Canada’s ability to attract talent from every corner of the globe is one of our country’s greatest competitive advantages.
But are we doing enough to ensure newcomers can contribute to their full potential?
Join Canadian Club Toronto on February 14th for a timely discussion with three leading chief executives on how their businesses support newcomers and what the private sector, communities and governments can do together to secure Canada’s immigration advantage.
The luncheon begins with Goldy Hyder, President and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, highlighting the role economic immigration plays in strengthening the quality of life of all Canadians.
*For virtual attendees, please note that the live stream will begin at approximately 12:40pm ET & the link will be provided closer to the event date*
Victor Dodig
President and CEO, CIBC
Victor Dodig leads a team of over 47,000 team members globally who live CIBC’s purpose every day – to help make our clients’ ambitions a reality.
Under Victor’s tenure, CIBC has transformed into a relationship-oriented bank for a modern world, with a North American platform for growth and a commitment to enable a more sustainable future for all stakeholders. He has helped to shape CIBC’s client-focused, highly connected culture – a differentiator for the bank in a competitive market.
Before becoming CEO, Victor held a number of senior leadership roles within CIBC, including leading the bank’s Wealth Management business and its Retail Banking network across Canada. Through these roles, Victor furthered his commitment to putting clients first – a principle that dates back to his first role at CIBC as a part-time CSR, where he met with clients every day.
Over the course of his career, Victor has also led several businesses with UBS and Merrill Lynch in Canada and internationally, and was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company.
Victor is a strong advocate for Canada on the world stage, and a proponent of economic growth to enable a more prosperous and inclusive future. He serves as the current Chair of the Business Council of Canada, and was President of the 2022 International Monetary Conference. He is a member of the International Advisory Committee of the Brookings Institute and also serves on the board of Telus Corporation Inc.
Victor is committed to inclusion, both to strengthen our social fabric and as an economic imperative. He serves as Chair of CIBC’s Inclusion and Diversity Leadership council, and is Past Co-Chair of the Black North Initiative. He is a recipient of the 2017 Catalyst Canada Honours (Company Leader) Champion award, is Past Chair of the Catalyst Canada Advisory Board and Past Chair of the 30% Club Canada.
He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School, where he earned an MBA and was recognized as a Baker Scholar. Victor holds a diploma from the Institut d’études politiques in Paris and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto (St. Michael’s College) in Commerce. He has received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Victor resides in Toronto with his wife, Maureen. They are the proud parents of four children.
Penny Wise
President 3M Canada
Penny has more than 20 years of global brand and marketing experience, including Global Marketing Director of 3M’s Safety and Industrial Business Group, its largest business based at 3M global headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota. Penny also led 3M’s 2015 global rebrand: “Science. Applied to Life.™” She started her career at 3M Canada in 2000 and in January 2020 moved back to Canada to take on the role of President.
Martin Basiri
Co-founder and CEO, ApplyBoard
Martin Basiri, born in the year 1988, is an Iranian-born tech entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of ApplyBoard, an international student Edtech platform based out of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Martin is the eldest child in his family. He has two twin brothers, Massi and Meti, and a younger sister. He was always interested in creating things right from his childhood days and in entrepreneurship building tools and programs that would persist into his undergraduate career.
Martin was an innovator from a young age. He invented his first device at 14 and has been rethinking the world around him ever since. During Martin’s undergraduate studies, he launched his first startup in which he invented and sold six different patents and products.
Not content with completing his studies and managing his business, Martin accepted an apprenticeship to share his love for innovation with over 600 students. His discoveries have led to him receiving the gold medal at the 2009 Geneva International Invention Show, ranking him at the National Youth Invention Festival in the final year of his high school career. Also, Martin was named a Regional Finalist at the EY’s annual Entrepreneur of the Year program in 2021.
Martin attended Shiraz University after high school to earn an electrical engineering degree. Then, determined to explore the world, he left his homeland and went to Canada to study at the University of Waterloo, where Martin received his MASc in Mechatronics Engineering.
