Speakers and Presenters
Welcome to Connecting the Dots!
We are thrilled to introduce the dynamic and accomplished speakers and presenters who will be sharing their expertise and insights at this year's event. From thought leaders to industry pioneers, our speakers are at the forefront of innovation, hinting at the exceptional content and connections awaiting you as we explore the intersection of education, technology, and employment.
Babar Baig
Senior Financial Advisor, CIBC
Babar is a Senior Financial Advisor at CIBC Square. Babar has been at CIBC for over 5 years where he started out as a customer service representative and worked his way through various roles in the banking centre. Prior to this, he worked in retail management. Throughout his career he has always worked on the frontline as his passion lies in providing the best level of service and financial planning for his clients.
Monika Borchert
Manager, Early Years Digital Literacy Project, CNIB
Monika has taken her love for Project Management along with her passion for inclusion to manage and lead the Early Years Digital Literacy Project at CNIB, which aims to gamify the ABCs of iOS manual to support building digital literacy skills amongst our youngest CNIB participants.
Lindsay Coolidge
Director, External Relations and Partnerships, Ontario Tech University
Lindsay Coolidge is the Manager of Government and Community Relations for the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). Lindsay started her career at UOIT in the university’s research office where she managed institutional research grants. Prior to working at UOIT, Lindsay spent 11 years in the Ontario Government in a variety of positions within the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the Ministry of Research and Innovation.
She serves as the Secretary for the Clarington Board of Trade, as well as being a member of the government relations/advocacy committees for both the Ajax Pickering Board of Trade and the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. She is also a director on the Durham Workforce Authority board.
Sheetal Kochhar
Lead, Accessibility Testing and Evaluation, CNIB
Sheetal Kochhar serves as the Lead for Accessibility Testing and Evaluation at CNIB, leveraging a robust background in accessibility and inclusion, particularly within business systems and technology. In her capacity, she ensures that all communications disseminated to the staff are accessible. Living with sight loss herself, Sheetal initially joined CNIB as a client four years ago. Subsequently, she transitioned into a volunteer role at CNIB and is currently an integral part of the CNIB IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) team. Additionally, she plays a pivotal role as a member of the Research team, leading a project focused on developing accessible and inclusive procurement and supply chain diversity models for federally regulated industries.
Lyndon J Linklater
Traditional Knowledge Keeper and Storyteller
Lyndon J Linklater is a traditional knowledge keeper and storyteller. He has an educational background in Indian Social Work, Indian Studies and some law. He is a citizen of the Thunderchild First Nation (Plains Cree) in Treaty 6 and has roots in Couchiching First Nation (Fort Francis, Ontario) in Treaty 3. Presently, Lyndon shares work with the Remai Modern Art Museum in Saskatoon as their Indigenous Relations Advisor providing advice to their board and staff and delivering cultural programming. He is the longest serving member of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner’s Speakers’ Bureau, since he was appointed in 2000. Over the years, he has spoken to tens of thousands of people, delivering awareness and enlightenment on Treaty and First Nation worldview. He is a powerful story teller that utilizes First Nation teachings that involve knowledge of ceremonies and mixes humour to deliver a poignant message.
Marc Low
Director of Innovation & Emerging Technology, KPMG
Marc leads KPMG Ignition, KPMG's hub for innovation, digital, and emerging technologies, including Generative AI, digital twins, and corporate venturing. He has had the good fortune to work with clients across public and private sectors in North America and across Africa, giving him a unique perspective on technology and innovation as forces for good.
Joanne Pak
Producer, Audio Publishing, CNIB
Joanne Pak is an accessible media specialist with an extensive career in both broadcasting and publishing. She is the official Canadian NER certifier of live caption accuracy, and she is an instructor and subject matter expert for the Toronto Metropolitan University. Joanne has worked for numerous broadcasters, nonprofits, and educational institutions, specializing in accessible media. At CNIB, Joanne led the audiobook production for CELA's pilot project on accessible graphic novels. She is the lead for the eBOUND Literary Image Description (LID) project and the author of the LID Best Practices Guide, which she uses to train writers and publishers.
Theresa Power
Content and Access Librarian, CELA
Theresa Power has worked in the field of accessibility for over a decade, first at the CNIB Library, and for the last seven years at CELA, the Centre for Equitable Library Access, as the Content & Access Librarian. Her work at CELA is detail oriented and client focused, driven by the purpose of increasing access to books and other materials to Canadians with print disabilities in the formats of their choice. The range of Theresa's responsibilities includes the selection of books to the maintenance of strong working relationships with international libraries and commercial audio publishers. While she typically enjoys a good mystery, much of Theresa's spare time and reading goes to evaluating Canadian children's and YA lit for several groups through the Ontario Library Association, including the Forest of Reading and the Best Bets Committee, the latter of which she is Co-Chair. Theresa also recently joined the One ERead Canada Committee.
Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai
VP, Research and International Affairs and Chief Accessibility Officer, CNIB
Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai is the world's first congenitally blind geneticist. Mahadeo is Vice-President Research & International Affairs and Chief Accessibility Officer for the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), having previously served as a researcher at the University Health Network in Toronto. Dr. Sukhai is a leading expert on accessibility of graduate and postdoctoral research training in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and healthcare disciplines. Dr. Sukhai is the Chair of the Employment Technical Committee for Accessibility Standards Canada, as well as the External Co-Chair of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Expert Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Systemic Ableism.
Peter Tucic
Director of Strategic Partnerships, HumanWare
Peter Tucic graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. Peter is currently the Director of Strategic Partnerships for HumanWare. He works closely with key partners throughout the field of vision loss as it relates to assistive technology. Peter has presented at the National ACB and NFB, in addition to the CSUN and ATIA conferences amongst many others. Peter has also been published in Closing the Gap magazine and regularly creates written and video tutorials for a wide array of HumanWare blindness products.
Loran Upton
Disability, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Program Manager, Global Talent Acquisition Strategies, Scotiabank
Loran is a DE&I Program Manager at Scotiabank. With over 8 years of experience in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, she is passionate about enabling the Talent Acquisition team with the tools to hire diverse talent. Her portfolio includes Persons with Disabilities, Veterans, LGBTQ+, Newcomers and Women. She leverages her skills in social networking, presentations, coaching and mentoring to build relationships, educate stakeholders, and promote best practices. Loran holds a Change Management Certificate which helps her to implement effective and innovative DE&I strategies and programs. Her mission is to create a more inclusive and accessible workplace for everyone.
Andrea Voss
Manager, SmartLife Business Development, CNIB
Andrea is an expert in assistive devices and technology who has spent 17 years helping the business and education sectors with accessible solutions for their staff and students.
Margot Whitfield
MMSt, BFA, Ontario Certified Teacher, Lab Manager, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)
Margot Whitfield (MMSt, BFA, Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT)) has been working in the field of user research at the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) for over a decade and has taught Audio Description and Inclusive Media and Regulations at The Chang School since 2019. In her research, she has worked with diverse user groups ranging from blind and Deaf people to film and theatre directors and scriptwriters. She is passionate about access to arts and culture and has consulted on accessible video productions for TMU and the Ontario Arts Council. Margot has also contributed to International standards on audio description, been a long standing member of TMU's IT Accessibility Working Group, and has co-authored over eight peer-reviewed journals.