Phil Verster is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Metrolinx. He oversees a team committed to transforming transportation in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Prior to joining Metrolinx, Phil managed train operations, infrastructure builds and infrastructure management for passenger rail systems in England, Scotland and Ireland.

Phil began his career in his native South Africa in the electricity sector. He then spent several years in the UK at Bombardier Rail and at Irish Rail. In 2011, Phil joined Britain’s Network Rail where he managed the second largest route in the system. He then ran Scotland’s ScotRail passenger rail service, and served as Managing Director of Network Rail’s East West Railway.

Phil joined Metrolinx in October 2017. His comprehensive knowledge and extensive transit background has equipped him with the necessary tools Metrolinx requires to continue working towards delivering an integrated, regional transportation system that will serve the needs of residents and businesses for years to come.

Phil Verster, President and Chief Executive Officer, Metrolinx

Each year, the Empire Club Foundation publishes each speech that season in The Red Book, a yearbook which is distributed free of charge to 4000 university, secondary, and elementary school libraries in Canada, as well as Canadian embassies and consulates worldwide.

News & Politics

Please join us for a virtual discussion focusing on the critical economic impact of the Toronto Island airport to the successful restart of Ontario’s urban visitor economy.

The event will feature Neil Pakey, CEO of Nieuport Aviation, owner and operator of the passenger terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport; John Thomas, CEO of Connect Airlines, a planned new airline entrant to Canada via the Toronto City Airport; and Scott Beck, President and CEO of Destination Toronto. Farah Mohamed, long time community resident, business leader, and social profit entrepreneur will be the moderator.

The panel will explore the critical role of this airport in the urban visitor economy, its unique role in connecting Canada’s financial sector with our largest global trading partner, the United States, and discuss how strategic infrastructure investments are necessary for it to continue to evolve as a key urban gateway and tourism hub. They will also explore why U.S. carrier Connect Airlines has its eyes on Toronto City Airport as a new hub offering travelers more choice to key American cities.

Moderator:
   Farah Mohamed,  Social Entrepreneur and Former CEO, Malala Fund

A social profit entrepreneur, Farah Mohamed knows how to grab hold of a challenging current issue and ensure action and momentum for results towards a better world. She most recently served as the CEO of the Malala Fund, inspired by Malala Yousafzai, who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban for going to school and became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She’s also founder of Girls20, which galvanizes the world’s greatest resource, girls and women, and cultivates a new generation of leaders through education, entrepreneurship and global experiences.

Farah is a compelling storyteller and presenter who shares powerful stories of humanity and change from around the world. She has a relaxed presentation style which puts audiences instantly at ease with her down to earth pragmatism and relatable storytelling style. Through compelling personal experience and lessons learned, Farah inspires audiences to cultivate a better future by showing passionate leadership, empowering young people, and seeing the value of a social profit entrepreneurship mindset. Her well researched presentations frame data in a way that brings numbers to life as she connects the dots in a convincing manner and get your audience excited for the possibilities of change.

In her role as Malala Fund CEO,  inspired by Malala Yousafzai, who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban for going to school and became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, she’s involved in advocating for resources and policy change needed to give all girls a secondary education, investing in developing country educators and activists, and amplifying the voices of girls fighting for change. Her fund invests in the future of girls and women with more than $8.6 million towards girls’ education programmes.

Previously, as Founder of Girls20, Farah Mohamed designed the organization G20 style; a cool take on the G20, which puts girls and women at the very heart of the issues.  This internationally active organization brings together one delegate girl from each G20 country concluding in a global Summit that generates ideas that are presented to the G20 Leaders, global mentorships and the creation of delegate led initiatives.  Girls20 is a globally active social enterprise that cultivates a new generation of female leaders through education, entrepreneurship and global experiences and provides advice to G20 Leaders on how to increase female labour force participation as it is key to economic growth.  The program involves skills building, entrepreneurship, business planning, communications, technology navigation, leadership, and more.  Girls20 also provides advice to G20 Leaders on how to economically engage girls and women to reach growth targets.

Magna heiress and former Cabinet Minister, Belinda Stronach recruited Farah to establish The Belinda Stronach Foundation, TBSF. Under Farah’s leadership, TBSF created and launched the Foundation’s flagship programs including One Laptop Per Child for Aboriginal Youth. She also oversaw the Foundation’s work in Liberia with President Johnson Sirleaf and a $1M humanitarian relief effort in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.

Farah is passionate about working with young people to empower them at a crucial time in their development. She saw the need to change the way we engage both women and men and acted on it. She works tirelessly to engage the private sector and government leaders in a way that makes economic sense: to place girls and women at the heart of the economic decision making and yield the benefits in doing so.

Of Indian heritage, Farah was born and raised in Uganda before her family was uprooted and sought refuge in Canada. Her upbringing instilled her with a strong work ethic and keen sense of curiosity, which eventually culminated in her working in politics. For 10 years, Farah worked closely with some of Canada’s most senior politicians including Paddy Torsney and Anne McLellan. Post politics, Farah served as Vice President, Public Affairs and Community Engagement for VON Canada where she was successful in building government and private sector partnerships.

Panelists: 
   Neil Pakey,  CEO Nieuport Aviation

Neil Pakey is the Chief Executive Officer at Nieuport Aviation. He has served as the CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, the CEO of Peel Airports Group, as Managing Director of Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Head of Marketing for Manchester Airport plc. Neil was the Senior VP Network Marketing at the Vantage Airports Group. Neil was a National Expert to the European Commission’s Air Transport Policy Division for three years, working on air transport liberalization and regional airport access. Neil also currently chairs RABA, the UK’s Regional and Business Airports Group. Neil holds a Master of Science in Transport Planning and Management from the University of Westminster and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Neil was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Central Lancashire for services to Tourism and was named the IOD Director of the Year for Merseyside in 2007.

   John Thomas, CEO Connect Airlines

John Thomas is the CEO and co founder of Waltzing Matilda Aviation, WMA. WMA will be launching Connect Airlines, a new airline starting operations in Fall 2021 connecting passengers between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and airports in the Northeast and Midwest United States. John has been actively involved in the aviation industry for 40 years, as a senior airline operating executive and as a strategic advisor to the global aviation industry.

John led the Global Airline Practice for LEK Consulting for over 20 years advising the world’s leading airlines and OEMs on MandA, ancillary revenues, loyalty programs, airports, alliances, and restructuring. John recently led a turnaround as Group Executive, Virgin Australia Airlines. Presently, in addition to actively managing WMA, John sits on the Board of Skyservice, the largest Corporate aviation service provider in Canada, as well as the Board of Icelandair Group, and continues to provide advisory services to the broader aviation industry including as Senior Advisor to Spike Aerospace Inc., ATM Consultants Group, and CAPA Centre for Aviation.

WMA is a Boston based FAA Part 135 jet charter operator, Certificate number 6WZA614N, that has started the process to add FAA Part 121 scheduled and non scheduled services to its Air Operators Certificate. WMA began private, Part 91, operations in June 2008 and has operated thousands of hours of safe and reliable flying with a focus on delivering superior customer service. WMA owns and operates both its own aircraft as well as managed aircraft. WMA brings together a group of aviation professionals, many of whom have been involved in jet charter operations in the Boston area for over 20 years. WMA is passionate about flying and dedicated to providing a high quality of service.

   Scott Beck,  President and CEO Destination Toronto

Scott Beck is the President and CEO of Destination Toronto.
He’s a champion of the visitor economy and a proven leader in the destination sales and marketing industry, spending 14 years as the President and CEO of Visit Salt Lake in Salt Lake City, Utah. He also served on the Executive Committee of Destinations International for six years and as the organization’s International Board Chair from 2014 to 2015.

Before Visit Salt Lake, Scott worked in the hotel industry for 18 years, most recently with Ocean Properties Ltd. ,OPL, as the General Manager of the Salt Lake Marriott City Center. While at OPL, Scott spent time in B.C. and Alberta working on a task force with OPL’s Canadian affiliate, Atlific Hotels. Prior to his time with OPL, Scott served as Director of Sales and Marketing for Sundance Resort in Provo, Utah.

Scott’s a proud father to four daughters, and lives in Toronto with his wife, Angie Welling, along with their two rescue dogs. True to his roots, Scott’s an active skier, biker and outdoor enthusiast.

Virtual Event: The Role of the Aviation Sector on Toronto’s Economic Recovery

COVID 19 is forcing us to question how many of the current structures in society function, and the values that underpin them. How we care for elders is a striking case in point.

The Empire Club is proud to welcome Linda Knight CEO, CarePartners, and Dr Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Sinai Health System. In a panel moderated by Globe and Mail health columnist André Picard, they will discuss how the healthcare system needs to be to redesigned to improve the lives of Canada’s elders.

Moderator: 
   André Picard,  Health Columnist, The Globe and Mail
André Picard is the health columnist at The Globe and Mail and author of six books, including the current bestseller, Neglected No More: The Urgent Need To Improve the Lives of Canada’s Elders.

He has received much acclaim for his writing, including being named Canada’s top newspaper columnist at the 2020 National Newspaper Awards. He has also won the prestigious Michener Prize for Meritorious Public Service Journalism and the Centennial Prize of the Pan American Health Organization, awarded to the top health reporter in the 17 countries of the Americas.  

André is a graduate of the University of Ottawa and Carleton University and has received honorary doctorates from seven universities, including the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia.

He also has a star on the Walk of Fame, not in Hollywood, but in his hometown of North Bay.

Panelists:  
   Linda Knight,  CEO, CarePartners
Linda has a long history in the Ontario Home Health Care Sector, starting as a visiting RN in 1978 and gaining experience as a Home Care Case Manager. In 1983, Linda started a home health care agency from her kitchen table, hiring two nurses and covering rural Huron County, providing 3500 visits a year. The company grew quickly and started to provide services in surrounding regions, concentrating on delivering high quality nursing care with a small team approach.  The company’s growth exploded when a competitive bidding process was started in the Home Care sector in 1996. This previously rural based company started to provide services in areas like Mississauga, Kitchener Waterloo, Woodstock, Oshawa, and St Catharines.

Linda continued to grow CarePartners, offering new services to round out the home health care patient experience. In 2009, she purchased Dynamic Therapy Solutions to provide professional therapy services, and in 2012, CarePartners merged with the PSW Ontario division of Red Cross. In October 2014, Linda assumed responsibility for the combined PSW, Nursing and Therapy program.

Since then, her commitment to providing exceptional patient and family centered care has not faltered. In 2012, CarePartners was awarded with a, Best Practice Spotlight Organization, designation from RNAO. In 2016, CarePartners’ new eShift program was awarded with the Minister’s Medal to Honour Excellence in Health Quality and Safety. And in 2018, CarePartners earned Accreditation with Exemplary status.

Linda and CarePartners continue to innovate and adapt. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Linda’s team accelerated their development for a robust virtual care offering and rolled out their CarePartners Connect app and services much earlier than planned. To protect frontline health care providers, CarePartners also self funded full PPE, offered temporary nursing and therapist wage subsidies and provided financial assistance to employees who experienced pay gaps due to quarantine conditions.

CarePartners currently delivers nearly 6 million hours of service per year covering all of Ontario,  from Thunder Bay to Windsor. Employing nearly 5000 nurses, PSW and therapists, CarePartners’ staff is on the road 24 7 to meet patients’ needs.

Linda is a well known, seasoned CEO in the sector, leading a team of exceptional home health care executives to ensure future growth and stability.  In 2001, Linda won the Rotman Business School BMO Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Impact on Local Economy category. Currently, Linda is past Chair of the Board for Home Care Ontario, an association representing the home care sector provincially.

When she’s not advocating for home health care and patient rights, Linda spends time with her five grandchildren and traveling. In fact, Linda and staff have taken over 12 medical trips to countries with poor access to medical services since 2009.

  Dr. Samir K. Sinha,  Director of Geriatrics, Sinai Health System and University Health Network
Dr. Samir Sinha is a passionate and respected advocate for the needs of older adults. Dr. Sinha currently serves as the Director of Geriatrics of the Sinai Health System and the University Health Network in Toronto, the Peter and Shelagh Godsoe Chair in Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital, and the Director of Health Policy Research at the National Institute on Ageing at Ryerson University. He is also an Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine, Family and Community Medicine, and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

A Rhodes Scholar, after completing his undergraduate medical studies at the University of Western Ontario, he obtained a Masters in Medical History and a Doctorate in Sociology at the University of Oxford’s Institute of Ageing. He has pursued his postgraduate training in Internal Medicine at the University of Toronto and in Geriatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Dr. Sinha's breadth of international training and expertise in health policy and the delivery of services related to the care of the elderly have made him a highly regarded expert in the care of older adults. Dr. Sinha began his clinical career working as a long term care physician in Baltimore, Maryland before returning to Canada in 2010.  In 2012 he was appointed by the Government of Ontario to serve as the expert lead of Ontario's Seniors Strategy through which he led or participated in several comprehensive reviews of Ontario’s long term care services over the years.  In 2019 he launched a comprehensive review of long term care services across Canada and around the world for the National Institute on Ageing.  In 2014, Canada’s Maclean’s Magazine proclaimed him to be one of Canada’s 50 most influential people and its most compelling voice for the elderly.

Beyond Canada, Dr. Sinha is a Fellow of the American Geriatrics Society and a member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council.  Dr. Sinha has further consulted and advised hospitals and health authorities in Britain, China, Iceland, Singapore, St. Kitts and Nevis, Taiwan and the United States on the implementation and administration of unique, integrated and innovative models of geriatric and long term care that reduce disease burden, improve access and capacity and ultimately promote health.

Virtual Event: The Future of Elder Care in Canada

As Canadians begin their long awaited summer, they have much to cherish, much to mourn and much to confront and reflect upon. Over the past year, those living in Canada have come together across the land and around the world to survive the first waves of the unprecedented COVID 19 pandemic that has killed and harmed too many, but brought out the best in so many in different  ways. As we honour their lives and our frontline health heroes, we highlight the contributions of those behind the scenes who have had our backs during the crisis and are leading our current effort to build better as we create the many opportunities that await. Yet we equally must address the many inequalities that the pandemic has intensified, the tragedies from our past that have now come to light, and the other shortcomings we still must repair. Inspired by over a century of hard won success in overcoming costly pandemics, economic recessions and foreign conflicts, we draw strength from the committed, creative contemporaries from the First Nations, academic and other communities who now lead the way in building a better, fairer, more inclusive and just community at home and abroad. 

Moderator:

  The Hon. Jean Augustine,  First Black Woman elected to the Parliament of Canada and Former Cabinet Minister of Multiculturalism and Status of Women

Jean Augustine made history as the first Black Woman elected to Canada’s Parliament and served from 1993 to 2006.  
Her tenure included distinguished service as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister; Minister of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women; Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee; and Deputy Speaker of Parliament. 

Her legislative successes include the historic Black History Month Motion; and the ground breaking Famous Five Motion, which authorized the first and still the only statues on Parliament Hill depicting women, other than Queen Elizabeth.  

From 2007 to 2015, she served as Ontario’s first ever Fairness Commissioner. 

In 2008, the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora was launched at York University to help advance education, equity and inclusiveness. 

Also in her name are a Girls' Leadership Academy in Scarborough; a Centre for Young Women's Empowerment and a municipal park in Etobicoke; a Secondary School in Brampton, and a multi purpose complex and district park in Vaughan. 

A member of the Order of Canada, Order of Ontario and Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Jean Augustine holds honourary doctorates from the universities of McGill, Toronto, York, Windsor, Guelph, Trent and Ryerson; is a senior fellow at Centennial and Massey College; and supports scholarships at George Brown, Centennial and Humber College. 

Panelists:

   Perry Bellegarde,  National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations

Perry Bellegarde was elected National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. He holds a wealth of leadership experience, having spent the past three decades putting into practice his strong beliefs in the laws and traditions instilled in him by the many Chiefs and Elders he has known over the years.  At the community, national and international levels, Chief Bellegarde is recognized for sound fiscal management and skillfully navigating highly complex policy, political and legal matters to achieve meaningful change, while strengthening relationships along the way. 

Originally from Little Black Bear First Nation in Treaty 4 Territory, Chief Bellegarde served as Tribal Council Representative for the Touchwood File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council, Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and Saskatchewan Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations, AFN, as well as Chief and Councillor for the Little Black Bear First Nation. In 2014, the Chiefs in Assembly elected Perry as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations and re-elected him in 2018. 

Since 2015, National Chief Bellegarde has engaged in regular diplomacy with the Office of the Papal Nuncio in Ottawa, as well as the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops with whom he meets at least twice year to advocate for concrete steps to advance reconciliation and healing from the trauma of colonialism, including the Indian Residential School System in which the Church played a significant role.  

Since his election in 2014, Chief Bellegarde has fostered an era of highly productive dialogue between AFN leadership and federal ministers. His first national platform and agenda, Closing the Gap, directly influenced the federal government’s planning and priorities, and his current platform, Honouring Promises, continues this momentum. After a 20 year long federal funding cap, Closing the Gap resulted in investments over the last four budgets of more than $21 billion, which is four times what the 2006 Kelowna Accord was to have committed. Of this, $3.3 billion is committed to on-reserve education, and $1.4 billion to child welfare.  

Chief Bellegarde’s focused approach has also resulted in: 

The passage of Bill C91, the Indigenous Languages Act, which will support the reclamation, revitalization, maintaining and strengthening of Indigenous languages in Canada;  

The passage of Bill C92: An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families; 

Upholding the right of First Nations to define our own paths to self determination; and 

A new fiscal relationship with the Crown that treats First Nations as governments in fiscal matters.  

Chief Bellegarde, an oskâpêwis or helper, uses his life to advance First Nations priorities.  As the first Treaty Indian to graduate from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Administration, he led Little Black Bear First Nation out of third party management within eight months of being elected Chief and facilitated Little Black Bear’s re-qualification for CMHC housing after a 13 year period with no new houses.  At the Touchwood File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council, Chief Bellegarde worked to restore the original Treaty 4 grounds to reserve status in the town of Fort Qu’Appelle. He also facilitated the transfer of the hospital to First Nations control leading the way to a new multi-million-dollar hospital, the All Nations Healing Hospital.  

At FSIN, he negotiated a 25 year gaming agreement with the provincial government, stabilizing the Saskatchewan First Nations gaming industry which employs more than 2,000 people.  As a Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations, he worked alongside the National First Nations Veterans Association to spearhead the national compensation package for First Nations Veterans and their spouses. 

In 2012, Chief Bellegarde graduated from the Certified Corporate Board Training through The Directors College sponsored by the Conference Board of Canada and McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business.  He is an active champion of First Nations inclusion, and he has since served on a wide range of boards: Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, YMCA Canada, YMCA Regina, the Globe Theatre, Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority and many more. ` 

Chief Bellegarde’s strategic diplomacy has built relationships, advanced understanding, and inspired action on the human rights situation of Indigenous peoples. He is always a willing partner in the global struggle to advance the enjoyment of human rights and ending all forms of discrimination. He has also raised the international profile of First Nations expertise on the climate crisis and sustainable development from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change to the recently announced World Economic Forum’s initiative, The Great Reset, to promote meaningful sustainable development initiatives. 

Recently, his sustained leadership has led to:  

Canada finally expressing unqualified support for the full implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;  a federal litigation directive requiring Justice Canada to adopt an approach to litigation that more fully respects the inherent rights of First Nations historic advances in ending racial discrimination in federal funding of child and family services for First Nations. 

Inclusion of an Indigenous Chapter in the final Canada United States-Mexico Agreement, CUSMA, as a result of his advocacy as a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement ,NAFTA, Advisory Council 

Chief Bellegarde has been named the Stapleford Lecturer at the University of Regina, and has been awarded the Confederation Medal, the Saskatchewan Medal and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal on two separate occasions.  In 2019, he was recognized with the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, and was awarded an Honourary Doctorate of Law from Queen’s University. 

Chief Bellegarde remains committed to leading and building consensus to resolve issues that benefit First Nations and inspire unity.  Throughout his life, working within a variety of political processes, he remains grateful for the strength and vision he has gained from the Elders.  He vows to always place great importance on respecting their teachings.  Their guidance has made him a man of foresight and a leader for generations. 

   Margaret MacMillan,  Professor of History, University of Toronto and Oxford University

Margaret MacMillan, Toronto and Oxford, is a professor of History at the University of Toronto and an emeritus professor of International History at Oxford University.  She was Provost of Trinity College, Toronto from 2002 to 2007 and Warden of St Antony’s College, Oxford from 2007 to 2017.  She is currently a trustee of the Central European University and the Imperial War Museum.  Her research specializes in British imperial history and the international history of the 19th and 20th centuries.  Publications include War: How Conflict Shaped Us, Paris, 1919, and The War that Ended Peace. She gave the CBC’s Massey lectures in 2015 and the BBC’s Reith Lectures in 2018.  Awards include the Samuel Johnson prize for non fiction and the Governor General’s literary award.  She has honorary degrees from several universities and is an honorary Fellow of the British Academy.  She is also a Companion of the Order of Canada and a Companion of Honour, UK.

Virtual Event: Building Better in 2021

With millions of Canadians getting vaccinated, and provinces slowly unrolling reopening plans across the country, when does Canada return to normal? What does the new normal look like for everyday Canadians and Canadian companies?

Join our panelists as they discuss the challenges we face in continuing to protect Canadians from COVID 19 while getting our economy back to pre-pandemic levels.

Our panel will discuss the challenges facing Canada with achieving herd immunity, issuing vaccine passports and looking at the challenges Canadian businesses will face getting back to normal.

How will we build back better? When do we get back to normal? What is the new normal?

Moderator: 
Mike Kessel,  President and CEO, Cleveland Clinic Canada

Mike Kessel is the President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic Canada and is responsible for the growth of the Canadian facilities, strategic partnerships and enterprise value creation. During his tenure, the organization has implemented a unique public, private hybrid strategy that has led to formal partnerships with Canadian healthcare ecosystem community stakeholders such as SickKids, Sunnybrook, Mt. Sinai and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. He has also led partnership efforts with the Ontario Ministry of Health, where there have been several important firsts for in country and cross border patient care in bariatric surgery and bone marrow transplants. Mr. Kessel led the acquisition of the Sports Medicine Specialists, the highest volume sports medicine and rehab clinic in Canada and the first international acquisition in Cleveland Clinic’s 100 year history. Over the last few years, Mr. Kessel’s focus has been the creation of a healthcare subscription model, ie. Netflix, for some of the clinic’s services in Canada, medical directorships, virtual care across Canada and remotely focused longitudinal care services. Most importantly, under his leadership, patient experience and employee engagement scores have reached record highs during his tenure. His career has been fueled by a passion for healthcare and over 25 years of experience in strategy, finance, organizational behaviour, operations and entrepreneurial ventures. 

Mr. Kessel is active in the Toronto community as a former board member of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. His involvement was recognized with a Tony Graham Outstanding Board Member Award in 2016. Mr. Kessel created the largest corporate philanthropic table tennis tournament in Canada, which currently takes place in 3 cities, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and raises $300k annually for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. He also holds board member positions at Unyte, a Toronto based brain health company; Biomendics, an Ohio-based wound care organization; VIQ, a Toronto based audiovisual capture company; and Solve.care, a health tech company leveraging blockchain to reduce administrative costs; Ontario Brain Institute, a not for profit organization accelerating discovery and innovation; Mr. Kessel is a former committee member of the Conference Board of Canada. He is an active member of Young Presidents Organization and serves on the Maple Leaf chapter’s New Member Committee.   Mr. Kessel is a guest lecturer at Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. 

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Canada in 2009, Mr. Kessel was Co founder and Vice President of Business Development and Finance for the Center for Partnership Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Trio Health in Chicago. In this role, Mr. Kessel was instrumental in the development of a network of executive health and wellness programs with leading medical centers throughout the United States. He successfully secured 39 of the 42 Fortune 500 companies based in Chicago as clients.  The program was ranked as one of the top programs in the country by both Forbes and Fortune magazines. 

Mr. Kessel graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in marketing and accounting. He received his CPA designation in 1995. Mr. Kessel received his MBA from Kellogg Business School at Northwestern University in Chicago in 2005 with a focus on Marketing, Finance and Strategy. 

Mr. Kessel and his wife Julie have three children, two of whom were born in Chicago and one in Toronto. He enjoys keeping active with a variety of sports including tennis, running, ping pong, basketball and golf.  

Panelists:
Julie Gerberding, M.D., M.P.H,  Executive Vice President and Chief Patient Officer, Merck

Former Director, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Dr. Julie Gerberding is Executive Vice President and Chief Patient Officer at Merck and Co., Inc., where she is responsible for global public policy, patient engagement and advocacy, strategic communications, population health, and corporate responsibility. She joined Merck in 2010 as president of Merck vaccines.  

Dr. Gerberding was Director of the U.S. CDC from 2002 to 2009, where she led the agency through more than 40 emergency responses to public health crises.  She serves on the executive committee of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, BIO, board and is a board member of Cerner Corporation and MSD Wellcome Trust Hilleman Laboratories, a non profit that develops new vaccine technologies for developing countries.  She also co chairs the CSIS Commission on Strengthening America’s Health Security.  

Dr. Gerberding has received more than 50 awards and honors, including the United States Department of Health and Human Services, DHHS, Distinguished Service Award for her leadership in responses to anthrax bioterrorism and the September 11, 2001 attacks.  In 2018, she was selected as the Healthcare Businesswomen Association’s Woman of the Year.  

Dr. Gerberding received her undergraduate and M.D. degrees from Case Western Reserve University.  She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology and Infectious Diseases at the University of California, San Francisco, where she is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine.  Dr. Gerberding received a Masters of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley.  She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American College of Physicians.  She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. 

Dr. Jia Hu,  Chair, 19 to Zero

Dr. Jia Hu is the Primary Care Vaccine Rollout Lead at the Alberta Medical Association, a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary, the Chair and co founder of 19 To Zero, and a family physician. He also works at the East Calgary Health Centre, an inner city family medicine practice serving marginalized populations. He is also a Corporate Medical Director with the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board with Cleveland Clinic Canada and has previously worked in management consulting for McKinsey and Co. and as a consultant at the London School of Economics. He has advised governments on health financing models.   

Jia works extensively on safe reopening: He is helping PHACs vaccine passports,credential development, has advised dozens of large companies on safe reopening, and has helped plan, is planning major events like sports leagues, NHL, CFL, etc,  and large events like the Calgary Stampede. 

Dr. Hu obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard University before going on to obtain his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Alberta. He completed his residency at the University of Toronto and St. Mike’s Hospital. His strong interest in Health Policy and Planning led him to London, UK, where he completed a Masters at the London School of Economics and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Most recently, Dr. Hu completed training in Public Health and Preventive Medicine at the University of Toronto. 
  
Following his residency, Jia worked in management consulting at McKinsey, with a focus on the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. He formerly worked as a Medical Officer of Health with Alberta Health Services, where he played an important role in many aspects of the COVID 19 pandemic, including scaling up of testing and contact tracing, development of the mobile contact tracing app, assisting organizations with COVID 19 preparedness and re opening, and engaging in risk communications. He works part time as a family physician at a clinic and a long term care facility that serves patients with complex medical, mental health, and substance abuse issues. 
  
He is a Board member for Partners in Health,PIH, Canada, where he works to diversify funding and develop a strategic plan to increase PIH Canada activities both internationally and with Indigenous populations domestically. He is also the Treasurer and Executive Member for Public Health Physicians of Canada, PHPC. In this role, Dr. Hu provides financial oversight to PHPC, the national specialist society for public health physicians. 
  
When he is not practicing medicine, Dr. Hu stays active by jogging and playing squash. He is conversant in Mandarin Chinese. 

Rocco Rossi,  President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce

A successful entrepreneur and business executive, champion fundraiser, and dedicated public servant, Rocco Rossi joined the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, OCC, in 2018 as President and CEO. 

Prior to joining the OCC, Rossi most recently served as President and CEO of Prostate Cancer Canada where he helped to advance the research, advocacy, education and awareness of the most common cancer in men. 

Mr. Rossi also served as CEO of Heart and Stroke Foundation, one of Canada’s largest non-profit organizations, overseeing consecutive years of record fundraising combining for over $600 million in total and launching many new, life saving initiatives. 

His passion for public policy has led him to stand for election both for the position of Mayor of Toronto and for MPP. 

Mr. Rossi has held senior positions at the Boston Consulting Group, TORSTAR, Labatt, Interbrew and MGI Software. He is a graduate of McGill and Princeton. 

Rossi currently serves as a member of the Board and Audit Committee of TerraVest Industries. A past board member of United Way of Greater Toronto and other charities, Mr. Rossi has been an active community builder. In fact, in 2012 he was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for his Philanthropic and Community service. 

A dedicated adventurer, Rocco has walked the legendary Camino de Santiago several times, cycled the 1900 km length of Yonge Street from Rainy River to Toronto, kayaked the 500 km from Toronto to Ottawa, and climbed to Everest Base Camp. 

Mr. Rossi has a BA, Hons, in political science from McGill University and a Masters of Arts in politics from Princeton University. He is married to his wife of 30 years, Rhonnie, and they have a 28 year old son, Domenic John, who is a teacher.

Virtual Event: Getting back to normal: What does it mean and what will it take?

Please join us for a virtual discussion focusing on the next Canadian federal election. The event will feature a distinguished panel of professionals including political insiders, the private sector and media. 

 How do the political leaders, Prime Minister Trudeau, Erin O'Toole and Jagmeet Singh, stack up on critical issues related to pandemic response, economic growth, and climate change? How will recent developments, from the COVID 19 pandemic and subsequent economic slowdown, impact the outcome of this election? What are the paths to victory for each major party and when will the election be called? The upcoming federal election is shaping up to be a highly contested race with major implications for Canada.

The Empire Club of Canada federal election forecast will cover all the scenarios and issues in the race for Prime Minister. 

David Coletto from Abacus will kick off the event with a presentation of the findings from his most recent poll, which will be followed by a moderated panel discussion.

Polling Presentation By: 

   David Coletto,  CEO and Founding Partner, Abacus Data
David Coletto is CEO and a founding partner of Abacus Data a full service market research and strategy firm based in Ottawa. With over a decade of experience in the industry, David and his partners founded Abacus over 8 years ago, and since then it has grown into one of Canada's most respected market research firms.  

David has worked with a range of organizations including the Shaw Communication, the Canadian Bankers Association, the Bank of Canada, Food and Consumer Products Canada, the CBC, the Canadian Pharmacists Association, Equal Voice, and the Dairy Farmers of Canada. He’s also one of Canada’s leading experts on generational change and millennials regularly invited to speak to groups across Canada. 

He’s a foodie, a Gentle Explorer, and a political junkie who loves exploring why people think and act they way they do. 

He earned a PhD in Political Science from the University of Calgary in 2010 and has a BPAPM and MA from Carleton University. He is also an adjunct professor at Carleton University. 

Moderator: 

   Marieke Walsh,  Political Reporter, The Globe and Mail
Marieke Walsh is a political reporter with The Globe and Mail in Ottawa. Before joining The Globe, she covered the Ontario legislature for iPolitics and the Nova Scotia legislature for Global News. She started her journalism career on Parliament Hill producing political TV shows for CBC and Global News. 

Panelists:

   Jason Lietaer,  President, Enterprise Canada
Jason’s strong chops in branding, crisis response, issues management, and strategic communications help him execute winning strategies that help our clients succeed. He’s helped by extensive experience in senior government roles and inside campaign war rooms during federal and provincial elections. 

He also gets how technology is changing the public affairs and communications landscape. So he stays up to speed on cutting edge tools that didn’t exist even a decade ago, such as influencer outreach, digital activations, and geo targeting. 

Inside Experience 
Former executive director of the Conservative Resource Group, reporting to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and providing cutting edge research, marketing and communications tools to the Conservative caucus. 
Experience on Parliament Hill in the Prime Minister’s Office; and at Queen’s Park, including senior roles in Premier Mike Harris’s office. 
Leading strategy roles in federal and provincial election campaigns. 
Regular commentator in several media outlets including CBC, CTV, Macleans, and The National Post. 

   Amanda Alvaro,  President, Pomp and Circumstance
Amanda Alvaro is the President of award-winning creative agency, Pomp and Circumstance. A veteran communicator, Amanda has led global campaigns across virtually all categories from finance to fashion, tech to telco, auto to the arts. Under her leadership in 2020, P and C was named one of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies, Strategy’s Agency of Year and the only Canadian PR agency on Adweek's Fastest Growing Agencies in the World list. She was also named PR Person of the Year 2020. 

Amanda has led Pand C through sustained year over year growth since its inception in 2015 and outperforms the competition by using a powerful combination of creative media, digital/social, integrated and experiential. 

Amanda is frequently sought after by CEOs, politicians, thought leaders for executive profile building, crisis communication, media and performance training. When she's not at P and C, you can find her bantering politics as a weekly political commentator on CBC TV's hit political show, Power and Politics.  

She has operated as a senior political advisor on successive election campaigns at the provincial and federal level and was a key member of Trudeau’s leadership bid. Amanda is the founder of Artbound Charity, Chair of Rethink Breast Cancer and co chair of Canadian Art. Amanda can also be found on the speakers circuit, with topics ranging from PR, politics, entrepreneurship, women in business. 

   Karl Bélanger,  President, Traxxion Stratégies
Founding President of Traxxion Strategies, Karl Bélanger brings decades of senior level experience at the national level, on Parliament Hill and in Ottawa circles.

Prior to his role with Traxxion, Karl served as a senior advisor to successive NDP Leaders Alexa McDonough, Jack Layton, Nycole Turmel and Thomas Mulcair over the course of 20 years. During his political career, Karl has earned an excellent reputation as an efficient communicator with a strategic mind, developing an extensive network in the political, governmental, business and union world. After completing his mandate as National Director of the New Democratic Party of Canada in June of 2016, Karl retired from active politics. He is a sought-after political commentator and pundit and can notably be heard on the Cogeco radio network, Sirius XM and CityNews. He also publishes a regular column with Loonie Politics and is a contributor to L’Actualité.

Karl is also serving as the President of the Douglas Coldwell Foundation, a charity organization promoting education and research into social democracy in Canada.

Phil Verster, President and Chief Executive Officer, Metrolinx

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