Women in Governance’s activities are driven and supported by a dynamic and committed team with the help of its loyal, devoted partners.
Our committees work throughout the year on the different aspects of our mission.
Permanent Team
Women in Governance
Women in Governance’s activities are driven and supported by a dynamic and committed team composed of women and men of diverse ages and ethnic origins, perfectly reflecting the organization’s core values. As all studies have shown, a diversity of perspectives results in better financial performance, more innovation, and a more robust decision-making process throughout the organization. By applying this principle in which we sincerely believe, we ensure Women in Governance’s continued success.
Caroline Codsi
Founder and Chief Equality Officer
Nathalie Perreault
Assistant Vice-President, Global Operations
Sergina Guéry
Director, Communication and Events
Cédric Meyer
Director, Finance and Treasury
Ilham Heouali
Executive Assistant
Rafael Moya
Program Manager, Parity Certification
Geneviève Bédard
Coordinator, Communication and Marketing
Salomé Sandler Tally
Coordinator, Global Operations
Gabrielle Piggott
Administrator, Global Operations
Parity Certification
Committee
The Parity Certification Committee launched with great success the Parity Certification in Quebec in 2017, and it is now available nationwide. The focus of this innovative standard is not solely on parity in decision-making bodies, but it also takes into consideration succession planning.
Louise Champoux-Paillé
CO-PRESIDENTCertified company administrator
«My commitment to Women in Governance began with my participation in the Certification Committee when it was in its early days. I later shared my diverse research on gender parity and collaborated with the Government Relations and Mentoring Committees. This commitment allows me to meet women looking to break the glass ceiling while maintaining a balance between work, family, and personal life, which is so essential to living a good life.»
Joanie Coutu-Bellerose
CO-PRESIDENTManager, Total Rewards and Performance Richter
«It is by actively contributing and persevering that we will make a real difference.»
Nicole Piggott
CO-PRESIDENTHuman Resources, Inclusion and Diversity Expert
Robert Bonneau
Senior Partner and co-founder, Décarie Executive Search
«However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.» – Winston Churchill
Priscila Gomes
Business Executive, HR Group, Rio Tinto
«My grandmother taught me at a very young age the importance of getting involved and being part of change. I am part of Women in Governance because I feel it is a small gesture to thank all of the people that have empowered me to follow my dreams and for my role-models that have been courageous to question the status quo and paved the path before me. Globally we still have a long way to go to achieve gender parity and I want to be part of that change.»
Giovanna Buscemi
Vice President People and Culture, Medicom
In order for women to achieve corporate leadership and Board positions, we must first create the conditions for success. I’m proud to contribute to this important mission in association with Women in Governance.
Suzanne Daneau
Vice President Human Resources, EXFO
Sophie Méthot
HR Business Partner, Remuneration and Benefits Expert, Omnitrans
Carine Lacroix
Founder and CEO, Reneshone Corp.
Jean-Francois Thibault
Associate, CGC-Talent
Sarah Pilote-Henry
Associate, CGC-Talent
Nadia Smaili
Professor, Department of accounting, UQAM’s School of Management (ESG UQAM)
Arlette Edmunds
HR Executive
Severine Sambin
Human Resources Director, Canada Société générale
Mentoring and Governance Training
Committee
Members of the Mentoring and Governance Training Committee draw on best practices in mentoring and apply them to our robust program designed for women in leadership positions looking to move up to senior management. These experienced and passionate professionals support the advancement of women through their concrete actions and their strong presence alongside other mentors and the mentees.
Frank Bernard
CO-PRESIDENTVice-President, Client relations and Partnerships, Optimum Holdings Inc.
Guylaine Voghel
CO-PRESIDENTDirector Business development, Logic-6
«To allow women wishing to accesss senior positions of responsability to have the audacity to follow their dream and to achieve their ambitious goals.»
Laure Broisin
Partner, Alexander Hughes
Jennifer Cabral Poejo
Senior Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Manulife
Ray Kazan
Global Human Resources Director, CAE
Anik Lapointe
General Manager of the New York Branch and Chief Operating Officer, National Bank of Canada Financial Inc.
Carolina Lerena
Senior Specialist, Human Resources, Bell
«Living out my passion through others’ development. Fostering their well-being by guiding them in the emergence and progression of their talents.»
Michael Rubenstein
Chief Executive Officer, Biomod inc.
«Diversity and gender parity is not only the right thing to do, it is the thing to do if you’re interested in driving better business performance. When hiring for my teams, I have always said that I would hire the best man for the job… which is often a woman!»
Marie Claire Uwanyirigira
Founder and General Manager, E-MC Property Management Inc.
Carolyne Evangelidis
Deputy Director, Talent Services, House of Commons of Canada
Communication and Media Relations
Committee
The Communication and Media Relations Committee is composed of experienced communicators who are well versed in media relations and use their creativity to make all our communications as interesting, catchy and informative as possible.
Annick Robinson
PRESIDENTHead of Communications and Public Relations, Bombardier Transportation
«We know that businesses who achieve gender equity perform better; therefore our work in support of parity is not only helping women thrive, but helping Canadian businesses do so as well.»
Marc Desmarais
Vice-president, Government Relations, NATIONAL
Eve Remillard-Larose
Co-Managing Partner,
Sid Lee TorontoAs Walt Disney said: “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” This is why I decided to Join Women in Governance and be able to make a direct impact on gender parity.
Marie-Christine Masseteau
Founder, Mille et une pages
«Parity. Parity as a whole. A value transmitted in my home, in my child’s education. Now on a professional level, nothing is more natural than for me to be involved and to concretely support Women in Governance’s remarkable actions.»
Erwan Picard
Marketing and Operations Director, Association professionnelle des notaires du Québec
«I am proud to contribute to the mission of Women in Governance. Way beyond better economic performance, equity and diversity are essential morally and socially. We can and must do better.»
Joanne Pitkin
Director, Corporate and Public Affairs, Argyle Public Relationships
«Inclusive leadership helps organizations to become more collaborative, dynamic and competitive in today’s social and economic environment. Elevating women to corporate leadership and board positions is essential to achieving success.»
Carolyne Van Der Meer
Principal, CVDM Communications
«Women in Governance needs the support and expertise of professionals who can help grow its reach. My belief in leadership development for women has led to my offering my personal and professional support to this inspiring organization.»
Leslie Quinton
Strategic Communications Executive, University Lecturer
«As they say, every journey starts with a first step. I am happy to support Women in Governance in the journey to make a difference by bringing more equity to the workplace.»
Ontario Promotion
Committee
The Ontario Promotion Committee is involved in planning and promoting Women in Governance’s annual recognition Gala in Toronto, thus offering our guests a rewarding and meaningful experience throughout their journey. This committee is also responsible for developing partnerships with organizations that value the advancement of women, and promoting the Parity Certification in the province of Ontario.
Sunita Mahant
CO-PRESIDENTHead of Global Initiatives for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Ivanhoé Cambridge
«If we continue to do the same thing, we will get the same results. The time is now for men and women to collectively change the way we do things – it is the only way to achieve better results for our society, the economy and our country as a whole.»
Eve Remillard-Larose
CO-PRESIDENTCo-Managing Partner,
Sid Lee TorontoAs Walt Disney said: “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” This is why I decided to Join Women in Governance and be able to make a direct impact on gender parity.
Tim Downing
Director, Federal and Provincial Affairs, CPP Investment Board (CPP Investments)
Andrew Lindsay
Brand Architect and Digital Strategist, Lindsay Strategic
«I am pleased to help build a community and a movement that highlights gender equality and parity as ‘a spectrum; not as two opposing sets of ideals (Emma Watson). Women’s rights are Human rights.»
Sophie Van Houtte
Customer Success Manager, Novisto
Karen Adams
Chief Commercial and Health Innovation Officer, Snapclarity
Deena Baikowitz
Chief Networking Officer,
Fireball Network Global
Jennifer Bishop
Partner,
Miller Thomson LLP
Special counselors
André Dorais
Lawyer, André R. Dorais Avocats
« The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.»
Karina Kesserwan
Lawyer, Aboriginal Law specialist, Kesserwan Arteau
Michèle Meier
Vice President, Communications, Corporate Marketing and CSR, and International Affairs, Ivanhoé Cambridge
«Women in Governance’s work is important, because teams will enhance their performance through diversity and a multidisciplinary approach.»
Élodie Meyer
Director, Legal, Privacy and Breach Coach Services, Bradley & Rollins
«Accessing senior management and board positions is a concern that young women must also share in order to prepare for their future but also to participate in the social movement that will contribute to achieving gender equality in all spheres of society.»