Team Category: Board of Directors

Sartaj Sarkaria is a transformational executive leader with over a decade of experience driving strategic growth, operational turnarounds, and inclusive culture change across sectors. Her work is grounded in the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), and she brings a deep commitment to fostering spaces where people feel empowered to be their full selves.

Sartaj’s leadership philosophy is anchored in continuous learning, humility, and the courage to adapt as the DEIA space evolves. She values lived experiences, champions transparency and accountability, and is driven by a belief in collective progress toward meaningful social change.

She most recently served as CEO of Holstein Canada and held senior executive roles at the Canadian Marketing Association, including Chief Operating Officer (acting CEO) and Chief Diversity Officer. In these roles, she led financial and cultural transformations, strengthened governance, launched national DEIA initiatives, and built high-performing, purpose-driven teams.

Sartaj holds a BA from Wilfrid Laurier University and has completed executive education through Queen’s University, eCornell, and Osgoode Hall Law School. She holds both the Governance Professionals of Canada designation (GPC.D) and Certified Human Resources Leader designation (CHRL) and is currently pursuing the ICD.D through Rotman and the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Deeply engaged in Canada’s nonprofit and governance sectors, Sartaj serves in leadership positions on the boards of the Human Resources Professionals Association, United for Literacy, and the Do More Agriculture Foundation, where she currently serves as Board Chair.

Marni Panas is a Diversity and Inclusion professional who has dedicated her career to creating safer, more welcoming and inclusive systems, workplaces and communities. Marni Panas is Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at ATCO. She holds a degree in Health Administration and a Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional designation. Marni is the Chair of the Board of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion.

Marni has contributed to legislation and policy protecting human rights for individuals at the provincial and federal levels in Canada. She was a member of the Advisory Committee that helped draft the apology that Prime Minister Justine Trudeau delivered to LGBTQ2S+ people in Canada in the House of Commons in November, 2017.

Marni received a Human Rights Award from the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights and was named a Global Edmonton Woman of Vision in 2018. Marni received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee medal and the 2022 Distinguished Alumni award from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. Most recently she received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her work in creating safer and more inclusive communities.

Paul Twigg is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at DCBank, bringing over 20 years of leadership experience in information technology and digital transformation. Since joining DCBank in 2022, Paul has been instrumental in driving innovation and aligning technology strategies with business growth.

Prior to DCBank, Paul served as the Canadian CTO at NTT DATA, one of the world’s largest IT consulting firms, where he led major technology initiatives across sectors. Throughout his career, he has earned multiple industry accolades, including Top Canadian Newcomer, Disrupter of the Year, and a Microsoft Impact Award for his work on a groundbreaking data-driven AI solution.

Paul is recognized for his forward-thinking approach to technology leadership, combining deep technical expertise with a strong focus on delivering tangible business outcomes.

Jasmine Tsang is the Managing Partner, Ethics, for Deloitte Canada. In this role, Jasmine oversees the firm’s ethics program, provides insights on ethics, and sets the agenda for key programs to promote, sustain and build an ethical culture at Deloitte. Prior to this, she was the Deputy Global Chief Ethics Officer for Deloitte working with a network of Ethics Officers from around the globe to shape and influence the ethics agenda for Deloitte.

Jasmine has 20 years of experience at Deloitte in Canada and internationally across a wide range of areas including: ethics and conduct, enterprise risk management, financial risk management and audit. She is passionate about coaching and developing the next generation of leaders and actively participates in programs to support diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Jasmine is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant. She completed her Bachelor of Commerce from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary and a Master of Professional Accounting from the University of Saskatchewan.

Jonathan Soon-Shiong is an accomplished software and media CEO, bringing decades of expertise in strategy, business development, finance and executive leadership. With a strong foundation in investment banking, he has a proven track record in guiding companies through complex financial landscapes and driving growth and innovation in multiple industries.

Jonathan is currently the CEO of Ignition Media & Entertainment Inc which creates and produces feature films. Previously he was the CEO of Fluid Mobility which was recognized as one of Canada’s “22 Top Business Information Systems Startups” in 2021 and prior to that he was the Deputy CFO and Head of Strategy at the CBC, where he developed multiple digital strategies for the CBC including CBC overall corporate digital strategy, News Programming Digital Strategy and Kids Programming Digital Strategy. Jonathan was also at Torstar’s Metroland Media Group as VP, Strategy & Corporate Development where he was instrumental bring the company into the digital realm with the advent of digital media, an Investment Banker specializing in Mergers & Acquisitions at several global investment banks in the UK, and a qualified CPA (CA) with KPMG in the UK and Canada. Jonathan also holds an MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business.

Marie-Eve Noël has been working in public relations for over 20 years, focused on delivering excellence in client service and creative PR campaigns to a variety of clients in different industries including consumer, corporate and lifestyle. Prior to exercising her PR muscle, she also worked as a freelance reporter for a weekly publication and as a translator.

Before joining Weber Shandwick, Marie-Eve worked for 14 years at PR firm Torchia Communications, where she climbed up the ladder from Media Relations Coordinator to Senior Account Director. Since she joined the Weber Shandwick Montréal office in 2016, Marie-Eve has been a tireless advocate for her clients’ needs, elevating the McDonald’s Canada business and exemplifying collaboration and team building. She spearheaded the Montréal team’s first industry award wins for its work on Air Canada and McDonald’s. Marie-Eve also acts as a mentor to numerous team members within the agency, and she oversees the firm’s DE&I Program, which she designed in 2019.

Lively, efficient, professional, and posessing a high attention to detail, Marie Eve has strong multi-tasking abilities. She is recognized as someone who is in touch with clients and who delivers results. She is currently completing an MBA program at Université Laval and is a graduate of Université de Montréal in communication sciences and translation. She also is the President of the Alliance des cabinets de relations publiques du Québec (Québec Alliance of Public Relations Firms).

Ask anyone who works with Marie-Eve, and they will bubble over with praise for her work ethic, her thoughtfulness, and her great people skills—including her clients!

Nadeem Mansour is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in corporate governance and resilience (audit, risk, ethics, and compliance), both in consulting and Global Fortune 500 companies with George Weston Limited and Loblaw Companies Limited. Experienced in dealing with C-Suite and Boards of Directors in managing and transforming organizational governance and resilience to protect what matters most.

He is the founder and CEO of Aegis Beacon Inc.; a boutique advisory firm focused on building governance structures that hold under pressure. He brings deep experience shaping risk-informed strategies, modernizing internal controls, and strengthening board-management dynamics.

Nadeem is an advocate of social justice and diversity and inclusion initiatives. He is a board member and Governance and People Committee Chair of Canadian Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI), a national Canadian charity (2020 till present). Nadeem was an active member of the Loblaw Diversity and Inclusion Council (2015-2020) and EY Inclusiveness Initiatives (2007-2012).

Nadeem is also a self-published author of the award-winning cookbook “Thuraya: Recipes from our Family’s Kitchen in Jordan“, winner of four Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, including gold for best Mediterranean book in the world and silver honors for Best Cookbook in the World.

Soula Courlas brings 25+ years of a unique blend of industry and professional services experience from 3 of the Big 4 and a global technology firm working with CEOs and C-suite leaders from Canada’s Fortune 100 companies across financial services, public sector, healthcare, telecommunications and technology sectors. Soula has held roles as an executive, consulting Partner and c-suite advisor, previous interim Chief People Officer, national practice leader, business-builder and transformational change leader.

Soula has achieved results and outcomes related to post-M&A integration, new ways of working driven by technology and major organizational changes, launching new services and capabilities into the market, jump-starting stalled growth agendas, and putting in place foundational elements to shape a compelling work environment that attracts and retains great talent. Soula is a recognized HR and organizational thought leader, speaker, moderator and connector.

The focus on resilience, well-being, inclusion, diversity and belonging underscore Soula’s collaborative leadership style and passion for redefining the world of work.

Chantal Dugas holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a certificate in supervision from L’École des Hautes Études Commerciales.

Chantal joined Air Canada 26 years ago and has held positions in the Talent Acquisition team before she joined the Diversity team in 2000 until she led both the Diversity and Equity team and Linguistic Services in 2010. Over the years, helped by her team, Chantal developed Strategic D&I and Linguistic Plans and supported the different branches with the implementation into the business. Since 2023 Chantal is fully dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion and is responsible for DEI Community Relations and Partnerships and working towards crating a more inclusive workplace and promoting aviation careers. In this new role Chantal leads the development and implementation of Air Canada’s DEI community outreach strategy working with various external key partners.

In addition to being a CCDI Board Director, Chantal is also the chair of the FETCO Employment Equity subcommittee and a member of the Province of Québec Steering Committee for people with a disability.

Michelle Plouffe is the Chief People Officer and City Solicitor for the Employee and Legal Services Division at the City of Edmonton. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and oversees various branches including Legal Services, Labour Relations and Total Compensation, Talent Management and Workforce Safety and Employee Health.

Michelle Plouffe has over 27 years of legal and leadership experience. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree (with distinction) (1992) and her Law degree (1995) both from the University of Alberta. Ms. Plouffe has held legal and leadership positions at EPCOR and Alberta Health Services, and led a diverse team in her role as the Vice-President and General Counsel at MacEwan University. She has extensive senior level operational experience, providing leadership, innovative solutions, and value creation to all facets of operations. She is a trusted advisor who has proven expertise providing sound legal and strategic advice to boards and senior leadership.

Michelle has obtained the Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D Designation and has substantial governance experience. She is currently the Vice-Chair of the Balancing Pool Board of Directors, and past Vice-Chair of the Kids’ Kottage Foundation Board. She is a past member of the Law Society of Alberta Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Conduct Committee and Audit Committee.

For her work in preventing gender-based violence Ms. Plouffe was granted the Edmonton Daughter of the Year award in 2016. In 2017, she received the Women in Law Leadership Award for demonstrated leadership in law and diversity initiatives. She was honoured with an Alberta King’s Counsel appointment in 2024 for her work in the legal profession.