David Telka

Managing Director, Public Service Strategy and Consulting Lead, Accenture

Dave Telka is a Managing Director in Accenture’s Health & Public Service Practice. He leads Accenture Digital across all levels of government within Canada. Dave is a committed and passionate leader, focused on working with public service clients on their digital transformation. Dave is known for bringing perspectives and solutions to a wide array of public sector clients on the intersection of technology, data and insights, and digital services to enhance outcomes for both citizens and employees.

Dave strongly believes that continuous transformational change is required for evolving organizational effectiveness, as witnessed by the success of organizations that learn to adopt and leverage next-generation digital solutions. Over his 22-year career with Accenture, Dave has consulted extensively across both private and public industries, helping Accenture’s clients with their most complex transformational initiatives, technology adoption, digital solutions and workforce strategies. Dave leverages his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Carleton to apply the core concepts of human-centred design in the innovation and creation of services and solutions for some of Accenture’s largest clients in Canada. Dave is also active across a number of community organizations such as the United Way, Military Family Services and the Toronto Region Board of Trade.

Karen Franklin

Marketing Communications
Executive, Rogers Communications Canada Inc.

An accomplished business, relationship and marketing communications executive, Karen has extensive experience in public and private sectors holding senior positions at Bell, Rogers and CGI.  She is a proven leader with a passion for customer excellence and leverages her strong technical and business background to create, lead and integrate high performing multi-disciplinary teams for critical engagements.

Karen has been an active member of TECHNATION for over 10 years and participates with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Toronto Board of Trade.

Robert Agostino

Vice President, Engineering and Business Development, Hydro One Telecom

As Vice President, Engineering and Business Development for Hydro One Telecom, Robert Agostino is responsible for all aspects of Engineering, Technology Development, Business Strategy and Corporate Development.  His career experience includes leading the development and implementation of effective business solutions to drive business transformation. Robert is a collaborative leader, one who excels at developing and implementing operational frameworks, building high performing teams, developing strong relationships and building trust both internally and with customers.

Hydro One Telecom delivers high capacity telecommunications solutions to service providers, small and medium businesses, enterprises, wholesalers and public sector organizations via an expansive fiber-optic network in Ontario extending into Montreal and the United States.   Hydro One Telecom provides high-speed data networking services for Network-to-Network, Cloud-to-Cloud, Network-to-Cloud and Data Centre-to-Data Centre business requirements and is a subsidiary of Hydro One Limited.

John Bauer

Director, Ontario Public Sector Practice, PWC

John Bauer is a Director in PwC’s Ontario Public Sector Practice with over 15 years of project and program management experience, including a number of large-scale public sector change initiatives and technology projects. John helps public sector organizations create new service delivery models, establish new digital service channels, and modernize their operations to deliver services with a customer-centric view.

John is passionate about working with his clients to transform public services, enable digital government, and lead transformational initiatives. Before John began consulting to government in 2007, he spent 5 years in the Ontario Public Service, working on some of the earliest Ontario Government electronic service delivery initiatives. During his time within the OPS, he was also part of the team that developed the OPS’s Integrated Project Management Framework and Methodology, along with a series of related training courses and materials.

John is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and has an International Master of Business Administration (IMBA) from the Schulich School of Business.

Ian Davidson

Management Consulting Exec. Lead, Deloitte LLP

Ian is a management consulting executive lead at Deloitte.  Based in Toronto, Ian’s professional experience has been on business and technology transformations with a focus on serving public sector clients within Ontario and beyond.  Ian’s focus has been on business/IT consulting, strategy, digital, technology and operations and he has held various leadership roles as account executive, project leadership, delivery lead, transformation lead and architect.  Ian brings his experience of working clients as well as technology and delivery partners in public industries including transportation, transit, payments, infrastructure, healthcare, regulation agencies and client service delivery.

Jeremy Erlick

Vice President Sales, Central & East, Compugen

Jeremy’s passion for technology and sales began during his teenage years. While at university he had a part time job selling clone PCs to colleagues, teachers and friends. This developed into a full time job after university and launched his career in the IT industry.

Jeremy joined Compugen as an Inside Sales Representative in 1999. Since then he has held a variety of sales roles. After 6 years as a top achieving Account Executive, he led the Government Branch in Central region from 2006-2012, achieving consistent year-over-year sales growth. Now as Vice President of Sales for Compugen’s Central and East regions, he is a senior business leader responsible for more than $350 million in annual sales for the company and more than 100 sales employees.

Key to Jeremy’s success has been the ability to build sales teams recognized for performance excellence and collective accountability; exceeding all goals at organizational and personal levels. Jeremy has consistently succeeded in helping Compugen to align technology solutions that effectively enable the businesses we serve. He has a strong business acumen and many years of experience understanding the business issues of our clients across a multitude of industries. Additionally, he has successfully designed and driven a number of transformative initiatives within Compugen’s own business.

Jeremy holds a B.A. degree in Sociology from York University.

His hobbies include automobile racing, downhill skiing and family weekends at the cottage.

Greg Fitzgerald

Director, Ontario Public Sector, Microsoft Canada

As Director of Ontario Public Sector at Microsoft, Greg is responsible for Microsoft’s Enterprise Sales organization supporting Provincial, Municipal and Heath Care clients. Microsoft’s mission is the empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As a partner to the Public Sector in Ontario, Greg and the world class team at Microsoft Canada seek to empower digital transformation that will improve the lives of citizens across Ontario.

Greg is a 25 veteran of the Canadian and Global Information Technology industry with and his past experience includes companies such as Oracle, Hewlett-Packard, and Autodesk as well as three successful Canadian technology startups Alias Systems, PlateSpin and Nymity.

Greg resides in Toronto with his wife Maureen and 3 children and is an active member of the community through coaching and volunteer work. He holds a BASc. in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business.

Ben Goldberg

Director, Consulting Services, CGI Group Inc.

Ben Goldberg oversees the public sector portfolio for the province. Ben has lengthy experience in transformative engagements with the public sector, and a proven understanding of the structures, processes, stakeholder groups and affected populations in Ontario and nationwide via a career spanning over 20 years. He has actively participated in leading transformation projects, programs and solutions in conjunction with numerous ministries and agencies of the government, both internally and as one of its delivery partners.

In his role with CGI, Ben oversees several multimillion dollar engagements ensuring expert relationship management and thorough client delivery are in place. Simultaneously, Ben drives business development via lead engagement applying sound sales processes and strategies to interact with key decision makers, creating, uncovering and qualifying opportunities and ultimately driving them to close. Ben leads a team of skilled IT professionals, successfully developing and coaching them to grow in their careers. He has demonstrated success at collaborating, building consensus and driving multiple projects to completion within cross-functional areas of the company and including external partners.

Outside of work, Ben and his wife are fully dedicated to their three phenomenal daughters. Ben is also in the midst of getting his Executive MBA from Western University’s Ivey Business School in London, Ontario.

Emilee Irwin

Vice-President, Strategy and Public Affairs, D2L

Emilee is currently the global head of Government Relations and Public Affairs at D2L, a world-leading education technology company, headquartered in Ontario, Canada, that is breaking down barriers to education and helping transform the way the world learns. As part of her role at D2L, Emilee works with government and though leaders around the world to advance how technology can support greater access to education, better student outcomes, as well as the future of training and skill development in the face of rapid disruption. Through these efforts, she regularly engages in education & skills, economic and digital policy discussions at all levels of government.

Before entering the private sector, Emilee held a range of senior positions as an advisor to senior Cabinet Ministers and a Premier, specializing in social policy and strategy. She has also advised on a number of political campaigns over the last decade.

Sean McAllindon

Regional Sales Director, Dell/EMC

Sean McAllindon leads an organization that delivers innovative and practical technology solutions to Dell Canada’s K-12, Higher Education, Provincial, and Municipal government customers in Ontario. Sean has spent the last 30 years working in the technology industry. He has held various roles within the Dell sales organization, most recently working with Health Care. His team works to serve student learning, communities, and citizens.  Prior to his tenure at Dell, Sean worked in the Voice and Data Management industry. He began his career running a small business.

Sean Pinney

Consulting Services, Ontario Public Sector , CGI

Sean Pinney is a Director at CGI, based out of Toronto responsible for building relationships within the Ontario provincial government and municipalities. He represents all of CGI’s offerings including consulting, system integration, IP and managed services to his Public Sector clients.

Sean has been in the IT industry for 20 years working in various roles with CGI, IBM, xwave and Thoughtcorp. He also led the B2B commercial division of Pelmorex Media (The Weather Network) which was acquired by MeteoGroup and subsequently held the position of General Manager for the North American division. During his career Sean’s focus has continued to be on assisting the Public Sector maximize the value of IT to achieve program goals and improve services for their citizens.

Steve Proctor

Vice President Marketing and Communications, ITWC

Steve Proctor is responsible for ensuring ITWC lives up to its commitment to be the Content Experts serving the IT industry. Working with sales, a small team of writers, and the company’s award-winning creative team, Proctor oversees and guarantees the execution of marketing blogs, research white papers, taskforce reports, videos, and podcasts. He serves as point on content development and creative execution on ITWC’s seven flagship events and multiple custom events. As part of the executive team, he provides advice on branding, staffing, strategy and publicity. He is in charge or partnerships and community building. Prior to joining ITWC in 2016, Proctor served as Communications Manager with TECHNATION, the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC) and Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. Prior to his communications career, Proctor spent 25 years as a journalist, including 10 as Business Editor with a major Canadian daily newspaper.

Craig Taylor

Client Executive,
Channels, Lenovo Canada

Craig Taylor is a Channel Client Executive with Lenovo who has over 19 years of experience of solution sales in the IT Industry.  He has held various leadership roles at Lenovo and IBM with current and past focus on the Enterprise, Midmarket and Public Sectors (including national, provincial, and state/local government) in Canada and the United States.  Craig is highly motivated and dedicated to provide the best possible solutions, service and support to customers through direct customer relationships and extensive channel engagements across North America.  His commitment to clients and channel partners is evident by the long and established business relationships that have been created and managed.

• Deep understanding of the North American IT Industry
• Managing, creating and maintaining successful business relationships with clients
• Worked with a diverse set of customers and channel partners in Canada and US
• Focused on increasing sales and passionate of selling technology and innovation
• Strategic thinker and action oriented

Craig was educated at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada and holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration.  He is actively involved in his community and volunteers for several non-profit organizations including the Abilities Centre in Ontario, Canada.

Bud Vasudeva

Senior Director of Sales, TELUS Enterprise

A telecommunications industry leader – it is Bud Vasudeva’s combination of technical knowledge, business acumen and sales experience that has led him to his current role as Sr. Director Enterprise Sales at TELUS. He supports a direct B2B Enterprise sales team on leading digital transformation engagements across the public sector including the Government of Ontario and the Healthcare vertical.

With more than 20+ years in the telecommunications industry, Bud has leveraged his B2B, sales and engineering background to lead business development strategy and establish long-term strategic relationships with Canadian, US and International clients. Bud is an expert on the Canadian telecommunications industry and is well known for helping his customers navigate the regulatory environment and evolving industry dynamics to excel their businesses.

Bud holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Western Ontario. He lives in Toronto and is a proud supporter of the TELUS Day of Giving and the SickKids Foundation.