Bob Parker is a Senior Vice President responsible for several areas of research at IDC.  Bob leads the global industry research teams which includes coverage of healthcare, government, retail, energy, manufacturing, and financial services as well as a cross industry group looking at emerging topics such as blockchain and robotics.  Additionally, Bob leads our teams in the enterprise applications space, services, and the IDC coverage of data intelligence which includes coverage of artificial intelligence.

Bob has been conducting industry research for over twenty years including five years at AMR Research before joining IDC.  Prior to entering the research field, Bob spent over fifteen years in various Information Technology and Operational management roles in the manufacturing industry including serving as the Chief Information Officer at Eastern Technologies, a defense contractor.

Julie Lévesque was appointed Executive Vice-President – Information Technology in June 2020. As such, she is responsible for implementing the Bank’s technological strategy. In addition, she was appointed head of the Operations sector in January 2022. Ms. Lévesque is a member of National Bank’s Senior Leadership Team.
At the time of her appointment in 2020, Julie Lévesque was Senior Vice-President – IT Delivery Strategy at National Bank. Previously, she spent three years working for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board as Managing Director and Head of System and Data Delivery, Technology. Ms. Lévesque worked at National Bank from 2005 to 2016, where she held various management roles in IT, including Vice-President – IT Delivery, Risk, Finance, Capital Markets and Human Resources.
With over 25 years of experience in information technology, Julie Lévesque has in-depth knowledge of corporate IT environments and infrastructure. Her leadership style is based on collaboration, trust, partnership and cross-sector teamwork. Her passion for innovation and emerging technology means she quickly grasps the issues involved and excels at explaining concepts in business terms.

Ms. Lévesque sits on the boards of directors of the Computer Research Institute of Montreal (CRIM), the fintech Flinks Technology Inc., and the Resources for Children with Diabetes Foundation (FRED). In 2022, she was named CIO of the year in the Private Sector category by IT World of Canada and the CIO Association of Canada. Ms. Lévesque has an Executive MBA (EMBA) from McGill-HEC Montréal.

Rob Lucas is a Principal Solutions Consultant based in Edmonton, Alberta, and plays a leading role in Dell Technologies’ global presales technical strategy. He shapes technical training programs, drives national initiatives, and supports enterprise AI and HPC customers across North America. With over a decade at Dell, Rob also advises the Canadian Senior Leadership team and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science, specializing in AI.

Tina Mathas is a strategist, innovator, and leadership coach with over 30 years of experience helping organizations and teams navigate growth, transformation, and change. She is the co-Founder of ConnectionRx podcast and the founder of Tina Mathas & Co., where she works with leaders, startups, and enterprises to drive strategic execution, innovation, and leadership development.

As the Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO), Jan’s role is to enable City business units to use technology to deliver services to citizens. The CITO oversees the investment, delivery and sustainment of The City’s technology infrastructure and leads planning for the development and growth of City business applications and communication systems. Jan has worked for over 30 years in the information technology industry and has been working with the City since 2006. During her time with the City, Jan has held progressively more responsible roles including project manager, Leader and Manager of Client Solutions where she provided leadership to project managers, digital strategy, enterprise architects and foundational eGovernment development teams.

A visionary and a strategic thinker, Jan believes in supporting her teams to be solution-focused in their service to the many business units Information Technology serves every day. Her number one priority is to position Information Technology as a strategic partner to business units in order to deliver on the City’s purpose, “Making life better every day”.

James Bracken is a Territory Account Manager at ESET Canada, where he has dedicated over six years to delivering cybersecurity solutions tailored to the unique needs of Canadian businesses. With extensive experience in the cybersecurity industry, James combines his deep knowledge of digital security threats with a client-centered approach, helping organizations fortify their defenses against evolving cyber risks. Known for his commitment to building strong client relationships, he ensures that each customer receives tailored, forward-thinking security strategies that align with their specific requirements.

Tarini is a Senior Solution Architect at NVIDIA, where she leads technical customer and partner engagements in Western Canada, helping them with accelerated computing solutions and adopt NVIDIA technology. She holds a Master’s in Data Science and Earth & Environmental Science. She is actively involved with several organizations to foster a supportive community for women in tech.

Anthony Robinson serves as the Chief Technology Officer and Head of Solution Advisory for SAP Canada, where he leads a dynamic team committed to empowering Canadian companies to achieve their business objectives. With a sharp focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning, he is at the forefront of driving technological advancements and digital transformations. Anthony has been supporting SAP customers for over 25 years, playing a pivotal role in guiding some of the company’s largest customers through their digital transformation journeys.

He has proven to them how innovative SAP solutions can enable industry specific transformation of key processes, including finance, supply chain, customer experience, asset management, etc. His extensive expertise and leadership have been instrumental in shaping the strategic direction of our customers’ technology initiatives.

Ross Ballendine is the Vice President, IT, at Trimac Transportation, an asset-based logistics company focused on providing safe and efficient supply chain solutions in the bulk transportation sector. Overseeing all Technology operations and initiatives at Trimac, Ross is responsible for developing and executing on Trimac’s digital ambitions. As a CPA, Ross brings deep business acumen to technology leadership. Ross has been leading IT at Trimac since July of 2022, and believes that technology is best measured by the value of the business outcomes it helps to create.

Tony Olvet is Group Vice President, Worldwide C-suite and Digital Business Research at IDC. His team’s global research focuses on the connection between business transformation and digital investments across enterprises. Tony’s analysis and insights help vendors, IT professionals, and business executives make fact-based decisions on technology strategy and digital business.

Tony has worked with clients across a variety of organizations including global IT manufacturers, enterprise software vendors, telecom service providers, financial institutions and public sector organizations. He has been quoted in major business and industry media including CIO Magazine, The Globe and Mail, CBC and The Financial Post.

He is also a frequent public speaker delivering keynote presentations at conferences, IDC webinars, and virtual events for clients. Tony is member of IDC Canada’s senior leadership team and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Allice Shandler, a seasoned event management professional, orchestrates captivating and seamless experiences in the technology, hospitality, entertainment, and manufacturing industries. With a proven track record spanning the past 25 years, she skillfully designs and executes a multitude of events, both virtual and in-person, to bring together like-minded individuals for the purpose of sharing knowledge and forging connections. She is an energetic leader who enjoys leading with empathy and embodying the science of emotional intelligence.

From her time as an Assistant Cruise Director with Princess Cruises to her role as the National Virtual Events Manager and subject matter expert during the pandemic at KPMG Canada, and currently as the Director of events with IDC and Foundry, Allice’s journey reflects a mastery of marketing integration, project logistics, and alignment with sales strategies, all underscored by her meticulous attention to detail. Allice Shandler exudes a passion for hosting and connecting with peers both on the stage and during carefully crafted industry events. She brings an unmatched ability to curate engaging experiences that resonate across industries and captivate audiences around the globe.