Marilyn Sing, CIPP/C  (Certified Information Privacy Professional – Canada) started IPP Consulting (IPP) in 2016. Based in Victoria, IPP focuses on helping small to mid-sized businesses to meet their obligation to operate in compliance with British Columbia’s and other applicable privacy laws

Marina Bertoldi is an entrepreneur at heart.

She holds a post-graduate degree in management, another in financial planning and she's currently finishing a Masters in Digital Media. After co-founding and managing three businesses in her native Brazil, Marina decided to change careers and move to Canada in pursuit of new opportunities. She has always been drawn to creative problems and people to want to make an impression in the world.

Marina's passions are entrepreneurship, business strategies and innovation.

Marta is currently the Director, Product Portfolio, Online and Mobile at Moneris.

Originally from Quebec City, LCol Bedard joined the CAF as an RCEME Officer in 1983 and graduated from the Royal Military College of Kingston in 1988 with a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering.

The first part of his career was focused on leading equipment maintenance organisations in Canada and abroad. Since 2010, most of his employment has been supporting in-service or acquisition program and integrated project management team at NDHQ Ottawa.

He has more than 8 years of experience working abroad with NATO nations. He is now embedded with the NATO Procurement and Support Organisation (NSPA) in Capellen, Luxembourg, which is the largest procurement agency within NATO. He is ready and motivated to assist Canadian industries getting the most of those NATO business opportunities.

Mary Charleson, is a marketing speaker, educator and strategist. She is the author of two books, Word of Mouth Mouse & Mobile and Five-Minute Marketing, each featuring tips for the time-starved business leader.

Mathurin Halaoui is a Senior Economist, Partnership and Outreach, with Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada’s Cyber Certification Program. He earned an MBA from Laval University in 1999 and now has 22 years of experience in economic development with the provincial and the federal governments. Before joining ISED in April 2021, he was an economic development advisor with CEDQ in Gatineau, where he initiated the Cybersecure certification pilot project for 150 companies in Quebec. Prior to CEDQ, he was an innovation development advisor at ACOA at Fredericton from 2003 to 2019. His most recent mandate at ACOA was to contribute to the development of cyber security in NB, in collaboration with CyberNB and other key players, such as Canadian Nuclear Lab, Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity at UNB, Community colleges, NB Power and other key players in New Brunswick cybersecurity ecosystem. In January 2019, he co-organized and lead Atlantic cybersecurity exploratory mission in Israel with businesses, research institutions, universities and education leaders.

Matt joined Amazon in 2018 and is currently Head of Business Development for British Columbia. Matt collaborates with Trade Associations throughout BC, while also working closely with small and medium-sized businesses and providing guidance with Selling on Amazon Canada. Previously, Matt worked with some of the largest US sellers on Amazon.com and assisted them with cross-border expansion to Amazon Canada.

Matt Wong is the Co-Founder of Purpose CPA. He has over 13 years of experience leading finance teams from manufacturing to retail & ecommerce. As both a pragmatist and technologist, Matt defaults to technology to improve efficiency but is practical to design simple solutions when necessary. Along with his Business Partner Chad Chang, Matt co-founded Purpose CPA as an impact organization to help clients look at people, planet, and profit. Matt is a CPA, CGA and certified Quickbooks Online and Xero advisor.

Outside of Advisory, Matt loves running and spending time with his family in beautiful Richmond, BC. He is a member of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce and a former Chair of the CPABC Vancouver Chapter.

Co-Founder and CEO, Wize Coffee Leaf

Melanie Rupp, MBA, is the Director, Loans & Advisory Services for Women’s Enterprise Centre (WEC), based in our Vancouver office. WEC is a non-profit organization devoted to helping BC women start, lead and grow their own businesses, providing business loans, skills training, mentoring, advice and resources from our three offices in Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria.

Mhairi (pronounced va-ri)- is the Founder of Out-Smarts Marketing Inc. a boutique marketing consultancy that works with organizations to build their presence and grow their business online.

Passionate about social media and internet marketing, Mhairi blogs and podcasts regularly and puts her knowledge, resulting from almost two decades of online marketing experience, to good use to bridge the gap between technology and business.

Mhairi has presented seminars on social media and Internet marketing at Small Business BC since 2009.

Michèle Hamilton is the Managing Director of Think Local First, a membership-driven non-profit that supports local, independent businesses in Greater Victoria. The aim of the organization is to create awareness around the power we all have to support our community with our shopping dollars. We strive to encourage people to purchase products and services from local businesses so we can keep Greater Victoria a vibrant, economically healthy, sustainable community. We also provide support to our 200+ business members through our website, app, networking events, social media channels and co-op advertising opportunities.

Michelle is a born and raised Vancouverite - medical science student turned social entrepreneur. She is now the Head of Community Growth at Scale, accelerating careers of top tech professionals through interactive guided sprints and personalized executive coaching. Prior to Scale, she co-founded FLIK (weareflik.com), a platform connecting female leaders and learners across the world via meaningful career experiences, which was recently acquired by Rumor Avenue. She now serves as a partner at Rumor Avenue as well as a part-time Chief of Staff where she continues to work with the FLIK community of 10,000+ women globally. She has been recognized as BC Business’ 30 Under 30, YWCA’s Young Woman of Distinction, a Conversationalist GenZ Honoree, and has been featured in publications like Forbes, BetaKit, The Hustle, and Women of Influence.

Mike Porter - Assistant Manager, Local Business, Prospera Credit Union

An experienced leader and professional mentor, Mike Porter is well-versed in the business world. Remaining agile and adaptable to industry changes and technology advancements, he’s contributed to the growth of businesses of all sizes across countless industries and nurtures talent at all levels. Mike is a champion of community service and volunteerism and takes an active role in the communities he’s a part of.

Mindy Wight, CPA, CA, is a Partner and Tax Specialist with MNP and serves as National Leader, Indigenous Tax Services. Based in Prince George, BC and serving First Nation clients and communities across Canada, Mindy specializes in helping First Nation members and organizations to utilize and maintain their income tax exemptions when organizing their corporate structures. Her clients include proprietorships, corporations, non-profit organizations, trusts and partnerships owned by First Nation members and Indigenous communities.  Mindy is a member of the Squamish Nation in North Vancouver, BC.

With more than a decade of experience, Mindy assists her clients with purchases and sales of businesses, reorganizing companies, and minimizing taxes.  Recognizing that every client’s situation and objectives are unique, she takes the time to develop an in-depth understanding of their tax needs and then works collaboratively to find and implement practical, workable solutions.

Mindy has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Northern BC and a Diploma in Accounting and Finance from the College of New Caledonia. She holds the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant (CA) designations.

Mya belongs to the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) on her mother’s side and Kanien’kahá:ka (Mohawk), member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, on her father’s side. She was born in North Vancouver on Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish peoples’ traditional territories and grew up on the X̱wemelch’stn Uxumixw (Capilano Village) in West Vancouver. Mya has been working as a science project liaison for the Kahnawake Education Center and collaborating with the science curriculum consultant to support developing, implementing, and enhancing culturally rooted educational programming for all Kahnawake schools. Mya is also enrolled in a cultural training program with instruction in the Kanien’kahá:ka language and Kanien’kahá:ka cultural teachings.

Natasha is a lawyer practicing labour and employment law with the Vancouver office of Mathews Dinsdale & Clark LLP. She advises employers on a wide range of workplace issues including employment standards, collective bargaining, occupational health and safety, and human rights.

Before entering law school, Natasha worked for several years as an epidemiologist and health researcher in the areas of women’s health, addictions, and housing. Natasha has lived in places all across Canada and has been happy to call Vancouver home for thirteen years.