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Franca Pomponio works as a Regional Business Officer (RBO) in the Outreach Unit at the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). As an RBO, Franca provides business information services in the form of exhibitions and presentations to small and medium size businesses, not for profit organizations, and entrepreneurs in and throughout Ontario. Franca holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto and has over 30 years of experience in various positions with several departments and agencies of the Government of Canada.

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Elizabeth Collinson has worked with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) for more than 20 years in a variety of roles, including Trademark Examiner and Business Development Officer. She is now working as an Intellectual Property Advisor for the Northern and Eastern Ontario Region and has a passion for helping entrepreneurs understand the importance and value of intellectual property. Elizabeth is also an inactive Trademark Agent, listed on the Canadian Patent Agent and Trademark Agent (CPATA) register.

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Hart Massie is a Client Partner at BDC Advisory Services. Hart brings over a decade of experience in strategic leadership and operational excellence to this role. His career includes senior roles such as Vice President of Corporate Development and Director of Operations at the Centre for Outsourcing Research and Education, as well as Director of Client Strategy at Buck (now Gallagher), a global human capital consulting firm. Hart holds an MBA from the University of British Columbia.

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Ryan Sommer is the President of Construct TO Inc. and the Scarborough Business Association (SBA). With nearly 20 years of experience in construction—from hands-on carpentry to business development leadership—he has delivered high-rise, commercial, and custom residential projects with a strong focus on quality and community impact.

Ryan’s passion extends beyond building physical infrastructure to creating long-term solutions through strategic partnerships and advocacy. He also serves on the 43 Division Community Liaison Committee and the Skills for Change Committee, advancing youth engagement, public safety, and workforce development. His commitment to service has taken him abroad as well, leading mission trips to Haiti to construct water systems and supporting rehabilitation efforts in New York.

Whether mentoring youth through sports, organizing business roundtables, or championing housing policy, Ryan is dedicated to creating opportunities and inspiring change. He brings energy, vision, and a deep sense of responsibility to helping shape a stronger, more connected Scarborough.

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As the first executive director of TAIBU Community Health Centre, Liben Gebremikael has led the organization for the past 15 years. Today TAIBU has strong community roots and has become a recognizable agency that is committed to addressing the impact of anti-Black racism on the health and wellbeing of Black communities.

Liben Gebremikael has over 30 years of experience in primary healthcare, social services, mental health, and community capacity building and development field.

He holds an MA in Migration, Mental Health & Social Care from the University of Kent (UK), a Masters Certificate in Healthcare Management from Schulich School of Business. He has completed Community Health Leadership Program at the Rotman School of Management. In 2021, he completed the Strategic Perspectives for Non-Profit Organization program at the Harvard Business School.

In 2022, he was recognized for the work that he has accomplished in the community, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and a street ‘Liben Way’ is named after him in the Malvern neighborhood. In 2025 he was awarded, the King Charles III Coronation Award, the Joe Leonard award – most prestigious award of the Alliance for Healthier Communities and most recently the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award by the Canadian Immigrant Magazine.

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Alexander Bordokas is a seasoned project manager and Economic Development Officer at the City of Toronto, with over a decade of experience leading initiatives in arts, culture, and community development. With a strong foundation in stakeholder engagement, cultural programming, and strategic planning, Alexander has played a key role in high-impact programs like CaféTO and the city-wide strategic parking framework. Multilingual and community-oriented, he is passionate about creating vibrant, inclusive urban spaces through policy, partnerships, and creative collaboration.

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Trimel Fidely is a Business Centre Manager with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). He first came to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago to complete his Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons.) degree in Finance and Human Resources at the University of New Brunswick. His time in Fredericton and newfound love of the East Coast made it easy to call Canada his new home, where he launched his career in financial services.

Over the past 15 years, he has worked in financial institutions holding various roles in retail banking, insurance and most recently, commercial banking. For the past 11 years at BDC, Trimel has been working with entrepreneurs to accelerate the growth of their businesses and helping to solve any challenges they face. He accomplishes this by providing a wide array of financing solutions, including venture capital, as well as a full suite of advisory services. His career at BDC has taken him to many new cities throughout the country including Halifax, NS; Calgary, AB; St. John’s, NL and most recently Toronto, ON where he currently resides with his wife and 3 kids.

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Vikas (Vik) Jain is a Small Business Advisor with City of Toronto, Economic Development Division. Working as a Business Advisor and Entrepreneurial Trainer for 28 years, he provides support and advisory services for start up entrepreneurs and early-stage existing business to grow and expand. His main area of programming is delivering Micro-Financing Grant Funding Programs within the City of Toronto. Specially the Starter & Summer Company Program providing government grant funding up to $5,000. Has managed over $5M of funding to over 700 entrepreneurs from 2000-2024.

Vik has provided training and advisory coaching to a number of businesses that went to pitch their venture in front of the famous CBC TV show “The Dragons Den.”

Vik also has been and will continue to being a part-time faculty member at various Canadian Colleges, lecturing various courses in Business and International Business degree programmes within the School of Business and Continuing Education departments.

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David Tsubouchi is an author and former politician, regulator, and Integrity Commissioner. Mr. Tsubouchi holds a B.A. from York University, a J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School, an LL.D. from Assumption University in Windsor, a D.S. Litt. from Huntington University and C.Dir. from McMaster University.

David Tsubouchi is the first Japanese Canadian to be elected to a provincial legislature and be appointed to cabinet in Canada. He has served as the MPP for Markham for two terms and has held cabinet posts in the Ontario Legislature including Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Solicitor General, Chair of Management Board/Treasury Board and Minister of Culture. Prior to serving in the Ontario Legislature, Mr. Tsubouchi served as a Councillor for the Town of Markham for two terms.

Mr. Tsubouchi currently sits on the board of directors for OMERS Administration Corporation and Tarion. He has served as the Honorary Consul General for Mongolia (Toronto). He has served on many boards of directors including York University, Seneca College, Trios College, Women’s College Hospital, Markham Stouffville Hospital, Hitachi Canada, Lakefront Utilities, Teranet Income Trust, and Ontario Arts Council.

Mr. Tsubouchi has received numerous awards and honors including the Queen’s Diamond and Golden Jubilee Medals, North American Association of Asian Professionals 100 Award, The Bruce Bryden Award (York University), The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, The Award of Merit from the Japanese Canadian Community, and the Canadian Horse Racing Industry Award of Recognition.

David Tsubouchi has been an international keynote speaker in many countries including Dubai, Macau, China, Japan, Canada and the United States. He currently lectures on diversity at York University, Department of Equity Studies and Politics and Governance at the Directors College, McMaster University.

His memoir, Gambatte, was nominated for the Speaker’s Book Award and the Heritage Toronto Award. He contributed to Race In-Equity, Intersectionality, Social Determinants of Health, and Human Rights. He has written five sci-fi novels, The Chinese Door series and Zeke. He has also contributed to The Handbook of Board Governance 3 rd Issue.