Plenary Speakers
Malcolm Burrows
Malcolm Burrows is Head, Philanthropic Advisory Services at Scotia Wealth Management. He has worked in gift planning for 32 years at charities and Scotiatrust. He is the founder of Aqueduct Foundation, a foundation with donor advised funds, and a frequent speaker, writer and volunteer in the charitable sector. He is a proud Friend of CAGP since 2004.
Vu Le
Vu Le (“voo lay”) writes the blog NonprofitAF.com. He is the former executive director of RVC, a nonprofit in Seattle that promotes social justice by supporting leaders of color, strengthening organizations led by communities of color, and fostering collaboration between diverse communities. Vu is a founding board member of Community-Centric Fundraising, a movement that aims to ground fundraising practices in racial equity and social justice.
Vu was born in Vietnam. He and his family came to the US when Vu was eight. He spent several years in Seattle, attending elementary and middle school, before moving to Memphis, Tennessee for high school and St. Louis for college and graduate school. He has a BA in Psychology and a Master in Social work. He is a vegan, a father of two kids (ages eight and five), and a staunch defender of the Oxford Comma.
Nikki Sanchez
Nikki is a Pipil and Irish/Scottish academic, Indigenous media maker, and environmental educator. Nikki holds a master's degree in Indigenous Governance and is presently completing a Ph.D. with a research focus on emerging visual media technology as it relates to Indigenous ontology. Nikki is a doctoral fellow at the Center for Religion and Society at the University of Victoria and a board member with the BC Women’s Hospital and Sierra Club BC. She designed and directed the first-ever Indigenous Storyteller edition with Telus STORYHIVE; a project to provide funding and mentorship for 30 emerging Indigenous filmmakers in BC and Alberta.
In May of 2020, Nikki's first book, an anthology of the Salish Sea Resident Orca whales was released by the Royal BC Museum publisher, it has remained on the BC bestsellers list ever since. Nikki was the former David Suzuki Foundation’s “Queen of Green"" (queenofgreen.ca) where her work centered on environmental journalism, social media and digital media creation to provide sustainable solutions for a healthy planet, as well as content creation to bring more racial and gender inclusivity into the environmental movement.
Djaka Blais
Djaka Blais (she/her) is a change agent to shift power dynamics and remove oppressive structures; she focuses on continuous improvement, and advocates for marginalized voices and grassroots initiatives at decision-making tables. She is a Co-Founder of the Foundation for Black Communities, the first philanthropic foundation for Black communities in Canada. Djaka is the inaugural Executive Director of Hogan’s Alley Society, a Vancouver-based non-profit focused on advancing the social, political, economic, and cultural well-being of people of African descent through the delivery of inclusive housing, built spaces, and culturally informed programming.
Before joining Hogan’s Alley Society, Djaka was the Director, Grants and Racial Equity Strategy with Calgary, where she guided the Foundation through an ongoing Racial Equity journey. She is a board member with Philanthropic Foundations Canada, a fellow with SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and an alumni of the Justice Funders Harmony Initiative Fellowship.
Djaka lives as a guest on the unceded and occupied ancestral lands of the sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), Stó:lō, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations.
Session Speakers
Aileen Battye, LLB, TEP
Aileen Battye, LLB, TEP - is a tax friendly, estates and trust lawyer with RBC Family Office Services. Based in Vancouver, BC,
She assists high net worth clients of RBC with their philanthropic and legacy plans. Aileen is Secretary of STEP Canada, and volunteers as a member of the Development Committee of the Vancouver Foundation.
She is a member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, Canadian Tax Foundation, and a former Trustee of the YMCA of Greater Vancouver Foundation (serving for 9 years).
Aimée Lindenberger, B.Tech, CFRE
Aimée Lindenberger is the Founder and Chief Engagement Officer of Refocus Communications & Fundraising. With over 20 years of marketing and communications experience, a tender heart and insightful mind, and being one of the first in the world to obtain a Philanthropic Psychology Certificate, Aimée shares new approaches with charities, helping them to create successful fundraising programs.
Specializing in fundraising communications, legacy giving, appeals and donor engagement, she gives organizations a voice—and helps inspire and motivate supporters to take action for the causes they care about.
Alen Okanovic
Alen Okanovic - A refugee during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Alen experienced the generosity of charitable support that changed his life forever. After immigrating to Canada, Alen poured his time and energy into giving back, which led to a career in the non-profit sector.
He is the Manager of Legacy Giving at the Red Cross, as well as an active volunteer within his local community. His volunteer efforts have included being President of the Bosnian-Canadian Society, board member with the Muslim Council of Calgary, and Chair of the Calgary CAGP Education Committee.
He currently volunteers with the Red Cross’ Emergency Response Team.
Allen Davidov, MBA, CM
Allen Davidov, MBA, CM. is the Senior Vice President & Practice Leader of the not-for-profit, energy, transportation, and public sector at Environics Analytics. With nearly twenty years of experience in marketing, analytics, and fundraising, he has worked with organizations of all sizes to unlock the value of information in decision-making and business strategy.
Prior to joining EA, Allen successfully led marketing, and a variety of fundraising programs at a number of organizations, including Sinai Health Foundation, Habitat for Humanity GTA, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Ontario Region, St. John’s Rehab Hospital Foundation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and North York General Hospital Foundation. Allen is also an active member of the Canadian Marketing Association Not-For-Profit Council, a marketing and data volunteer with the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, and a member of Seneca College’s Marketing Advisory Council.
He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Liverpool, a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Ryerson University, a Creative Advertising diploma from Centennial College, and a Chartered Marketer certificate from the Canadian Marketing Association.
Amanda Stacey, J.D. (Juris Doctor)
Amanda Stacey is a partner with Miller Thomson LLP.
Ms. Stacey provides advice in the areas of wealth management, estate planning, charity and not-for-profit law. She advises clients on Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, family business succession planning, and corporate re-organizations. Ms. Stacey also advises on the establishment, tax compliance, governance, and regulation of charities and not-for-profit organizations. She also assists financial institutions with issues pertaining to administering estate assets, registered and non-registered accounts, powers of attorney and capacity issues.
Ms. Stacey was the Chair of the board of CAGP from 2017-2019 and a board member from 2012-2020. She is a frequent writer and speaker on a variety of estate planning and charity and not-for-profit topics.
Amy Gibbons, MBA, CIM
Amy Gibbons has over 20 years of experience in the investment management and financial services industry. She spent several years advising high net-worth families and foundations as an Investment Counsellor with a boutique investment firm before joining Marketing leadership at Canada Life in 2014.
She is an active member of numerous charitable organizations and currently serves as a member of the Westminster College Foundation’s Investment Advisory Committee, Director of McCormick Care Group, and a member of the Elgin Middlesex United Way Cabinet Committee. She was recognized as one of London’s Top 20 under 40 in 2015.
Andrew Valentine
Andrew Valentine’s charities and non-profit law practice focuses on providing advice to organizations on issues including gift planning, incorporation and registration, ongoing compliance matters, and audits. Andrew also deals extensively with non-profit corporate governance and corporate structuring issues, advising on corporate restructuring, directors’ duties and liabilities, governance best practices, bylaws and policies, and membership disputes.
Andrew has expertise in social enterprise, and has worked with clients to develop innovative structures to unlock new revenue and find new ways of pursuing their mission. Andrew also advises on social finance and mission-investing for charities and foundations. Andrew played a key role on the Miller Thomson team that worked on the first federally funded social impact bond with a large national charity.
Andrew has been involved in several litigation matters involving charity law issues, including at the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Andrew has authored and co-authored a number of articles about charity and non-profit law and speaks regularly on these topics. Andrew worked extensively on the charities law text, Charities Taxation, Policy and Practice. Andrew is a member of the Ontario Bar Association Charity and Not-for-Profit Section Executive, and has participated in government consultations regarding non-profit issues.
Ann Rosenfield, MBA, CFRE
An acknowledged leader in Jewish philanthropy, Ann Rosenfield works directly with donors as a one-person fundraising shop at Temple Sinai of Toronto. Ann's has been interviewed by the CBC, Toronto Star, Macleans, Associated Press and other media on fundraising.
She has spoken on philanthropy across Canada and internationally including a master class for the International Fundraising Conference in Amsterdam and several courses in San Francisco. Ann also serves as a Governance volunteer for Rainbow Railroad, a LGBTQI+ refugee charity.
Barbara Chambers
Barbara is a passionate brand advocate, with nearly 30-years of strategic marketing communications leadership in the non-profit sector, working primarily with Christian faith-based organizations. She is the Director of Communications with Abundance Canada, a public foundation that offers donor-advised funds.
As an acclaimed and results-driven strategic leader, Barbara has a long history of using her insight to champion diversity, equity, and anti-oppression agendas. Barbara served as Board Chair with reStart, an urban liaison service helping youth navigate the judicial and education systems. She sits on the board of the CAGP Foundation and is a member of the AFP and CAGP."
Barkha Patel
Barkha Patel is the Development Officer, Student Fundraising, Annual Giving at Simon Fraser University.
Bob Mills
Robert (Bob) Mills is a member of the Skidegate Eagle clan of the Haida Nation. Bob has spent his life living and working throughout B.C. with RCMP, the B.C. Aboriginal Mine Training Association, Emergency Management, B.C., First Nations Health Authority, contract work with the B.C. Justice Institute and more recently the First Nations Emergency Services Society. Bob was an elected member of his community’s Band Council and the elected Chief for two terms.
In 2021 Bob worked with funding agencies to bring donation dollars into FNESS, which has allowed for more service delivery to Indigenous people both on and off reserve. This flexibility in funding has brought innovation to Preparedness and Recovery, two of the four pillars of emergency management.
Bobby Kleinman, FCPA, FCA
Robert (Bobby) moved into philanthropy in August 1994 by becoming the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal. The JCF is seen to be Canada’s most donor-centred foundation. He is presently a planned giving consultant.
He previously was a partner in taxation at Ernst and Young.
Bobby specializes in tax-assisted giving and has written numerous articles on the subject and has published the JCF Gift Planning Handbook, available to the public at www.jcfmontreal.org.
He has helped many Canadian charities design their planned giving programs.
Robert is Past-President of the Conseil de la Philanthropie du Quebec, the Table Ronde du Quebec of the CAGP, JIAS Canada, JIAS Montreal and the Mount Royal Tennis Club.
Brad Offman, MA, MBA, CFRE, MFA-P
Brad Offman is Founder and Managing Partner of Spire Philanthropy, a management consultancy specializing in corporate-charitable partnerships and philanthropic advisory services. He is the former Senior Vice President, Strategic Philanthropy at Mackenzie Investments, former President of the Mackenzie Investments Charitable Foundation and Managing Director of the Mackenzie Charitable Giving Fund. Prior to joining Mackenzie, Brad served as Vice President, Development at the Toronto Community Foundation.
Brad is currently on the Board of the V-42 Foundation, the CAGP Foundation and Benefaction Foundation; and sits on CAGP's Government Relations Committee and the Editorial Advisory Board for Gift Planning in Canada.
Beth Proven, CFRE, BA, CIM
Beth Proven has been in fundraising and not-for profit administration since 1994, first starting out working for various arts organizations, moving to university fundraising for 18 years (10 in planned giving), two years at a children’s hospital, six years at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and is now has returned to her roots in the rural Manitoba as an Advancement Officer, Major Gifts at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon, MB.
A regular speaker at CAGP locally and nationally, Beth is also the recipient of the National Friend of CAGP Award, as well as the Provincial Chapter’s Friend of CAGP Award.
Calvin Fong
Calvin joined the Vancouver Foundation in May 2014 in the role of Director, Donor Services. This role allows Calvin the privilege to work with donors, both individuals and charities, to establish their own endowment funds at Vancouver Foundation.
Prior to joining Vancouver Foundation, Calvin was the Manager, Philanthropic Services with Vancity Community Foundation for 5 years leading the Philanthropic Services team and managing its donor advised funds for individual and charitable organization donors.
Before that, Calvin practiced over 25 years in the domestic and offshore wealth management industry, practicing in the personal trust field.
Candace Wasacase-Lafferty
Candace Wasacase-Lafferty is the Senior Director of the Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre at the University of Saskatchewan and Director of Honouring Nations Canada for Fulbright Canada. She also serves as a member of the Board of Directors and Chairs the Fundraising Committee for Wanuskewin Heritage Park, and on the Board for the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority.
Candace is a Saulteaux and Cree citizen of the Kahkewistahaw First Nation, and a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan.
Prior to her 20-year career with USask, Candace worked within her own communities and held positions with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, The Saskatoon Tribal Council, and the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies.
Carmen Vanderlinde
Carmen Vanderlinde has worked in fundraising for 15 years, specifically in Gift Planning for the past decade. She has grown her career with the Queen’s University Office of Advancement and is currently the Associate Director of Gift Planning.
She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto and is an Executive Volunteer with the Estate Planning Council of Southeastern Ontario. She enjoys being active outdoors and runs an apple farm north of Kingston, Ontario with her husband and two kids.
Charlotte Paul, CIM
For over 15 years Charlotte has specialized in the creation and implementation of wealth building, tax minimization, estate and legacy planning strategies. Charlotte focuses on assisting widowed, divorced and women living on their own. She has been featured in The Globe and Mail and Globe Advisor and has spoken for several organizations on the topic of philanthropy.
Charlotte has been deeply involved in the charitable community in Vancouver, Toronto, and her hometown of Victoria, and has partnered with several charities including Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Canadian Mental Health Association.
She has also served as a Director on the Board of the Soaring Spirits, a charitable organization that creates resources and community for widowed Canadians"
Celeste Bannon Waterman
An experienced development professional, Celeste brings a diverse set of skills and expertise, as well as 25+ years’ experience in the non-profit sector. With over 12 years working at KCI, Celeste has partnered with organizations of all scope and size, from some of Canada’s largest charities to small, grassroots organizations developing fundraising capacity.
Having founded KCI’s Research & Analytics team, her work now encompasses a full range of strategic services, including fundraising program analysis, campaign studies, revenue generation plans, operational reviews, and targeted counsel. She also leads KCI’s compensation benchmarking and consulting services, giving her deep knowledge of success factors and characteristics of high-performing organizations.
Christina Parfitt, CFP
After graduating from the University of Western Ontario, Christina went back home to Kingston where she started her career at RBC Dominion Securities rising to the position of Associate Advisor with a wealth management team providing clients with a customized holistic wealth approach while earning her Certified Financial Planning designation. In 2014, she transitioned to the Investment Services team at Queen’s University where she was involved in the investment and treasury activities for the university.
She’s now been with Queen’s Gift Planning team as Senior Estate & Trust Officer for 6 years where she brings together her institutional knowledge with experience in investment, tax and estate planning. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her husband and two kids at their nearby family cottage.
Crystal Schmalle, CFRE
Crystal Schmalle is the Senior Legacy Giving Officer with Hospitals of Regina Foundation. She has nine years in the charitable sector and has specialized in legacy giving over the past four years. Crystal sits on the CAGP Board of Directors as the Education Chair for the South Saskatchewan Chapter.
She proudly holds her CFRE and Public Relations certificate. She loves talking about legacy and sharing her passion with other professionals.
Danzel Pinto
Danzel Pinto is a CPA and Principal at Grant Thornton LLP in the Greater Toronto Area where he exclusively serves charities and not-for-profit organizations. Danzel provides assurance and advisory services, with areas of focus including audit and financial reporting, financial statement reviews, operational process improvements, governance and reserves. Danzel is a frequent speaker and author on these and other wider issues affecting the sector.
Danzel currently serves CAGP as the National Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee, and serves as National Treasurer of the Grant Thornton Foundation. Danzel is also highly involved in his community, serving various leadership positions throughout his life.
David Fisher, MBA
David Fisher has worked in many advancement disciplines. Alumni Relations, annual giving, information systems and in the past 4 years, planned giving. He is currently the manager of legacy giving at Trinity College School, Port Hope, Ontario.
David Kravinchuk
David firmly believes philanthropy is for everyone. Working with The Common Good’s clients across Canada and internationally, he inspires donors-next-door to unleash their desire for meaningful change by giving to causes they care most about. Using everyday tools like email, direct mail, case statements, legacy booklets, donor newsletters, annual reports and telephone scripts, David creates momentum for movements that are making measurable gains on the world's most intractable issues. He’s devoted to purposefully investing in deep donor relationships. You'll see him at conferences wherever someone will let him speak (so far, throughout Canada and USA, plus New Zealand and Slovakia).
David Cunnington, M.Sc.
David Cunnington is the Ecological Gifts Program Coordinator at Environment and Climate Change Canada in British Columbia. He assists donors of ecologically sensitive land to access significant income tax benefits, and provides support to recipient land trusts and governments to help them achieve their conservation goals. He has facilitated approximately 125 donations of land and conservation covenants across British Columbia.
Previously, he worked on Species at Risk for the Province of BC, Parks Canada, and Environment Canada. Early in his career, he was a specialist in amphibians and reptiles. He lives on Galiano Island in the Salish Sea.
Eli Clarke
Everyone deserves an education, regardless of financial background. As Manager, Estate Giving and Legacy Planning at McMaster University, Eli builds meaningful relationships to create opportunities for donors to provide access to education to create a more just and equitable world. Prior to McMaster, Eli was a Senior Development Officer, Gift Planning at the University of Toronto after overseeing the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada's legacy giving program.
Before beginning his career in fundraising, Eli was a sought-after professional tuba player who performed across North America and was a founding member of Band Bajha Brass, North America's first Bollywood Brass Band.
Emily Cabrera
Emily is of mixed Indigenous ancestry with maternal ties to Fort Williams First Nation on the traditional lands of the Anishnabek and paternal to Anahuac (Mexico), however grew up removed from her culture. Emily has over a decade of charitable experiences, building meaningful relationships with funders, writing proposals, and supporting strategic planning whether it's been in small shops or large institutions.
She believes in transparency and truth, and brings this to her work within the philanthropic sector. Emily works at the First Peoples' Cultural Foundation as their Lead of Partnership Development, supporting the vitality of Indigenous languages, arts and cultural heritage in the province.
Emma Lewzey, CFRE
Emma Lewzey is an award-winning fundraising expert with 25 years experience raising millions of dollars across the arts, education, health and human services sectors. She’s the founder and lead consultant at Blue Sky Philanthropy, where she works with nonprofits to increase their impact and exceed their fundraising goals by helping them raise more 5, 6 and 7-figure donations. Emma is an active leader, mentor, and proud member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Eric Saarvala, MBA, SR&S, CSR-P
Eric Saarvala is the Executive Director of the Raymond James Canada Foundation and Head, Corporate Sustainability of Raymond James Ltd. His 20+ years of consulting and management experience in the private and non-profit sectors focuses on social impact through sustainability, strategic philanthropy and social purpose. Organizations rely on him for strategies, programs, fundraising and operations, ESG initiatives, stakeholder engagement and digital transformations to power their social impact and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).
Eric holds an Executive MBA from the Ivey Business School and a Graduate Diploma in Social Responsibility & Sustainability from the University of St. Michael’s College.
Evan Connell
For more than a decade, Evan has worked in several sales roles including Life Manager and Sales Consultant for Canada Life, focused on life insurance, and living benefits planning. His territory spanned across Central Ontario providing support for advisors focused on insurance planning.
He currently helps to create innovative insurance tools and sales strategies to support wholesalers and advisors across Canada in having important financial, estate and legacy planning conversations with clients.
Florence Carey
Florence Carey operates a solo law practice focussed on charities and non-profits. An experienced lawyer, Florence has 20+ years of experience at a regional firm where, in addition to a busy tax practice, she helped charities and non-profits address their legal issues. Today, Florence provides solid legal advice to help organizations incorporate, create by-laws, and apply for charitable status. She also helps her clients navigate Canada Revenue Agency regulation of charities and non-profits, including gift planning and fundraising rules, and provides advice regarding governance matters.
Florence has been recognized as a Best Lawyer in Canada, is the past-chair of the Canadian Bar Association Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section, past member of the Technical Issues Working Group of Canada Revenue Agency’s Charities Directorate, and Chair of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners Manitoba Chapter. Florence completed the Institute of Corporate Directors’ NFP Governance Essentials Program in 2019, and received the full Directors’ Education Program (DEP) designation in 2021.
She has served on the volunteer boards of directors of a number of local charities, and currently serves as Board President of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra. She is also a board member at Imagine Canada and Charitable Gift Funds Canada Foundation. She is a frequent writer and lecturer on charity law subjects.
Fraser Green
Fraser Green – Chief Strategist & Smartypants – Good Works Through his careers in business, politics and philanthropy, Fraser Green has honed his talent as one of this country’s most passionate and persuasive storytellers. Fraser is a Principal at Good Works, one of Canada’s leading fundraising consulting agencies. At Good Works, Fraser’s focus is on communications/message strategy, content creation and active donor listening.
Fraser is a gifted writer and a sought-after public speaker. He presents regularly at fundraising conferences in Canada, the USA and Europe. Fraser is the co-author of ‘Iceberg Philanthropy’ and ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ and the author of 3D Philanthropy. In his spare time, Fraser is passionate about playing his guitars, yin yoga, skiing, cycling, reading biographies and talking way too much.
Gillian Doucet Campbell
Gillian Doucet Campbell, MA, CFRE Gillian Doucet Campbell, MA, CFRE is the Engagement Leader with the Anglican Cathedral in Halifax, N.S. She has over 15 years of experience where she has been given the privilege and honour to work hard with various organizations, predominantly Christian faith-based ones, to foster a culture of intentional stewardship (giving of resources) that moves a group to renewal and onto a clear path of engagement with a community-based vision that is sustainable.
Her work is informed by a deep knowledge of the exhilaration and stress of working for long-term structural change while beginning and sustaining programs.
Gordon Larin
Gordon is of European-settler descent living on the traditional lands of the Hul'q'umi'num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples. With 30-years of wealth management and estate planning experience, he works to create sustainable funding for Indigenous cultural vitality alongside his colleagues at First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation as Executive Director. Gordon has vast experience navigating sensitive issues, innovating with a big-picture perspective, and bringing people together for the common good.
Actively approaching challenges with an intersectional perspective, Gordon is effective with ally-management and amplifying the voices of historically and systemically excluded groups, creating opportunities for meaningful representation that integrates social justice values.
Glenn Stewardson, CFP, FMA. MFA-P
Glenn is a recognized financial educator, author and speaker. He has presented more than 250 times on topics such as: reducing taxes, family wealth preservation and creating philanthropy. He created the program and licensed Joyful Retirement Education Classes for retirees across Canada.
Glenn is a CAGP Member since 2008 and a Past Chair of the Nova Scotia Chapter.
Glenn is the Atlantic consultant for the Donor Motivation Program for 11 years and a 28 year veteran Financial Planning Advisor with Assante Hydrostone in Halifax. Glenn is the ‘go-to guy’ in Halifax when donors ask complex questions on gift planning.
Grant Monck, LL.B.
After working for twenty years over gift planning and development programs for academic, conservation and health organizations, Grant established a private consulting firm in 2014 based in Vancouver providing services in the areas of gift planning, government relations, major gift fundraising and strategic planning to not-for-profit organizations. Clients include community and hospital foundations, education, environmental, health, Indigenous, religious and social service organizations.
Grant also holds the position of Senior Counsel with PGgrowth. Grant is a current board member of the CAGP Foundation, past Chair of the National Government Relations Committee and was named a Friend of CAGP in 2016.
Gwenyth Stadig
Gwenyth Stadig works in the area of Tax Law, with a focus on Social Impact. She provides general counsel and specialized tax advice to charities and not-for-profit organizations across Canada. She also works with the Private Client Services and Business practice group to uniquely serve clients local to Southwestern Ontario.
Gwenyth provides practical advice and counsel in two main areas:
Social Impact: Gwenyth focuses her practice on assisting charities and non- profits, as well as organizations hoping to become charities or non-profits. She helps them navigate their unique complex regulatory environment and provides tailored advice.
Private Client Services: Gwenyth advises clients of estate and succession planning, as well as estate administration.
Gwenyth develops personal relationships with her clients to provide intelligent, tailored options for them to make informed decisions."
Harvey McKinnon
Harvey McKinnon has been a fundraiser for over 40 years and is recognized as one of North America’s leading fundraising experts. His consultancy raises money non-profits across North America. He is a seasoned trainer who has delivered fundraising keynotes at conferences around the world. A frequent master-class trainer, he has authored five books –most recently a third book on monthly giving: How to Create Lifelong Donors (2020).
His best-selling book, The 11 Questions Every Donor Asks, is a major gift training manual for fundraising departments throughout the US and Canada. He also co-authored the #1 bestseller The Power of Giving, which has been translated into nine languages.
Henrietta Lam, CFRE
Henrietta Lam brings several years of Development experience having supported the planning and execution of fundraising and planned giving initiatives globally as the Director of Development of Divine Renovation Ministry, an organization that serves Catholic pastors and parishes worldwide, and locally in the Archdiocese of Vancouver and its multiculturally diverse 70+ parishes.
She has a BSc in Microbiology and Chemistry from the US and pursued work in research for several years before stumbling upon the heroic world of nonprofits and philanthropy in Canada. She is a long-time CAGP member and serves on the CAGP National Membership Committee.
Holly Greatrex, CFRE
Holly Greatrex is a CFRE, a proud Carleton alumna and the Director of Personal and Planned Giving at Carleton University. Holly has over 17 years of fundraising and professional experience and is an active member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP). Holly develops and manages Carleton’s proactive planned giving programming, marketing and fundraising plans- including the design and delivery of the Carleton University Giving Insight newsletter, surveys and other lead generating marketing efforts and tools.
Holly works closely with donors to design gift plans that maximize tax and financial benefits while achieving their philanthropic goals.
Holly Wagg, MA, CFRE
Holly Wagg, CFRE leads both the people and business at Good Works - a Canadian fundraising agency that specializes in direct mail, digital and legacy giving for annual donors. She the proud co-author of You Can’t Take It With You: The Art & Science of Legacy Fundraising (2019) and she co-founded the Ten Oaks Project in 2004 for which she was honoured with a lifetime achievement award in the queer community before she cracked 30.
She’s a widowed, and re-married, mother of six (two adopted, one bio and three step-children) who you can often find adventuring outdoors or trying to be better at CrossFit, gymnastics and yoga.
Imam Irshad Osman, CFRE
Irshad Osman is an Imam by training and a Fundraiser by profession. He has worked and studied on three continents. Currently, Irshad works as a Senior Development Officer at the University of Toronto. Passionate about Inclusive Philanthropy, Irshad has worked at many non-profits overseeing fundraising portfolios worth of Millions of dollars to support local and international causes.
He was part of the first cohort of AFP's Fellowship in Inclusion and Philanthropy. As an Interfaith activist, Racial Equity Award, etc. Last year, he founded the first-of-its-kind Muslim-Indigenous Connection program.
Ingrid Gingras
Ingrid Gingras is the Director of Marketing at the Ottawa Hospital Foundation. Spending her early career days in a newsroom, Ingrid quickly learned the importance of collaboration, trust, and that not all original plans are meant to be. Today, Ingrid leads a team of data-driven marketing strategists and digital experts who focus on developing and executing high-performing strategies and direct response revenue generation.
She loves pairing her love for marketing with her passion for non-profit. Ingrid has more than 15 years of experience in non-profit communications and marketing. She is a part-time professor of marketing and advertising at Algonquin College, is currently completing her Masters in Digital Marketing, and sits on the board of Ottawa Victim Services.
Janice St-Denis, CFRE
Janice L. St-Denis, CFRE, is a passionate relationship fundraiser with almost 20 years of experience working in strategic philanthropy, specifically in the areas of major gift fundraising and estate & legacy planning. Janice has worked with The Arthritis Society, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), McMaster University, and is currently the VP, Philanthropy at the CHEO Foundation in Ottawa, Ontario.
Janice has trained as a death doula through Going with Grace, has earned her National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) proficiency badge and is nearing completion of a Palliative Care certificate through Durham College.
Janice feels strongly about the need for open conversations about death and grief and has been providing death education to her peers for over ten years. Janice believes that people-serving professions should attend to this privilege with great care and compassion; it is her personal mission to help connect others with resources for their own journey. If you’d like to continue the conversation, please connect on LinkedIn.
Jaya Mootoo
Jaya Mootoo is a detail-oriented, driven fundraising and equity professional, poised with an entrepreneurial flare for seeing potential, identifying opportunities, and reaping results. Jaya is dedicated to equity and inclusion in the fundraising sector, and in society
Jaya created a successful, globally recognized fund-raiser: “CRAM-A- CRUISER FOOD DRIVE AND FUNDRAISER”, now implemented numerous police services across Canada and the US.
Jaya has completed both the Event Management Diploma and the Fundraising Management postgraduate certificate programs at Humber College.
With over 20 years in social service and community development, including working with women and children experiencing gender-based violence and volunteering with police services, Jaya continues to advocate against gender- based violence in fundraising.
Jennett Lee, CPA
Jennett Lee is Lead, Finance and Operations, Philanthropic Advisory Services at Scotia Wealth Management. She is a Finance professional with 20 years of experience in systems and process improvements. Jennett has been with Aqueduct Foundation since 2021.
Jennifer Button, MFA-P
As Director and Head of Philanthropic Services, Jennifer Button manages the foundation management group accountable for the charitable gift fund (CGF) programs offered through the Charitable Gift Funds Canada Foundation (GFC). She is responsible for the suitability evaluation of in-kind gifts offered to the GFC, and for giving advice and guidance to RBC advisors and donors on the use and application of CGFs.
Jennifer has a deep understanding of the philanthropic landscape and charitable sector in Canada. She brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic philanthropy, connecting high- and ultra-high-net-worth donors and families to causes they care about, and building philanthropic plans that balance personal, family and tax considerations. Prior to joining RBC, she worked in different areas across the not-for-profit sector, including in education, amateur sport, health care and international development.
Jennifer holds a Master Financial Advisor – Philanthropy (MFA-P) designation, and is a member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners. Jennifer also earned a master’s degree in Sports Administration and Marketing from the Université de Lausanne in Switzerland.
In addition to her career in philanthropy, she is the President of the University of Toronto’s Athletic Alumni Association, and represented Canada at the 2000 Summer Olympics as team captain of the women’s national swim team.
Jennifer Robins, MBA, CM
With nearly twenty years of experience, Jennifer is responsible for helping charities and foundations apply EA’s products and services to attract and retain donors, corporate partners, and volunteers. Jennifer joined Environics Analytics in 2014, and brings a wealth of experience in sales, marketing and analytics across education, finance, not-for-profit, and healthcare industries.
Jennifer holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in French and marketing management from the University of Guelph and a Masters in Business Administration degree from Hult International Business School.
Jenny Mitchell, CFRE, DMA
Jenny Mitchell (CFRE, DMA), works closely with not-for-profit leaders to change the world - one mission at a time. Chavender assists clients, across Canada and the U.S., to inspire their donors and achieve their fundraising goals through personalized fundraising coaching and training. Before completing her CFRE, Jenny trained as a classical musician and earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts. She brings her creative approach, her drive for excellence, and her passion for people to the world of not-for-profits."
Jessica Lo, JD., TEP
Jessica Y. Lo, BSc, JD, TEP Jessica is a lawyer and the Assistant Vice-President, Estate Planning & Corporate Advisory at Solus Trust Company Limited. She facilitates the process for those seeking to appoint Solus Trust in the full range of its fiduciary roles, and also serves its management team in an internal advisory capacity.
She takes pride in guiding clients with ensuring that the necessary planning details are in order for the smooth, eventual administration of their wishes. Prior to joining Solus Trust, Jessica practiced at a regional full-service law firm in the areas of estate and incapacity planning, as well as estate administration.
Jo-Anne Ryan, FEA, MFA-P, 21/64 Certified Advisor
Jo-Anne works with clients to develop strategies that incorporate philanthropy in their overall financial and estate plans. She is the architect and Executive Director of the Private Giving Foundation, the first donor advised fund to be launched by a financial institution in Canada.
Jo-Anne is the Vice Chair of the Board for Bishops University Foundation and a member of the advisory board at Carleton University for its Masters in Philanthropy and Non-profit Leadership program – the only one of its kind in Canada.
Jos Herman, CPA, CA, CFP, CLU, TEP
At her firm, Resources & Solutions Professional Corporation, Jos has been instrumental in providing wealth, tax and estate planning for her clients and partners with practitioners to create a team of professionals centered around the client.
Jos is a proud member of the:
• Canadian Association of Gift Planners
• Canadian Tax Foundation
• Estate Planning Council of Canada
• CALU
• Financial Planning (FP) of Canada
• Entrepreneurial CPAs of Calgary
• Step Canada
She is a well sought out speaker and industry professional that is able to address succession planning, asset protection, philanthropy, and explain the tools of the trade required in designing a Wealth Accumulation and Protection Plan for clients. She is able to bring together experience and expertise in a number of areas to create a uniquely integrated service that is focused on solving the wealth planning needs of business owners and executives.
She is able to bring together experience and expertise in a number of areas to create a uniquely integrated service that is focused on solving the wealth planning needs of business owners and executives.
Jill Nelson, CFRE, MFA - Philanthropy
For over 20 years, Jill Nelson has helped donors fulfill their philanthropic goals. She is passionate about the benefits of tax-smart giving for donors, to help them do more than they ever imagined. She is Associate Vice-President, Estates & Gift Planning at The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
Jill is Chair of the CAGP Foundation Board and is on the National Education Committee. She has been Faculty for CAGP on the Original Gift Planning Course, and Bequest Administration Essentials, and speaks Canada-wide. Jill received the ""Friend of CAGP Award"" in 2014 for involvement and impact on strategic charitable gift planning in Canada.
Justin Pilon
Justin Pilon is the Director of Advancement at Huron University College, an affiliate of the University of Western Ontario dedicated to educating Leaders with Heart. Justin’s role focuses on major and planned giving, as well as working with the University’s leadership and faculty to advance a culture of philanthropy across the institution.
With 10 years of experience in higher-education philanthropy, as well as with faith-based and community organizations, Justin is a passionate facilitator of conversations that help donors and organizations achieve their philanthropic and fundraising goals.
Justin believes that we are all called to leadership, and that organizations can and should do more to cultivate and support leadership development at all levels.
Justin is the Past Chair of the London, Ontario, Chapter of CAGP and serves as a Director of St. George’s Anglican Church, London.
Karen Aird
Karen is a member of Saulteau First Nations in the Treaty 8 territory of BC, through her mother, Marlene Cameron/Desjarlais. She has worked as an archaeologist and cultural heritage planner across Canada in projects that convey a strong sense of place in Indigenous landscapes, encompassing the stories, legal traditions, and intangible and tangible elements of Indigenous heritage.
Karen is the co-founder and president of the national, not-for-profit, the Indigenous Heritage Circle and was formerly on the Parks Canada National Indigenous Advisory and the Royal BC Museum Boards. Currently, Karen is the Cultural Heritage Manager for First Peoples’ Cultural Council.
Karen Cooper
Ms. Cooper practices charity and not-for-profit law with an emphasis on corporate and tax issues with KPMG Law LLP. Ms. Cooper was called to the Ontario Bar in 1995 and became counsel for the Department of Justice in tax litigation. In addition to her considerable legal experience, Ms. Cooper was a sessional lecturer at Carleton University School of Business teaching Business Law, and is currently a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Common Law.
Ms. Cooper also served as a Director and Chair of many non-profit boards, including presently as Chair of the Kemptville Campus Education and Community Centre, Governance Chair of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Canada, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Centre for Land Conservation.
Karri LaJeunesse
After a career in sales and marketing, Karri joined the fundraising world in 2010!
She's a senior consultant at Harvey McKinnon Associates, and manages fundraising programs for Oxfam, Greater Vancouver Food Bank, and Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. She is also working with Central Okanagan Food Bank.
She spent over two years at the Rick Hansen Foundation, managing their Community Giving Program, and most importantly, she studies and loves legacy giving.
Kate Bake-Paterson, BA, LLB
Kate Bake-Paterson is a lawyer at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP who practices in the area of charities and not- for-profit organizations. She regularly advises organizations on a broad range of issues, including governance and other matters related to incorporating and organizing not-for-profit entities; regulatory compliance (such as obtaining and maintaining charitable registration); receipt of charitable gifts and other planned giving and the conduct of revenue-generating activities.
Kate also assist donors in making charitable gifts. Kate is the Chair of the Canadian Bar Association National Charities and NPO section and the Chair of CAGP Vancouver Chapter.
Kate Hammer
Kate joined Vancouver Foundation in 2022, as Vice President of Engagement, leading communications, government relations, marketing and knowledge mobilization work.
She has over 15 years experience working in public policy, advocacy, social impact, communications and journalism in New York City, Toronto and Vancouver. She started her career as a reporter covering breaking news for the New York Times and the Globe and Mail, and has won awards for her feature writing and investigative work. She later served as a senior advisor to a former Premier of Ontario, and as Director of Government Relations at Vancity.
She has also served on think tank and non-profit boards, including the BC Centre for Ability, the BC Association of Neighbourhood Houses, the BC Steering Committee of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre.
Kate holds an M.Sc. from New York University, and a B.Sc. from Queen’s University.
Kate Lazier, LL.B. CFP
Kate Lazier is Director of Philanthropy and Legacy Planning at CIBC. As part of CIBC’s Family Office team, Kate supports philanthropic families to make thoughtful and impactful charitable gifts. Kate is lawyer called to the Bar in Ontario and is a certified financial planner.
Prior to joining CIBC she spent 15 years practicing charity and non-profit law at a national law firm. Kate has been recognized for her expertise by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and Best Lawyers in Canada.
Kathy Arney, CA, CPA, MFA-P
Kathy Arney has focussed her career growing organizational capacity, improving results and enabling people to reach their full potential. She founded KEA Canada in 2013, a consulting firm that specializes in helping non-proift and charitable organizations build capacity, mobilize their mission, and maximize their impact.
Kathy’s business degree and CPA designation combined with her executive background and two decades of working in philanthropy provide her with a unique background in finance and fundraising. She has held senior positions across the country and consulted with a wide variety of social profit organizations, including Indigenous-lead organizations. She currently sits on the Board and Education Committee for CAGP.
Keith H. Sjögren
Keith Sjögren has recently retired from his role as a Managing Director at Investor Economics, a leading provider of research and advisory services to the financial services industry in Canada. In his role, Keith was responsible for identifying and managing consulting and research engagements with a wide range of financial institutions and businesses.
Prior to joining the consulting profession in 1995, Keith held a number of executive positions at CIBC including Senior Vice President, Private Banking & Trust and President, CIBC Securities. His banking career spanned retail banking, wealth management and international banking. He has lived and worked in the United States, Iran, the United Kingdom, and Singapore.
Educated at Carleton University, Ottawa and the University of Toronto, Keith is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers and holds the Partners, Directors, and Officers qualification of the Canadian Securities Institute.
Keith is the Chair of the Advisory Council to the Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Carleton University, a member and former Chair of the Investment Committee of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation and a member of the Executive Committee of the Emeritus Counsel of the Canadian Opera Company. Keith is also a member of the Seniors Expert Advisory Committee of the Ontario Securities Commission.
Keith is the author of a number of major reports on issues such as the transfer of wealth; women and wealth; the HNW client in Canada, as well as reports and papers on the issue of women and philanthropy and donor-advised funds.
Kenji Maeda
Kenji’s (he/him) experiences are diverse and grounded in his passion for the arts, education, and building community, and influenced by his Uchinanchu heritage. Based on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, he is the Executive Director of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance, Project Director of SEARA (Sector Equity for Anti-Racism in the Arts), and an arts and culture consultant.
Kenji currently sits on the board of Mass Culture, a national organization where research and the cultural sector intersect, and an alum of the Banff Centre's Cultural Leadership Program. He loves spreadsheets, chewy chocolate chip cookies, and his husband, Alan.
Kevin McCort
Kevin McCort is President and CEO of Vancouver Foundation. With more than 30 years of service to the non-profit sector, both in Canada and around the world, he has earned a reputation as a smart, strategic leader who always puts community at the heart of his work.
Kevin has led Vancouver Foundation through a period of significant transformation with a sharpened focus on donor service, community inspired grant-making, and world-class endowment management. Since he joined in 2013, strong growth in new funds and assets enabled the foundation to contribute over $650 million to towards building healthy, vibrant, equitable and inclusive communities across BC.
As the scale of Vancouver Foundation has grown, Kevin has also worked to expand its impact, pioneering new initiatives and innovations that create meaningful change at a community level. Kevin has led his team in a transformation of Vancouver Foundation’s approach to community granting, focusing on supporting systems change work that address root causes of pressing social, cultural, and environmental issues. The Foundation is committed to further shifting and sharing power in service to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Before joining Vancouver Foundation Kevin worked with some of Canada’s leading humanitarian aid organizations, including six years as President and CEO of CARE Canada. He co-founded The Humanitarian Coalition in 2005 and currently serves on the boards of Friends of Vancouver Foundation and the B.C. Unclaimed Property Society. He is also a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and is a member of the federal Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector, advising the Minister of National Revenue and the Canada Revenue Agency.
Kevin graduated from the University of Toronto in 1989 with a B.Sc. (Specialist/Honours), and an MBA from Queen’s University in 2005. In 2013, he was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal and is currently working towards his ICD.D designation.
Kim Plewes, MFA-P
Kim Plewes, MFA-P – has over 15 years’ experience working in the charitable sector, engaging with families across North America to help them develop personalized strategies that aligned with their charitable giving goals.
With this unique perspective on the intersection of charitable gift planning and major gifts fundraising, Kim provides strategic advice and guidance as a Philanthropic Advisory Specialist to RBC clients in developing their charitable giving and legacy plans as part of their broader wealth management planning.
Based in Toronto, Kim is a member of CAGP, holds the Master Financial Advisor – Philanthropy certification and an undergraduate degree from American University in International Studies.
Kris Love
Kris has 40 years of experience in estate and trust administration, litigation-related matters, multiple jurisdictions and tax compliance.
Prior to working at Solus Trust, Kris served as a Trust Officer, a Tax Officer and a Training Officer for over 20 years at a large bank-owned trust company. She then spent 10 years working for the BC Cancer Foundation as a Planned Giving Officer, responsible for estate gift administration.
Kris has been actively involved in various industry associations over the years. She currently serves on the board of the Greater Vancouver Chapter of the CAGP.
Laurie Fox, MBA
Laurie has been a die-hard charity sector professional for close to 2 decades. Most recently, Laurie specialized in gift planning at Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation and Plan International Canada. It was there that Laurie discovered the power of strategic giving to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary; and its potential to help meet some of society's greatest needs.
For the past two years Laurie has been working with CAGP to develop and launch the Will Power campaign, Canada's biggest effort to make leaving a gift in your Will a social norm.
Lori Guenther Reesor, B.Math, MTS, DMin
Dr. Lori Guenther Reesor (B. Math, MTS, DMin) is an expert in Christian giving (although Mennonites tremble at using the word ‘expert’ to describe themselves!) She asked Christian donors about their giving during a church basement research tour of Canada. She is delighted that her book, Growing a Generous Church: A Year in the Life of Peach Blossom Church is finding an audience among Christians of many denominations.
Lydia Potocnik, LLB, TEP, FEA
Lydia has strategic oversight and leadership of the Estate Planning and Philanthropic Advisory Services team at BMO Private Wealth. Drawing on two decades of estate planning and strategic philanthropy expertise, Lydia acts as a trusted resource, leading high-level planning discussions with business owners, presenting seminars and writing timely commentaries on emerging developments in her field. Lydia assists clients in building a philanthropic legacy by taking a strategic approach.
She guides families through the unique opportunities and strategies that exist to create a legacy that is meaningful with purpose, intention and often transformational. Lydia is also a Family Enterprise Advisor having achieved her FEA designation and works closely with multigenerational families.
Lynne Boardman
Lynne Boardman has been working in fundraising for 20 years, in Canada and the UK. She’s worked with wonderful organizations representing a myriad of different causes, from overseas development to health care, environmental causes, human rights, homelessness organizations and Indigenous education. Lynne works for Vancouver and Toronto-based fundraising consultancy, Harvey McKinnon Associates.
She oversees client services, consults on strategy and writes copy for clients like Amnesty International, Oxfam Canada, Indspire, and many children’s hospitals across the country.
Malcolm Berry
Malcolm leads the team at BC Children’s Hospital Foundation as president & CEO—bringing with him a proven track record of philanthropy and leadership accomplishments in pediatric health care. Malcolm previously served as chief development officer at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri and spent over 10 years at SickKids Foundation in Toronto in several roles—most recently, as vice president of major gifts, where he oversaw major gifts, gift and estate planning, stewardship and donor relations.
An active community volunteer, Malcolm has also served in leadership roles with The Woodmark Group, a North American organization of premier children’s hospitals, Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.
Malcolm Burrows
Malcolm Burrows is Head, Philanthropic Advisory Services at Scotia Wealth Management. He has worked in gift planning for 32 years at charities and Scotiatrust. He is the founder of Aqueduct Foundation, a foundation with donor advised funds, and a frequent speaker, writer and volunteer in the charitable sector. He is a proud Friend of CAGP since 2004.
Marilyn Anthony
Marilyn brings over 25 years of significant major gift fundraising success to her business development role at PearTree. She is a skilled professional with multi-million dollar capital campaign fundraising success within organizations across Canada, including CAMH, United Way, Kids Help Phone, the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario, University of Calgary, Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH), and the Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD).
Marilyn has worked with executive-level volunteer leadership and HNW major gift donors and their advisors throughout her career, including at PearTree, where she now leads special projects involving charity outreach, communications and government relations efforts.
Marilyn's experience, combined with her strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively accomplish objectives have resulted in important fundraising accomplishments that make a difference in the success of leading institutions and organizations. She is a member of CAGP, AFP, and the former Vice Chairman of the Design Exchange.
Mary Beth Taylor
Mary Beth Taylor, CFRE is the Director of Donor Engagement for The Winnipeg Foundation, Canada's oldest community foundation. With 30 years of experience in the charitable sector, she has held senior leadership positions at WWF- Canada, the Sunnybrook & Women’s Foundation and has worked at the University of Manitoba, McMaster University, and University of Toronto.
Most recently, she was Founder, President and Chief Strategist of The Creaddo Group. She was named Outstanding Professional Fundraiser in 2016 by AFP Manitoba Chapter. She is a graduate of the University of Manitoba and holds a Change Management Certificate from Cornell University.
Maya Ahmad
Maya Ahmad is a passionate and goal-oriented fundraising professional with a specialized focus on Legacy Giving. For 15 years, she has been building relationships and making connections with caring individuals, helping them to create a better future through gifts in Wills. Maya believes strongly in the power of a legacy gift and has engaged thousands of Canadians through donor-centred legacy journeys.
Maya is an active member with CAGP. She has volunteered with the Mentoring Program supporting new gift planners and is currently a member of the Education Committee for the Greater Toronto Chapter.
Meena Das
Meenakshi (Meena) Das (she/her/hers) is a nonprofit analytics consultant with her own practice, NamasteData. She specializes in designing equitable research tools and analyzing engagement. Meena appreciates spending her time outside work as a mentor to immigrants and as pro bono research advisor to small shops.
Her three recent favorite projects are talking about IDEA-led data and research through her LinkedIn-based newsletter “data uncollected”, publishing her first kindle e-book "Some Data Posts" - a collection of essays on intersection of inclusive research and personal identity, and building a virtual school for advancing equity through data, “Data Is For Everyone”.
Michelle Gazze
Michelle Gazze is a community engagement professional with The Winnipeg Foundation, who has led community investment initiatives in the non-profit, private and public sector. Recipient of the 2021 Emerging Leader in Philanthropy award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, she continues to do soul work rooted in faith, community and storytelling.
She is passionate about creating environments that support inclusivity for new Canadians through her work with the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, Rising Stars Foundation and the True North Youth Foundation. A purposeful community leader, she uses her gifts to inspire connections that create influence and transform relationships in Winnipeg through intentional partnerships that are culturally relevant, socially conscious, and inclusive.
Michelle Johnson, CFRE
Passionate about the environment, justice, kids and critters, Michelle's worked at multinational ENGO's and small shops, making donor dreams and mission worthy gifts happen.
She's built several profitable programs, with little or no budget, since 1996- something she hopes to change! During her years as a fundraiser, Michelle has obtained sustained and substantial investments for the preservation of endangered species, ancient forests, the preservation of indigenous culture, title and rights, privacy, the internet, health, the arts, youth at risk and more.
Michelle served two terms as Chair of CAGP Vancouver Island, is a CFRE and is a proud participant in the Circle on Philanthropy’s Partners in Reciprocity Fellowship.
Mijin Kim
Mijin Kim is the Executive Director of the Secretariat to the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board and Senior Director of the Integrated Secretariat One at the Administrative Tribunals Support Services of Canada. Mijin has spent the majority of her career in the public service, both with the Province of British Columbia and with the Federal Government.
Prior to taking on her current role, Mijin worked at Library and Archives Canada, where she specialized in strategic policy and national programs.
Nathalie Gagnon
Nathalie is a lawyer and a member of the Québec Bar. After practicing labour and employment law for more than 20 years, Nathalie completed a Certificate in Philanthropic Management at the University of Montreal. Committed volunteer in the education, health care and community sectors, she eventually decided to pursue a career in philanthropy.
She first evolved as an advisor for workplace campaigns at Centraide of Greater Montreal, before joining the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation in 2019 where she currently acts as Director of Planned Giving and Legal Advisor.
Nicola Elkins, TEP, CFRE, MFA – Philanthropy, MSc
Nicola Elkins is President of Cause Strategies Inc., a charitable wealth management solutions provider since 2008. She is also Founder and CEO of Benefaction Foundation. She has built a reputation as a valuable resource for those who want to integrate charitable giving into their client’s financial, estate and succession plans. Prior to establishing Cause Strategies Inc., Nicola spent 20 years in the financial services industry holding several senior roles. She has an MSc from the London School of Economics and a BA from McGill University.
She is the managing editor of the Master Financial Advisor - Philanthropy course offered by the Knowledge Bureau in partnership with CAGP and Spire Philanthropy. She is also past President of Rotary Club of Westmount (QC) and is currently a Director of Le Manoir, a home for independent seniors living in Westmount (QC).
Nigel Fawcett, CFA, MBA
As Chief Operating Officer, Nigel is responsible for the delivery of RBC Royal Trust’s key strategic initiatives that focus on business growth, business efficiencies, and enhancing the client and partner experience. He leads three national teams that are tasked with leading and supporting the business to achieve these strategic goals.
The National Initiatives team is dedicated to operations and technology projects as well as management of strategic objectives focused on digital enablement and business transformation. The Trust Investments and Analytics team provides specialized financial services to corporate and institutional clients and provides financial analytics and reporting to the business and stakeholders. The team is also responsible for process automation through system integration and robotics. The National Account Support team is made up of estate tax and accounting specialists that help clients deal with the complexities of estate administration.
Nigel’s career with RBC began in 2010 through the RBC Wealth Management Generalist Program. Before joining RBC Royal Trust in 2012, Nigel completed rotations with RBC Dominion Securities and RBC Global Asset Management. Nigel holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation as well as an MBA degree from the Rotman School of Management.
Ninette Bishay, CPA, CA
Ninette Bishay, CPA, CA, is an Assurance Partner and Co-Leader of the Charities & Not-for-Profit Service Team of Adams & Miles LLP, a mid-sized accounting firm in the GTA, and has been providing assurance, tax and advisory services exclusively to this sector for most of the past 20 years. Ninette regularly advises organizations on best practices with respect to financial reporting and accountability to stakeholders, internal control efficiencies, governance, reserves policies, and CRA compliance matters. Ninette currently serves as the Treasurer of the CAGP Foundation, Finance Committee member (past National Treasurer) of CAGP, Treasurer and Chair of the Risk Management, Finance & Audit Committee of Imagine Canada, among other Board-volunteer positions.
Ninette is an Instructor of the Goodcasting Academy Finance Masterclass for Nonprofit Leaders, and has previously served on two CPA
Canada advisory committees.
Patrick O'Reilly, CEC, PCC
Patrick O'Reilly is a certified executive coach and founder of Padraig Inc - a leadership development firm with programs across Canada. Padraig helps organizations create talented, resilient, successful, and confident leaders. Patrick was previously the first CEO of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and before that, a senior executive with the federal government.
He has chaired fundraising campaigns for the Rainbow Resource Centre and Manitoba Harvest and is a founding board member of the Manitoba LGBT* Chamber of Commerce.
Paul Nazareth, MFA-P
Paul Nazareth has worked in Canada’s philanthropic sector for over 20 years. Currently, Vice President, Education &
Development at the Canadian Association of Gift Planners
(CAGP), and was previously VP at the charity CanadaHelps.
Paul has been a philanthropic advisor with a national wealth management firm in a trust company and spent 15 years working with charities from Universities to Churches. Paul is on the board of several charities including The Circle on Indigenous Philanthropy and on the Advisory Council of Carleton University’s Masters in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership program.
He serves as faculty for the Master Financial Advisor in Philanthropy (MFA-P) program led by CAGP, Knowledge Bureau and Spire Philanthropy, and is a frequent instructor for the tax and advisor community through organizations like CPA, Advocis and Estate Planning Councils.
Paul writes on philanthropy for a variety of publications and regularly appears on national radio and television to speak about creating a personal legacy through charity.
Pavan Thind
Pavan is a second-generation Punjabi settler living on the unceded territories of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwantlen, and Tsawwassen nations. After graduating with a BA in Communications, her deep engagement in the non-profit sector gave her the opportunity to work with various organizations in Canada, focusing on program leadership in education and the arts.
Pavan brings eight years of experience directly from the charitable sector into her role as an Account Manager for Philanthropic Advisory Services at Charitable Impact, where she supports donors in identifying their charitable values and giving goals.
Peter Okonski, CFRE
Peter Okonski has been involved in development and fundraising for over 25 years. He managed 70+ planned giving campaigns for over 60 Canadian and US charities through Legacy Leaders and Artsmarketing Services Inc. and later designed and implemented fund-development and volunteer engagement programs, mainly in the independent school sector.
Currently, Peter is responsible for planned giving at the Archdiocese of Toronto. A long-time member of CAGP, for several years Peter also chaired one of the committees of The Council for Advancement and Support of Education and is a member of the Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies.
Phil Gerard, MBA
Phil was a fundraiser for over a decade before becoming a recruiter. Phil raised close to $20 million in his career. He understands fundraising best practices, speaks the language, and knows the challenges that professionals in the field face and what they are looking for in a rewarding career.
Phil is currently a board director with the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Vancouver.
Rhonda Sogren
Rhonda Sogren was born in Montréal but grew up in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. With a social work background, she worked and volunteered in various social services organizations, including over 10 years in the area of suicide and crisis management prevention in both New York City and Toronto.
Rhonda is currently involved in planned giving at the Archdiocese of Toronto. She is a proud member of CAGP and an active volunteer in the music ministry at her Caribbean parish in Toronto. Also, she is a dedicated proponent of the Kaizen Philosophy – The art of continuous improvement.
Richard Lefebvre, CFRE
Trained at Canada’s National Ballet School, Richard combined his passion for arts, business, and community engagement, leading to a career as a Fundraiser. As Associate Director, Individual and Legacy Giving with The National Ballet of Canada, Richard helps donors achieve their philanthropic goals by supporting them in their donor journeys to create meaningful legacies.
In addition, Richard teaches Fundraising, Financial Management, Grant Writing and Government Relations at Centennial College in the Arts Management Graduate Certificate program. Richard attained his CFRE accreditation in March 2021, and was recognized by CAGP GTA with the 2022 Excellence in Legacy Giving Award.
Rickesh Lakhani
Rickesh Lakhani believes that we are all responsible for each other’s success. He is the Founder of Radiance Advisory, supporting social impact organizations and leaders to align their actions with their values and build stronger cultures based on truth and trust.
He has over 15 years of experience in the social impact sector, including serving as the Executive Director at Future Possibilities for Kids, a community-based organization serving children, and as the Director, Campaign at United Way York Region, leading an $8M annual fundraising campaign. Rickesh is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), sits on the Global Council for the Community-Centric Fundraising movement, and has volunteered with numerous causes and boards.
He enjoys spending time with his family including his 3 children, camping, bike riding, cooking, and playing drums. He is a work in progress.
Rob Bancroft
Rob Bancroft has invested his career at the intersection of charity and finance. He forms strategic connections with advisors, donors, and the impact community to create meaningful outcomes for everybody at the table. Guided by the principle that good business is good for the world, Rob uses his experience as a Family Enterprise Advisor and background in education to foster a collaborative problem-solving approach to complex giving questions. He has facilitated $500M+ in charitable donations over the last five years.
Ronit Yarosky, CFRE
Ronit is Senior Program Manager at KBF CANADA, working with donor advised funds and managing dozens of international charitable projects. With over 25 years experience in development in ‘small shops’, she was previously National Program Director for the AFP Fellowship in Inclusion and Philanthropy and has worked at PBS and Equitas International Centre for Human Rights Education. Ronit’s lived experiences in the Middle East formed her commitment to social justice, dialogue and the importance of questioning oneself and the status quo.
She is a recipient of the YMCA Peace Medal for her work on dialogue between Jewish/Israeli and Palestinian communities.
Rory Green
Rory Green is the Director of Gift and Estate Planning at Simon Fraser University and a former Major and Planned Giving Officer at the British Columbia Institute of Technology and the Canadian Cancer Society. Rory loves cooking and hiking - and she hates long speaker biographies!
Ryan Fraser, CFP ©, CIM, RIS, MFA-P™
Ryan is a nationally known financial planning & philanthropy expert, with an extensive background as a leader, volunteer and founder of many charitable organizations. He specializes in working with individuals who wish to incorporate their personal value system into their financial planning experience.
Ryan led the CAGP Working Group that developed national Life Insurance Guidelines that were released in 2022, and is currently chair of the CAGP Education Committee.
He is also past president of the Estate Planner Councils of London, and was a faculty member for the new MFA-P™ (Master Financial Advisor – Philanthropy) designation.
His book, Driven By Purpose: 32 Remarkable Stories about Growing your Wealth and Leaving a Transformational Legacy is published by Milner and Associates.
Samantha Barr
Samantha is passionate about higher education and ensuring successful futures for the next generation of students. As Senior Development Officer, Leadership and Planned Giving at the University of Toronto Scarborough, Samantha helps alumni achieve their philanthropic goals through a combination of annual and legacy gifts.
A strong believer in the power of education and continuous professional development, she is currently pursuing the Master of Information program at U of T. Samantha is proud to give back to the fundraising sector as a volunteer and currently sits on the CAGP GTA Chapter Education Committee.
Serena Hak, MFA-P
Serena Hak is the Head of Philanthropic Advisory Services at CI Assante Wealth Management. She has been featured in The Globe and Mail’s and is a frequent speaker on strategic philanthropy.
Serena is part of the Vision 2020 program at the Toronto Foundation and currently serves on the boards of AMREF Canada, Outside the March and The Canadian Association of Gift Planners.
Shelley Forsythe
Shelley is the Director of Family Enterprise Planning at BMO Family Office and serves ultra-affluent families across North America. She has extensive experience in the financial services industry and engages families in conversations relevant to both the family and enterprise. Shelley specializes in facilitating family governance and legacy conversations, as well as curating customized workshops to promote education, harmony and effective communication across generations.
She frequently collaborates with families and their multi-disciplinary advisory teams to implement and coordinate frameworks, processes and accountabilities through the creation of a master plan and roadmap for intergenerational wealth continuity.
Sherri Grosz, CFP
In her role at Abundance Canada, Sherri goes beyond the technical and transactional functions of the job to listen to the stories of why donors choose to be generous and why particular charities matter to them. These opportunities help her to build strong relationships with her clients and their families, who often humble and inspire her own generosity.
Sherri is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ® professional and her affiliations include Canadian Association of Farm Advisors, the Centre for Family Business, and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners. She’s delighted to be part of the CAGP faculty.
Sherry Schaefer, BA Rec Admin, MHA
For 35 years, Sherry has worked in healthcare, recreation, special events, and fund development. Completing her Masters in Health Administration, she focused on leadership and team building strategies, deepening her understanding and expertise of mentorship. Through the years Sherry has held many leadership positions including Community Liaison Manager, Director of Foundation/Community Engagement and Talent Development Coach, supporting many staff and colleagues in their efforts to succession plan.
As a committee and executive member of several organizations (ATRA, ARPA, CTRA, AFP Edmonton, CAGP Alberta North, and AFFRE), Sherry has supported mentorship and peer support programs, believing in a community collective to better the field expertise.
Shoni Field, BC SPCA
Shoni Field is the Chief Development Officer at the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In the past four years she’s overseen a 40% growth in their donor base and a 56% growth in fundraising revenue. Shoni is also the founder of For the Paws Summit, an annual virtual global conference that brings together 350+ animal welfare fundraisers from six countries. She has been fundraising for 25 years.
Surina Sproul
Surina is Vice President of Marketing & Communications at BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Surina oversees brand stewardship and strategy, and leads a team of marketers, writers and designers who help inspire support for one of the most recognized and highly regarded institutions in the province through powerful storytelling.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Surina spent over a decade in advertising at Wasserman & Partners. While there, she played an instrumental role in strengthening the brands of many iconic BC-based companies—with a focus on marketing to drive positive social change.
Susan Manwaring, L.L.B., TEP
Susan Manwaring is a Partner and leads the Social Impact Group at Miller Thomson LLP. A recognized leader in advising social enterprises, charities and non-profits, Susan provides general counsel and specialized tax advice. Susan specializes in complex matters, advising on social enterprise and social finance issues. She worked on the first two provincial and federal government funded Social Impact Bonds, and has advised on regulatory and structuring issues, as well as mission investing.
Susan served on the CRA Consultation Panel on Political Activities of Charities, the Government of Canada’s Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector and she appeared before the Senate Special Committee on the Charitable Sector.
Terrance Carter, B.A., LL.B., TEP, Trademark Agent
Terrance S. Carter, B.A., LL.B, TEP, Trademark
Agent – Managing Partner of Carters, Mr. Carter practices in the area of charity and not-for-profit law, and is counsel to Fasken on charitable matters. Mr. Carter is a co-author of Corporate and Practice Manual for Charitable and Not-for-Profit Corporations (Thomson Reuters), a co-editor of Charities Legislation and Commentary (LexisNexis, 2021), and co-author of Branding and Copyright for Charities and Non-Profit Organizations (2019 LexisNexis).
He is recognized as a leading expert by Lexpert, The Best Lawyers in Canada and Chambers and Partners. Mr. Carter is a past member of CRA Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector, and is a Past Chair of the Canadian Bar Association and Ontario Bar Association Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Sections. (italicize the ranking companies and published books)"
Tina Tehranchian, CFP®, CLU®, CHFC®, CIM®, MFA-P TM (Philanthropy)
Since 1991, Tina Tehranchian has been advising high net worth individuals, families, and business owners on how to implement advanced planning strategies to reduce income and estate taxes while at the same time increase their overall income and charitable contributions. Tina is a much sought-after speaker and an award-winning financial educator.
Her highly acclaimed industry comments and advice have been printed in The Wall Street Journal, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The National Post, Morningstar and Yahoo Finance. Tina is also a frequent contributor to the Canadian Business Journal and has been featured on CBC, CTV and BNN.
Véronique Salibur
With an MBA in financial services from UQAM, an Estate planning course from HEC Montreal and several years in wealth management in Financial Services, Veronique chose to put her skills at the service of donors who are committed to achieving their philanthropic goals in health care. Passionate about financial and philanthropic education, strong believer of team work and collaboration, Veronique joined the Fondation du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) in April 2021 as (Advisory) Director, Major and Planned Gifts.
Vicki Hayter
Vicki Hayter is the Director of Legacy Giving at Children's Health Foundation in London supporting Children's Hospital. A CFRE candidate, she is a proven leader with over 20 combined years of Gift Planning and Major Gift experience in healthcare, education and the arts. Vicki is also Chair of the London CAGP Chapter and in addition to her Vocal teaching, she is a firm believer that moments of silence are part of the music – particularly as it relates to gift planning and fundraising in general. Vicki is driven by her passion for growth, ability to embrace change and desire to better our local communities.
Troy McEachren, TEP
Troy McEachren, TEP, is an experienced estate and trust lawyer. Capitalizing on his expertise in civil law, common law, and tax law, Troy focuses his practice on tax and estate planning, wills and trusts, and charitable giving. Troy is recognized as a leading expert on charities and not-for-profit organizations. Troy provides tax and corporate advise on a wide range of issues including relations with tax authorities, corporate governance, planned giving, commercialization activities and social enterprise.
Lana Eagle
Lana Eagle advises companies on how to better engage and work with Indigenous communities and to find a pathway forward through a Reconciliation framework. In 2017 she was elected to the Board of the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) BC. Lana is an appointed member of BC’s Indigenous Business and Investment Council. She is a Director of Geoscience BC and most recently has been elected to the board of Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. She serves as Chair of the Central City Foundation in Vancouver. Lana is a member of the Whitecap Dakota First Nation in Saskatchewan.