Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Description
CPA Ontario’s Industry Conference 2026 brings together senior finance leaders, decision makers, and industry experts to explore how CPAs can lead in an environment shaped by AI, economic volatility, and heightened governance expectations.
Early Bird Sale: Save $50 off this conference by registering before June 30, 2026. Promotions cannot be combined with other offers or Passport. Access the early bird sale by logging into your account.
Designed for CPAs working across industry, this one day conference focuses on the evolving role of finance from traditional stewardship to enterprise wide value creation. Through keynote sessions, expert panels, hands on workshops, and interactive breakouts, participants will gain practical insights into applying AI and emerging technologies, leading strategic transformation, strengthening governance and risk frameworks, and navigating capital markets, regulation, and public sector change.
Attendees will leave with concrete tools, forward looking perspectives, and peer connections to help them guide organizations through complexity, uncertainty, and transformation with confidence.
At this conference, you will:
- Harness AI and emerging technologies by translating practical AI and finance tools from concept to real world use cases that enhance decision making, efficiency, and competitive advantage.
- Lead strategic business transformation by understanding how finance leaders are shifting from scorekeepers to value creators through investment strategy, transformation initiatives, and enterprise wide collaboration.
- Strengthen governance, risk, and internal controls by gaining insight into ethical governance, enterprise risk management, and controls needed to manage system level risks in a digital economy.
- Navigate capital markets, regulation, and public sector change by staying current on market trends, M&A considerations, financial reporting, AML/FINTRAC updates, and public sector modernization.
- Equip yourself to lead through economic uncertainty by understanding policy influences, market outlooks, and leadership strategies shaped by high pressure environments.
Can’t make it in person? We have a virtual option: Learn More.
Agenda
CPA Ontario's Industry Conference Agenda
Stream 1: AI & Finance Technology Lab (Hands-On): “Practical AI for Finance & Industry Leaders: From Concept to Use Case”
Speaker: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, Assistant Professor at University of Waterloo - School of Accounting and Finance
Audience: CFOs, Controllers, Tax Leaders, Public Sector Finance
Stream 2: Public Sector Advancement & Modernization: Modernizing Public Sector Finance: Digital Reporting, Transparency & Accountability”
Speaker: TBD
Audience: Public Sector CFOs, Government Controllers
Stream 3: Finance Transformation & Internal Controls: Strengthening Internal Controls in a Digital & Volatile Economy
Speaker: Sudeshna Banerjee, CPA, CA, Director Technology Risk & Banking Operation at KPMG
Audience: CFOs, Audit Committee Members, Risk Leaders
Conference Opening Remarks with Host
Opening Keynote
Topic | AI: The New Business Superpower
Artificial Intelligence is a superpower every business can benefit from. Tech titan Michele Romanow will show you how.
As the co-founder of Clearco, the world’s largest ecommerce investor, Romanow revolutionized the venture capitalist game by leveraging AI and data to measure business success. Well-versed in the transformative impact of AI and new technologies, she dives into the latest tech innovations, including Alphabet, Metaverse, ChatGPT, and more, to explore the many opportunities ahead for business. Romanow will also walk audiences through the mindset required to drive innovation within an organization to help them jumpstart their AI transformation.
Topic | Strategic Business Investments & Transformation: From Scorekeeper to Value Creator
Speaker: TBD
Topic | Leadership and Development Session: Redefining Leadership for Today’s Industry
Stream 1: Capital Markets (M&A) & Financial Reporting Standards/AML/FINTRAC Updates
Speaker: TBD
Stream 2: Internal Controls & Enterprise Risk Management
Speaker: Marc Y. Tassé, MBA,FCPA,FCA,FCG, Trusted Advisor to CEOs & Chairs & Board Member
In today’s increasingly complex and fast-moving environment, internal controls and enterprise risk management are no longer simply compliance functions—they are strategic enablers of resilience, performance, and organizational trust. This session will explore how finance leaders can strengthen governance, enhance decision-making, and proactively identify, assess, and mitigate key risks across their organizations. Drawing on practical examples and leadership perspectives, the discussion will highlight how robust internal controls and an integrated ERM approach can help organizations navigate uncertainty, protect value, and support sustainable success.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How to align internal controls and enterprise risk management with organizational strategy and governance priorities.
- How to identify and respond to emerging operational, financial, technological, and reputational risks in a practical and proactive manner.
- How finance and risk leaders can foster a stronger culture of accountability, oversight, and resilience across the organization.
Stream 3: Best Governance Practice - Managing System‑Level Risks Through Ethical Governance
Speaker: Rob DeRooy, Vice President Governance and Strategy, Governance Solutions Inc
Panelists: Sapna Malhotra, CPA, CMC, CPA, ICD.D, Principal & Founder at Digiruptor, Linda Williams, Managing Partner Clients & Industries and Executive Committee Member at EY Canada & Lewis Rose, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D, Strategic Advisor, Board Director and Investor; Former CEO Businesses in transition; Rapid scaling; Global growth
Topic | Enterprise Business Transformation: Lessons Learnt from the Field
Topic | Economic Outlook: Business and Policy (Policies affecting business, Interest rates, Tariffs) Narratives vs Realities
Speaker & Sponsor Forms
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Disclaimer
The views expressed in the course are non-authoritative and have not been formally endorsed by CPA Ontario and do not reflect the views of CPA Ontario. The information included in the course is for general information purposes only.
CPA Ontario, the presenters and the authors do not accept any responsibility or liability that might occur directly or indirectly as a consequence of the use or application of or reliance on this material.
How to Attend the Conference
This is an in person conference. You must attend the full conference to receive verifiable CPD hours.
Registration, cancellation, withdrawal and all other CPA Ontario Program policies can be found here.
Speaker(s)
| OPENING KEYNOTE SPEAKER | |
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| Michele Romanow, Dragon, CBC’s Dragons’ Den | Co-Founder, Clearco Tech titan Michele Romanow is a serial entrepreneur who started six companies before her 35th birthday. A “Dragon” on CBC’s hit show Dragons’ Den, Romanow is the co-founder of Clearco, the world’s largest e-commerce investor. It has invested over $5 billion into 10,000 entrepreneurs in 13 countries. Prior to this, she co-founded SnapSaves, acquired by American tech giant Groupon, and Buytopia.ca, acquired by Emerge. Romanow joined Dragons’ Den in 2015, becoming their youngest judge to date. That same year, she co-founded Clearco which earned unicorn status by 2021, making it one of only 23 fintech unicorns in the world to be founded or co-founded by a woman as of 2022. A prolific investor, she was named one of Fortune’s “40 under 40”, a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum, one of Canada’s “100 Most Powerful in Canada” by WXN, and Canada’s “Angel Investor of the Year”. | |
| FEATURED SPEAKERS | |
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Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA, is an Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream) focused on Emerging Technologies at the UW's School of Accounting and Finance. Beyond academia, he maintains deep industry connections through his AI and governance consulting practice. With over two decades of experience in audit innovation, data analytics, and governance, his recent focus has been on GenAI and its ability to streamline and enhance knowledge work within the CPA profession and beyond. |
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Kelly Martin, CA, CPA, is a Finance professional with over 25 years of organizational and C-Suite leadership experience, across many industries, with a primary focus in HealthCare. She has held multiple Chief Financial Officer positions, with well-known companies such as TELUS Health, Life Labs Inc.; Wolseley Canada Inc.; and Janssen Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson. She is currently serving as Global Vice President Financial Planning and Analysis at Apotex Inc., the largest generic drug manufacturer in Canada.Kelly brings an extensive and unique background across all aspects of Finance, with augmenting experience in Capital Investments, Enterprise Risk Management, Process Excellence, Operations, Supply Chain and Logistics. She leads through a collaborative approach believing that enterprise growth requires strategic and measured investments. |
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Rob DeRooy, Vice President of Governance & Strategy at Governance Solutions, is a highly respected consultant who regularly performs board and CEO evaluations, governance audits and best practice reviews in addition to facilitating strategic planning and thinking sessions. A faculty member for both The Directors College and The Professional Director Certification Program®, Rob is a skilled presenter and passionate about sharing his governance expertise. Prior to joining Governance Solutions, Rob had a 20+ year career as a senior executive, serving both as a CEO and a board member on several boards. Having been on both sides of the table gave Rob the opportunity to see where the “bright red line” between the Board and Management should be and how to best keep it in place. |
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Marc Y. Tassé, MBA, FCPA, FCA, FCG is a globally recognized authority on governance, ethics, and strategic leadership. Holder of some of the highest professional distinctions in business and governance—Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA, FCA) and Fellow Chartered Governance Professional (FCG)—Mr. Tassé exemplifies unwavering fiduciary duty and a deep commitment to organizational integrity. In addition, he has earned advanced executive credentials from several leading international academic institutions and professional associations. |
