Speakers & Session Descriptions

Anne Belliveau, Former Chief Customer Experience Officer, Cirque du Soleil

With over 30 years of dynamic experience, Anne Belliveau has built a reputation as a visionary leader who transforms organizations and inspires teams to achieve extraordinary results. Her career spans telecommunications, performing arts, and sports & entertainment, with impactful contributions in North America and on the international stage.

As the former Chief Customer Experience Officer at Cirque du Soleil, Anne was at the forefront of innovation, leading digital transformation efforts that reimagined the fan experience. Her work focused on strengthening customer engagement across meaningful touchpoints, reshaping the audience journey, and unlocking new revenue opportunities.

Today, she brings that same strategic lens to organizations looking to evolve how they connect with their audiences — blending creativity, data, and technology to build experiences that drive both impact and growth.

Before joining Cirque, Anne was Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer at Tennis Canada, where she led transformational initiatives that generated unprecedented revenue growth. She introduced scalable, tech-driven revenue streams and elevated the organization’s global brand presence through innovative marketing strategies and advanced sales infrastructure.

Anne’s expertise in digital transformation was also instrumental during her tenure as CMO at Just For Laughs Group, where she spearheaded the organization’s shift to digital-first strategies. Her earlier leadership roles include Vice President, Business Brand and Marketing Communications at TELUS, where she redefined national branding strategies, launched data-driven campaigns, and earned global recognition for her work, including a Cannes Lions d’Or nomination for a B2C loyalty program.

Beyond her professional achievements, Anne is a passionate community leader and advocate for the arts. She served until recently as Chair of the Board for the Dr. Clown Foundation, dedicated to spreading joy through therapeutic clowning, and previously sat on the Board of the Montreal International Triathlon organization. As a member of the Triathlon Canada Age Group Team, she proudly represented Canada at the 2018 Triathlon World Championships, embodying her commitment to growth, resilience, and excellence in all areas of life.

Anne’s dynamic leadership, digital acumen, and passion for driving growth make her a recognized force in mobilizing teams and elevating brands to new heights. Her story is one of innovation, impact, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

When Meetings Get Heated: Keeping Control and Driving Results

Contentious meetings happen, but they do not have to derail outcomes. This session shares practical strategies to manage high tension discussions, keep conversations productive, and drive results.

Learn how to de escalate conflict in the moment and what can be done in advance to prevent meetings from going off track in the first place.

	Katherine Carre Katherine Carre is a Partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and National Co-Leader of the firm’s Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Group. She advises charities and not-for-profits across Canada on governance, regulatory, and corporate matters, including mergers, restructurings and complex director and member disputes.  Katherine works closely with boards and management to navigate challenging governance issues and high stakes decision making, and is known for providing practical, strategic guidance in complex and often high-pressure meeting environments. She is a recognized leader in the not-for-profit sector and a frequent speaker on governance best practices and regulatory compliance.
	Michael Gregory Michael Gregory is a strategic advisor and business leader with nearly two decades of experience in Strategy and Operations consulting. As Managing Partner at GGA, he specializes in helping organizations develop and execute data-driven strategies for sustainable growth, operational excellence, and long-term success. Since joining GGA in 2007, Michael has worked with over 500 private clubs globally. His expertise spans long-range strategic planning, governance, organizational effectiveness, and executive placement, ensuring clients build high-performing teams while enhancing efficiency and resilience. A skilled communicator and strategic facilitator, Michael has helped private clubs secure member approval for multi-million-dollar capital investments. Using GGA’s proven process, he guides leadership teams in building consensus and implementing strategies that create lasting value. Recognizing that strong leadership is crucial to strategy execution, Michael leads GGA’s Leadership Advisory and Executive Search practice. He works closely with organizations to align leadership teams with their strategic vision, helping them navigate change and drive performance. Outside his consulting work, Michael contributes to the industry through active involvement with the National Club Association and Club Management Associations across North America and Europe, focusing on strategic planning, operations, and leadership development. An All-American Scholar and former Division I golfer, Michael captained Mercer University’s golf team during his senior year and remains an avid golfer today.
	Matthew Clarfield Matthew Clarfield, a Director at GGA Partners, leads strategy engagements for private clubs across North America. His work focuses on helping clients make informed, future-ready decisions, whether optimizing food and beverage performance, modernizing membership structures, navigating governance, or aligning capital planning with long-term priorities. Matt is known for combining rigorous analysis with practical insight. His strategic planning work helps clients define a clear, compelling vision, and he supports decision-making with solutions that are not only actionable but grounded in a clear understanding of financial impact. Across all engagements, his focus is on delivering measurable results and ensuring the Club’s direction is both ambitious and achievable. Before joining GGA in 2021, Matt worked at PwC, where he advised clients on performance improvement, implemented lean operating models, and supported senior leaders in driving strategic outcomes. He holds a dual HBA/JD degree from Ivey Business School and Western Law. Outside of work, he enjoys learning about golf course architecture, watching his favorite teams (Leafs, Jays, Ravens, and Wolverines), and listening to the Grateful Dead and classic country.

GM & Board Relationships: The Good, the Decent, and the Ugly

What does an effective GM–Board relationship really look like—and where can it break down? Featuring a panel of experienced General Managers, this session explores the full range of governance dynamics, from high-performing partnerships to the challenges that can derail them. Hear candid perspectives, practical lessons, and key warning signs to help strengthen alignment, improve accountability, and navigate tough governance realities.

Neil Brown, CPA, CIA, CRMA, ICD.D

Neil is Executive Director, Governance and Strategy. A CPA by background, he has spent the majority of his career in professional services. As a partner with both Arthur Andersen and Deloitte, he actively led the development and growth of each firm’s Risk Advisory practice to market leading positions. His extensive experience in governance, strategic planning, financial and risk management has been developed working with some of Canada’s most iconic organizations at the board and executive levels, across multiple industries. He has served as board chair and board member for several member-based organizations and has extensive experience in the governance and management aspects of such purpose-based organizations. Neil also brings extensive acquisition transaction experience, having led Deloitte’s acquisition of 4 businesses, adding 120 team members and $40 million of annual revenues to the firm. His experience in the club, sport and entertainment sector includes facility development, capital planning, operational excellence, and member development programs. He has worked with both local and global sport organizations and events helping them establish and continuously improve their governance activities in support of achieving their respective strategic priorities. Neil is passionate about the sport of golf and the golf industry. His participation and volunteer work for major golf events and tournaments, combined with his professional experiences, enables him to help clients live their purpose in service of their membership.

Toni Marie Brown

Toni‑Marie Ion‑Brown is the General Manager of the Calgary Petroleum Club, a Distinguished Club of the World with Elite Status and one of Canada’s most respected private business and social clubs. Her hospitality career began in 1990 when she joined the Club as a server. She advanced quickly, becoming a supervisor and in 1999, the Food and Beverage Manager overseeing a team of more than 60 professionals. In 2015, she was promoted to Assistant General Manager and in 2017, she made Club history as its first female General Manager. Today, she leads a vibrant organization of more than 3,000 members with multi‑million‑dollar annual food and beverage operations, bringing a deeply personal, service‑centric approach to every aspect of club life.

Toni‑Marie is also a respected leader within the Club Management Association of Canada (CMAC). Active since 2007, she has served as National Food & Beverage Chair (2010), Co‑Chair of the CMAC DE&I Committee, and has been an active mentor since 2022. In recognition of her leadership and contributions to the private club industry, she was named CMAC Club Manager of the Year in 2024.

Most recently, Toni-Marie was recognized with the John Furlong Award in April, 2026 presented by McMahon Group and the National Club Association.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Toni‑Marie is a dedicated volunteer within the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. A member since 2011, she has served as Vice‑Conseiller Gastronomique, Vice‑Chancelier, and Bailli Régional. In 2022, she was appointed Chancelier du Canada and also holds the title of Bailli Honoraire of the Bailliage de l’Alberta à Calgary. In her national role, she leads membership development and retention initiatives with a particular focus on cultivating young membership across Canada.

The Canadian Energy Executives Association , celebrating their 75^th anniversary this year, has recognized Toni-Marie’s commitment to the energy industry by appointing her the 75^th Honorary Governor.

With more than three decades of experience in member‑based private club leadership, Toni‑Marie is known for her passion for hospitality, service excellence, mentorship and community building.

Derek Patino

With a diploma in Hotel & Restaurant Management, Derek Patino began his career in the private club industry in 2002 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club as an Assistant Catering Manager. By 2005, Derek had worked his way up to Clubhouse Manager. In 2012, Derek became the General Manager at The Hudson Yacht Club, where he remained for 8 years. After moving on for a short time in the tourism field, Derek returned to the private club industry in December 2021 as the General Manager at the Whitlock Golf & Country Club, where he remained until January 2025. Derek is now the Interim General Manager at The Rec Room Royalmount and in his second year as President of the CMAC Quebec Branch. 

Enterprise Risk Management for Private Clubs

This session provides Club Managers with a practical, working knowledge of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and how to apply it within a private club setting. Drawing on a real-world ERM assessment, participants will learn how to identify, assess, prioritize, and respond to the risks most likely to affect their clubs — operationally, financially, and strategically.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to define ERM and articulate why it matters for private clubs; understand the eight key risk categories relevant to club operations; apply a structured four-phase approach to building an ERM program; interpret a risk heat map and communicate risk profiles to their Boards; and identify immediate next steps to launch or strengthen ERM at their own club.

Paul Cadieux, CCM

Paul Cadieux, CCM, has more than 25 years of experience at some of Canada’s top multi-sport, social and family clubs, such as the Granite Club, Boulevard Club, Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club, Island Yacht Club and Toronto Ski Club, Badminton & Racquet Club of Toronto. Paul is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Bayview Golf & Country Club.

Throughout his career, Paul has demonstrated exceptional leadership in enhancing member experiences, driving operational excellence, and spearheading transformative capital projects. Paul is recognized for his expertise in strategic planning, governance, facility management, and financial stewardship.

He actively contributes to the industry through volunteer roles, including serving on the Ontario Board of Directors for the Club Managers Association of Canada and chairing national committees. He has been a regular speaker at CMAC and CMAA Conferences and a contributor in Club Manager Quarterly.

Planning Ahead for Responsible Tree Management

Successful tree management requires thoughtful, long-term planning. With the right approach, potential impacts to underground utilities and surface features can be anticipated, avoided, or mitigated.

Tree Care Master Plans help communicate a property’s long-term tree management expectations to its membership. By providing clarity and shared understanding, these Plans give staff the confidence to execute the plan efficiently.

Consulting Arborists can assist properties facing significant financial assessments from governing bodies. Their expertise helps ensure that financial levies are accurate and reasonable while recognizing the property’s historical stewardship.

Jeff Babich

Jeff Babich is a Consulting Arborist and his background in Turfgrass Management and Civil Engineering, combined with his Board Certified Master Arborist designation, gives him a distinctive blend of expertise. Earning the International Society of Arboriculture’s highest credential led Jeff to establish a consulting practice unlike any other in North America, helping property owners manage trees through thoughtful, long-term planning.

Through his work, Jeff continues to advance practical, sustainable tree management practices that support healthier landscapes and long-term asset stewardship.

Leading with Integrity: Navigating Human Rights in the Workplace 

• Incident Reporting & Investigations: How to build and maintain a responsive system that supports a safe workplace and regulatory compliance — and holds up under scrutiny.
• Safe Sport: Managing power imbalances between staff, members, coaches and athletes, and understanding your club’s obligations to protect all participants.
• Human Rights: Understanding your “double exposure” as both an employer and a service provider, with a focus on disability and the duty to accommodate.
• Social Liability & Boundaries: Evaluating the legal risks posed by sexual harassment and social misconduct within the unique professional-social culture of private clubs — where the lines between colleague, member, and friend can blur.

Delegates will leave with a clear view of their risk landscape, as well as concrete steps to lead their clubs forward.

Bay Ryley 

Bay Ryley is an employment and human rights lawyer, and president of Ryley
Learning, an eLearning company specializing in workplace harassment prevention
training. She advises employers and employees on workplace law matters, including investigations, human rights, and accommodation.

In her “Safe Sport” practice, Bay represents coaches and athletes in reporting,
investigations, and litigation related to Sport Integrity Canada, sport leagues and athletic programs.

Bay was previously counsel to the Human Rights Legal Support Centre, the Ontario
Human Rights Commission, and the Constitutional Law Branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General, including on the Walkerton Inquiry. She articled at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.

Facilities Design: Demolition, Design, Delivery & Exclusive Club Tour 18 Black

What does it take to completely reimagine a facility from the ground up? This session shares the real world experience of leading a full demolition and rebuild under new ownership, from initial vision through to final delivery.
Explore the challenges, lessons learned, and key decisions that shaped the project, along with insights into managing complex timelines and stakeholder expectations. The session also includes an exclusive club tour, offering a first hand look at the finished result.

Guy Prévost, CCM, CPA, CA 

AI And Work: Enhancing Value in The Era of Artificial Intelligence

The meteoric rise of AI is transforming our ways of working, our decision-making, and even our relationship with time. Tools like ChatGPT are entering our daily tasks, promising productivity and efficiency, but also raising essential questions: what place remains for our human skills? How can we maintain control of our choices in an environment where algorithms influence our reflexes and thought patterns?

Rather than giving in to anxiety about predicted automation or the illusion of complete machine autonomy, this conference offers a cross-perspective between neuroscience and artificial intelligence to explore how to work differently with these new tools:

Decode the actual functioning of AI and its limitations. Understand what AI does, and what it will never do, to avoid both fantasies and excessive fears.

Measure its impact on professions, creativity, and attention. Identify how AI reconfigures our roles and modifies our cognitive resources on a daily basis.

Highlight irreplaceable human skills. Critical thinking, intuition, empathy, adaptability: all qualities that machines cannot reproduce.

Adopt a balanced and ethical approach. Know when to delegate to AI, when to take back control, and how to preserve the value of human work.

Because it's not about choosing between AI and humans, but about learning to reinvent our collaboration with technology, for a future of work that enhances both performance and well-being.

Facilitated Technology Roundtable

Join a facilitated roundtable discussion where club management professionals can share insights on technology and AI in a collaborative setting. Exchange ideas on emerging tools, proven solutions, best practices, and common challenges.

This interactive session offers a chance to learn from peers, discuss real world experiences, and explore practical ways to address pain points and leverage technology more effectively.

Mélissa Canseliet

Passionate about the brain and its interaction with technology, Mélissa Canseliet is a renowned expert in neuroscience, cyberpsychology, and responsible digital practices. Her scientific journey began with a master’s degree in neuroscience and a master's in psychopharmacology of cognitive processes, which she applied during four years of research at the University of Oxford.

​With a specialization in user experience and digital behavior analysis, she has been evolving in the tech industry for over 13 years. After joining Ubisoft, she contributed to the digital strategy of companies such as Faurecia, Coinhouse, Samsung Ads, and Mistplay. Her expertise lies at the intersection of human behavior, technological innovation, and the societal challenges of the digital world.

​Mélissa has since become a speaker, trainer, and entrepreneur (Humanet), dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of digital technology on our brains and societies. She addresses key topics such as AI, cyberpsychology, digital responsibility, and negotiation in technological environments.

​In 2022, she shared her mission during a TEDx talk in Bordeaux, highlighting the importance of a more human-centered digital world, based on empathy and critical thinking.

Mélissa is also a columnist and host of the show "20 ans branchés" on CIBL, where she explores the digital world and its impact every week. Through her conferences, shows, and training sessions, she remains committed to equipping citizens and businesses with the tools for informed and responsible digital usage.

Leadership Through the Keyhole: Seeing What Most Leaders Miss

Most leaders are trained to look at performance, behavior, attitude, and results. But what if the real leadership lesson is learning to see what sits behind them?

In this presentation, Ryan will share a leadership perspective shaped by his own life experiences — including parts of his past that many people may not know. Those experiences changed how he sees people, pressure, silence, resilience, and behavior. They also taught him the power of mentorship, real community, and what it feels like to carry doubt while still being expected to lead.

This is a conversation about the person behind the position. The story behind the behavior. The silence behind the smile. It asks a simple but uncomfortable question: Do we really know our people?

Leadership through the keyhole is a phrase meant to reframe how we see others. A keyhole only gives us a narrow view. We may see behavior, performance, attitude, or response — but not the pressure, fear, doubt, or life experience behind it.

It is easy to place expectations on others, but expectations are often built from our own perspective: what we would do, how we would respond, what we think someone should be able to handle. When people do not meet those expectations, disappointment follows. But the better leadership question is not, Why aren’t they meeting my expectation? It is, Have I slowed down long enough to understand where they actually are?

This presentation will explore the power of meeting people where they are, not where we assume they should be. It is about understanding that mental health, identity, belonging, imposter syndrome, and pressure do not stay outside the workplace. Many people put on a shield every day before they walk through the door. The question is whether we slow down long enough to notice.

And sometimes, the most powerful leadership tool is not a strategy session, a policy, or a performance plan. Sometimes it is a cup of coffee. A simple gesture. A moment of attention. The smallest actions can have the biggest impact on someone, and we may never fully realize what one brief interaction meant in another person’s life. It may be a mentor who sees something in you before you can see it in yourself. Or a conversation that creates enough trust for someone to finally be honest.

This presentation will challenge leaders to think differently about awareness, accountability, and human connection — and to understand that predictable performance starts with seeing people more clearly.

Ryan Woods

Ryan Woods has spent 21 years in hospitality and found his path into club management 16 years ago. Over the course of his career, he has had the privilege of serving five clubs, beginning on the food and beverage side and growing into leadership roles. He started at Beach Grove Golf Club, then moved through positions at Royal Colwood Golf Club as F&B Manager, and at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club as Clubhouse Manager. His experience at Shaughnessy led to his first general manager role at Nanaimo Golf Club. In 2020, he was appointed CEO of Pinebrook Golf & Country Club in Calgary.

Beyond club operations, Ryan has served on several non-profit boards as both director and president, which has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of board governance and dynamics, and he is widely recognized as an expert in service and culture.

The Pit Stop Principle: The Science of Recovery for High-Performance Managers

You know the drill. Eat well. Sleep enough. Exercise regularly. Take breaks. Disconnect after work.

Great advice. Truly.

Now tell that to the manager who just handled a last-minute banquet crisis, responded to three member complaints before 9 a.m., covered for a no-show on the floor, and hasn't sat down since Tuesday.

Hospitality leaders operate in one of the most demanding, high-stakes, and emotionally charged environments in the service industry. Standards are high, members are demanding, and the margin for error is razor-thin. In this world, taking a break can feel like anything but a good idea.

But here's what the science actually says: the leaders who last, and who continue to love what they do, are not the ones who never stop. They're the ones who know when to stop, how to recover, and why recovery makes them better at everything they do.

This conference won't tell you to slow down. It will show you how to recharge, strategically, realistically, and without losing your edge.

What we'll explore:

• Why good intentions aren't enough: A candid look at the unique pressures of club management, including the invisible emotional demands of always being "on", the culture of urgency, and the psychological reasons why taking a break often feels harder than just pushing through.
• The psychology of the pause: What actually stops high-performing managers from taking a break, even when they know they should. Spoiler: it's not just about time.
• The science of recovery: Because yes, recovery is a science. We'll explore what research tells us about the types of rest that actually work, the difference between a real break and a fake one, and why short, frequent bursts of physical activity and mindful pauses can be more powerful than one long session.
• Finding your balance point: How to maintain an uncompromising work ethic without burning out, and how to build a healthier relationship with imperfection, error, and the occasional dropped ball.
• Making it work in the real world: Practical strategies for integrating micro-breaks into a high-demand environment: how to communicate around pauses, delegate effectively, identify what your mind and body actually need in the moment, and build a team culture where recovery is a shared value, not an individual luxury.
• Leading by example: Because your team is watching what you do, not what you say.

Dr. Gagnier is known for her warm, humorous, and non-judgmental approach. Her presentations are grounded in current research and designed to be immediately applicable, with concrete strategies that take into account the real constraints of high-demand work environments.

No guilt, no unrealistic advice. Just science, straight talk, and tools participants can actually use.

Dr. Nadia Gagnier. Ph.D.

With a PhD in psychology specializing in educational psychology and postdoctoral training in anxiety prevention, Dr. Nadia Gagnier is a clinician, university lecturer, bestselling author, and media contributor who enjoys the challenge of combining scientific rigor with real-world relevance.

She has delivered over 1,000 keynote presentations and training sessions across schools, organizations, and businesses throughout Canada. Her approach is warm, practical, and evidence-based... the kind of talk people actually remember when they get back to work on Monday morning.

Details Coming Soon!

Marc Ray, MCM, GM/COO at Oakland Hills Country Club