The Ascend Canada Conference will be an in-person event at the Arcadian Court in Toronto on September 17, 2025. We will be joined by 400 participants to inspire, educate, and empower pan-Asian professionals in Corporate Canada. Celebrating this year’s theme, Summit New Mountains, the conference will consist of workshops, fireside chats and a closing cocktail reception.
VenueArcadian Court, 401 Bay St., Simpson Tower, 8th Floor Toronto, ON, M5H 2Y4
DateWednesday, September 17, 2025
Sophia Leung
Executive Vice President, Platforms and Technology
TD
Sophia is the Executive Vice President and Head of the Protect Platform in the Platform and Technology organization. Within this role, she is responsible for protecting TD from security and fraud threats, leading integrated operational teams to drive real-time protection and delivering next-generation security and fraud products. As part of her role, Sophia leads the “follow-the-sun” fusion center program with world-class operational centers in Toronto and Singapore to continuously improve TD’s ability to improve security and mitigate financial crime risks.
Prior to joining TD, Sophia held various technology and security management roles at Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan Chase in Asia and New York. Sophia has a Bachelors degree in Biochemistry from Barnard College, Columbia University, and an MBA from the Kellogg-HKUST Program.
Alycia Calvert
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
EY Canada
As the Chair and Chief Executive Officer at EY Canada, Alycia is dedicated to bringing the firm’s ambition to shape the future with confidence to life and deliver long-term value for EY clients, people and communities.
Alycia has been a member of the EY Canada Executive Committee for 10 years, and most recently served as EY Canada Chief Operating Officer. She previously served as Managing Partner for Markets & Accounts and, prior to that, as Managing Partner for Tax.
Over the course of her 25-year career at EY, Alycia has helped clients understand the implications arising from transformative change and how to maximize opportunities for growth. Her strategic mindset and commitment to exceptional client service have earned her a well-deserved reputation for excellence and long-lasting, deep client relationships in Canada.
Alycia earned an HBA in Business Administration and Management from the Ivey Business School at Western University. She was recognized as a Fellow by CPA Ontario in 2018.
An active member of the community, Alycia is the Chair of the Business & Audit Committee at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital where she also serves as Treasurer. She also sits on the Catalyst Canada CEO Advisory Board that supports the creation of inclusive workspaces for women.
Farah Qasemi
Partner, Financial Services and Markets
EY
Farah is a client advocacy and market leadership veteran in financial services and joined EY as a Financial Services Markets Partner in 2022 from IBM. While at IBM, as the TD Bank Group Managing Director and Lead Account Partner and a member of the Canadian Senior Leadership Team, she oversaw one of the largest P&L’s in the Americas across the entire IBM portfolio of Technology and Consulting. Prior to IBM, Farah had client and market leadership roles at KPMG Canada, CSC UK (currently DXC Technology), PwC UK and PwC Canada. Her primary expertise is in the sales, delivery and client satisfaction management of large tech-enabled transformations in Financial Services — and her past dedicated clients include: TD, RBC, CIBC, Scotia, BMO, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan and the Big 3 insurance brokers in the UK.
Outside work, Farah is a passionate advocate of inclusion, and currently serves on the Ascend Canada board, the Empire Club of Canada board, the United Way Major Individual Giving and Campaign Cabinet and is the St Joe’s Health Centre Foundation Women Promise Co-Chair this year.
Vinita Savani
Executive Vice President, Cards & Loyalty
RBC
Vinita Savani has a distinguished 25+ year career spanning various senior leadership roles within RBC. She embraces a growth mindset and always seeks to find innovative and analytical solutions to complex issues and opportunities. Vinita is a forward-thinking leader who is known for fostering a culture of curiosity and adaptability amongst her teams.
Vinita is currently the Executive Vice President of Cards & Loyalty at RBC. She is responsible for the next phase of growth for both businesses, bringing increased value to Canadians through a best-in-class cards portfolio, strategic merchant partnerships and the bank’s leading loyalty program, Avion Rewards.
Vinita has been actively involved in community service throughout her career. She is currently a member of the RBC Global Diversity Leadership Council and co-chair of the RBC iCare Employee Resource Group, where she collaborates with leaders and teams to deliver meaningful initiatives and outcomes that positively impact RBC’s employees and the communities that the bank serves. Vinita also sits on the OMNI Television Advisory Council and is a member of the International Women’s Forum.
Vinita has been featured in the Canadian news publication The Globe and Mail, in Leading by Example: Career advice from women executives at RBC as well as The Honest Talk podcast. She has an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, is a CFA Charter holder and has recently earned the ICD.D designation. She lives in the Greater Toronto Area with her husband, two sons and dog Tia.
Richard Wang
Senior Managing Director
Accenture Canada
Richard Wang is a Managing Director with Accenture Canada’s Technology practice. He has been with Accenture for over 27 years, starting as an experienced hire. He is currently the Technology Account Lead for the Government of Canada focusing on helping our Federal Government serve Canadian citizens.
He previously led the Cloud Engineering practice in Canada. He has international experience and has helped clients in Australia, Europe, Africa and across the Americas. Richard specializes in cloud advisory, strategy and transformations for large scale enterprises, especially for Public Services, Resources and the Financial Services industry. He is currently focused on helping Canada through the complexities and realities of Canadian Sovereignty with the cloud and technology.
He shares Executive sponsorship of the Asian Employee Resource Group (ERG) with Naomi Manley-Casimir. Which is one of the largest and fastest growing ERGs at Accenture with over 900 members since it is relatively short existence. He is active with additional roles for Technology Canada nationally as well as locally in the Greater Toronto Area promoting people initiatives and employee engagement.
He recently returned from a training experience with the Canadian Armed Forces, working with the amazing personnel at the Navy’s Fleet Diving Unit Pacific out of CFB Equimalt as part of Accenture’s partnership with Canada Company.
Richard attended the University of Western studying Finance and Economics. His core passion is technology, and he pursues this outside of Accenture through being a published and commercial 3D printing and CAD designer.
Rishi Kapur
Chief Financial Officer, Global Wealth and Asset Management
Manulife
Rishi oversees all aspects of finance for Manulife’s Global Wealth and Asset Management business, spanning retail, retirement, and institutional asset management. As part of his responsibilities, he’s accountable for the design and implementation of a global financial strategy and operating model that enables a more customer-centric environment, financial due diligence and transaction structuring on new acquisitions and transactions for the global business. Rishi equips business leaders with strategic insights and financial advice, creating a scalable foundation for further growth.
Rishi’s previous roles in Manulife were in Finance and Risk Management, including CFO of Manulife Japan, Treasurer of Manulife Bank, and Global Head of Financial Risk Management.
Prior to joining Manulife, Rishi held the positions of Global Head of Traded Market Risks at Lloyds Banking Group, and Managing Director at Swiss Reinsurance Company. He returned to Toronto in 2013 after working in New York, London, Switzerland, and Singapore.
Rishi holds a Bachelor’s Math in Statistics – Actuarial Science and a Master’s Math in Statistics ‑ Finance, both from the University of Waterloo. Rishi is a Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst (CERA), Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Kevin Chan
National Tax Markets Leader and Partner
PWC
Kevin is the National Tax Markets Leader at PwC Canada and a member of the firm’s Clients and Markets, and Tax Leadership Groups. Kevin was also previously the Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer and National Mining Leader at PwC Canada.
He has over 24 years of experience providing Canadian corporate and cross-border tax services (including cross-border financing, corporate reorganizations, corporate compliance and tax audit defence) to multinational mining companies.
He also has significant experience on mining M&A transactions including tax due diligence, domestic and international structuring and tax modelling for both Canadian inbound and outbound mining companies.
Vivian reveals how your Pan-Asian background can be a powerful asset in summiting leadership mountains. Learn to navigate cultural nuances, build powerful connections, and bypass common missteps to unlock your full leadership potential in a globalized world.
Vivian IP
Head of Deals & Creative Works
Google Canada
As Head of Deals & Creative at Google Canada, Vivian Ip is at the forefront of shaping client deal strategy and fostering groundbreaking creative initiatives for Canada’s largest agencies and advertisers. Her remarkable career spans over two and a half decades, during which she has consistently built and empowered high-performing teams in both analytics and sales, delivering exceptional results. Vivian extends her expertise beyond the advertising world as a passionate facilitator of workshops focused on decoding culture. She has a degree from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University and the prestigious “Leading Across Borders & Cultures” executive program from INSEAD. Based in Toronto, Vivian is a keen traveller, skier and pescatarian foodie.
This discussion will aim to highlight how we can leverage the opportunities that life provides us. How To Land Your Next Role will be a panel discussion with Gord, Samuel and Karan who will provide their personal stories, tips and expert opinions on how to win in your next job interview.
Samuel Morgenstein
Sr. Manager, Executive Talent Acquisition
Samuel Morgenstein is a senior executive talent acquisition leader at TD, with nearly two decades of experience recruiting top executive talent across banking, professional services, healthcare, and technology. He leads a North American team focused on executive search, diversity, and strategic growth, and has held leadership roles at PwC Canada, Bridgespan Consulting, and Aon Hewitt. His collaborative approach and commitment to mentoring make him a trusted advisor for professionals seeking executive opportunities.
Karan Puri
Associate VP, Digital Identity
Karan is Associate Vice President and Head of Product at Enterprise Digital Strategy at TD Bank. He represents TD on Digital Identity & Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) Board of Directors and was recently appointed as Director on Secure Tech Alliance board in U.S. He has over 10 years of experience working in Financial Services in Canada since graduating from the MBA program at Schulich School of Business. Karan’s experience spans Commercial Banking, Personal Banking, Credit Risk, Product Management and New Product Development at TD. Prior to moving to Canada, Karan graduated from Engineering in India and worked at Accenture in Management Consulting in Asia-Pacific region.
Gord Urquhart
Sr. Client Partner
Korn Ferry
Gord is a Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry in the organization’s financial services division, specializing in placing senior executives with global, national, and regional clients in consumer and commercial banking, insurance, and real estate organizations. Prior to joining Korn Ferry in 2016, Gord consulted for six years with one of Canada’s largest privately held executive search firms, and focused on clients in the financial services, consumer products, retail, and not-for-profit sectors within Canada and the United States.
Gord holds a Master of Business Administration from the Ivey Business School where he graduated with distinction. He also has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University and studied at the Copenhagen Business School.
Virginia Yu (Moderator)
Sr. Manager, Internal Audit
Virginia Yu has over 18 years of experience in financial services, specializing in governance, risk management, compliance, and internal audit. After moving to Canada in her late 20s and overcoming early career challenges,with no Canadian working experience and later she earned her Bachelor’s from York University and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University. Virginia has held key roles at Scotiabank, State Street Bank, Citco Fund Services, Citco Bank, and the internal audit team at TD, before pivoting to lead the Governance, Risk, and Control team at TD Bank. A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, she drives strategic direction for Ascend Canada at TD and actively gives back as a mentor and speaker for Skills for Change and a volunteer with the Chinese Collective Art Association.
Are you ready to redefine your career trajectory? This interactive workshop is a deep dive into the unique challenges and opportunities Pan-Asian professionals face. We’ll explore how to confidently navigate your career path by leveraging your cultural identity, building a powerful personal brand, and sharpening your intuition. Through a couple of interactive exercises, we’ll help you reframe your story, master the art of asking impactful questions, and advocate for your value with quiet confidence. Get ready to unlock your potential, stand out as both a leader and an individual contributor, and align your career with your authentic self.
Amy Kwan
Sr. Director, Digital Product and Platforms
CIBC
Amy Kwan is a seasoned leader with over a decade of senior-level experience in strategic planning, operational excellence, and cross-functional team leadership. Currently serving as Senior Director, Digital Product and Platforms at CIBC, Amy is recognized for her ability to drive transformation, elevate employee and client experiences, and deliver impactful results through data-driven decision-making and stakeholder collaboration. Amy’s career spans diverse industries, including digital banking, loyalty marketing, and hospitality, where she has consistently championed initiatives that break down barriers, accelerate growth, and foster inclusive, high-performing teams. Her expertise in strategic roadmap development, talent management, and client engagement has earned her accolades and leadership roles in both product strategy and business transformation.
Amy is passionate about empowering Pan-Asian professionals to harness their cultural identity as a source of strength. Drawing from her own journey navigating corporate environments, she brings a unique perspective on building personal brands, mastering self-advocacy, and aligning career paths with authentic values. At this conference, Amy will co-lead the breakout workshop guiding participants to unlock their potential, reframe their professional narratives, and confidently chart their own unique career journeys.
Anum Nayani
Sr. Director, Digital Sales and Acquisition Platforms
Anum Nayani is the Senior Director, Digital Sales and Acquisition Platforms at CIBC, where she leads a team of passionate product owners responsible for product delivery, business results and strategy. With more than 15 years of experience in digital product management, Anum’s life has taken her across Pakistan, Dubai, and Canada. As a first-generation immigrant — and the first in her family to earn a college degree and enter the professional sector — Anum brings a unique and inclusive perspective to her leadership.
Beyond her professional role, Anum enjoys spending time with her four-year-old and staying connected with her large family around the world, who keep her entertained in every time zone. With a proven record in digital product development, she is passionate about empowering others to achieve their full potential.
At this event, Anum will share practical insights and actionable advice on building a fulfilling career, overcoming barriers, and leveraging community networks for long-term success. She looks forward to connecting with fellow Pan Asian professionals and contributing to a vibrant, supportive professional community.
The discussion will focus on the evolution of Agentic AI, how it is transforming the way people work, use cases that are being implemented today, and a demo of an Agentic AI tool. Attendees will gain an understanding of the pace of change that technology is driving, and engage in a conversation on the implications for their career journeys.
Sylvia Shiah
Director of Cloud, Data & AI
PwC Canada
Sylvia has over a decade of expertise in AI and Machine Learning. She has a proven track record in developing and deploying sophisticated AI models across various industries, specializing in NLP, Generative AI, and advanced analytics. Her work focuses on solutions like document extraction, data modernization, content generation, and predictive modeling. Sylvia adeptly utilizes cloud platforms such as AWS and Azure for AI integration and scalable deployments.
Chris Mar
Partner & National AI, Tech and Data Market Leader
Chris Mar is a Toronto-based Partner in Strategy&, PwC’s corporate strategy practice. He helps clients realize sustained outcomes through enterprise, functional, and technology transformations. He also leads PwC Canada’s client and market activities related to AI, Technology, and Data, helping organizations create business value in a trusted way. Chris supports clients across telecommunications, transportation, manufacturing, and public sector. He holds an Engineering degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Business Administration from Ivey Business School.
This panel aims to empower professionals of all career stages and help elevate their impact by leading, irrespective of their title. Explore concepts like navigating cultural nuances, normalizing informal leadership, and influencing across all organizational levels.
Metzi Liau
Vice President Merchandising
Shoppers Drug Mart (Loblaw)
Metzi has a long-standing career at Loblaw Companies, currently serving as Vice President – Merchandising at Shoppers Drug Mart. She is passionate about food retail and healthcare, specializing in category management, strategic planning, and innovative merchandising solutions to meet evolving customer needs. Beyond her professional role, Metzi actively serves the community as a mentor for young adults and new Canadians. As a leader for Embrace Your Roots @ Loblaw, she builds partnerships to foster cross-cultural understanding, increase supplier diversity, and advocate for marginalized communities.
Eiko Kawano
Sr. Director, Digital Experience Strategy
PC Optimum
Eiko is the Senior Director of Digital Experience Strategy for PC Optimum, and is known for her multi-faceted background in strategy, User Experience, and research. Eiko presented at the 3% Conference in 2020, was Jury President for the D&AD Digital Design category in 2022, and spoke about anti-Asian bias at the DesignX Summit in 2022. As a leader, Eiko believes she has the responsibility to create better experiences for the people she works with. She champions for inclusive environments that enable people to bring their full selves to work every day.
Sean Martillano
Product Manager, Stores Technology / Store Communications
Loblaw
Sean brings six years of IT experience from Loblaw Technology & Analytics (LTA), focusing on supporting overall program execution for Loblaw’s stores and partners through automation, digital transformation, reporting, and communications. Starting as a summer student, Sean developed a passion for technical complexity and building strong relationships. He also leads the “Embrace Your Roots” pillar for LTA’s Culture & Inclusion committee, driving cultural celebrations and enhancing C&I for underrepresented groups. Outside of work, Sean enjoys staying active and exploring new restaurants.
Akila Narayanan (Moderator)
Sr. Director
Loblaw Technology & Analytics
Akila, a Senior Director at Loblaw Companies Limited, champions a people-first approach to leadership, fostering a supportive culture and inclusion. An immigrant to Canada, her 20+year journey began as an Admin Assistant, evolving into a results-driven leader consistently recognized for quality delivery, cultivating talent, and a collaborative style. Beyond her professional role, Akila actively serves as a mentor and facilitates workshops focused on culture, further demonstrating her dedication to nurturing growth and sharing her diverse insights.
As the world of work rapidly evolves, with AI, hybrid models, and emerging skill demands, this conversation will explore how to stay relevant and lead with creativity. We will discuss experimental thinking principles, the mindset needed to adapt, and strategies to navigate new technologies and workplace dynamics, all while breaking cultural stereotypes around risk-taking and innovation.
Rocky Jain
VP & MD, Digital Product Development & Technology Learning
BMO
With over 25 years of experience leading digital transformation across finance, insurance, education, healthcare, and tech, Rocky is a recognized socio-technical systems leader. At BMO, he drives technology strategy and product operating models for over 11,000 professionals, with a focus on AI, cloud modernization, and engineering excellence. Rocky’s leadership is defined by a purpose-led, data-driven approach that blends innovation with measurable business impact. He’s introduced cutting-edge practices like DORA metrics, InnerSource development, and learning-as-a-product models—transforming how teams build, learn, and deliver. Beyond the enterprise, Rocky has shaped the next generation of tech talent as a professor at Conestoga College and serves on the Customer Advisory Board for Pluralsight, helping guide the future of digital learning. He holds multiple patents in mobile and digital technologies and has been instrumental in launching award-winning apps and platforms at Manulife, D2L, and BlackBerry.
