this is critical to future success in a world that is growing ever more dependent on technology. Jackson has coached 22+ Amazonians to promotion and leadership positions; he also invests his time to inspire and mentor younger generations to achieve their goals, and is an ally for women in technology. In his spare time, Jackson is on the Board of Directors that run Aimiuwu Hospital, a non-for-profit health care facility in Nigeria.
BFUTR Speaker Aisha Baasit Associate Software Engineer TD Securities
BFUTR Speaker
Aisha Baasit Associate Software Engineer TD Securities Once upon a time, I embarked on a thrilling career change journey that transformed my life. In my earlier days I delved into the world of administration and eventually procurement in distributed learning where I honed my skills in resource allocation, negotiation, and supply chain management. It was a rewarding experience, but deep down, I knew there was more to explore.

With a hunger for new challenges, I set my sights on the horizon of tech and innovation. My journey began with a leap into the fascinating realm of UX Design courtesy of Google. Here I delved into the intricacies of creating user-centric digital experiences learning the art of wireframing, prototyping, and crafting intuitive interfaces that users love. The hunger for knowledge was insatiable. I found myself venturing into the domain of project management also under the Google umbrella. Armed with new skills I became a maestro in orchestrating projects, ensuring they ran like well-oiled machines. It was about balancing timelines, resources, and scope – a symphony I thoroughly enjoyed conducting.

Then came the pivotal moment: my voyage into the world of full-stack web development. I joined the esteemed ranks of TD Securities a dynamic hub of innovation and want to be the better bank. Here I underwent comprehensive training with Obsidi Academy mastering the art of web development from front to back. From HTML, CSS, JavaScript and server-side technologies. I immersed myself in the world of code and fell in love. As I ventured further, I discovered my true calling in front-end development. With an eye for detail and an innate ability to understand user behavior, I began crafting visually captivating user interfaces.

Today, as a front-end developer at TD Securities, I'm living my dream. I blend my expertise in UX Design, project management and full stack development to create web solutions that not only meet business goals but also delight users. It's a journey that's been challenging, rewarding and above all incredibly full filling.
BFUTR Speaker Kwesi Graves Global VP, Sales and US Country Manager BPTN
BFUTR Speaker
Kwesi Graves Global VP, Sales and US Country Manager BPTN I’m Ghanaian born, raised in the SF Bay Area, and firmly believe Ghanaian jollof rice is the best, without question. Most recently, I was the VP of Sales at Scribe, an SF-based Series A startup, where I was tasked with building the SaaS business from the ground up. For years, I’ve been doing everything in my power to help create economic opportunities for Black people and underrepresented groups, marrying my passion for our people + leading revenue organizations. I love sales, and I love selling. I’m a competitor who thrives on leading and winning with other competitors.

On the homefront, I have two wonderful children: Delilah (they/them, 9 years) and Addae ( 2 years). We live in Walnut Creek, CA about 20 miles east of San Francisco.

When I’m not working, I’m an avid Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, aspiring boxer, and football lover. I’ve also been told my love for sneakers is bordering on insanity, but such is life.
BFUTR Speaker Colleen Ward Vice President, Core Platform Owner, Platforms & Technology TD Bank Group
BFUTR Speaker
Colleen Ward Vice President, Core Platform Owner, Platforms & Technology TD Bank Group With over 20 years as an executive, Colleen Ward has held successive leadership positions in global, American and Canadian financial institutions.

With a deep focus on enterprise results, strategic planning, and successful delivery, she sustains her passion for cultivating a pipeline of top executive leaders, and providing extensive mentoring/coaching for many internal and external to TD.

Canadian born of Jamaican descent, Colleen is a sought-after keynote speaker and presenter at many university, corporate, and community events focused on Black, Women, and underrepresented professionals.

Her passion in diversity, inclusion and belonging is the driving force behind her involvement as a trusted advisor with TD's Black Experience, Women in Technology and Multicultural committees.
BFUTR Speaker Nyheike Levy IT Director Scotiabank
BFUTR Speaker
Nyheike Levy IT Director Scotiabank A results driven leader and technologist with a proven track record of driving strategy and transformation enabling growth and opportunity for our business partners.
BFUTR Speaker Matthew Douglas Head of Sales BPTN
BFUTR Speaker
Matthew Douglas Head of Sales BPTN Matthew is an accomplished and results-driven professional with a career marked by achievements in sales, marketing, and communications within the aerospace, defence  and tech sectors. Currently serving as the Head of Sales - North America at OBSIDI By BPTN, Matthew brings over 15 years of experience to the table. Over the course of his dynamic career, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic vision.

In his role at OBSIDI By BPTN, Matthew is spearheading business development strategies and market penetration efforts, showcasing his expertise in understanding market dynamics, driving growth. Prior to this, Matthew held a pivotal position as the Head of Sales, Marketing & Communications at Drone Delivery Canada, where he successfully managed teams, developed branding and marketing strategies, and secured commercial agreements with industry leaders. This experience exemplifies his ability to not only drive sales but also to craft strategic marketing initiatives to bolster business objectives.

Matthew’s journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and he has consistently honed his skills and expertise over the years by pivoting across multiple industries.

At home, Matthew is a father, a husband and also a passionate wildlife conservationist. He also has a love for travel, skiing, scuba diving, photography and many other hobbies.
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