Chair
Alex Petrovic has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry holding progressively senior roles at State Street Bank, Financial Models Company, Mackenzie Financial, CIBC and TD Bank.
As a Vice President, Process Simplification Office and Head of Enterprise Digitization & Automation, Alex is responsible for enterprise-wide transformation program related to simplifying the Bank. This includes an overall accountability for Digitization and Automation strategy and execution, as well as enablement of the E2E Customer Journeys Transformation and stand up of other significant transformation efforts. Prior leadership roles included Head of Enterprise Data Technology, Head of Capital Markets Business Architecture and Data & Analytics, and various Capital Markets technology CIO-level roles.
Alex has completed Level 1 of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program, Project Management Professional (PMP) program, and holds a B.Sc. in Business Operations, an MBA from Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto as well as Global Professional Master of Laws (GPLLM) from University of Toronto.
Azim Lila
Director
Azim Lila is a strategic digital technology professional with 15 years of experience in various technology and operation roles within the Royal Bank of Canada, President’s Choice Financial, United Nations and CIBC. Azim has lived, worked and studies in over 4 continents including Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. He completed his Double Masters of Science from the London School of Economics and Beijing University with a focus on International Political Economy and International Affairs. He holds an M.A with a focus on human rights for persons with disabilities and an undergraduate degree in administrative studies from York University. In his spare time, he enjoys yoga, camping and reading.
Janice Charko
Treasurer
Janice Charko is a FCPA, FCGA, LPA, CFP, C.Dir, ACCA (UK) and focuses on the following areas of practice, corporate: Audit, Review & Compilation Engagements, Tax Planning, Controllership, Advising various levels of management; Tax Advisory: Tax Planning, Negotiating and dealing with various issues with CRA, SRED, rollovers, and various tax issues. Janice previous career as a business auditor for Canada Revenue Agency and currently lectures Taxation, Auditing and Financial Accounting for Humber College. She received her Chartered Director designation from the Directors College and McMaster University in 2012. She served as director for CGA Ontario, being Chair of the Board in 2012-2013.
Christina Fung
Director
Christina Fung is an executive in CGI, one of the largest IT and business consulting firms in the world, with more than 20 years of financial services and IT experiences and held various management and executive positions throughout her career.
Christina is currently the Head of Products in Global Wealth & Capital Markets in CGI, managing the product vision, strategy and engineering of 8 solutions, with clients across Canada, US and Europe. She provides strategic guidance and business advice to her clients and in her organization. She is also a board member of the Oakville Symphony Youth Orchestra and a member in the Industry Council of NPower (Non-profit).
Christina moved to Canada from Hong Kong as an immigrant in 1991. She completed her high school and university in Ontario and decided to build her career and family in Canada, where she is very proud of. She lives in Mississauga with her husband and 2 multiracial teenagers.
Victor Tung
Director
Victor Tung is the U.S. Chief Technology and Operations Officer (U.S. CTOO) and Chief Operating Officer, Technology and Operations (COO T&O) for BMO Financial Group. He leads a global team that is responsible for transformation and integration across Technology and Operations. His mandate also includes the development and implementation of technology solutions for the bank’s corporate and international banking areas.
In Victor’s capacity as U.S. Chief Technology and Operations Officer, he is responsible for the strategic and operational governance processes of the U.S. T&O organization and ensuring that it is consistent with Enterprise direction. Further, he is responsible to ensure that the U.S. T&O organization operates in alignment with the U.S. Governance model.
Previously, Victor was Chief Information Officer, Corporate and International, Technology and Operations for the bank.
Victor is a graduate of the Rotman Executive Masters of Business Administration program, holds an Honours Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto Scarborough, has a Certificate in Human Resource Management from Woodsworth College, and earned his Global Professional Master of Laws from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law in 2015.
Victor joined BMO Financial Group in 2012 as the Business Manager for Technology responsible for strategy, planning and the execution of technology initiatives. He was Chief Information Officer, Corporate and International Technology before his current executive appointment responsible for the technology solutions delivery for Human Resources, Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Procurement, Anti-Money Laundering, Corporate and International Technology.
Victor is well known as a respected thought leader in the technology industry and has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. He is a member of AT&T’s Global Advisory Council, sits on Coupa Technology’s Executive Advisory Board and is a member of the Canadian Financial Services Cyber Security Governance Council.
As an advocate for continuous learning, Victor established the Victor Tung Scholarship which is awarded annually to a student in the Master of Management Analytics program at the Rotman School of Management. He also sits on two non-profit boards; Skills for Change, which supports new immigrants, and Ascend Canada, whose focus is on developing and enhancing Pan-Asian talent.
Nicole Pitt
Director
Nicole Pitt is the Director of Talent and Engagement at Kinross Gold, responsible for the development, execution, monitoring and refinement of all global talent and development, employee engagement and equity, diversity and inclusion programs. With over 18 years of experience, Nicky brings deep expertise to this area of talent and engagement.
Nicky holds a BA in English and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, and a Master of Arts Degree in English Language Teaching for Specific Purposes from the University of Warwick, UK. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Executive and Professional Coaching from the University of Texas at Dallas and is an International Coach Federation (ICF™) Associate Certified Coach (ACC®).
Originally from Jamaica, Nicky has lived in 5 other countries prior to relocating to Toronto in June 2014. These experiences have helped shape her into the unique individual that she is. With her passion for travel, Nicole hopes to visit 100 different countries in her lifetime.
Vijay Dhayaleeswaran
Director
Vijay Dhayaleeswaran has 20 years of experience in the IT industry as an experienced Technology & domain executive and thought leader providing Consulting services to Financial Services clients as well as managing and governing large portfolios of projects, programs and applications. He is a trusted advisor to provide solutions, create roadmaps for organizational strategic initiatives. Vijay has led multiple large transformation initiatives and programs, has been accountable for multiple client engagements as a Client Partner owning relationships, accounts’ P&L management, Delivery Oversight, Project Portfolio Management, Business development and team management.
Currently at Canada Life, Vijay is an Asst. Vice President leading Portfolio Management and Governance for one of the Technology Business Units. In this role, he is responsible for Project & Portfolio processes, tools, methodologies, reporting, PMO, Project & Portfolio delivery, Financial Management, Resource Management, Contract Management, Strategy & Planning for Integrated Technology delivery, IT Risk & Compliance, Communications.
Prior to that, he has played various progressive roles leading up to Client Partner & Senior Technology Executive on the Consulting side with Cognizant, Accenture & Wipro providing Technology, Domain and Management consulting services primarily for Insurance clients where he understands Industry leaders’ IT & Business objectives, roadmap, initiatives, pain points, bringing new ideas, innovative concepts and be the trusted partner for their technology and consulting service needs. Vijay is globally experienced with extensive experience in various engagement & delivery models having led teams of over 600 members across various geographies. He has won and led multiple large scale Application development, Maintenance, Testing, Data, Digital transformation, Application rationalization/optimization and modernization projects and programs, and spend optimizations initiatives.
Vijay is a Bachelors of Engineering in Computer Science graduate from India and holds PMP, CSM, SAFe Agilist, ALMI, ACS-Life, ACS-Reinsurance Certifications. He lives in GTA with his wife and 2 boys. Vijay actively mentors youth as well as experienced professionals in their careers. He is an amateur Golfer and a pro-am Photographer.
Claire Smith-Victor
Director
Claire Smith-Victor is a Career Counselor at the University of Toronto, Mississauga. In her role, she supports students through their academic journey and as they successfully transition to graduate school or employment. Before joining UTM, she worked as a sessional Professor at George Brown College. Claire has spent the majority of her career working overseas in Nigeria, St. Lucia and most recently the United Arab Emirates. While in the UAE, she introduced and coordinated career development and employment preparation programs primarily with female students. Many programs were designed to assist young female graduates successfully transition to and function in, the workplace. She is passionate about supporting women and girls to live their best lives.
Claire holds a Bachelor of Education (OCT) and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Windsor and a Master’s of Education from Ottawa University. She is CELTA certified from the University of Cambridge, England and is certified to administer and interpret Myers Briggs and Personality Dimensions (level 1) assessments.
She has served as a Mentor with CultureLink and volunteered with the New Comer Center at the YMCA facilitating job search workshops. She has volunteered with Luminato for the past five years and plans to continue in the future.
Claire believes anything is possible with preparation. This belief enabled her to complete the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek in Nepal and climb to Uhura peak, the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Maja Neable
Vice Chair
Maja Neable is CMO, North American Personal and Business Banking at BMO Financial Group. She is a dedicated customer advocate and passionate about creating innovative and intuitive experiences.
Before BMO, Maja was Chief Customer Officer at Telenor, a world-wide telecommunications company. Under Maja’s direction, Telenor achieved leading NPS scores, overtaking their competitors by a significant margin. Prior to Telenor, Maja spent 7 years building leading digital experiences at Expedia, the largest digital travel company in the world. She holds a Bachelor’s of Math from University of Waterloo, and an MBA from IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Maja is a proud soccer mom, and an avid skier.
Ria N. Madan
Director
Ria Madan is a legal professional specializing in commercial law and contracts. She brings her 18 years of global experience having worked people with diverse cultural backgrounds to build relationships and develop a collaborative safe work environment where individual team members get an opportunity to explore and reach their optimum potential while achieving a common goal. She also takes a pragmatic approach in her negotiations with clients and vendors to ensure that it is a win-win outcome for both parties.
Ria earned her B.A. (English Hons.) and her law degree from the University of Calcutta – India. She was called to the Bar in India in 2000 and the Ontario Bar in 2014. She worked for top law firms and multinational corporations such as DHL, HSBC, Rogers, Accenture and Manulife both in India and Canada. Ria is currently Director -Vendor and Contract Management at Manulife.
In addition, Ria has also obtained certificates as Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/C) and Certified Information Privacy Technologies (CIPT).
Ria is very committed and passionate about “paying-it-forward. She has been involved with the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) for the past 10 years. She started her association with TRIEC as a mentee and then went to volunteer as a mentor and the employer co-ordinator at Accenture. Ria continues to volunteer with TRIEC at Manulife and is involved in other social responsibility initiatives. She also served on the Board of Peel HIV/AIDS Network (PHAN) for two years from 2014-2016. She was the Vice Chair for one year on the PHAN Board.
Ria is married to Neville for almost 30 years and has one son Eric. In her spare time, she loves travelling and exploring new cultures.