Conference Speakers

Diana Steele, B.Sc., RD, Owner
Eating for Energy

Diana Steele is a registered dietitian and owner of Eating for Energy, a thriving nutrition consulting company with four locations in the Lower Mainland.  She is also co-author of the cookbook “Eating for Energy without Deprivation – The 80-20 Cookbook”.

Committed to teaching nutrition in a realistic and do-able way, Diana has provided personalized nutrition counselling to over 1500 individuals, couples and families and has designed and delivered nutrition workshops and seminars across the country.

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Peter Legge, CSP, CPAE, HoF, LL.D (Hon), President & CEO
Canada Wide Magazines & Communications Ltd.

Peter Legge lives his life dream as an internationally acclaimed professional speaker, a best-selling author, and as Chairman & CEO of the largest, magazine publishing company, Canada Wide Media Limited.

Peter has published thirteen books including “The Runway of Life”, “The Power to Soar”, and most recently, “If Only I’d Said That Volume V”. His books have motivated thousands of people towards positive change.

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Bob Strachan, CMA, FCMA
Chair, CMA Canada

A CMA since 1995, Bob has become one of the most active CMA Ambassadors in British Columbia. He is currently Chair of the CMA Canada National Board of Directors and has held a variety of roles including Chair of the Victoria chapter and Chair of CMA British Columbia. He has also served on a number of provincial and national task forces and committees.

Bob is currently the Manager of Accounting Services at the Capital Regional District. He has provided leadership and guidance in risk management, financial management and financial reporting for the Capital Regional District since 1986.

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Brian Thwaits, Brain Trainer
Brain Trainer

Brian Thwaits is an engaging and immensely entertaining “brain trainer” who has shown thousands of people how to enhance their learning, communication, creativity, problem-solving and thinking skills. His brain training sessions combine the latest information from the disciplines of brain research, learning theory and the communication field to suggest innovative and practical approaches to issues we face in the workplace, in the classroom and in our personal lives.

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Alladin Versi, CMA, FCMA, CFP
Meyers Norris Penny LLP

Alladin Versi, CMA, FCMA, CFP is a tax specialist with Meyers Norris Penny LLP, and currently leads the firm’s tax group for the Vancouver Island region. Based out of MNP’s Nanaimo office, he specializes in strategic corporate tax planning for businesses, corporate reorganizations, purchases and sales of businesses and estate planning.

Alladin Versi is presenting Succession Planning

Cindy Stewart, MBA, CMA
University of the Fraser Valley

Cindy Stewart, MBA, CMA is an instructor within the Department of Business Administration in the area of Marketing and Media Management. She has been a Guest Moderator within CMABCs Strategic Leadership program and authored numerous case studies on Olympic marketing and Consumer Behaviour.

Cindy Stewart is presenting Evaluating Marketing Performance for New Media

Cori Maedel, MBA, PCC, CEC, CHRP
The Jouta Performance Group Inc

Cori Maedel, MBA, PCC, CEC, CHRP is the founder of Jouta Performance Group a provider of Life, Performance and Leadership coaching service for individuals and groups as well as HR services to organizations. With over 20 years experience in HR, Cori has been a VP of Human Resources, business trainer, general manger, TQM leader, and organizational behaviour and development leader.

Cori Maedel is presenting Effective Performance Management = Increased Productivity and Retention

Debora G. Stranaghan, MBA, CMA, Senior Manager
Accenture

Debora Stranaghan, B.Comm, CMA, and a certified BPM expert, is a Senior Manager in Accenture’s Resources consulting practice. She has a breadth of knowledge in Performance Excellence as well as Strategic Sourcing Transformation, Demand and Supply Planning and Procurement Optimization and has worked with some high profile resource clients world-wide including Suncor Energy, Duke Energy, Puget Sound Energy, Suez Environment, United Water,  Pacific Gas & Electric, Ontario Power Generation, BC Hydro, Terasan Gas, BC Transmission Corp, and Chevron.

Debora G. Stranaghan is presenting High Performance Operating Models

Dr. Rosie Steeves, President
Executive Works

Rosie Steeves is the founder and President of Executive Works, an organization focused helping executives create profitable organizations through great leadership and effective executive teamwork. A certified executive and leadership coach, Rosie Steeves has a PhD in Human and Organizational Development from the Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California. A regular contributor to Business in Vancouver, Rosie has also been published in the International Leadership Association magazine, Vancouver Board of Trade’s Sounding Board and HR Voice. Her first book, “Breaking the Leadership Mold: An executive’s guide to organizational excellence” will be published by Wiley in August.

Dr. Rosie Steeves is presenting Breaking the Leadership Mold: What today's executives need to do to create great organizations

Ian Quigley, MBA
Qube Consulting Inc

Ian Quigley, MBA, CFP, is the founder of Qube Consulting Inc, an independent financial planning firm specializing in topics related to pension and execution compensation. Ian holds an MBA in finance, is a Level II candidate in the Chartered Financial Analyst program (CFA) and a candidate in the Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) program. He has instructed part-time at The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and draws from a background of consulting positions where he assisted brokers and financial planners with pension, investment and insurance topics.

Ian Quigley is presenting Carrots not Whips, Creative Fringe Benefits

Jim Blatchford, CMA, FCMA, Principal
Grant Thornton LLP

Jim Blatchford, CMA, FCMA is Chair of the Professional Conduct Enquiry Committee at CMA BC. He is also a Principal at Grant Thornton LLP and leads the Forensic Accounting and Investigative Services practice in Vancouver.

Jim Blatchford is presenting CMABC – Where Do We Stand in our Professionalism and Ethical Behaviour

Kim Milnes, MBA, BSc
University of the Fraser Valley

Kim first career spans 18 years of management consulting experience working for such companies as Accenture, Sierra Systems, TAP Ventures and TELUS Enterprise Solutions. Since the early days of the internet, Kim has focused on helping business harness the potential of the Internet. She has managed all aspects of e-business initiatives including strategy, design, development, implementation, training, operations and marketing of internet applications and services. Her client list includes companies such as Business Objects, Robeez Footwear, BC Rail, Pacific Blue Cross, Intrawest, Super Natural British Columbia, BC Rehab Foundation, BC Hydro, BC Gas, WorkSafe BC, Venture Exchange and United Way.

She is now a permanent Business faculty member at the University of the Fraser Valley specializing in e-marketing. She also is the program coordinator and liaison for UFV’s BBA program in Chandigarh India. She has previously taught in UBC’s Internet Marketing Certificate, Sauder School of Business, BCIT Marketing Management, and Douglas College.
Kim is a former board member of the International Internet Marketing Association and remains an active member in this association.

Kim received her MBA (in Marketing and MIS) from Sauder School of Business and BSc (in Applied Mathematics) from UBC.

Kim Milnes is presenting Evaluating Marketing Performance for New Media

Larry Jackie, Q.C., Partner
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Larry Jackie, Q.C. is a Partner in the Vancouver office of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. He is also the legal counsel to the Professional Conduct Enquiry Committee at CMA BC.

Larry Jackie is presenting CMABC – Where Do We Stand in our Professionalism and Ethical Behaviour

Lisa Dorian, CA, CIA, President
PowellDorian Services Inc.

Lisa Dorian, CA, CIA, is President of PowellDorian Services Inc. Lisa has worked with private and public companies, not for profit organizations, all levels of government and also within the financial services industry providing services related to internal audit and corporate governance, conducting quality assessment reviews, and coordinating the implementation of enterprise risk management frameworks. She is an accomplished trainer and facilitator working with levels of management and board of directors.

Lisa Dorian is presenting The Value Proposition of Risk Management

Lisa Eckmyn, MA, ABS
Refinery Leadership Partners Inc.

Lisa is a Senior Consultant at the Refinery Leadership Partners Inc, focusing on organizational development including coaching, leadership development and organization wide training and mediation. She holds a Masters in Applied Behavioural Science from the Leadership Institute of Seattle at Bastyr University and a Certificate in Coaching for Personal and Professional Mastery and Organization Learning from the Newfield Network.

Lisa Eckmyn is presenting Leading Others in a Changing World: What your leadership means to your employees adaptability

Lisa Ryan, Vice President of Talent Management
Right Management

A certified executive coach and leadership consultant, Lisa Ryan has an MBA in Managing People and Organizations from UBC, a Certificate in Organizational Development from National Training Labs and certifications in several leadership assessments and change methodologies.  With extensive leadership and change management experience from the Federal Government of Canada, Royal Bank, Terasen Gas, and Best Buy Canada, Lisa brings a practical approach to her consulting and coaching work with leaders across a range of industries.  She is the current President of the BC Organizational Development Network, a Certified Human Resources Professional, and the 2012 BC Human Resources Management Association Conference Chair.

Lisa Ryan is presenting Change Management: Building Change Agility

Patricia Lambert, Facilitator, MA
FranklinCovey

Patricia Lambert, MA is a facilitator with FranklinCovey, a global consulting and training leader in the areas of strategy execution, customer loyalty, leadership and individual effectiveness. Patricia has regularly been asked by CBC Radio to be their on-air “Desk Doctor,” advising listeners on organizational skills and efficiency and appeared on CTV National News as an expert in balancing work and home in the new economy.

Patricia Lambert is presenting Leadership: Great Leaders, Great Teams, Great Results

Raymond Leung, MBA, CGA
University of the Fraser Valley

Raymond Leung, MBA, CGA is an instructor within the Department of Business Administration at the University of the Fraser Valley with a focus in Accounting and Finance. Prior to becoming an instructor, Raymond held roles as a consultant, business advisor/analyst, Staff Accountant, Financial Controller, Finance & Administration Manager.

Raymond Leung is presenting Evaluating Marketing Performance for New Media

Richard Hart, LLB, Director & Conflict Management Specialist
ProActive ReSolutions

Richard Hart, LLB is currently the Director & Conflict Management Specialist at ProActive ReSolutions, a firm specializing in Conflict Management. With almost 20 years experience in the field, Richard presents internationally on conflict management and dispute resolution topics. Through his work as a practicing lawyer, mediator and arbitrator, Richard gained substantial insight into the challenges facing organizations. Richard has a degree in law and a background in international relations from the University of British Columbia, is a civil mediator with the Mediation Roster Society of British Columbia, and holds various professional designations, including that of Chartered Arbitrator.

Richard Hart is presenting How to Give and Receive Effective Feedback

Shane Gibson, President (North America)
Knowledge Brokers International

Shane Gibson is President of Knowledge Brokers International (http://www.closingbigger.net) and author of “Closing Bigger - The Field Guide To Closing Bigger Deals” and “Sociable”.  Over the past 15 years, he has addressed more than 100,000 people on stages in USA, Canada, South Africa and South America on the topics on sales performance, leadership, community engagement and using social media and networking to improve business performance. Shane has worked with CMA across Canada from Halifax to Vancouver and everywhere in between.

Shane Gibson is presenting The Sociable! Enterprise - "How social media and social networks are changing the way we work, collaborate, learn and lead.”

Valerie Nishi, MBA, BSc
Refinery Leadership Partners Inc.

Valerie leads Refinery’s Calgary office, servicing Alberta and Saskatchewan. She holds an MBA from the University of British Columbia and has held leadership and senior consulting roles in the oil and gas and telecommunications sectors.

Valerie Nishi is presenting Leading Others in a Changing World: What your leadership means to your employees adaptability

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