WCM Presents: Off the Clock Talk Series: TMX Group
Wednesday, May 31st 20235:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Looking to grow your industry knowledge and broaden your network? WCM & TMX Group invite you to an evening of networking to get a glimpse of what the finance industry has to offer.
Students will have the opportunity to meet professionals, tour offices, and discover more information about their future careers in finance.
This event is open to young women and those from equity seeking groups. Students in both undergrad and post grad programs are encouraged to register.
WCM's Off the Clock Talk series is free to WCM student members. Non-member ticket purchase includes a complimentary 1-year WCM student membership.
* WCM believes in accessibility and inclusivity. If ticket cost poses a barrier to you, please reach out to [email protected]
Keynote Speaker
Tala Zarbafi
Vice President of Strategic Operations & Transformation | TMX Group
Tala Zarbafi is a seasoned executive leader with over 20 years of experience in capital markets and a proven track record of driving results and delivering impactful change through innovative change management strategies that align an organization’s people, processes, and technology. She is a dedicated mentor who plays a key role in inspiring, developing and nurturing the careers of rising professionals to help them achieve their professional goals.
As Vice President of Strategic Operations & Transformation at TMX Group, Tala plays a key senior leadership role in driving the important evolution of the Capital Formation business, leading the strategy and delivery of business technology and innovation related to strategic operations, change management and transformation initiatives for Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and TSX Venture Exchange. Tala is a member of the Executive Operating & Risk Committee of TMX Group, and serves as a trusted strategic advisor to the CEO of TSX and other members of the senior leadership team on a wide range of matters, with a particular focus on overcoming enterprise cross-functional and operational challenges, and navigating complex and highly sensitive matters impacting the Capital Formation business and the broader TMX Group.
Throughout her career at TMX Group, Tala has held a number of progressively more senior roles, including Senior Manager of Compliance & Disclosure for TSX, Head of US Business Development & Global Investor Development for TSX & TSXV, and Director of Legal & Business Advisory for TMX Group.
Tala is an Ontario and New York qualified lawyer, and worked as a corporate/commercial lawyer at Allen & Overy LLP in New York and Bennett Jones LLP in Toronto, prior to joining the TMX Group in 2008.
Speakers
Lara Zink
President & CEO | WCM
Lara Zink is currently President & CEO of Women in Capital Markets. WCM is the largest network of female professionals in Canadian finance, with initiatives that impact the careers of countless female students and professionals across the country.
Prior to joining WCM, Lara spent 18 months in venture capital. She is an angel investor and a mentor at a startup accelerator called NEXT Canada. NEXT accelerates the growth trajectory of aspiring and scaling entrepreneurs with education, mentorship, funding, and access to Canada’s strongest entrepreneurial network.
From 1995 to 2019 Lara worked at RBC Capital Markets. She sold North American and European equity research and investment banking products to many of Canada’s largest institutional investors, including pension funds, bank owned mutual funds, and independent fund managers. A lead partner in RBC Women’s Leadership ETF, she has been a strong advocate for ED&I throughout her career and has extensive volunteer experience for social impact.
Lara holds a Bachelors of Arts degree from UWO, and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management. Lara is a Governor on the University of Toronto Governing Council, she sits on two Foundation boards, the CAMH Campaign Cabinet, and is volunteer and newly appointed Board Member for the Special Olympics. Lara has been an active mentor to junior women and men throughout her career.
Mackenzie Tuff
Sales Operations Specialist | TMX Group
Mackenzie is a Sales Operations Specialist working in conjunction with both the Capital Formation & TSX Trust Teams. In this role Mackenzie directly supports the Chief Growth Officer by engaging in strategic initiatives using data-driven analytics to drive revenue growth & efficiencies. Mackenzie also helps to support the virtual meeting team as a leader & as the unofficial expert.
Mackenzie began her career at TMX in 2018 as a Summer Student working in Proxy Voting. Upon graduation from Western University in 2020 she proceeded to work full time in various roles at TSX Trust within Client Services (Client Support Associate, Associate Relationship Manager). In addition, Mackenzie helped support the launch & continued development of the Virtual Meeting Platform, which was formally introduced early 2021.
Mackenzie graduated Western with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management & Organizational Studies (BMOS) with a specialization in Finance. Mackenzie has completed various online Excel vba courses and is currently in the process of completing her CSC.
Mackenzie enjoys keeping active, traveling & spending time outdoors (in the summer) in her spare time.
Zili Tsherna
Business Management & Transformation Squad Lead, ISE Platform | TMX Group
Zili Tsherna joined TMX in 2017 and has held progressively senior roles, beginning with project delivery and pivoting to finance. In her latest iteration at TMX, she currently serves as Senior Product Manager co-leading a talented team dedicated to developing a revolutionary portal that offers companies listed on The Exchanges an innovative digital experience.
Zili earned her MBA from the Schulich School of Business and has led a multi-faceted career working for iconic Canadian companies.
She is most passionate about leading successful teams, and implementing innovative solutions that drive change forward
Polina Lysetska
Listings Manager, TSXV | TMX Group
Polina Lysetska joined TMX Group in 2014 as part of the TSX Trust Company team and currently serves as Listings Manager, Capital Formation in the Toronto Office. Polina provides guidance on TSX Venture Exchange policies to the public market participants, such as listed companies and their advisors, regarding the major corporate finance transactions, including complex acquisitions, dispositions, amalgamations, financings, and other restructuring transactions, and suggests the most appropriate course of actions. Additionally, she reviews new listing applications for Capital Pool Companies (CPCs) and coordinates the processing of issuers filings in close collaboration with Securities Commissions.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Ukraine) and Postgraduate Certificate in Financial Planning from George Brown College.
Kieran Webb
Senior Relationship Manager | TMX Group
Kieran is responsible for leading exchange traded product ("ETP") relationships, new business and sector analysis at TSX Trust, the largest Canadian-owned provider of transfer agency and corporate trust services. Outside of Kieran's ETP mandate, he manages a portfolio of TSX and TSXV listed corporate issuers to execute IPO, closing, treasury, transfer, AGM and corporate action services.
Prior to joining TSX Trust, Kieran directed strategic initiative operations across ETF, accounting, custody, securities lending, risk and fund data products at CIBC Mellon.
Charlotte Lucas
Platform Manager, IT Corporate Solutions | TMX Group
Charlotte is the Platform Manager, IT Corporate Solutions and has been with TMX Group for 6 years . Charlotte leads the product management, development and day to day operations of various corporate cloud applications.
Charlotte holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from Brock University as well a certificate of Business Analysis from the University of Toronto. Outside of work, Charlotte enjoys travelling, baking and yoga.
Shifa Khan
Senior Manager - Business Intelligence, Governance & MDM | TMX Group
Shifa Khan is a data and analytics leader with a decade of experience in pioneering data and analytics strategy, building trust in data and encouraging data-informed decision making. She has been with TMX for one and a half year and is leading the pillars of Business Intelligence, Data Governance and Master Data Management. She is a strong advocate of data and analytics culture at TMX and she loves experiencing the TMX organization’s passion and vision for analytics, and being a part of it’s journey!
In the past, she enjoyed working with Cineplex for two years as a Lead, Business Intelligence Reporting and she started her career straight out of university with Tata Consultancy Services where she spent nine successful years as a data analytics consultant winning, leading and implementing multi-million analytics programs working across the globe with clients from various industries.
Shifa holds a Master’s Degree in Management Analytics and a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering. Outside of work, Shifa enjoys travelling around the world and exploring. She loves spending time making art and craft with reusable items. She is fascinated by the underwater life and is a certified open water scuba diver.
Oliver Keung
Senior Manager, Business Management | TMX Group
This is Oliver’s 11th year at the TSX Trust. He has had the opportunity to work in multiple business units ranging from operations to client facing roles. Oliver has noted this as aiding him in the development of his skill sets and is grateful for the opportunity to be exposed to the unique business within TSX Trust. Currently, Oliver works with the Business Management Office with a focus on the integration of the recently acquired business, as well as looking for opportunities to refine TSX Trust’s processes and to identify synergies that will further improve the business’ opportunities and operations.
Oliver thinks that TMX has a great culture and he continues to look forward to building TMX’s vision as a team.
Ana Kulis
Talent Acquisition Partner | TMX Group
Ana Kulis is a Talent Acquisition Partner, part of the Human Resources Team at TMX. Prior to joining TMX, Ana spent a large part of her career in a variety of different roles at TD Bank both in retail branch banking and the corporate HR Early Talent space. Her passion for early talent led her to also spend some time at the University of Toronto in the career services department as a Relationship Manager.
She loves being part of the candidate career search journey and you'll find her having many coffee chats!
Ana holds a Bachelors of Arts degree from York University along with a Postgraduate Certificate in Human Resources Management from Sheridan College. Outside of work, Ana enjoys travelling, running, reading and is always on the lookout to find the best bakeries in the GTA!
Shaun Ono
Senior Product Manager, Capital Formation Digital Innovation | TMX Group
Straddling the edge of business and technology, Shaun Ono serves as a Senior Product Manager, co-leading the development of a significant modernization program for TMX's Capital Formation business. Shaun takes a multi-pronged approach to career development, finding diverse avenues to improve both technical and soft skills.
While passionate about his career as a product manager, he looks to create balance by embedding his personal values back into his work - doing his best to employ a human-centered leadership approach.
