The Ascend Canada Conference will be an in-person event at the Arcadian Court in Toronto on September 16, 2026. We will be joined by 400 participants to inspire, educate, and empower pan-Asian professionals in Corporate Canada. Celebrating this year’s theme, Thriving Through Transformation, the conference will consist of workshops, fireside chats and a closing cocktail reception.
VenueArcadian Court, 401 Bay St., Simpson Tower, 8th Floor Toronto, ON, M5H 2Y4
DateWednesday, September 16, 2026
Timing
Item
8:00 – 9:00am
Registration/Breakfast
9:00 am – 9:30 am
Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:30 – 10:15am
Morning Keynote
10:30 – 11:30am
Morning workshops
11:30 – 12:00pm
Networking
12:00 – 1:30pm
Lunchtime Fireside chat
1:30 – 1:45pm
Wayfinding
1:45 – 2:45pm
Afternoon workshops
3:00 – 3:45pm
Networking game
3:30 – 4:00pm
Open networking
4:00 – 5:15pm
Executive Panel
5:15 – 5:30pm
Closing remarks
5:30 PM
Cocktail reception
NAIM KAZMIGroup Head, Technology & Operations,RBC
As Group Head of Technology & Operations, Naim Kazmi is responsible for the strategy and overall management of global technology and operations for RBC’s businesses and functions. His responsibility includes applications development, infrastructure, cyber security, architecture, technology innovation and enterprise operations. Naim and his team work closely with business and function leaders to deliver leading edge and innovative digital solutions for our clients and employees. As a member of the Group Executive, Naim is one of 12 executives responsible for setting the overall strategic direction for Canada’s biggest bank.
Kazmi is a transformational global technology leader with more than 25 years of experience delivering innovative solutions, having held multiple leadership roles across both architecture/engineering as well as technology delivery.
Prior to his current position, he was Executive Vice President, Commercial, CoreBanking and Payments Technology. In this role, he led the development of technology solutions for core banking systems (deposits, investments, lending), trade platforms, cash management platforms and global payments systems, supporting all major lines of business, including Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Capital Markets. Over the course of his career with RBC, Naim has held various roles including Senior Vice President and Head, Retail Banking and Payments Technology; Vice President, Wealth Management Applications; and Vice President, Product Systems. Previously, Naim worked at IBM and at Lloyds Banking Group where one of his major roles was leading the Architecture, Methodology and Innovation group.
Naim has led multiple transformative initiatives for RBC, including as executive co-lead for the successful integration of HSBC Bank Canada. In this role, he provided leadership for both the broader and technology integration and worked closely with leaders across both business and technology, ensuring a seamless client experience while delivering on synergies.
Naim holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from AMU, Aligarh and a Masters of Technology, Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur.
Bindhu Alvar ThiruvenkadathanCIO, Wealth, North American Retail Payments & Operations Technology,BMO
Bindhu Alvar Thiruvenkadathan is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Wealth, NorthAmerican Retail Payments, and Operations Technology at BMO. Joining BMO in her CIO role in 2020, she leads a high-performing team responsible for technologically enabling BMO’s B2C strategy in the areas of wealth, retail payments, and back-office operations, including the integration of next-gen capabilities such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation. Her passion as a leader is to fuel excellence — fostering innovation, transformation, and resilience whether in technology, people, or the communities in which we live and work.
Before BMO, Bindhu held key roles in development and architecture. Always drawn to opportunities to help clients achieve their technology goals, Bindhu soon moved into prominent delivery, consulting, and transformation roles. She led the sales and delivery for a few large Canadian banks before moving into the CIO role at BMO where our purpose-driven culture strongly aligns with her values – both personally and professionally.
With over 24 years’ leadership experience in technology strategy, digital alignment, delivery, and in building high-performing teams, Bindhu is a highly regarded transformational change agent, and a trusted business partner and advisor. She is committed to championing an inclusive environment and is a passionate workplace advocate, mentor, and community volunteer leading and supporting opportunities to enhance inclusivity and empowerment. Bindhu holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Science, and lives in the Toronto, Canada area with her family.
Andrew HungCanadian Commercial Banking &North American Integrated Solutions
Andrew is recognized for his collaborative leadership style and commitment to fostering innovation within the organization. He brings 20+ years of banking experience and most recently successfully guided teams through a significant transformation and is focused on driving positive outcomes for clients and stakeholders.
Andrew joined BMO in 2003 as a Commercial Account Manager and progressed through various roles, entering into leadership in 2011 as Vice President of Business Banking then as Senior Vice President & Head, British Columbia, Corporate Finance. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President & Head of Mid-Market in the Canadian Commercial bank, driving meaningful growth in deposits, loans, and revenue, while strengthening client loyalty and contributing to a strong winning culture.
Andrew Hung was appointed COO of CCB & NAIS in August, 2025. In this role, he leads the Strategic Business Enablement team that supports the business structure leveraging shared capabilities across common platforms, optimizes synergies, minimizes complexity, and positions us to effectively serve our clients.
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting from the University of Northern British Columbia and an MBA from Dalhousie University. He is an active member of the business community and serves on various boards and advisory committees in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Binaifer Khushrooshahi
Binaifer Khushrooshahi is the Head of Strategic Vendor Management, where she leads the centralized Vendor Management Team within Canadian P&BB. Binaifer has a proven track record of disciplined delivery, combined with a strong focus on talent empowerment, engagement, and collaboration. Since joining BMO in 2009, her organizational breadth includes progressive roles in portfolios such as Procurement, Supplier Performance Management, Risk Governance, Business Management and Technology and Operations.
Binaifer holds a Master of Business Administration from the Ivey School of Business at Western University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto. She is the Executive Sponsor for the BMO Alliance for Women Canada Employee Resource Group and is a committed advocate for BMO’s purpose to Boldly Grow the Good, actively participating in numerous volunteer efforts. In addition to being a Board Member at Frontlines, Binaifer is also a Board Member at Krasman Centre.
Rohit ThomasPresident and CEO,BMO Insurance
Rohit Thomas is the President and CEO of BMO Insurance, responsible for leading the organization’s strategy, growth, and customer-focused innovation across its insurance businesses.
He has held a broad range of progressively senior roles in the insurance industry, spanning product development, pricing, finance, and corporate functions, with experience across Life & Health, Wealth, and Annuity products.
Rohit is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and is a Fellow of both the Society of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.
Rohit serves on the Boards of Burgundy Asset Management, BMO Insurance Solutions, and BMO Life Assurance, and is the Chair of the Bank of Montreal’s Pension Risk Committee.
Pauline ChiuSenior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer,TD Wealth National Office
Pauline began her career in HR Consulting, supporting clients in the development of total compensation strategies. She later moved into marketing before transitioning to Product Management roles at CIBC and TD. During nearly a decade with TD’s Personal Bank, she held Product and P&L leadership positions across Credit Cards, Everyday Banking, and Payments.
She subsequently joined TD Insurance, where she led both process and digital transformation teams, and later served as EPO within Platform and Technology. Pauline then moved to Wealth Management to lead an enterprisewide initiative focused on enhancing the experience of the Bank’s highestvalue clients. In her current role as Senior Vice President, she is accountable for making Wealth faster, more scalable, and more cost‑efficient.
Originally from Vancouver, Pauline lives in Toronto with her husband, their 15yearold daughter, and their two dogs, Tabasco and Johnny. A fun fact: Pauline enjoys board games.
Tyson JonesSenior Vice President, Ontario,BDC
Tyson Jones was appointed Senior Vice President, Ontario, in November 2024. In this role, he leads BDC’s financing services across the province, empowering teams to support entrepreneurs with the objective of helping boost the growth and competitiveness of SMEs.
With nearly 20 years of experience in financial services, Tyson is a proven market leader known for strategic execution, inclusive talent development, and inspiring large-scale teams to help Canadian entrepreneurs thrive.
Prior to joining BDC, Tyson was Regional Vice President, Commercial Financial Services, for the Greater Toronto Region at RBC, capping a 17-year career at the bank, where he was responsible for expanding the reach of their commercial banking unit across various markets.
Tyson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Alberta and has completed numerous professional development and leadership courses. He has received several awards for his contributions to the financial services industry.
Anita McOuatNational Managing Partner, Clients & Industries,PwC Canada
Anita McOuat is the National Managing Partner, Clients & Industries at PwC Canada and a member of the Canadian Leadership Team, responsible for driving growth by designing and delivering our go-to-market strategy, sector perspectives, external marketing and communications. In this role, she focuses on helping clients navigate change and capture opportunity by bringing the right expertise to the table and mobilizing the strength of the firm to deliver sustained outcomes.
Prior to this role, she served as National Assurance Leader for four years, as well as Assurance Leader for the Asia-Pacific Americas cluster. She was also a member of PwC’s Global Assurance Leadership Team. Earlier in her career, she held the role of National Industry Leader for Technology, Media & Telecommunications and Consumer Markets.
Anita has led audits for a range of public and private companies across sectors including retail, technology, media, and private equity. She has extensive experience in IFRS and US GAAP, internal controls, and mergers and acquisitions, including valuation, tax, audit, and accounting considerations across the deal lifecycle.
In 2023, Anita was recognized as a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (FCPA).
She previously served as President of the Canadian Club Toronto (2016-2022), as the Treasurer and Audit Committee Chair of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (2013-2023) and as a director of Ontario Creates (2012–2019). Anita was also an instructor for the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) program.
Mona Kothari-ChitaliaManaging Director, Industry Advisory,Worldwide Financial Services at Microsoft
Mona Kothari-Chitalia, Managing Director, Industry Advisory, Worldwide Financial Services at Microsoft, is a distinguished C-Suite digital strategy advisor. Mona has successfully led high-profile business transformations within financial services and technology sectors. At Microsoft, she spearheads co-innovation efforts with financial services clients, unlocking new value, delivering differentiated experiences, and accelerating innovation for sustainable growth. She also creates thought leadership and is as a regular speaker at industry events. Mona also enjoys being an Executive-in-Residence at Rotman School of Management as it allows her to support early in career talent.
Janet S WongIndependent Board Director & Business Advisor
Janet Wong is an Independent Board Director and business advisor with experience in the technology, manufacturing, consumer products and financial services industries. She is a partner (retired) with KPMG LLP, a Big 4 accounting firm. She is a licensed CPA with recognition as an experienced Financial Expert as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock Exchange, and Nasdaq. She is a NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors) Certified Director®.
She has over 10 years of public company board experience and currently serves on the boards as well as Audit Committee Chair of both TWFG, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWFG), a national independent distribution platform for personal and commercial insurance and Valvoline, Inc. (NYSE: VVV), a company that delivers quick, easy, trusted service for automotive maintenance. Previously, she served on the boards of Lucid Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: LCID); Lumentum Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LITE); Enviva, Inc. (Nasdaq: EVA); Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABTX) and Shine Technologies, Inc., a private company.
In 2024, Directors & Boards named her to its list of Public Company Women Directors to Watch for her governance and leadership experience. In 2023, BoardProspects named her to its list of the Top 30 Asian American Board Directors in the U.S. In 2022, NACD named her to its Directorship 100™, an annual honor for leading directors and governance professionals.
Janet is a frequent speaker on topics including board governance, Audit Committees, leadership and succession planning, risk management including oversight of AI and cybersecurity governance. She is a founding member of the WSJ (Wall Street Journal) Board of Directors Council and a founding member of the Alpha Council; an organization focused on AI governance in the corporate boardroom where she also co-leads the Agentic Audit Council.
She volunteers as an Executive Advisor to Ascend and served as the leader of Ascend Pinnacle, the largest network of experienced and aspiring Asian corporate board directors.
Amy ShangFormer HSBC – EVP, Strategic Implementation (Regulation) for North America;Executive Advisor, Ascend
Amy Shang is a seasoned financial services executive with more than two decades of experience spanning front office, operations, regulatory transformation, and consulting. She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BS from Stanford University. At HSBC North America, she served as EVP of Strategic Implementation (Regulation), leading the bank’s response to major regulatory initiatives, including implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act. Earlier in her career, Amy held leadership and consulting roles at Lehman Brothers, Morgan Stanley, Bear Stearns, Bank of America, and MMG Partners.
Passionate about developing leaders and expanding opportunities for others, Amy is a dedicated advocate for workplace fairness and inclusion. While at HSBC, she served on the bank’s U.S. Diversity Council and chaired its employee resource group for Asians and Pacific Islanders. Today, she continues that commitment as an executive advisor to Ascend, North America’s largest nonprofit dedicated to advancing Pan-Asian professionals. She designs and facilitates leadership workshops that inspire current and emerging leaders to grow with confidence, authenticity, and purpose. greater Asian representation in leadership.
Empty nesters, Amy and her husband recently relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where they continue to cheer on their son as he begins graduate studies.
Wes HomFormer IBM Vice President and Managing DirectorExecutive Advisor and Co-Developer, Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, Asian Leadership Program (ALP)Executive Advisor, Ascend
Wes Hom is a former IBM Vice President and Managing Director with a global track record leading businesses across Asia, Europe, and the United States. Throughout his IBM career, he managed international lines of business, global sales and operations, emerging market development, and the company’s Venture Capital Group.
He was the first PanAsian American appointed Executive Assistant in IBM’s corporate office, supporting the Chairman, CEO, President, CFO, and Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Wes also chaired IBM’s Asian Diversity initiatives, where he was known as a trusted advocate and “conscience & guardian” for the Asian community across the company.
Wes has served on numerous professional and community boards, including the Business Advisory Council for the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) and on boards of international venture capital firms. His leadership has been recognized with honors such as the “Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business” award and OCA’s Dynamic Achievers Award.
Today, Wes advises global corporations, universities, and senior leadership teams on business development, leadership, and talent strategy. He is an executive advisor and co-developer of Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Asian Leadership Program (ALP) and teaches at universities in Japan. He also serves as an executive advisor to Ascend and previously served as an officer and national board member.
Wes holds degrees from NYU’s Stern School of Business and completed IBM’s Certified Client Director Program through Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
Mickey GangulyManager, Technology Innovation Funds & Portfolio Manager, Global Technology/Communications, CIBC Global Asset Management
Mickey Ganguly is a highly experienced investment professional specializing in the Global Technology and Communications sectors, with over six years dedicated to covering the two sectors. As the manager of CIBC Global Asset Management’s Technology Innovation Funds, Mickey has built a proven track record in identifying growth opportunities and navigating complex market shifts, a track record further recognized by his 2025 FundGrade A+ Award.
A distinctive advantage in his investment strategy is his significant background in operations. Mickey spent over six years in foundational operational roles, which grants him rare, in-depth insight into management quality, execution efficiency, and the true economics of business models—factors critical for assessing long-term value in high-growth technology firms.
His diverse background also enables him to identify opportunities in adjacent sectors that would be a beneficiary from innovation.
Mickey’s unique synthesis of deep operational diligence and financial analysis makes him a trusted manager focused on delivering robust, risk-adjusted returns in the world’s most innovative sectors, as reflected in the continued recognition of his fund management expertise.
Maria Mendoza CambaAssistant Director and Lead inclusiveness strategist, EY
Maria is an Assistant Director and the Lead Inclusiveness Strategist at EY Canada, where she shapes national inclusion strategies focused on advancing gender and racial equity and creating conditions for women to thrive. Since joining the firm in 2022, she has been instrumental in designing and leading initiatives that accelerate women’s leadership and foster cultures of belonging across the organization.
She is at the forefront of Power Up Canada, EY’s signature program for women, which works to dismantle systemic barriers to gender equity, build personal leadership capacity, engage allies, and drive meaningful, sustainable change. Maria’s leadership is grounded in an intersectional lens and a proven ability to translate bold vision into measurable impact.
Maria regularly represents EY Canada at national forums, including the Catalyst Conference and Ascend Canada, where she contributes to conversations on inclusive leadership, gender equity, and systems-level change.
She holds a master’s degree in art history from the University of Toronto, where her research examined the relationship between representation, identity, and early twentieth-century art. This critical lens continues to inform her work today, bringing creativity, depth, and nuance to her approach to inclusion and leadership.
Outside of her professional role, Maria is a proud mother and an active contributor to Toronto’s arts community, committed to amplifying underrepresented voices and perspectives. She brings both intellectual rigor and lived experience to her work advancing equity at EY and across the broader community.
Charlene TheodorePrincipal & Founder, Theodore Advisory Partners
Charlene Theodore is a lawyer, former C-suite executive, and Principal of Theodore Advisory Partners. She provides legal and strategic advice to employers, associations, boards, and senior leaders on employment law, workplace culture, governance, leadership accountability, and institutional trust. Her practice is rooted in today’s global workforce realities and informed by deep experience advising organizations with large, complex, and unionized operations.
Over more than two decades, Charlene has built a career spanning legal practice, executive leadership, and organizational strategy. She previously served as Chief Inclusion Officer at McCarthy Tétrault, where she led the firm’s award-winning Inclusion Now strategy, and served as President of the Ontario Bar Association – becoming the first Black person and tenth woman to lead the organization.
Charlene was appointed to Canada’s Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments. Her leadership has earned national recognition, including being named one of Canada’s 25 Most Influential Lawyers, receiving the Lexpert Zenith Award for advancing gender equity, and being named DEI Leader of the Year – Americas.
Sacha de KlerkVice President, Human Rights & Business Ethics, WSIB
Sacha de Klerk is Vice President, Human Rights & Business Ethics at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), where she leads the organization’s work in business ethics, human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion, and accessibility. She is responsible for advancing strategies that help ensure employees and customers experience the organization as respectful, fair, inclusive, and accessible.
With more than twenty years of experience across Canada and internationally, Sacha has built a career at the intersection of workforce strategy, organizational culture, employee experience, and leadership effectiveness. Her work has spanned the professional services, fintech, and banking sectors, where she has led large-scale people and culture initiatives designed to strengthen engagement, accountability, and organizational performance.
Known for her practical and systems-focused approach, Sacha partners with executives and employees to embed inclusion, accessibility, ethical leadership, and human rights principles into workplace culture, talent practices, and organizational decision-making. She is particularly passionate about helping organizations move from intention to action by creating environments where people feel valued, respected, and able to contribute their best.
Sacha is a frequent speaker and panelist on topics including inclusive leadership, workplace culture, accessibility, employee experience, unconscious bias, and the future of work. She is recognized for translating complex inclusion and culture challenges into practical strategies that create meaningful and sustainable change for both employees and the communities organizations serve.
