The Honourable Bob Rae brings over five decades of leadership at the highest levels of international diplomacy, national politics, and public policy. As Canada’s former Ambassador to the United Nations, Premier of Ontario, and interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, he offers audiences rare insight into navigating complex global challenges, building consensus across divides, and leading through transformation. His keynotes draw on firsthand experience with humanitarian crises, negotiations with world leaders, and critical issues — delivered with the wisdom of a statesman and the accessibility of a natural storyteller.

Rae served as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York from 2020 to 2025, joining the likes of Lester Pearson and George Davidson as Canadians elected in their personal capacity to preside over UN Charter bodies. During his tenure, Rae became the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for 2024-25, the second Canadian to assume the role, and also chaired the Advisory Committee on Haiti and led discussions on financing for development, children in armed conflict, and counterterrorism.

Prior to his diplomatic service, Rae served as Premier of Ontario from 1990-1995 and interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 2011 to 2013. He was elected to federal and provincial parliaments 11 times between 1978 and 2013 and has been honoured by the alumni of both bodies for his distinguished service. His return to Parliament representing Toronto Centre in 2008 led to his appointment as Foreign Affairs spokesman and ultimately to his role as interim Leader.

Rae also served as Canada’s Special Envoy to Myanmar in 2017, where he engaged in diplomatic efforts to address the crisis in Rakhine State and authored the influential report “Tell Them We’re Human”. In March 2020, he was named Canada’s Special Envoy on Humanitarian and Refugee Issues by Prime Minister Trudeau, leading to his report “A Global Pandemic Requires a Global Response.” He also served as Chief Negotiator for the nine First Nations of the Matawa Tribal Council in Northern Ontario from 2013 to 2018 and was appointed to the Security and Intelligence Review Committee by Prime Minister Chrétien.

Rae has practiced law with three distinguished firms and led high-profile assignments including the restructuring of the Canadian Red Cross and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He chaired the board of the Royal Conservatory of Music and authored “Lessons to be Learned” on the Air India bombing and “Ontario a Leader in Learning,” a comprehensive study of the Ontario higher education system.

Between 1996-99 and 2013-2020, Rae taught law, politics, and public policy at the University of Toronto, serving as the Wilson Professor of Public Policy at Victoria University from 2016 to 2020. He is a Fellow of the Forum of Federations (an organization he co-founded in the 1990s), Massey College, and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.

Rae is a Rhodes Scholar with an M.Phil in Politics from Balliol College, Oxford University, and a law degree from the University of Toronto. He is a Privy Councillor, a Companion of the Order of Canada, and a member of the Order of Ontario. Rae is also the author of five books: From Protest to Power: Reflections on a Life in Politics, The Three Questions, Exporting Democracy, Canada in the Balance, and What’s Happened to Politics.

For more than 40 years, Steve Paikin has been a trusted voice for Canadians seeking perspective and intelligent analysis of current events. He is an award-winning journalist, author, and documentary producer, best known as the anchor of TVO’s former flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin. In his signature straightforward and humorous way, Paikin’s illuminating keynotes prepare organizations for what’s next. He translates politicians’ words into simple facts — what they’re planning to do, what they’ll probably fail to accomplish, and how this may affect business day-to-day.

Paikin joined TVO in 1992 as the host of their political series Between the Lines. He went on to co-create the Queen’s Park news-magazine series, Fourth Reading, which he hosted for 14 years; to co-host Studio 2 with Mary Hynes, followed by Paula Todd; and to co-create and host Diplomatic Immunity, a weekly foreign affairs show. In 2006, TVO cancelled Studio 2 replacing it with The Agenda with Steve Paikin, which wrapped production in June 2025 after 19 successful seasons.

Prior to TVO, Paikin was an anchor and Queen’s Park correspondent for CBC Television’s Toronto station, CBLT-TV, and host of a daily news and current affairs program on CBC News. He also held various reporting jobs in private radio and print media, including the Hamilton Spectator and Toronto radio station, CHFI, where he was a Toronto City Hall reporter.

Today, Paikin hosts The Paikin Podcast, co-hosts TVO’s #onpoli podcast, and writes a bi-weekly column for the Toronto Star. He is also the bestselling author of nine book, including his most recent, John Turner: An Intimate Biography of Canada’s 17th Prime Minister. He has also produced several feature-length documentaries, including Return to the Warsaw Ghetto, which won the Silver Screen Award at the US International Film and Video Festival and received awards at the Yorkton Film Festival and Shanghai Film Festival.

Paikin has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University. He holds honorary doctorates from McMaster University, Victoria University, Laurentian University, York University, and Toronto Metropolitan University, and honorary diplomas from Humber College, Centennial College, Mohawk College, and Fanshawe College.

Dr. James Makokis is a highly respected two-spirit Cree physician from Saddle Lake Cree Nation. Through a compassionate lens, Dr. Makokis blends Indigenous and Western medical practices, serving community in First Nation Community and transgender health focused practice in South Edmonton. In 2020 Dr. Makokis was named one of 30 most powerful physicians in the country by The Medical Post, but believes power is a concept that should be shared amongst others.

Dr. Makokis is highly sought after by the media for his expertise and most recently appeared on the Marilyn Denis Show. He is also recognized as the Winner of Season 7 of The Amazing Race Canada, where he championed resilience and cultural identity. His work as the inaugural Medical Director at Shkaabe Makwa and as an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Alberta reflects his strong commitment to healthcare and community empowerment.

Jim Brown is the author of The Imperfect CEO and The Imperfect Board Member. For more than 30 years, Jim has worked alongside CEOs, executive teams, boards, and faith-based leaders who carry both significant responsibility and deep concern for the people they lead.

The Imperfect CEO is not a book about flawless leadership— it’s about honest leadership. Drawing on decades of real-world experience, Jim explores why so many capable leaders feel pressure to be the hero, hide uncertainty, or carry the weight alone—and how those patterns quietly damage culture. The book has sparked what is being called the Imperfect
Leadership Movement, inviting leaders to replace performance-driven posturing with clarity, courage, and shared ownership.

Jim is widely known for his ability to cut through complexity and name what’s really happening in a room. Clients often describe him as calm, perceptive, and disarmingly direct— someone who asks the questions others avoid, and helps leaders move from insight to responsibility. His work focuses
on organizational health as a moral and strategic issue: when culture is healthy, people flourish, trust grows, and mission
advances.

While Jim’s first book, The Imperfect Board Member, became a trusted resource on governance, his recent work reflects a
deeper conviction—that leadership and culture shape not only results, but lives. His faith quietly informs that conviction. Jim
believes leadership is a form of stewardship, and that organizations can be places of dignity, truth, and renewal rather than exhaustion and fear.

Through his writing, speaking, and podcast conversations, Jim encourages leaders to let go of the myth of perfection and step into a more grounded, human, and hopeful way of leading.

Ameer is a Partner the Tax Services group in Waterloo. Ameer has nearly 15 years of experience working in public accounting and currently focuses on corporate and personal tax planning.

He provides tax advice to Canadian private companies and their shareholders on topics such as reorganizations, intergenerational transfers, purchase/sale of businesses and estate planning.

Ameer also has experience advising trusts, not-for-profits and charities.

Paula Barrett is Director of Communications for NorthGuide, a Canadian innovation advisory firm that works with forward-thinking changemakers to drive national and global economic growth. She is a senior communications strategist and professional writer who brings 30 years of public relations expertise as well as 21 years as Professor and Program Coordinator of Conestoga College’s public relations programs.

Paula has served in director-level leadership roles in internal communications, shareholder communications, and leadership communications. Her portfolio spans the financial services, technology, health care and charitable sectors. She earned an MA in Language & Professional Writing from University of Waterloo, where her thesis focused on the study of collaboration.

Paula helps clients shape and tell their stories and develop innovative communications programs. Whether she is crafting thought leadership content, building a compelling brand narrative, or designing a public awareness campaign, Paula excels at engaging audiences and inspiring positive change.

He has a BA and MA in Accounting from the University of Waterloo

Rob Donelson is the former Interim Executive Director of the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation and recently retired following a 41-year career leading award-winning advancement programs at four universities and two hospital foundations in three countries. Most recently, Rob served as Executive Director of Advancement at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Prior to this, he was Executive Director, Development & Alumni Relations at University College Cork in Ireland, and Vice-President, Development & Alumni Relations at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada. He has also led multi-million-dollar campaigns with two hospital foundations. His experience in all aspects of the donor cycle is extensive.

Acknowledged for his leadership in charitable accountability, Rob led the first registered charity in Canada to earn the Ethical Fundraising License and the first university to earn the Standards Accreditation Trustmark from Imagine Canada. He has spoken at several national and international conferences of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE), and the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy, and served on the Board of CCAE. He was named the Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Golden Horseshoe Chapter, and received the Mission Legacy Award of the St. Joseph’s Health System.

Fred is an Executive in Residence at Capacity Canada. He has decades of experience focusing Nonprofit Board Governance, Community Development, facility development assessments, organizational & operational reviews, and specialized projects involving governance, partnerships, and collaborative initiatives. Fred has worked exclusively with Universities & Colleges, municipalities, non-for-profit organizations, community groups and provincial ministries.

Fred has years of experience as a Board Member and Chair of University & College Boards. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Recreation from the University of Waterloo, a Master of Science & Resource Planning Degree in Recreation from Michigan State University, and Master of Business Administration from Ivery Business School at Western University.

As an Executive in Residence for Capacity Canada Marion developed online governance training for board directors based on gamification theory. As a facilitator she leads a workshop for Executive Assistants who support boards, is a co-facilitator for the series, Emerging Governance Strategies, and is part of the team of facilitators at Boot Camp delivering the workshop: Board Evaluation of the CEO.

Marion has extensive experience in not-for-profit governance both as a board member and consultant. She has been an elected school board trustee and served on boards in the post-secondary and health sectors. In recent years her attention has focused on the needs of the most vulnerable populations in our communities. She is a founding member of the Board of Directors for A Better Tent City, an organization that provides safe shelter and support for those who are experiencing homelessness, and is Vice Chair of the Board for Parents for Community Living, an organization that provides group living, supported independent living, employment and day supports for children, youth and adults in the Waterloo Region.

Kelly is an Indigenous Sami woman, partner to an Anishinaabe man and firekeeper, long-time songcarrier in the community and in a federal penitentiary, carrier of Indigenous knowledges and experiences, social worker and educator. She has a PhD in Social Work and has considered the ethics that are needed for mutual relationships between Indigenous and settler peoples. Kelly is knowledgeable and skilled with facilitating discussions about: equity and belonging; Truth & Reconciliation; colonization/decolonization and social injustices/justice. Kelly considers herself to walk her life with kindness and integrity. Living an ethical life is what enables her to keep moving towards balance in herself and in her relationships with others. Kelly has worked with Indigenous peoples in her community for close to 30 years. Over the years she has been a board member and Chair with an Indigenous housing board (K-W Urban Native Wigwam Project), Indigenous grassroots group providing wraparound permanency to Indigenous youth aging out of the child welfare system (Gi Zhawenimin), Family & Children Services of Waterloo Region, and Ontario Children’s Aid Societies.

Andrew Jardine is an Executive in Residence at Capacity Canada and the Chief Financial Officer, Roman Catholic Diocese of London. He is the former Corporate Secretary of the Board of Directors of King’s University College in London, Ontario. Andrew has his MBA from the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University and is a Chartered Director (C. Dir) through the Director’s College at McMaster University. He is the co-founder and co-host of the popular governance podcast “The Governance Guys” and serves as the Vice-Chair of Leads Employment Services Board as well as the Chair of the Leads Governance Committee. His role will primarily involve supporting and engagement in the strategic planning activities of this project.

Susan S. Radwan, CAE, SMP, ARM, serves as an Executive in Residence with Capacity Canada, where she leverages her extensive expertise in governance, strategic leadership, and systems thinking to strengthen boards and nonprofit leaders across the country.

Based in Grand Ledge, Michigan, Radwan has led an internationally focused governance and leadership consulting firm since founding it in 1996. Her work with Capacity Canada is widely recognized, particularly as the author and lead facilitator of the Modern Board Series, a flagship program that equips boards with contemporary governance practices and strategic insight.

Radwan’s governance background is further distinguished by her long-standing involvement in Policy Governance® and her co-authorship of Governing by Principles: An Approach to Unleash the Power of Policy Governance. Her leadership extends to the global strategy community through the International Association of Strategy Professionals (IASP), where—after serving as Board Chair—she now chairs the organization’s Certification Commission.

In the U.S. association sector, Susan is recognized for her work with the Michigan Society of Association Executives’ Certification Preparation Program and for her national role as Executive Editor of Professional Practices in Association Management, the field’s leading textbook.
Radwan holds the CAE and SMP credentials and brings additional training in governance systems, risk management, systems thinking, certification, Spiral Dynamics, and behavioural analysis—expertise she applies to her strategic advisory and leadership development work with Capacity Canada.

Bryan is a relationship development professional with experience in the private and charitable sectors. His career has been focused on building long-term relationships that meet the interests and strategic priorities of his employer and its clients.

After 20 years as a sales professional in the private sector, Bryan shifted to the charitable sector in 2002, to “do more than earn a living” as a fundraising professional at the YMCA.

He enjoys helping organizations build high-impact visions, and the donor relationships, and partnerships with government and the private sector to support them.

Bryan is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University. He is semi-retired and thoroughly enjoying his new role as a grandfather.

Jackie Lauer is a leadership coach, culture consultant, and keynote speaker with over 26 years of experience helping organizations navigate change, build trust, and thrive through complexity. As the founder of a boutique leadership practice, Jackie has advised leaders across every spectrum, from the Government of Canada and General Motors to fast-growing tech startups (Dejero, Miovision, Ecopia etc) and non-profit organizations.

Known for a speaking style that blends deep neuroscience, systems thinking, and emotional intelligence with storytelling, warmth, and humour, Jackie makes complex human dynamics deeply relatable and instantly actionable. A master coach with ICF-recognized certifications in Narrative Coaching, Neuroscience, Conversational Intelligence, and Relationship Systems (ORSC), Jackie also serves as a long-time mentor at the Accelerator Centre (14 years) and has served in multiple governance roles, including HRPA, ACCKWA and Leadership Waterloo Region.

Paul Wilton is an Executive in Residence at Capacity Canada. Paul has a PhD from the University of Toronto focusing on university governance and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Western Ontario. Paul has served on several local and national boards including as President of the Canadian Hemophilia Society, President of Hemophilia Ontario, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders, Secretary of the Urban League of London, and as a director at King’s University College. Paul has taught Corporate Governance and serves as university secretary at King’s and currently teaches university governance at U of T. Paul co-hosts a podcast, The Governance Guys, where experts in the field join to share lessons to help citizens make positive contributions to their communities through board service.

Ian McDonald (he/him) is a recognized expert in business and product strategy, marketing, partnerships, and emerging industries. He has extensive international experience developing emerging markets, commercializing products and services, and scaling business operations globally.

Formerly Chief Customer Officer at Communitech, a globally recognized innovation hub, Ian led advisory services for startups, scale-ups, and Fortune 500 organizations. Ian’s senior leadership experience includes strategic growth, change, and innovation roles at world-class companies including TD Bank Group, InFlight, Aeryon Labs, and BlackBerry.

Ian holds a Master of Business Administration and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. His recent executive education includes Modern Board Governance, Change Leadership, Coaching for Performance, and Organizational Leadership in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.

As an active community member, Ian is a Board Member of Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region and supports community organizations focused on food security, housing, education, employment, newcomer assistance, and other family services.

Colleen James was elected to Regional Council in October 2022, representing City of Kitchener residents. Colleen’s professional career includes more than 15 years of experience in municipal government at both the city and regional levels. As the founder Divonify Incorporated, Colleen is a leading consultant on equity and inclusion. Locally, nationally, and internationally, Colleen partners with a wide range of public, private, and not-for-profit organizations and businesses that are committed to change. Colleen’s values are central to her work as a leader. These values determine her approach to making decisions as a Councillor on behalf of the community. These values include building trusted relationships; having equity-informed community discussions; listening and collaborating; empowering and amplifying; taking meaningful action and being accountable.

Colleen graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.A. in history, political science, and Caribbean studies. She holds a master’s degree in leadership, higher, and adult education from U of T’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). In 2020, the Canada International Black Women Event named Colleen one of the Top 100 Black Women to Watch. In 2021, she was named one of the Top 25 Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Persons of the Year by the Canadian Multicultural Group. In 2024 Colleen was awarded the Public Service Excellence Award by Women of Dignity International.

Colleen is a graduate of Leadership Waterloo Region and has served on several local boards and committees, including the Kitchener Public Library (2020-2022), and KW Oktoberfest (2020-2023). She is also involved in many collaborative community projects, including the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region, where she established the James STEM scholarship.

John Neufeld is the CEO of the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, bringing more than 25 years of experience in community leadership and social impact. Known for his thoughtful, strategic, and collaborative approach, John previously spent 16 years as CEO of House of Friendship, leading innovative efforts to meet the needs of the region’s most vulnerable neighbours. His earlier work with foster children and youth at Bridgeway Family Homes sparked a deep commitment to prevention and early intervention—core pillars of the Foundation’s mission.

John holds a BA in Social Development Studies from the University of Waterloo, an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, a degree in Theology from Canadian Mennonite University, and a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto. He also holds the ICD.D designation and was selected for the Governor General’s Leadership Conference in 2022.

A long-time resident who fell in love with Waterloo Region as a student, John is passionate about helping the community thrive through strong partnerships and meaningful investment.

Oluseun Olayinka is the Executive Director of Adventure4Change, a Waterloo-based charity focused on community development, system navigation and equity. She serves on the Boards of the Waterloo Region Health Network and Social Venture Partners Waterloo Region and is a member of the Equity and Inclusion Advisory Group for the Waterloo Region District School Board.

A PhD student at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty of Social Work, Oluseun’s research explores community leadership and decolonizing practices. Her background spans organizational development in Nigeria, strategy consulting across Africa, and health systems implementation in Canada. She holds degrees in Managerial Psychology and Chemistry, as well as a Governance Essentials Certificate from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. Oluseun is a dedicated leader, passionate about creating systems that reflect justice, inclusion, and the strength of lived experience.

Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux served as Vice Provost for Indigenous Initiatives at Lakehead University for three years. Effective September 2016 she was appointed as the 1st Indigenous Chair for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada for Lakehead University and continues to develop pathways forward to reconciliation across Canada.

Cynthia was the inaugural Nexen Chair for Indigenous Leadership at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and remains a faculty member in the Indigenous Learning program. She is the Chair of the Teach for Canada non-profit which recruits teachers for remote First Nation schools. Cynthia was inducted as a “Honourary Witness” by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada in 2014, and is the Chair of the Governing Circle for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba.

She is a member and resident of the Chippewa of Georgina Island First Nation in Ontario and has dedicated her life to building bridges of understanding. She sees endless merit in bringing people from diverse cultures, ages, and backgrounds together to engage in practical dialogue and applied research initiatives. She is deeply committed to public education and active youth engagement from all cultures and backgrounds. She co-founded a youth project out of the University of Toronto, the University of Saskatchewan, and Lakehead University.

James Stauch is a social-innovation and systems-change educator and consultant based in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. He is co-chair of the Banff Systems Summit and a complex-systems strategist with ATCO’s SpaceLab. Stauch is a visiting fellow at the Skoll Centre at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and was the founding executive director of the Institute for Community Prosperity at Mount Royal University, where he developed social-innovation, leadership, and systems-focused learning programs for undergraduate students and the broader community. Stauch has also been a foundation executive and philanthropy consultant, which included designing and managing Arctic and northern programming with the Gordon Foundation. His most recent publication is the 2025 book The 55 Minutes: An Atlas to Navigate Problems, Reveal Systems, and Ask Beautiful Questions in a Radically Shifting World.

Clarence Cachagee, from Chapleau Cree First Nation, is a community leader, author, and founder of Crow Shield Lodge, a non-profit organization focused on land-based healing and teaching. He has worked in social services, supporting Indigenous communities in areas like homelessness and education. His biography, North Wind Man, shares his personal journey of overcoming trauma and oppression, and his path to becoming a helper and leader.