Team Members

Find out more about our committee members and their reasons for getting involved.

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 Equity Officer

 

Stéfanie Bug

Account Director

Madona El-Hajj

Director Operations, Parity Certification

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-CHAIR

Certified 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-CHAIR

Manager, Total Rewards and Performance, Richter

“It is by actively contributing and persevering that we will make a real difference.”

Nicole Piggott
CO-CHAIR

President and Chief Inclusion Officer, Women of Colour Thrive

“More women and more diverse women in decision-making bodies is crucial to our success economically, politically and socially. It is not for lack of education or presence in the workplace so the onus is on leaders in the workplace to attract, retain and develop those talented women NOW.”

 

Robert Bonneau

Senior Partner and Co-Founder, Décarie Executive Search

“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” – Winston Churchill

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

Arlette Edmunds

HR Executive

Carine Lacroix

Founder and CEO, Reneshone Corp.

Sophie Méthot

HR Business Partner, Remuneration and Benefits Expert, Omnitrans

Sarah Pilote-Henry

Associate, CGC-Talent

Severine Sambin

Human Resources Director, Canada, Société générale

“Having worked in different regions of the world, I have always been keen to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of my organization’s HR strategies. Each country has its own culture and its own history, but everywhere still in 2021, integration and equity for women in the workplace remain crucial issues. It was important for me to get involved as a volunteer with Women in Governance to help companies evolve, as well as to discuss this very important subject with other professionals from a variety of fields!”

Jean-Francois Thibault

Associate, CGC-Talent

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-CHAIR

Vice President, Client Relations and Partnerships, Optimum Holdings Inc.

Guylaine Voghel
CO-CHAIR

Director 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

Director, Talent Acquisition, La tête chercheuse

Carolyne Evangelidis

Deputy Director, Talent Services, House of Commons of Canada

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

Operating Partner, Private Equity – Quebec, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

“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.

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
CHAIR

Communications Lead, Alstom – Services Operations North America

“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

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.”

Leslie Quinton

Vice President, Communications, Ubisoft

“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.”

Eve Remillard-Larose

Co-Managing Partner,
Sid Lee Toronto

“As 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.”

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.”

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-CHAIR

Head 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-CHAIR

Co-Managing Partner,
Sid Lee Toronto

“As 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.”

 

Karen Adams

Chief Commercial and Health Innovation Officer, Snapclarity

Deena Baikowitz

Chief Networking Officer, Fireball Network Global

Jennifer Bishop

Partner,
Miller Thomson LLP

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

Special counselors

André Dorais

Lawyer, André R. Dorais Avocats

“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

Michèle Meier

Senior Vice President, Global Communications and Marketing, SNC-Lavalin

“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.”

Robert Trudeau

Senior Director, Global Corporate Sales & Quebec Market, Air Canada

Karina Kesserwan

Lawyer, Aboriginal Law specialist, Kesserwan Arteau

Riva Walia

Managing Director, France Canada Chamber of Commerce – Ontario