Speakers 2020


H.E. Roberto Rodriguez Arnillas

Ambassador of Peru to Canada

 

Roberto Rodriguez is a career diplomat in the Peruvian Foreign Service since January 1990 and has currently the rank of Ambassador. He graduated (Bachelor) in International Relations from the Peruvian Diplomatic Academy. He has earned a Master’s Degree in Management of Human Resources and Knowledge Management from the Polytechnic University of Cataluña (Spain), and has also followed graduated studies on Trade and Development in the ESAN (Escuela de Administración de Negocios del Perú) and on Trade at the Fundación Getulio Vargas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

He is currently the Ambassador of Peru to Canada since June 29th 2018.

During his career developed in Peru, he has been senior advisor for Foreign Affairs at the Office of the President (2016-2018), prior to that position was Chief of Staff of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2015-2016) and was part of the advisor’s team at the cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (2014-2015).  He also was Chief of Staff of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007-2009). He has been adviser to the Office of the Prime Minister of Peru (2006). 

Within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he has also been Head Officer of the Division of Brazil and on the Amazonian Cooperation Treaty Organization (1997-1999) and worked in the Economical Promotion Division (1990), Undersecretary for Cultural Affairs (1991) and the International Cooperation Division (1992). 

With regard to his external appointments he was the Deputy Chief of Mission in Canada (2012-2014). Prior to assume his position in the Embassy of Peru in Canada, he served as Deputy Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations in New York (2010-2011). 

As a Foreign Service Officer, he was appointed as Consul of Peru to Guayaquil (1993-1995) and has served at the Peruvian Embassies in Brazil (1996-1997) and the United States (2000-2005). 

Roberto Rodriguez has been awarded by the Peruvian Government with the Order of Merit for Distinguished Services. 

He is married and has three children.

 

H.E. Romy Vasquez Morales

Ambassador of Panama to Canada

 

International manager with over twenty-five years of experience in managing business strategies, building partnerships and practicing high-level diplomacy to achieve successful execution of an organization’s business and strategic plans. Gained extensive hands-on experience developing synergies between the public and private sectors in a global international environment with the aim of fostering economic development with corporate social responsibility, both locally and in the hemisphere. Recognized for strong management and interpersonal skills with an energetic and innovative approach to problem solving. Complemented by excellent multilingual communication and negotiation skills.

As Consultant, provides strategies on corporate social responsibility for private companies and foundations, as well as socio economic and political reports. President of CSR and Ethics Committee at Asociación Panameña de Ejecutivos de Empresas in 2016-2017. 

In Country Manager for Joint Venture Panama, the company selected to lead the first two years of the EPCM contract of Cobre Panama, the most ambitious mining project of the Central American region, from 2011-2013. Ambassador Vasquez also has experience in the logistics sector, main driver of the Panamanian economy today, as she worked for DHL Global Forwarding.

As diplomat, Ms. Vasquez has served as Ambassador of Panama to Canada from 2005-2009, appointment that currently has taken her back to Ottawa on December 2019. She was also responsible in Mexico City and Quito as Economic Advisor for the Panamanian missions, and has lived in Milan, Michigan, and Florida; In Mexico City, owned and managed a retail business for ten years from 1995-2005, developing offshoring strategy to move manufacturing from Mexico to China while continuing to run distribution operations through a fully owned retail chain of boutiques.

She has an MBA from Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (1987) and a BS Sciences degree from Georgetown University in Washington DC (1983).

Ambassador Romy Vasquez is the mother of Diego Alberto Gonzalez Vasquez and Milena Gonzalez Vasquez.

AFFILIATIONS

Board Member at Fundación Amaneceres and Voces Vitales Panama.

Member of the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panama, Panama- Canada Chamber of Commerce, and Asociación Panameña de Ejecutivos de Empresa (APEDE) 

 

Sean Sunderland

Deputy Director (Brazil and South America Trade)

Global Affairs Canada

 

As Deputy Director for Brazil and Horizontal Trade Policy and Promotion in the South America Relations division at Global Affairs Canada, Mr. Sunderland manages Canada’s bilateral relationship with Brazil as well as supporting Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service across the region. Following his Political Science studies at the University of Alberta, Mr. Sunderland joined Canada’s foreign service in 1992. His diplomatic assignments have spanned Africa (Zambia, Zimbabwe) and the Americas (New York, Mexico, and Washington, DC). At Global Affairs Canada, Mr. Sunderland has worked in the Africa, Latin America, United States and Economic Policy bureaux. He is married with two children, and fluent in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. 

Sarah Barnes-Humphrey

Founder and Host of Lets Talk Supply Chain

www.letstalksupplychain.com

 

Sarah Barnes-Humphrey is a logistician turned supply chain marketer, passionate about bringing stories to life in an industry that has traditionally been about stats and numbers. As the host of the popular Let’s Talk Supply Chain Podcast (LTSC) blog and The Trade Squad on YouTube, Barnes-Humphrey helps tell the stories and bring awareness to brands and hot topics in the industry, which includes her infamous Women in Supply Chain series. Recently named Top 100 most influential women leaders in Supply Chain (global) and Top 100 most influential Women in Canadian Supply Chain, Barnes-Humphrey has spent the past 20 years in logistics and supply chain learning everything she can and recently ventured off on her own to grow the LTSC brand including a new YouTube Channel called “The SC, supply chain tv” where you can learn from real people talking about real supply chain topics. Barnes-Humphrey is also the co-founder and CEO of Shipz Inc., a new technology platform encompassing all of her experience and knowledge in the supply chain bringing innovative, collaborative ideas together on her own platform for the supply chain industry.

 

Demostenes Perez 

Chief Commercial Officer

IPL Group S.A. 

www.3plpanama.com

 

Demo, as is better known in the industry, is a supply chain business development passionate and hands-on executive who has over 2 decades of experience in developing regional distribution solutions and operations for global companies in almost all industries. Helping companies to grow their network and their business in Latin America by creating innovative logistics solutions to help them reach markets and customers using the Panama logistics platform as their pivot point for moving their products faster, safer and efficiently aligning logistics processes with business strategies. With a proven expertise in regional warehousing and distribution services, innovative logistics solutions, value-added services, networking, business development, management, government affairs, trade consulting and advisory. Today is recognized as a reference personality of the Panama ́s logistics industry. 

Hugo Fuentes 

Co-founder and CEO

The Owl Solutions

www.theowlsolutions.com

 

Hugo is a supply chain management professional with 20 years of experience managing global, complex supply chains. He has worked in Europe, North and South America, holding leadership positions in procurement, demand and supply planning, logistics and global transportation. 

On his latest role, he was the Vice President of Planning and Procurement at Factors Group of Nutritional Companies, one of the largest manufacturers of vitamins and health supplements in North America, based out of British Columbia, Canada.

 

Currently, he leads The Owl Solutions, a Waterloo-based technology company that specializes on helping manufacturing and distribution companies to leverage data for improving supply chain performance.

Kathrin Bussmann

Founder & President

Verbaccino Inc.

www.verbaccinocom

 

Kathrin Bussmann, Ph.D., is the Founder & President at Verbaccino Inc., a global marketing consultancy that helps brands attract, engage and retain more international customers. Her mission is to help companies succeed beyond their own borders by leveraging foreign market research, global-ready branding, and localized content marketing strategies for international expansion. Kathrin believes that in the Digital Age, even small brands can build a worldwide customer base. Her award-winning, interview-style audio show, The Worldly Marketer Podcast, is a weekly exploration of what it takes to “go global” in today’s digital, social, multilingual marketplace. Kathrin is a member of the Globalization and Localization Association (GALA), a member of The Global Chamber, and a Co-Founder of Women in Localization’s Eastern Canada chapter (WLEC). She is based in Toronto, Canada.

Michelle Corriols 

Consular Agent in Commercial Affairs-Director Trade Promotion Office 

Export Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (Procomer)

 

 Michelle Corriols was appointed Director of the Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica in Canada on March, 2014. As Director, Ms. Corriols main mission is to identify new business opportunities for Costa Ricans exporters in the Canadian market in order to strengthen the bilateral trade and take advantage of the Free Trade Agreement signed between the two countries. Diversify exports to Canada from the Food, Agriculture, Industrial and Services sectors by providing market information in the growing markets and trends.  Under her role she has led the first Trade in Services Missions from Costa Rica to Canada in the areas of digital animation, software development and educational services.

 

Prior to this assignment due to his background in Food Technology she worked from  2008 to 2013, as an  Export Promotion Executive for the Food Industry Sector  at Procomer in which she assisted the Costa Rican small and medium enterprises to penetrate new export markets, mainly Asia and Europe, through  the participation in exporters missions and Trade Shows as (Fancy Food Show, Anuga and Sial Paris).  She provided adviced  on  food regulations and market access. 

 

Ms Corriols has a master degree in Industrial Engineer from the University  Interamericana de Costa Rica and she has a degree  in  Food Technology from the University of Costa Rica.

 

Aldo PARODI

Sr. Trade Commissioner

Trade Office of Peru in Canada

 

Born and raised in Lima, Peru, Aldo Parodi is a decorated scholar with a proven admiration for his home country. He has studied at various universities including Universidad del Pacífico and Nova Southeastern University, gaining two Masters in the fields of Business Administration and Science Conflict Resolution. He has served as General Manager for multinational companies like Hilti Inc. and Yamaha Motors, where he implemented new distribution strategies as well as actively managing different areas of each company, encouraging the growth of not only the company, but of the employees themselves as well. 

 

Starting in 2014, Mr. Parodi moved into the public function being appointed Trade Commissioner of Peru in France, creating and developing the Trade Office. During the last five years, he was able to increase French tourism to Peru, and rose both textile and fresh fruits exports by a hundred percent. A devoted husband and generous father of three, Mr. Parodi is not only a strategy expert of goods between countries, but a skilled navigator in personal matters should they arise. Throughout his years in business administration, Mr. Parodi has continued a steady push forward wherever he goes, whilst never failing to put his country, Peru, on the rise. 

 

Gina Márquez Córdova

Trade & Investment Commissioner

Embassy of Mexico in Canada

 

Gina Márquez graduated in Business Management/Marketing from TEC de Monterrey. She also achieved an Executive MBA in Harvard Business School focused on leadership.

 

Gina counts on other business certifications including one from L'École Supérieure de Commerce in France, as well as a certification from International Enterprise Singapore on International Business.

On 2010, Gina started working for the Private industry around the world, on different recognized transnational companies, such as SIEMENS Headquarters in Singapore and as an International Consultant for Procter & Gamble Latin America at The Nielsen Company in Mexico City.

 

On 2012, she joined the public service at the trust agency of the Mexican Ministry of Economy for Trade and Investment Promotion, formerly known as ProMéxico, where she assumed her first position in Santiago, Chile.

 

On 2014, Gina was named Deputy Trade Commissioner for ProMéxico in the Montreal office, where couple of years later, Gina became the Director and looked after the Quebec and Atlantic provinces, managing a project portfolio of over US $1.5 B on investment projects and over US $700 M of Mexican exportations to the region accounting the year 2018.

 

On 2019, Gina joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Embassy of Mexico in Ottawa, where she is now responsible for the Promotion of Economic Affairs between Mexico and Canada, including Trade and Investment projects.

JOY NOTT

GTA Trade & Customs

KPMG Canada 

 

Background

After her time as President of the Canadian Importers and Exporters Association (I.E.Canada), Joy Nott joins the KPMG Canada Trade and Customs practice as a Partner, Joy brings over 25 years of experience in customs operations and compliance to the KPMG team. Joy started her career in Montreal and worked for over 10 years for well known customs brokers/freight forwarders giving her hands on operational experience.

 

Professional and Industry Experience

In past years, Joy was a Vice President and Managing Consultant for JPMorgan Global Trade Management Services based in the Toronto, Ontario area and specialized in matters of customs and international trade for both Canada and the U.S. based clients. Prior to the above, Joy spent a number of years developing her expertise employed as a Senior Manager with public accounting firms of KPMG LLP and Deloitte & Touche LLP as a Customs and International Trade consultant. The accounting firm environment provided her with extensive experience related to advising multinational clients in terms of meeting import and export requirements while minimizing costs. Her experience with professional tax and supply chain advisers has given her a background rich in understanding how customs and trade issues play an important role in developing corporate strategies. Her experience in advising how matters such as income tax transfer pricing and customs valuation fit into complex international restructuring plans have been key to her success as a consultant.

 

Joy has sat on various committees as advisors to Federal Ministers and has testified before both the House of Commons and Senate Committees on International trade on matters directly impacting Canadian importers and exporters. Joy’s credentials include a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec in 1987. She later sought and received honours when writing for her qualified customs brokers’ status in 1990. In 1993, Joy gained her professional customs brokerage status. In 2011, Joy gained her P.Log designation (Professional Logistician).

Lerna G

Sales & Operations Manager

RC Show - Restaurants Canada

www.rcshow.com

 

Lerna G., Sales & Operations Manager is a key player in the success of the RC Show - Canada’s Premier Foodservice & Hospitality Annual Trade Event.

 

Lerna leads the expositions team in sales, marketing and production. Lerna is an active member of CAEM, the Canadian Association of Expositions Management. She received her CEM designation in 2016 and continues to step up, adding value in numerous committees within the industry community. 

 

Lerna's passion and dedication was immediately recognized in 2017 by her peers, where she was presented with the Rising Star Award. 

Her love for this industry has no boundaries. She has played a pivotal role in other special events including Woofstock, TmrwTday Festival, Honda Toronto Indy, AllState Soccer Show and most recently MOMFest.

Ms. Laura Purdy, CEM CMM

General Manager

Exhibition Place

 

Laura Purdy, General Manager is responsible for the strategic development and management of Exhibition Place – an iconic City of Toronto landmark featuring Canada's largest convention and exhibition complex; Enercare Centre | Beanfield Centre, and a variety of entertainment, cultural and live-sporting venues attracting more than 5.5 million visitors a year.  Laura provides leadership to the event operations teams: Sales, Security, Parking Services and Event Management Services, who support the convention centre clients and permanent tenants at Exhibition Place.  A graduate of the Urban Development Program at Western University and IAVM’s Venue Management School, she holds both CEM and CMM industry designations.  Ms. Purdy began her career in marketing & communications for a commercial real estate development firm. For over 20 years, Ms. Purdy has been a leader and influencer in the meetings, exhibition and convention industry in Canada.  Ms. Purdy was part of the project team for the development and opening of the award-winning Enercare Centre, Beanfield Centre and Coca-Cola Coliseum venues at Exhibition Place.  An active member of industry associations including CAEM, MPI, CSAE, UFI, IAVM and IAEE; she is currently serves on the Board of CAEM.

Michael Dargavel, CEM

Vice President

Association and Events Management

 

Michael Dargavel, CEM is Vice President of Association and Events Management (A&E Management), a Toronto based Association Management Company (AMC). A&E Management is a full service AMC providing specialized services to both trade and professional associations.

 

Michael produces several conferences, trade shows and events each year, within industries such as the apparel, toys, telecommunication and health care. In 2006, he created the 100% Fresh Trade Show.  In 2009, Michael created the highly successful Profile Show, an apparel show incorporating all commodities of the industry.  In 2011, Michael merged the Profile Show with the Ontario Fashion Exhibitors show to become Canada’s largest apparel and accessories show. 

 

Michael Dargavel was awarded the prestigious 2018 Hall of Fame Industry Builder Award from Meetings + Incentive Travel Magazine. Mr. Dargavel was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the Trade and Consumer Show Industry in Canada, including his ongoing leadership and support of the CEM (Certified in Exposition Management) program in Canada. 

 

Michael has served as Certified in Exhibition Learning Program (CEM) faculty for the past ten years offered by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and currently sits on the CEM Commission.

Prior to joining Association and Events Management, Michael spent 20 years in the hospitality industry.

Mona Shrestha Adhikari, PhD

International Consultant, Gender and Trade

World Trade Organisation, Geneva

 

Dr. Mona Shrestha Adhikari is an International Consultant on Gender and Trade at the World Trade Organization since 2018. She has more than 25 years of experience working in the private sector, national and international non-governmental organizations and international organizations.

Her past experience includes full time engagement with Action Aid offices in Nepal and Sri Lanka, and Nepal Indosuez Bank, among others. She has also provided consultancy services to Australian Red Cross Society, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia, the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom, UK cross-government Prosperity Fund projects, International Trade Centre (ITC), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), WaterAid Nepal and worked with the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Nepal.

Dr. Adhikari has conducted extensive studies and published on the topics of judicial gender equality, gender and trade and various contemporary socio-economic issues and presented papers at a number of international conferences. She holds a PhD in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Warwick (UK), Master of Arts (MA) in Development Studies specializing on women, gender and development from the Institute of Social Studies (the Netherlands) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Pune (India). She believes in equitable, inclusive and sustainable socio- economic development and is passionate about women’s empowerment.

Elizabeth A. Vazquez

CEO and Co-Founder

WEConnect International

 

Elizabeth A. Vazquez is a world leader in women’s economic empowerment and global supplier diversity and inclusion. As the CEO and Co-Founder of WEConnect International, she is responsible for mission delivery and impact. WEConnect International identifies, educates, registers, and certifies women's business enterprises that are at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more women, and then connects them with member buyers.  The organization supports and promotes women-owned businesses based in over 100 countries and helps WEConnect International member buyers with over US$1 trillion in annual purchasing power source more from women suppliers. She is the co-author of, “Buying for Impact: How to Buy from Women and Change Our World” and has a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and is the recipient of the 2018 Fletcher Women's Leadership Award for outstanding graduates making a meaningful impact in the world. 

Rodrigo Yáñez Benitez

Viceminister of Trade of Chile

 

Rodrigo Yáñez was appointed Vice Minister of Trade for Chile on March 11, 2018. In this role, he has led Chile’s intense bilateral and multilateral trade agenda, including active participation in multilateral trade fora such as APEC, Pacific Alliance and WTO. He has also served as Chile’s G20 Sherpa under the Presidencies of Argentina and Japan.

During President Piñera’s previous administration (2010-2014), Rodrigo Yáñez served as Senior Advisor on international and regulatory affairs to the Presidency of the Republic. Among his responsibilities he developed foreign policy proposals and oversaw the implementation of domestic policy initiatives for different Ministries.

Before taking up the role as Vice Minister, he was the Director of Financial Advisory Services at Deloitte Chile, where he led the Business Intelligence and Anticorruption, Compliance & Regulatory Advisory services. He was ranked by Chambers & Partners Latin America 2018 as a Leading Practitioner in the field of Compliance.

Mr. Yáñez was also a member of the Panel on Public Works Concessions (2014-2018); Board Member of Chile’s Public Enterprise System (2013-2014); and International Cooperation Agency Board (2012-2014).

Mr. Yáñez holds a Law Degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) and a Master of Science in Regulation from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Jennifer Cooke

Corporate Lead, Women in Trade 

Export Development Canada

 

“Life is too short. I believe in pushing beyond our comfort zones to try new things. Be passionate, be proactive, and persevere.”

 

WHAT I DO AT EDC?

I joined EDC in 2010 to work directly with Canadian companies and help them succeed in international markets. As the new Corporate Lead for EDC’s Women in Trade Strategy, my job is focused specifically on helping more women entrepreneurs export to grow their business. Working directly, as well as through key partners, EDC is offering specialized trade knowledge, facilitating trade with financing and insurance, and providing connections to enable companies to go, grow and succeed globally.

 

MY GOALS/ASPIRATIONS

I am inspired by Canadian entrepreneurs and believe strongly in the untapped potential to grow Canada’s economy by empowering more women-owned and led businesses to scale and grow beyond borders. I am dedicated to removing barriers and to delivering the best customer experience by providing companies the knowledge and expertise they need to make their mark in international markets.

 

WHEN I’M NOT AT EDC?

I’m a busy mom of two active girls who loves creating, try- ing new things, and learning about new cultures. A graduate of UWO’s Richard Ivey School of Business, I grew up in Burlington, Ontario, and have enjoyed a variety of experiences working both in large multinational corporations, and as part of an entrepreneurial start-up. My knowledge is enriched by international work experiences in the US, the UK and Mexico, and I am bilingual in both English and French with a sprinkling of Spanish.

Emiliano Introcaso CITP®, P.Log., MBA (Cand.)

Export Advisor | Export Help

EXPORT DEVELOPMENT CANADA

 

Emiliano has close to two decades of experience working with manufacturers and exporters looking to increase their global growth by providing them with support and guidance in all things export. His strategy not only focuses on navigating companies through the complexities of global supply chains, but also in the small details that can make or break an international trade transaction. Emiliano is one of the Export Advisors at Export Development Canada (EDC), a Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) with the Forum For International Trade Training (FITT) and an ICC Registered Trainer on Incoterms® 2020 in Canada

Vladimir Rouvinski

Director, Pacific Alliance Studies Program (PEAP), and Associate Professor, Department of Political Studies

Icesi University in Cali, Colombia.

 

Vladimir holds MA and PhD in International Development and Cooperation from Hiroshima University in Japan. Before joining Icesi University in 2007, Vladimir worked with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), education and research institutions in Russia, Japan, Colombia, United States, and Germany. As Director of PEAP, he is responsible for strategic planning, policy advising and communication with diverse external actors, including entrepreneurs in Latin America and Asia. He is also coordinating research activities across the Pacific as co-chair of Asia and the Americas section of Latin Americas Studies Association (LASA). Vladimir has published extensively on this and other topics, and he appears frequently in international and regional media as commentator of the topics related to international politics and regional integration. 

Nancy Wilson, CPA, CGA

Founder & CEO

Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce

 

Nancy Wilson is the founder and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce (CanWCC), a national, not-for-profit organization that advocates for women-identified business owners in Canada. 

 

Nancy is a Chartered Professional Accountant, with over a decade of accounting and finance experience in the private sector.  Prior to CanWCC, she ran an accounting and advisory firm specializing in women business owners and entrepreneurs.

After experiencing a lack of resources, difficulty finding connection, and numerous barriers, both as a business owner and indirectly through her clients, Nancy launched the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce in January 2018.  

Helen Hemmingsen, President

Organization of Women in International Trade - Toronto

 

Helen was elected to the board of directors in 2018.  Helen is an experienced industry consultant with a demonstrated track record of helping companies gain access to overseas markets. Skilled in business planning, international marketing, strategic planning, market research, and business development. She has an MBA from the Open University (UK). Cross-Canada sector expertise includes transit, construction, energy (oil/gas, renewables, nuclear), and advanced manufacturing (automotive and aerospace).  Helen has her own consultancy firm, Hemmingsen Consultancy & Advisory, and is the Canadian representative for Innovas, a British firm based in Cheshire.  Innovas provides consultancy support to both the public and private sector.  Range of services include business support, trade & investment, talent development and research & intelligence.

 

Lyse Moreau

President

International Sew Right

 

 Lyse has continued a strong legacy and tradition of a woman-owned Niagara firm thriving in the Niagara region. International Sew Right (ISR) was founded by Lyse’s mother Claudette in 1983. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Lyse became partners with her mother in 2001 and began making positive changes to get ISR ready to export. In 2006 she became the sole owner, and ISR became a 100% women-owned manufacturing facility.

 

ISR’s core business over the years has been in custom-designing and manufacturing safety clothing, focusing on proximity suits, arc flash protection, high heat, fire-retardant and high-visibility clothing, coveralls, bib overalls, shop coats, aprons, sleeves, head protection, welders clothing and tarps, gloves, parkas, bomber jackets, and aprons well over 400 products.

 

Under her leadership, Lyse has restructured operations in targeted ways that include upgrading the accounting and purchasing departments, automating cutting and sewing areas as well as redesigning the shipping and receiving departments.  During this period, ISR has also achieved the following:

2004 Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year Award

2014 Ontario Health and Safety Golden Award – Reader’s Choice Award for Designing and Manufacturing Safety Apparel and Aluminized Clothing

2015 Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the year

2015 Women’s Distinguish Award for Achievements in the Industry

 

ISR’s membership in the Niagara Industrial Association has also been crucial to business growth. ISR sells across Canada with a growing customer base in the US, and exports to Brazil and India, as well as plans to branch into Mexico.

 

Lyse’s trip in 2019 to the city of Monterrey in northeast Mexico – was part of a push by ISR to cope-out international markets in Mexico. She joined a group of delegates from the Organization of Women in International Trade – Toronto Chapter (OWIT-Toronto). During this trade mission, top Canadian businesswomen were introduced to Mexican leads to leverage exporting opportunities, and this resulted in some solid connections for ISR.

Sarah Baldeo, BSc. Spec. Hon. Neuroscience,

Research Ethics Cert., CPA P&L, PBSA Chair

President & Global CEO

ID Quotient Advisory Group

 

Sarah Baldeo has over 15 years of senior leadership experience driving Business Process improvement in line with compliance. Her career began in asset management and risk model design within financial institution frameworks.

Developing technology that leverages AI, machine learning & neural networks to create automation and new opportunities for growth has been at the core of her career – and supporting diversity and inclusion in STEM and leadership is one of her passions.

Attending York University to pursue a Bachelor of Science Specialized Honours degree in Neuroscience was a crucial part of her interest in data analytics. After graduating and completing her thesis work in mental attentional functionality in fMRIs, Sarah also completed certifications in Research & Ethics Compliance & Canadian Payroll and Legislation.

Post undergraduate work, she worked as a Research Assistant in social perception and neuroscience labs before pursuing marketing certifications at Ryerson University and subsequently running an international government relations consulting advisory.

Sarah has also attended Princeton University via distance education and she is presently completing her EMBA at the Rotman School of Management.

Sarah presently is the Global CEO at IDQ Advisory Group - where she brings a wealth of knowledge on digital transformation, UI/UX design, neuroscience-based models of risk and procurement infrastracture. ID Quotient supports and partners with 169 international government agencies, health care networks, and Fortune 100 Organizations.

In her spare-time she writes for hr.com and TVRM News, and volunteers for the PBSA Canadian Board of Directors, where she is the current Chair of the Communications Committee as well as the 2020 Chair Elect for the Canada Council, and a member of the Global Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy Committee. Sarah is also a Women in Identity Member, and a volunteer for Elevate.ca.

Mentorship is a Corporate Social Responsibility that deeply resonates with her - she is also a mentor for the York University T.A.S.T.E. Alumni Program. 


* Additional speakers to be added as confirmed.