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Welcome to exeQutive!

exeQutive is a forum for Toronto/GTA-based lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) leaders — current and aspiring professionals, executives and entrepreneurs.   We are a member-driven organization.  Our members include business owners and leaders of some of Canada's largest and most well-known corporations, financial institutions, law and accounting firms, government agencies and charities.

We invite you to explore this website to learn more about what we do to support and strengthen the businesses and careers of Toronto's LGBTQ leaders and to contribute to our community.

We welcome new members.  If you are an LGBTQ professional, executive or entrepreneur and have a leadership role within your organization, we invite you apply for membership.  A membership form is available here.

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Meet Some of Our Members

Shawn Sheridan's picture
Shawn Sheridan | Vice President, Information Technology, Numeris

Shawn is a senior executive with over 25 years experience in information technology.  Now Vice President of Information Technology for Numeris, Canada's radio and television ratings experts, he has held VP and SVP positions at companies like AGF Management, Unisen, and Citigroup.  Shawn specialises in helping businesses best use their technology, focusing on both business-aligned strategy and overall management of technology in roles such as CIO, and other 'Head of IT' roles.

Shawn is also chair of OutSport Toronto, a not-for-profit umbrella organisation serving and supporting LGBT sports organisations in the GTA.

Bruce Lawson's picture
Bruce Lawson

Bruce Lawson is the Executive Director of The Counselling Foundation of Canada.  His background is in providing meeting planning and project management services to a variety of clients, as well as having served as Interim Executive Director of Casey House Foundation. 

Bruce is the past Chair of the Board of Casey House, and co-chaired Casey House’s largest fundraising event, Art with Heart for 3 years.  He is also a director of several other non-profit organizations.

Christopher Walker's picture
Christopher Walker

Christopher began working in the financial sector more than 26 years ago at the Toronto Stock Exchange. During the past 25 years at Manulife Financial, some of the positions held have included Chief Operational Risk Officer (Investment Division), Vice President and CCO of John Hancock Distributors and President and CCO of Manulife Financial Securities LLC.

Christopher has chaired and presented at many conferences with respected to Canadian and US Securities and Insurance regulations. He is also published by the CLU.

Christopher is currently a Board Member and Finance Director of Casey House.

Connie Bonello's picture
Connie Bonello | Financial Services Analytics Leader

Connie is the Global Business Development Executive, IBM Global Business Services.

John F Clifford's picture
John F Clifford | Partner, Business Law Group of McMillan LLP (Toronto, Ontario).

John is a senior partner in the Business Law Group of McMillan LLP. His practice is focused on private company mergers & acquisitions transactions and complex commercial matters and reorganizations. He has extensive experience advising a diverse range of clients on domestic and cross-border matters across many industries. Recognized internationally for his expertise and experience, Who's Who Legal identifies John as one of the top M&A lawyers in Canada and states that John is "top notch by all accounts", "very client focused" and "always delivers". 

In 2017, John was named to the prestigious global list of OUTstanding Leading LGBT+ Executives, as presented by the Financial Times, in recognition of his business achievements and impact on LGBT inclusion within McMillan and externally. Previously he received a Lexpert Zenith Award and an Out On Bay Street “Leaders To Be Proud Of” Award.

John founded exeQutive in 2007 with a group of friends and colleagues.

Nadeem Mansour's picture
Nadeem Mansour | Vice President, Enterprise Risk and Audit Services, George Weston Limited

Nadeem Mansour is a seasoned professional in Governance, Audit & Risk with 20 years of experience in professional services and industry. Currently, he holds the position of VP, Risk and Internal Audit at George Weston Limited.

Troy Ungerman's picture
Troy Ungerman | Partner, Norton Rose Canada LLP

Troy is a partner in the Toronto office of Norton Rose Canada LLP.  His practice focuses on domestic and cross-border private M&A, private equity, venture capital investments,
strategic alliances, corporate reorganizations and financings.

Troy is the Chair of Norton Rose Canada's LGBTA Network and a member of the firm's Canadian Diversity Committee.  He is also Co-Chair of the firm's Canadian mergers and acquisitions team.

Al Ramsay's picture
Al Ramsay | Regional Manager, LGBT Business Development - GTA

Al Ramsay is the Regional Manager, LGBT Business Development at TD Bank Group, supporting the GTA. He and his team of senior advisors are responsible for the growth of the LGBT personal, wealth and business portfolios by focusing on providing expert financial advice and delivering legendary client experience.

Al has a passion for advancing inclusiveness in the workplace and in the communities he serves; he’s held positions on numerous work committees and grass roots community organization boards, including: TD’s LGBTA Executive Committee, Community One Foundation and the Urban Financial Services Coalition.

John Rider's picture
John Rider | Chief Innovator - Cognition LLP

John is a business, planning and innovation consultant working with clients to assist them in strategy, planning, process, product development and sales.He has a legal and business background of almost 25 years and has worked with a number of clients and employers to build their business, design and launch new products and to help them grow to the next level more profitably.  He loves to help groups rethink and change for the better. 

Peter Kinch, FCPA, FCA's picture
Peter Kinch, FCPA, FCA | International Director, EY

Peter is a senior partner of EY. He provides litigation support to the firm's general counsel office and accounting & audit-related services in the financial services sector. Peter is the Executive Sponsor of EY's LGBT bEYond network

Resource File

Businesses perform better with LGBTI leaders, says study
Aug 22, 2018

Businesses with LGBTI people in managerial positions have higher overall performances and better business outcomes, according to a new report.

Read more...
LGBT Inclusion in the Workplace
Aug 21, 2016

In partnership with Pride@Work, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusiion surveyed and reported on the perspectives of members of LGBT+ communities across Canada about workplace inclusion.

Read more...
5 Insights About Being Out And A Leader At Work
May 3, 2016

Read about 5 important learnings of Manulife Asset Management's Chief Compliance Officer related to being out and a leader at work.

Read more...
Stanford Announces ‘Boot Camp’ for Gay Business Leaders
Jan 17, 2016

In this report, read about the leadership program being offered by Stanford University’s business school that is intended to help more gay leaders ascend to the C-suite.

Read more...
More...