Brian Clow is a Canadian political advisor, most recently serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In this role, he played a crucial part in shaping and managing the Prime Minister’s policy agenda, providing strategic advice, and overseeing various facets of governmental operations. As Deputy Chief of Staff, Clow oversaw the Policy, Global Affairs, Communications, Issues Management, and Parliamentary Affairs teams in the Prime Minister’s Office. Clow was the Prime Minister’s lead on Canada-U.S. Relations following the election of President Donald Trump in 2017. He played a pivotal role in the renegotiation of NAFTA, diplomatic relations between Canada and the United States, and most recently the handling of Canada’s response to President Trump’s threats against the country’s sovereignty and economy.

Vincent Ong
Vice-President, Government and Industry Relations, Andrew Peller Ltd.

Vincent is a strategic leader with a wide range of functional experience across corporate strategy, government and regulatory affairs, mergers and acquisitions, sales, innovation, finance, supply, and project & change management. In addition to his most recent experiences in CPG, he is a CPA with prior roles in finance, advisory, and audit at GE Canada, GE Healthcare, and Deloitte.

Greg Kanargelidis
Senior Global Trade and Customs Lawyer

Greg Kanargelidis has more than 30 years of experience practicing in the areas of customs, international trade, and commodity tax law. Greg opened his own law practice after a rewarding career at a large full-service firm based in Toronto, Ontario, the last 26 years as a partner and head of the firm’s International Trade Group. Greg is recognized as one of the leading international trade and customs lawyers in Canada and the world.Greg has extensive experience representing Canadian and foreign clients on global trade and investment matters. He is a noted expert in all areas of customs law, including planning and compliance with respect to all aspects of the importation and exportation of goods and services, such as tariff classification, customs valuation, rules of origin, export and import controls, economic sanctions, marking rules, seizures and ascertained forfeitures, administrative monetary penalties, and voluntary disclosures.

Pratik Bhalerao
Manager, Ontario Policy and Outreach at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME)

Pratik Bhalerao is Manager, Ontario Policy and Outreach at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), advocating for policies that support manufacturing growth and competitiveness. Prior to this, Pratik worked in Corporate Affairs at Vale Base Metals. Pratik has a Master’s degree from the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, and a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics.

Warrington Ellacott
Chair, Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters (IE Canada)

Warrington was first appointed to the IE Canada Board in 2014 and currently serves as the Chair. His previous roles include Chair of the Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable (MARR) in B.C., Chair of the Canadian Appliance Manufacturers Association, and Board Director of Electro-Federation Canada. He has a wealth of experience in regulatory compliance for consumer and commercial goods, advocacy, and public policy. His expertise spans technical regulatory and compliance, environmental stewardship, government legislative advocacy at all levels, governance and reporting, supply chain and global trade, labour, public policy, and communications.

Daniel Tisch Echevarria, APR, FCPRS, ICD.D
President & CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Daniel Tisch is a business, public policy, and community leader, having held executive roles in government and the corporate sector, and senior governance roles at public institutions and non-profit associations. He is known globally as an expert in corporate communications, public policy, community engagement, crisis and reputation management. From 2003 to 2023, Daniel was the driving force in building Argyle Communications (now Changemakers) into Canada’s largest management-owned engagement, communication and reputation advisory firm growing to $40M in revenue, 175 employees and ten North American offices by 2023. Earlier in his career, Daniel held senior communications roles in the Canadian government, including serving as Senior Policy Advisor and Acting Chief of Staff to Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. In the latter role, he was a member of the Canadian delegation to the G7 Economic Summit. Daniel has spoken to business audiences on every continent, lectured at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business since 1996, and contributed to leading public relations and marketing textbooks. He appears regularly in print and broadcast media, including weekly commentary on CBC Radio and Global News during the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections. In 2021, Daniel was named one of the world’s “top 100” social media influencers on public relations. Born in Spain to a Latin American family and raised in Toronto, Daniel speaks English, French and Spanish. He holds two degrees from Queen’s University — a Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies and a Master of Business Administration. He is also a certified corporate director, with an ICD.D designation in corporate governance from the University of Toronto. Daniel has served as vice chair of the Queen’s University Board of Trustees, a leader in the international Scouting movement and a board member of Social Venture Partners International. In 2025, Daniel was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contributions to his community, the province and the country.

Brian Kingston
President & CEO, Canadian Vehicles Manufacturers’ Association

Brian Kingston is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association (CVMA). The CVMA represents Canada’s leading manufacturers of light and heavy duty motor vehicles. Its membership includes Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, General Motors of Canada Company, and Stellantis (FCA Canada). Prior to joining the CVMA, Brian was Vice President of Policy, Fiscal and International, at the Business Council of Canada where he led the Council’s economic policy priorities and global engagement. From 2009 to 2012 he served in the federal government with positions at the Department of Finance, Global Affairs Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Treasury Board Secretariat, and the Privy Council Office. Brian is active in the non-profit sector including as past president of the Ottawa Economics Association and as the current chair of the Banff Forum. Brian holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Carleton University, a master’s degree in international affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and an MBA from Ivey Business School.

Flavio Volpe, C.M.
President, Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association

Flavio Volpe, C.M., a Member of the Order of Canada, is an internationally recognized leader of Canada’s automotive industry. As president of the APMA since 2014, he led the effort to increase regional content in the USMCA negotiations and mobilized the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic to produce lifesaving medical goods. He spearheaded Project Arrow, an all-Canadian, zero-emissions autonomous demonstration concept car, and is a sought-after voice in global media and global halls of power. Recognized as industry leader of the year by Automotive News, Flavio has been included in the Maclean’s “Power List”, the Hill Times Most Influential People in Government and Politics, Foreign Policy and many others.

Justin Jin
Professor, Accounting and Financial Management, McMaster University

Research Interests: Societal implications of accounting practices; Public policy and accounting. Dr. Justin Jin is a Professor of Accounting and Financial Management at the DeGroote School of Business, where he also serves as Director of the CPA Ontario Centre for Accounting Research in Regulatory Reporting. His research focuses on the intersection of accounting, finance, and public policy, with a particular interest in how financial reporting and corporate governance influence economic and social outcomes. Dr. Jin has published on a range of topics, including corporate social responsibility, financial literacy, bank transparency, and the relationship between political uncertainty and corporate behaviour.

Khalid Nainar
Professor, Accounting and Financial Management, McMaster University

S. M. Khalid Nainar Research interests: Energy economics; Financial fraud; Market surveillance; Earning management; Corporate social responsibility. Dr. Khalid Nainar is a Professor of Accounting and Financial Management at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University. His research spans a diverse range of topics, including but not limited to energy economics, financial fraud, market surveillance, and earnings management. He is particularly interested in the intersection of accounting practices with social and regulatory outcomes, such as corporate social responsibility, crime reduction, and poverty mitigation. His interdisciplinary work often integrates insights from economics, finance, and behavioral science. It is published in leading academic journals, such the Accounting Review, European Accounting Review, Energy Economics, Journal of Comparative Economics, Decision Support Systems, and the Journal of Business Research. As a testament to his leadership in research, Dr. Nainar conceptualized and implemented, as the Founding Director, a campus incubator at McMaster University, which later became McMaster’s Innovation Park.

Victor Cui
Professor, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Global Strategy, University of Waterloo

Victor Cui is Conrad Research Excellence Chair and Professor of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Global Strategy, at the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, University of Waterloo. Professor Victor Cui’s research addresses the transformative impacts of geopolitical and technological disruptions on business and society. Widely recognized as a thought leader on geopolitical tensions and shifting paradigms of (de)globalization, his work appears in top-tier academic journals and leading media outlets, such as BNN-Bloomberg, Fortune, CBC, and the Globe and Mail. Professor Cui contributes actively to global academic excellence, serving as Senior Editor for four highly respected academic journals and as chair of Canada’s SSHRC Insight Development Grants competition. He is also a member of the Global Roster of Experts for the International Science Council (ISC), advising and influencing critical global issues in science and society. Professor Cui is committed to collaborating with leaders from government, industry, and academia to address pressing challenges facing Canada and the world.

Blayne Haggart
Professor, Political Science, Brock University

Dr. Haggart’s research focuses on the international political economy of knowledge, particularly intellectual property rights, data governance and internet governance. He came to Brock University after several years working as a professional journalist as well as an economist with the Parliamentary Information and Research Service. Beyond International Political Economy, Dr. Haggart also teaches on the politics of sports, particularly hockey and Australian Rules football. His opinion articles have appeared in The Globe and Mail, The Conversation, the National Post, and Salon, among other publications. Blayne Haggart is also a Senior Fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo, ON, and an Associate Senior Fellow with the Käte Hamburger Kolleg/Centre for Global Cooperation Research at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.

Mark Parker
Assistant Professor, Strategy, Brock University

Mark Parker is an Assistant Professor in Strategy with the Goodman School of Business since July, 2020. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Parker served as Professor of International Business at Niagara College and as an Adjunct Professor in Marketing with Niagara University. He also serves as an editorial board member with the Global Journal of Management and Marketing, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Business Research Consortium of Western New York. Prior to his academic career, Mr. Parker has also held a variety of managerial positions in marketing and business development in steel and mining companies worldwide, and continues to serve as a Principal with management consulting firm Metal Strategies in Philadelphia. He holds a B.E.S. degree in Urban Planning from the University of Waterloo, an MBA in Marketing from Brock University, and a PhD in Strategy from the Edinburgh Business School of Heriot-Watt University.

Pau Pujolas
Associate Professor, Economics, McMaster University

Professor Pujolas’s primary research interests focus on the intersection of international trade and macroeconomics. He has recently studied how the emergence of the Oil sands has affected Canadian productivity, how costly it is to undergo a new wave of trade disruptions, and the desirability of a trade war between countries. His work has been cited by the White House, and it has been published in leading journals in economics, including the International Economic Review, the Canadian Journal of Economics, the Review of Economic Dynamics, and the Annual Review of Economics. His research has been covered in media outlets such as Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, The Times, The Independent, the Globe and Mail, Global News, the Hub, MacLean’s, Nada Es Gratis, and Foco Economico. Professor Pujolas received his Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, and his B.A. in Economics from Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Since his time as a Ph.D. student, he has regularly visited the University of Minnesota, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and has been Resident Academic at the Bank of Canada.

2024 Symposium

Bridging Borders: Exploring Cross-Border Issues in Today’s Global Market

International investing continues to play a significant role in driving economic growth in Canada, and while investing internationally provides diversification and potential growth, it also comes with its unique set of issues.

Guest Speakers:

• Jonathan Bitran, Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
• Sandra Easton, Mayor of Lincoln, Ontario
• Karen Fisman, Managing Director, PwC Corporate Finance
• Frank Guarascio, Senior Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
• Jeff Smith, Partner, FGS Longview
• Alexander Morsink, UDP & Managing Director, Equivesto
• Paul Scarbrough, Professor of Accounting, Goodman School of Business, Brock University
• Gary Zalepa, Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Peter van Dijk, Chief Sustainability Officer, Canada’s Forest Trust Corporation

Student Poster Contest

Brock University Accounting students were invited to submit a poster about the concepts discussed in the Bridging Border symposium for a chance to $500 cash.

2023 Symposium

The Role of Accounting in Sustainability and Circular Economy

The CPA Centre for Public Policy and Innovation in Accounting hosted its annual symposium on November 3, 2023. The theme for 2023 was “The Role of Accounting in Sustainability and a Circular Economy.” There were speakers from academia, Walker Industries, and KPMG, as well as a panel discussion with a local mayor, and the CEO of Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce. Prizes were presented to the winners of the high school and Brock Undergraduate video competition.

Guest Speakers:

• Dr. Leanne Keddie, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Carleton University
• Dr. Cheol Lee, Professor of Accounting, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
• Dr. Liette Vasseur, Professor of Biological Sciences, Brock University
• Dr. Samir Trabelsi, Professor of Accounting, Brock University
• Gary Zalepa, Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Mishka Balsom, CEO of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
• Paul Smith, Vice President of Finance, Walker Industries
• Ramsha Ahmed, ESG Manager, KPMG
• Mani Siddiqui, Founder of Jitto

Student Video Competition

Brock University undergraduate students and high school students were invited to submit a short video about the role accounting can play in a circular economy for a chance to win a $1000 prize and the opportunity to attend the 2023 symposium.

2022 Symposium

Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act (ESTMA)

The CPA Centre for Public Policy and Innovation in Accounting at the Goodman school of Business was pleased to host a symposium in conjunction with Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) on the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act (ESTMA). This event was held in a hybrid format, online and in person at Goodman School of Business Atrium at Brock University. The free symposium featured speakers from NRCan, CPA Ontario and PWC as well as industry partners.

Guest Speakers:

• Mr. Ross Gallinger, President, RG Consulting
• Mr. Jason Manikkam, Deputy Director, Extractive Sector Transparency Office, Natural Resources Canada, Government of Canada
• Emily Nickerson, Team Lead / Policy, Strategy and Partnerships, Extractive Sector Transparency Office, Natural Resources Canada, Government of Canada
• Jacques Radder, Director, Accounting Advisory Services, PwC Management Services LP
• Dr. Galit A. Sarfaty, Canada Research Chair in Global Economic Governance, Associate Professor | Allard School of Law, The University of British Columbia
• Dr. Charles Cho, Professor/Erivan K. Haub Chair, Schulich School of Business, York University
• Mr. Daniel Mule, Policy Lead, Extractive Industries Tax and Transparency, Oxfam America