UWAC 2017 | Breakthrough to Excellence
For its twelfth annual conference, UWAC provided its delegates with a challenging case that involved real-world business issues, encouraging the use of technical and creative problem-solving abilities. The conference theme, “Breakthrough to Excellence”, embraces the idea that the CPA designation has grown to be more than just traditional accounting. With this, UWAC 2017 strived to encompass a variety of skill-sets that define a professional.
Keynote Speakers
David Cates
President and CEO at Denison Mines Corp
Mr. Cates is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Denison Mines Corp. (TSX: DML, NYSE MKT: DNN) and Uranium Participation Corp. (TSX: U). Mr. Cates has extensive experience in the Canadian and international uranium mining industry through nearly a decade of senior management and financial experience in various roles with Denison. Mr. Cates is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and holds Master of Accounting (MAcc) and Honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees from the University of Waterloo. Mr. Cates joined Denison in 2008 and held the position of Director, Taxation before being appointment Vice President, Finance & Tax, and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Denison, Mr. Cates held positions at Kinross Gold Corp. and PwC LLP with a focus on the resource industry. Mr. Cates also serves as a Director of SkyHarbour Resources Ltd. (TSX: SYH) and GoviEx Uranium Inc. (TSX: GXU), both of which are listed on the TSX Venture exchange and are actively engaged in uranium exploration and development.
Pamela Steer
CFO and Head of Finance and Employer Services at WSIB
Pamela Steer, FCPA, FCA, CFA is the Chief Financial Officer and Head of Finance and Employer Services at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), one of the largest insurance organizations in North America. Pamela has more than 15 years of management experience with global organizations, which have experienced high growth and transformation. She has held senior roles in both operations and finance, predominantly in the high tech sector where her last role was as Chief Operating Officer. Pamela is also vice chair of the CFA Society Toronto, Treasurer of the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors and sits on the Advisory Board of the University of Waterloo’s School of Accounting and Finance. Pamela was recently appointed to the Global Advisory Council for the Accounting for Sustainability Project under The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation. Pamela is a CPA Fellow, a designation which honours CPAs who have brought distinction to the profession with outstanding achievements in their careers and community leadership and service to the profession. Pamela has also been honoured with a fellowship in her name at the University of Waterloo where the ‘Pamela Steer Fellow’ is pursuing studies in the Accounting and Financial Management program. Pamela holds a Master of Accounting degree from the University of Waterloo, is accredited as a Chartered Accountant and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. She lives in Toronto with her husband and young son.