2022 Speakers
This page will be updated as speakers are confirmed.
KIM G C MOODY, FCPA, FCA, TEP CEO
Moodys Private Client Accounting, Moodys TaxCEO
The antithesis of the status quo, Kim is driven to innovate new and better ways to do things for the clients he serves, the advancement of the firm, and other professionals in tax. His relentless obsession with getting to know everything in the Tax Act makes him a highly sought-out resource for peers and clients. In March 2020, Kim published his first book, Making Life Less Taxing: Pay Attention To Your Taxes So You Can Pay Less Tax and Build a Strong, Smarter Canada – an Amazon bestseller in a number of categories.
Kim’s primary area of expertise is tax and estate planning for owner-managers of private corporations and executives, particularly those who have entered into the tax complexities that come with being affluent. Though admittedly not one himself, Kim works with many professional athletes (a guy has got to dream after all). Kim also has expertise in trust and estate taxation and enjoys solving the complexities that arise in developing a well-thought-out estate and succession plan and dealing with testamentary taxation matters.
Larry Brownoff CPA, CA; Director, Member Relations
CPA Alberta
Larry Brownoff is the Director, Member Relations with CPA Alberta. He has an extensive network of accounting professionals and over a decade of experience recruiting for companies across multiple industry sectors where strong financial leadership has enabled growth.
Larry has held various leadership roles within Robert Half International where he specialized in senior finance and accounting recruitment, placement of senior project financial professionals and executive search. In addition to his decade of recruiting expertise, Larry brings 17 years of senior level industry experience to his recruitment assignments enabling him to effectively assist clients in creating high performance strategic leadership teams.
Randy Nicholls, Msc, BComm, CPA, CA; Director, Member Engagement and Technical Advisory
CPA Alberta
Prior to joining CPA Alberta, Randy was an Instructor at Red Deer Polytechnic where he taught various accounting courses in the Diploma and Degree programs. During his time there he played a leadership role in establishing senior accounting courses that met prerequisite requirements for CPA PREP, thereby enabling prospective Central Alberta CPA’s to remain in the region for their post-secondary education.
Randy began his professional career in Winnipeg with Arthur Andersen & Co, where he obtained his Chartered Accountant designation and was a member of the firm’s audit, assurance and business advisory services practice.
Subsequent to achieving his designation Randy moved into industry positions, eventually moving into CFO roles with both private and publicly listed companies. He has extensive leadership experience with retail, distribution and oilfield services companies.
Gen Segger, BComm, CPA, CA
Segger Charter Professional Accountants
Most of my clients come to me through referrals, and they’re looking for someone who is reliable, trustworthy, and straightforward. They need someone who can balance technology with simplicity and top-quality services.
My experience in public and private accounting is one of the main reasons I can provide “out-of-the-box” services. Early in my career, I worked at one of the top four accounting firms in Edmonton. After creating my own CPA firm in Edmonton, I began providing professional services to a number of public firms, private corporations, and not-for-profits. Over the years, I have also had the opportunity to help high-net-worth individuals optimize their finances and create long-term tax and retirement strategies.
John Fuller, CPA, CA, TEP, FEA
Felesky Flynn
With over 25 years of tax experience, John specializes in tax planning, estate planning and dispute resolution for private corporations and family farm organizations.
He holds his Bachelor of Laws, along with his Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA) and Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designations.
John lends his wealth of knowledge and specialized relational “soft” skills as a regular presenter at various tax related forums. He is recognized as a leading tax lawyer by Best Lawyers in Canada and made the short list of nominations of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers of 2020 in the Changemaker category.
Andrew Bateman, Partner
Miller Thompson
Andrew’s practice covers a broad spectrum of taxation law, with a primary focus on private corporations, trusts, family groups, and individuals. Areas of focus include transactions and reorganizations, tax dispute resolution and litigation, trust and estate matters, First Nation taxation, and goods and services tax.
As a sought-after speaker and writer, Andrew provides insights to respected associations and publications, such as the Canadian Tax Journal, Legal Education Society of Alberta, Canadian Bar Association, Banff CA Small Practitioners Forum and the University of Calgary Faculty of Law.
Before becoming a lawyer, Andrew earned his Bachelor of Commerce and spent 10 years in the franchising industry, where he worked in a number of sales and executive roles. This hands-on experience shaped Andrew’s aptitude for negotiations, strategy, problem-solving, and conflict management.
Andrew obtained his Juris Doctor degree, from the University of Calgary, and received a number of tax and other academic awards. Prior to joining Miller Thomson, Andrew practiced for 15 years at a boutique tax law firm in Calgary.
Kyle A. Ross
Felesky Flynn
Kyle’s practice covers a wide range of taxation law matters with a focus on corporate and personal tax planning, mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, estate planning and dispute resolution with taxation authorities.
Kyle is a sessional instructor in tax law at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law and is a regular presenter on tax topics in other forums. Kyle received many academic awards in law school including the Law Society of Saskatchewan Gold Medal, the Thomas Dowrick Brown Prize for Most Distinguished Graduate and Desjardins Top Eight Academic All-Canadian. He was also the captain of the University of Saskatchewan Men’s Huskie Hockey Team during law school and won various athletic awards during his hockey career.
Hugh Neilson, FCPA FCA TEP
Hugh Neilson FCPA FCA TEP is an independent contractor to Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP, where he is a Director, Taxation Services. He is also an independent contractor to Video News Inc., where he serves as a member of the Editorial Board of Video Tax News, and appears regularly in their monthly video and newsletter.
Hugh has over 30 years of public practice experience, focusing on income tax services for individuals and owner-managed private corporations. He provides tax consultation in many diverse areas, including business structuring and restructuring, negotiations with Canada Revenue Agency auditors and Appeals Officers, tax-effective compensation strategies, immigration and emigration planning and strategies for tax-effective personal, family and estate tax planning.
Jos Herman
Speaker
Jos has been instrumental in providing wealth, tax and estate planning for her clients. Her breadth of industry knowledge and wealth planning solutions has been a valuable asset to clients, CPAs, legal professionals, and advisors.
She partners with practitioners to create a team of professionals centred around the client.
Jos is a proud member of the:
- Canadian Association of Gift Planners
- Canadian Tax Foundation
- Entrepreneurial CPAs of Calgary
- Estate Planning Council of Canada
- CALU
- Financial Planning (FP) of Canada
- Step Canada
She is a well sought out speaker and industry professional that is able to address succession planning, asset protection, philanthropy, and explain the tools of the trade required in designing a Wealth Accumulation and Protection Plan for clients.
Bryant Frydberg, Partner
Miller Thompson
Bryant Frydberg is an experienced corporate tax and mergers and acquisitions lawyer who works mainly with owners/managers and other private corporations. Bryant also carries on a complementary business law practice.
Bryant is committed to providing excellent service. He is accessible and responsive; he takes a pragmatic approach to solving problems and helping clients achieve their goals and objectives.
Bryant’s practice includes:
Corporate tax law: Bryant advises on all matters of corporate tax law including mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, planning and implementing other corporate reorganizations, and tax-driven corporate restructurings for private corporations.
Mergers and acquisitions: Bryant acts for both purchasers and sellers in Canadian and cross-border merger and acquisition transactions, including structuring of the purchase and sale transaction.
Corporate/commercial law: Bryant assists with unanimous shareholder agreements, cost-share agreements, and general business law matters.
Bryant has considerable experience in transactions with dental support organizations (DSO) including selling dental practices to DSO’s and structuring of DSO’s.
Bryant is a frequent writer and speaker on tax and corporate/commercial matters. He is also the editor of the “Estate Freeze” chapter in Miller Thomson on Estate Planning.
Todd Hirsch, Vice President and Chief Economist
ATB Financial
For more than 25 years, Todd has worked as an economist for organizations including the Bank of Canada and the Canada West Foundation. Most recently, he served over 15 years as the Chief Economist for ATB Financial.
He is the author of four books. His latest, Spiders in COVID Space: Adapting during and after the pandemic, was released in March 2021. He serves on the boards of Calgary’s Glenbow Museum and the Alberta Ballet. He is also the host of a podcast titled The Future Of, which won a national award in 2021.
Malcolm D’Souza, CPA, CA, MBA
Executive Vice-President
Malcolm D’Souza was appointed Executive Vice-President in January 2012. His previous titles were Chief Financial Officer in 2004 and Vice-President, Claims in 2003. Malcolm has over 15 years of experience in managing Chartered Accountants’ claims. In 1994, he joined the company as Claims Manager of the newly created in-house claims department with Chartered Professional Accountants and lawyers on staff to assist members throughout the claims process.
Regan McGrath, CPA, CA, Founding Partner, CEO
Metrics
Regan McGrath is the founding partner and CEO of Metrics. Regan holds her Bachelor of Arts from McGill University, CPA CA from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (now CPA), and has most recently completed her Certification in Fintech and the Future Commerce from MIT. She is currently an advisor for the CPABC Emerging Issues Committee and CPA Canada committee for emerging issues in the digitalization of education for CPA Canada, she is also co-chair of the STEM initiative for the Victoria Chapter of Women in Capital Markets.
Regan is the recipient of awards from Greater Victoria Chamber Commerce and CPABC for her work at Metrics, in entrepreneurialism, and within the community. She is a frequent speaker, educator, and writer on the topics of blockchain, cannabis, and the future of commerce for business groups and professional associations across Canada.
Amanda Doucette
The Tax Chick
Amanda Doucette is a problem solver who loves showcasing the human side of professional careers. In her day job she is a lawyer, helping her clients navigate the complex world of tax and assisting business owners with wealth transition.
Her passion is helping people navigate problems that seem insurmountable. She wants to empower her clients so they feel in control of their business and decision-making. In 2020, Amanda launched The Tax Chick Blog and The Tax Chick Podcast, each aimed at educating audiences about tax and estate planning issues. Both the blog and podcast allow her to take part in curious conversations and learn new things while educating others.
Amanda has been selected by peers as a leading practitioner in the 2021 and 2022 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert ® (Estate and Personal Tax Planning) and was the winner of The Lawyers Monthly Women in Law 2021 Award in recognition of her outstanding legal expertise and contribution to the area of tax litigation.
Diana DiMarcello, Assistant Director, Collections
Alberta Tax Services Office & Canada Revenue Agency
Diana has a Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in Accounting and began her career with the CRA in 1991 as a GST Auditor at the Edmonton TSO. She progressed through the Audit division moving into more senior GST and Income Tax auditor positions, then onto team leader and Section Manager of Small and Medium Enterprise Audit. Diana became a participant in the Agency Leadership Development Program (ALDP) in 2014 and began her first assignment as Chief of Appeals. She became the Director of the Business Intelligence and Quality Assurance division, and in September 2017, was appointed as the Assistant Director of Collections and Verification Branch division. In April 2022 Diana began an assignment as the Director, Implementation and Integration and is now back as Assistant Director, Collections.
Gisèle Wonta, Assistant Director, GST/HST
Alberta Tax Services Office & Canada Revenue Agency
Gisèle began her career with the Canada Revenue Agency as a Business Window Agent in 2002 at the Saskatoon Tax Services Office and transitioned to audit in January 2005. Gisèle first came to the ABTSO on assignment in January 2021 as the Assistant Director of GST/HST Audit and was permanently appointed to the position in April 2022. Gisèle holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Laurentian University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
Gisèle is married to her husband Phil, and loves spending time with her family, especially her four grandchildren.
Manfred Grunling, Assistant Director, Income Tax Audit
Alberta Tax Services Office & Canada Revenue Agency
Manfred Grunling joined the Canada Revenue Agency as the Assistant Director of Income Tax Audit in 2019.
He came to the Agency from the Alberta Public Service where he worked since 1989 with Alberta Treasury Board and Finance. During his 29-year career with the province, he spent 18 years in the Corporate Income Tax and the Filing Compliance and Collections groups. He also spent 11 years with the Audit branch, including four years in their Aggressive Tax Planning area.
Manfred is a Chartered Professional Accountant. He is also a graduate of the Government of Alberta’s Senior and Executive Manager Development Program in partnership with the University of Alberta.
Born and raised in Edmonton, Manfred has coached soccer at the youth and adult levels for many years. He loves spending time in the Alberta Rockies.
Erin Wallish, CPA, CA, Director of Practice Review
CPA Alberta
As Director of Practice Review, Erin is responsible for the strategy, planning, execution and monitoring of the Practice Review program. Erin also represents Alberta and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut on the profession’s national Practice Inspection Program Standing Committee. This national committee is responsible for monitoring the consistency of the harmonized practice inspection approach in all provinces and territories.