A proven marketing leader and strategic advisor with 30 years of experience, Jennifer Marley solves the highest-level, toughest strategic challenges for her clients at the marketing advisory firm, Sklar Wilton & Associates (SW&A). In her 18 years at SW&A, Jennifer has been honoured to act as strategic and insights advisor to some of Canada’s finest companies to collaboratively solve tough business challenges to unlock growth and build stronger brands.

Her vision has been a driving force behind many successful culture, engagement and coaching initiatives at SW&A leading the firm to be named as one of Canada’s Best Workplaces, as well as, an Employee Recommended Workplace in 2017 and 2018.

The blood cancer cause is a personal one for Jennifer. She is a 14-year leukemia survivor and is dedicated volunteer for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.  She is also a keen adventurer who enjoys new challenges including biking, hiking, trekking, and zip-lining in some of the most exotic and beautiful parts of the world.  She is a mother of two, Matt 22 and Kate 20, who she is helping transition through university to adulthood. Her husband Murray enjoys accompanying her on her adventures.

Gord McFarlane is the Managing Director of Corporate Development at FYi Doctors. North America’s largest doctor-owned eye care provider with over 300 locations. Prior to joining FYi he had a 30 year career with Grant Thornton LLP including leadership roles as Managing Partner Alberta, Regional Managing Partner Western Canada, member of the firm’s National Management Committee, National Managing Partner of the firm’s Advisory Services across Canada and a term on the firm’s Partnership Board. Gord is a FCA, FCPA and a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV).

Gord is an audit committee member, past treasurer and board member of the HomeSpace Society, a non-profit organization providing housing for Calgary’s homeless. He is the past chair of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and a former trustee of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Foundation. He has served on and advised numerous Boards of Directors over his career both in the corporate and non-profit sector.

Gord was diagnosed with an aggressive Prolymphocytic Leukemia in 2015 and began treatment immediately, which included a successful stem cell transplant from his donor, his sister.

Dr. Keith Humphries, MD PhD, is a distinguished scientist and Director of the Terry Fox Laboratory of the BC Cancer Agency and Professor in the Division of Hematology of the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. His long-standing research interests are focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate normal blood stem cell properties and how these are altered in leukemia. Studies in his lab have involved a stellar succession of trainees from Canada and around the world that have stimulated new approaches for expanding normal blood stem cells and provided new insights into the mechanisms of leukemic transformation. His laboratory has also been on the forefront of the use of retroviral and lentiviral - mediated gene transfer to human as well as mouse blood stem cells and has used this technology to develop powerful new models for studying how specific genes contribute to leukemia development. He is an active promoter of translational science and a collaborator on many team projects both nationally and internationally. He has a long track record of research accomplishments supported and contributions to scientific societies and journals. Dr. Humphries has been recognized by numerous prestigious awards including the 2013 Terry Fox Gold Medal and induction as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

He has been an active member of many international scientific societies. He has served in senior elected executive roles in the International Society of Experimental Hematology, and served as President and then as Editor in Chief of the associations journal, Experimental Hematology. He was a founding member in 1999 of the NCE-funded Stem Cell Network and remains active in the Canadian Stem Cell Network Foundation. He currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Hemato-Linne Stem Cell Program (centered in Lund, Sweden) and bluebird bio and has previously been an advisor to the hematology research program at Millenium and Systemix. He has previously served as an advisor to the Terry Fox Foundation and currently sits on the Medical-Scientific committee of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society of Canada.  Dr. Humphries has served on numerous review panels both nationally and internationally including serving as member of the Score Committee of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (USA), member and chair of the scientific panel for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society of Canada, the hematopoiesis panel of the National Cancer Institute and site visit panels for the Terry Fox Program.

Alex Beraskow is a retired management consultant with a background in information technology and finance.  He started his career with IBM and worked within the IT domain for 4 decades. He has had executive responsibility, including P&L, for 5 consulting firms since 1980.  He founded three consulting companies and sold each of them to international firms.

Since selling his last firm – IT/net – he has transitioned his career to that of corporate governance, working as a corporate director for both Not-For-Profit (NFP), as well as corporate boards.  Currently he is on the Board of Governance at the University of Ottawa.  In past, he has been on the boards of ICCRC, CIRA, Lymphoma Canada, Opera Lyra, and Rideau Club.  His committee work includes finance, investment management, pension, and governance.  Interests include strategic planning, risk management, compensation and all matters related to corporate governance.

Frédéric is an expert in business intelligence and knowledge management. He has developed and supported several innovative and pioneering research projects in artificial intelligence and economic data management. Committed to the development of companies and organizations he works with, Frédéric uses a rigorous project management methodology and a Glow to Grow approach which allow him to contribute to the success of complex projects involving private companies and public agencies.

Frédéric was the managing partner of a consulting practice specialized in business intelligence and economic and industrial development for 14 years before he joined the Quebec Cluster of Metal Transformers as Chief Executive Officer.

As a speaker and strategic advisor, Frédéric wrote several industry reports and briefs, participated in parliamentary committees, and organized strategic forums for the development of industry clusters.

In early 2017 Frederic was diagnosed with an aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma stage IV and, thanks to the support of the Canadian medical community, he is now undergoing his maintenance treatment.

A graduate of Holland College, Paul held several posts serving the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary until his retirement from the force in 2010. His time in politics began at the municipal level in 2001, serving as councillor and deputy mayor in his home town of Conception Bay South. In 2010, Paul was elected in a by-election as the Member of the House of Assembly for the District of Topsail. In 2011, he was elevated to cabinet and served as minister in a number of portfolios including Service NL, Transportation and Works, Housing, Health and Community Services, and Child, Youth and Family Services.

From September 2014 to December 2015, Paul served as the 12th Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador then served the people of Newfoundland and Labrador as the Leader of the Official Opposition until May 2018.

Paul has been widely recognized for his public service, being named the Crime Stoppers Police Officer of the Year and the Conception Bay South Citizen of the Year. He is a recipient of the Canada 125 Medal, Queen’s Jubilee Medal and Police Exemplary Service Medal.

A devoted family man, Paul resides in the Topsail- Paradise District with his wife Cheryl.  In 2011, Paul was diagnosed with DLBC lymphoma with an underlying FL.

Rick Lancaster is a retired financial services industry senior executive and former President and CEO of CIBC Life Insurance. Rick served on a not-for-profit board supporting Scouts Canada for 7 years. He was also former chair and director of the Canadian Association of Financial Institutions in Insurance.  Rick has his CPA-CGA designation, an MBA from the University of Toronto and an HBA from the Ivey School of Business, Western University.  Rick is a 6 year survivor of NHL.