Jacksonville State University

University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management

York University - Osgoode Hall Law School

Tel Aviv University

Université libre de Bruxelles

David & Mary Thomson C.I.

President and CEO at Supply Chain Canada™

Fractional Executive Director with a mandate to grow the prominence and performance of the Chamber. The Whitchurch-Stouffville Chamber of Commerce is a vital organization that represents over 300 members in the business community of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario. As a member-driven association, it is dedicated to promoting and improving trade and commerce, as well as the economic, civic, and social welfare of the town. The Chamber provides a platform for dialogue among businesses, offers networking opportunities, and
advocates for policies that support business growth and innovation. It plays an instrumental role in shaping the Town's business environment and contributes significantly
to its economic development. The Chamber's initiatives, ranging from business awards to educational seminars, reflect its commitment to fostering a vibrant and prosperous business community in Whitchurch-Stouffville.

Stouffville Chamber of Commerce

Fractional Executive Director

Ellem Strategies Inc. is a strategic consulting firm dedicated to empowering associations, non-profits, and government agencies to grow and achieve prominence. We offer a range of services aimed at elevating our clients' profiles, expanding their influence, and helping them achieve their goals.

Ellem Strategies Inc.

President and Founder

Groupex was established in 1984 by a small group of independent restaurants. Responding to pricing competition from large foodservice chains, this group combined their purchases to earn volume discounts and rebates. Today Groupex uses the buying power of its national membership base to negotiate savings on essential restaurant supplies and services. Groupex programs cover the most essential foodservice products and services. Members save thousands of dollars on beverages, food, operational and financial programs.

Groupex Canada

Member of the Board of Directors

Reporting to the Board, transitioned the organization post-pandemic and following a period of significant executive leadership turnover. Eliminated non-aligned programs and initiatives to ensure focus on core priorities. Oversaw a full assessment of the association’s technology and IT capabilities and needs and developed a multi-year IT Roadmap. Oversaw a comprehensive assessment of HR practices and policies and developed the first-ever compensation philosophy and salary banding structure for the association. Oversaw the association’s first-ever audit of all government relations and advocacy activity at the municipal, provincial and federal levels, reestablished political relationships (with an emphasis on City of Toronto, Province of Ontario, and federally with both the government and official opposition), implemented new government relations structures including metrics, prioritization and reporting templates. Developed a new vision, mission and set of corporate values for the association and modernized governance and board structures.

Founded in 1944, Restaurants Canada is the voice of foodservice in Canada. Restaurants Canada is the largest membership organization of its kind, and the only national association that serves the unique needs of the foodservice industry. Our members are as diverse as the industry itself — from independent operators to regional and national chains, including restaurants, bars, caterers, franchisors, hotels, institutions, food trucks, convenience stores and other emerging business types. Our membership also includes industry suppliers, who play an integral role in the success of operators across Canada.

Restaurants Canada

President and CEO

Seconded to this additional role while President and CEO of the National Office to support the British Columbia Institute following a restructuring.

Supply Chain Canada, British Columbia Institute

Interim Executive Director

Convergence.tech is a digital transformation firm based in Toronto, Canada. We partner with clients to leverage combinations of today's leading technologies, accessing experience gained over successful global partnership across multiple industries.  Supported by our peer-reviewed and published work on digital transformation. Convergence strives for a customer-centric journey as the primary goal of our seven-pillar digital transformation framework. 

With active projects worldwide, our team works closely with government, humanitarian and environmental agencies, the education sector, the agricultural sector, healthcare organizations, and corporations. Convergence advises, develops, and implements technology solutions on a global scale in over a dozen cities including work in complex operating environments such as India, Mongolia, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, and Afghanistan.

Many of these solutions are powered by blockchain technology, centered on environmental impact, sustainability, quality assurance, and individual empowerment in the context of globalized and globalizing world communities. 

In alignment with our values, Convergence Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) work focuses on digital education, accessibility, student participation, and co-creation with historically marginalized communities.

Convergence.Tech

Advisory Board Member

Seconded to this additional role while President and CEO of the National Office in support of the Alberta Institute through a transition period.

Supply Chain Canada AB

Interim President and CEO

An industry-led consortium that will shape a new global supply chain platform, bolster Canada’s leadership in artificial intelligence (AI), and accelerate industry adoption of enabling technologies through collaborative and incremental projects as part of the federal government’s Innovation Supercluster Initiative.

AI-Powered Supply Chain - SCALE.AI

Steering Committee Member

Reporting to the Board, developed and executed the first federation-wide strategic plan adopted by every partner. Conceived and launched a renaming and rebranding of the 100+ year old association. Spearheaded the development of the association’s advocacy and government relations, resulting in the association now being considered the voice of supply chain in Canada. Led the acquisition of three other associations and the post-merger integration of the assets, people, and activities. Oversaw the move from a fully physical to a fully remote workplace. Expanded the educational offerings for members and created new revenue streams for the association. Oversaw the development of the first-ever Competencies of Supply Chain Professionals, an accreditation program and pathway program for the SCMP designation, including an RPL (recognition of prior learning) process. Developed and led the Master Merger Plan, approved by the National Board and a majority of provincial boards, to create a single, unified corporation that would merge each of the provincial and territorial institutes into the National organization.

Supply Chain Canada is Canada’s largest association for supply chain management professionals. Supply Chain Canada represent 7,500 members as well as the wider profession working in roles that cover sourcing, procurement, logistics, inventory, and contract management. Supply Chain Canada sets the standards for excellence and ethics, and is the principal source of professional development and accreditation in supply chain management in Canada. It is a federation consisting of a national office and provincial and territorial institutes.

Supply Chain Canada

Served as the chief staff officer to the Quebec Institute while President and CEO of the National Office.

Chaîne d'approvisionnement Canada QC

Fractional President and CEO

As of December 1st, 2016, The Scarborough Hospital's Birchmount and General sites and Rouge Valley Health System's Centenary site have merged under the temporary name of Scarborough and Rouge Hospital. The new hospital corporation will have a $500+ million operating budget making it one of the largest community hospitals in Ontario.

Member, Quality Committee
Chair, Governance Committee
Member, Finance and Audit Committee
Member, CEO Search Committee

Scarborough and Rouge Hospital

The Scarborough Hospital (TSH) was a $350+ million community and teaching hospital in Toronto operating on two campuses. The hospital was recognized as a centre of excellence in paediatrics, orthopaedic surgery, cancer care, and mental health. TSH was engaged in several significant merger and integration initiatives and completed a merger with Rouge Valley Health System.

Chair, Governance and Planning Committee
Member, Executive Committee
Member, Integration Steering Committee
Member, Expert Panel Steering Committee
Member, Joint Transition Committee
Member, Board Designate Governance Working Group, Scarborough and Rouge Hospital

The Scarborough Hospital

Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors

Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) is the largest social housing provider in Canada and the second largest in North America with a $1 billion operating budget, over $9 billion in real assets and 1400+ employees. It provides homes to nearly 60,000 households through a portfolio of more than 2,200 buildings including high, mid, and low-rise apartments, and townhouses and houses. It has an annual capital repair budget of $175+ million and a multi-year, multi-billion dollar development and community revitalization plan that makes it one of the largest residential developers in North America.

Chair, Governance, Communications, Risk and Human Resources Committee
Chair, Corporate Affairs and Audit Committee
Member, Board Transition Committee
Member, CEO Recruitment Subcommittee
Member, Board of Directors of Don Mount Court Development Corp.
Member and Chair, Board of Directors of Access Housing Connections Inc.
Member and Chair, Board of Directors of Housing Services Inc.

Toronto Community Housing

Reporting to the President and CEO, grew ICD’s education revenue from $5+ million to $12+ million in eight years and its membership 10 fold. Expanded the flagship Directors Education Program by building partnerships with 6 new academic institutions in 6 new cities which doubled the national network. Innovated educational programming at ICD with the development and launch of 5 new proprietary courses and the introduction of webinars and video learning. Built a strong new team at ICD to deliver education operations in-house and recently expanded the team and scope to be responsible for all education, conference, and special event delivery in the organization. Led the annual business planning process. Responsible for strategic development and operational oversight of the Institute’s governance education and director designation programs, the advancement of director professionalism across the country, event and conference operations, chapter administration and relations, and for strategic decisions of the Institute as a member of the senior management team. Oversaw a team of 18 staff. Developed the Canadian Foundation for Governance Research and reported to the Board of Directors as the Foundation’s seconded inaugural Executive Director.

The ICD is the membership organization for Canada’s community of directors. Its members serve on boards across every sector of Canada’s economy, be it for-profit, Crown or not-for-profit. The ICD is the go-to resource for thought leadership, research, board placement, education and training, and provides the ICD.D designation, Canada's most-recognized director certification.

Institute of Corporate Directors

Vice President, Education

Reporting to the Vice-President Research & Innovation, built a new team at York University that was responsible for developing enhanced trend and data analysis and implementing a reputation-building campaign. Developed several entrepreneurial partnerships at York University including business development and innovation networks in the biotechnology and digital media sectors. Created new strategic communications and government relations plans for York University.

Responsible for working closely with the vice-president as the senior advisor on a broad range of issues affecting research, including responsibility for development and implementation of strategic initiatives, research planning and policy development, performance and data analysis, multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral engagement and partnership outreach planning, government relations, research communications, event management, and other issues and tasks designed to increase York’s research performance and reputation. Responsible for effectively utilizing limited financial resources. Responsible for a team of three staff that includes a Research Communications Officer, a Research Data & Information Analyst, and a Project Manager.

Founded in 1959, York University is one of Canada's largest universities, a world-leading teaching and research university, and home to more that 50,000 students.

York University

Director, Research Planning, Communications & Government Relations

Reporting to the Canadian General Manager, built a new team and spearheaded the strategy and implementation of Marcus Evans’ entrepreneurial move into new conference market sectors resulting in growth of additional annual revenues of US$4 million.

Accountable for budgets and profit margins while leading a 10-person team responsible for researching trends and developing the intellectual content of leading-edge business conferences, sourcing senior-level industry executives as speakers, preparing effective marketing materials, and managing the operational issues in running the event.

A global, multi-faceted media, corporate marketing and business intelligence company, employing 3000 professionals across 59 worldwide locations. Its activities are wide-ranging, providing up-to-the-minute information across all sectors and geographical markets to our clients fueling their growth and enhancing their performance. Its B2B events divisions deliver over 1000 annual Summits, Conferences and Online events across all industry sectors, providing the world’s leading practitioners with the contacts and insights they need to build and sustain a competitive advantage.

marcus evans Group

Director of Production, Operations & Marketing

DAN NEWMAN, MPP AND PARLIAMENTARY ASSISTANT (Native Affairs – 1995-96; Health – 1997-98). 

Reporting to the Parliamentary Assistant, oversaw a comprehensive and consultative review of mental health reform with the Ministry of Health and drafted the final report. Conceived and designed the proposed provincial Safe Schools Act and spearheaded diverse stakeholder consultations, communications, media, and public relations surrounding the provincial bill which was widely supported even by opposition members and viewed as a model for future private members legislation.

Directed and managed the day-to-day activities of a staff of five.  Developed, coordinated and oversaw the strategic direction of the office. Provided strategic advice, directed internal and external communications, managed scheduling, and organized events.

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Executive Assistant

HON. PAULINE BROWES, MINISTER OF STATE (Environment – 1993; Employment & Immigration – 1993) and MP (Scarborough Centre). 

Researched and advised on issues, drafted correspondence, prepared written and oral briefings, and assisted senior staff with special projects. Assisted and counselled local constituents on a variety of federal issues, drafted correspondence, and organized local events.

Christian Buhagiar