Connie Contardi

Connie is an award-winning serial entrepreneur, brand strategist, and media expert who has been featured in major media outlets such as Forbes and has spoken on prominent stages including Google, YouTube, Web Summit, and Collision Conference. As the CEO of How To Cake It, Connie built the company from concept to a multi-million-dollar media brand with a global community exceeding 15 million.​

As a TV producer, Connie has created and produced shows for networks and streaming platforms including Food Network, HGTV, and Roku. She has also held roles at 20th Century Fox Films and Entertainment One. Her brand work includes collaborations with clients such as Disney, Google, Amazon, Walmart, Hello Sunshine, Four Seasons Hotels, and Atlantis Resorts.​

A Canadian who has worked internationally, Connie is passionate about bringing global opportunities to women in business and media in Canada. She most recently launched the first Canadian chapter of The Media Dinner Club.​

 

Dr. Michael Gardam

Healthcare

Michael is a healthcare leadership consultant and educator with Schulich Executive Education at York University in Toronto. He is a member of the Board of the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders, and the former Chief Executive Officer of the PEI provincial Health Authority and former Chair of the Board of Directors at HealthCareCAN.  He is a pioneer of using complexity science-based approaches to improve patient safety, system transformation, staff engagement and other complex challenges. Michael has advised organizations in Canada and internationally.

Former leadership roles include Director of Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control and Public Health Ontario (2008-2010), Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee at UHN (2015-2017) and Chief of Staff at Humber River Hospital in Toronto (2018-2020).

Michael holds Master’s degrees from McGill University (Biochemistry) and the University of Toronto (Health policy, management and evaluation), and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in infectious diseases.

Eric Champagne

Public Sector

Eric Champagne, Ph.D., is a full professor of public administration at the School of Political Studies and Director of the Centre on Governance at the University of Ottawa. He teaches theory and practice in public management and governance, as well as public policy development, program evaluation, and risk management. His current research focuses on infrastructure financing and asset management within the context of multilevel governance, as well as public sector reforms in Canada and developing countries.

Before joining the University of Ottawa, Professor Champagne spent a decade as a public sector reform specialist at the World Bank and as a senior policy advisor to the Government of Canada. He is Vice-President of the Performance and Planning Exchange (PPX/FRP), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing knowledge and practice in results-based management, and he sits on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA). In 2020, he received the Pierre De Celles Award for Excellence in Teaching Public Administration, presented jointly by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) and CAPPA.

Eric Champagne, Ph.D., est professeur titulaire en administration publique à l’École d’études politiques et directeur du Centre d’études en gouvernance de l’Université d’Ottawa. Il enseigne la théorie et la pratique de la gestion et de la gouvernance publiques, l’élaboration des politiques publiques, l’évaluation de programmes et la gestion des risques. Ses recherches actuelles portent sur le financement des infrastructures et la gestion des actifs dans un contexte de gouvernance multiniveaux, ainsi que sur les réformes du secteur public au Canada et dans les pays en développement.

Avant de rejoindre l’Université d’Ottawa, le professeur Champagne a passé une dizaine d’années comme spécialiste des réformes du secteur public à la Banque mondiale et conseiller stratégique principal auprès du gouvernement du Canada. Il est vice-président du Forum sur le rendement et la planification (FRP/PPX), un organisme sans but lucratif dédié à l’amélioration des connaissances et des pratiques en gestion axée sur les résultats, et siège au conseil d’administration de l’Association canadienne des programmes en administration publique (ACPAP). En 2020, il a remporté le Prix Pierre-De Celles d’excellence en enseignement de l’administration publique, remis conjointement par l’Institut d’administration publique du Canada (IAPC) et l’ACPAP.

Memfi Sappa

Memfi is a passionate and certified trainer and facilitator specializing in multicultural team building and leadership development. Born in Italy, she brings international experience to her role at TCO, with a strong focus on cross-cultural awareness, team dynamics, and motivation. Her engaging style, influenced by theatrical improv, inspires audiences and enhances team agility.

Her work with major multinational companies and her contributions to diversity and inclusion highlight her commitment to nurturing young global leaders. She has co-developed key programs such as The Bridge Builders, Developing Empathy, Understanding Motivation, and Facilitating Teams. Having lived in England, Denmark, and Norway, Memfi has gained a deep appreciation for cultural adaptation, making her a valuable asset to clients with international needs.

Federico Armani

Federico has 20+ years of experience as a business leader, specializing in designing, delivering, and developing strategic and operational plans. He is responsible for the development, management, and delivery of training programs related to Negotiation, Sales Effectiveness, Leadership, Behavioral and Communication Styles, Potential Evaluation, Persuasive Communication, Strategy, and Organization. His experience and expertise span diverse industries, business lines, and company sizes, from multinational corporations to medium and small organizations. Regardless of the environment he works in, he focuses on fostering negotiation and communication skills among individuals, departments, and entire organizations to cultivate an impactful communication approach and drive business results.

Federico has extensive experience in Mobile Telecommunications, Digital, IT, IoT, Customer Care, Manufacturing, Construction, Luxury, FMCG, Energy, Automotive, Finance, Insurance, and Banking. He holds an Executive Master in Business Administration from Fondazione CUOA and is fluent in Italian and English.