Speakers
The voices shaping Canada's accessibility future.
Shlomit Shteyer
Director, Technical Program Management, Salesforce
Shlomit Shteyer is a Director of Technical Program Management at Salesforce. She has a decade of experience in driving software programs from strategy to successful delivery, having worked in multiple countries and at different sizes of companies. Prior to Salesforce, she worked for Twitter where she was introduced to the product accessibility space. Since then her focus has been to operationalize the accessibility strategy portfolio as part of the journey to ensure the company products are accessible to all. She is very active with the TechWomen program, mentoring the next generation of women leaders in STEM from Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. She joined Salesforce in 2022 to the cross-cloud TPM team as a technical program manager driving the product accessibility portfolio programs.
Shiri Sol Ohayon
Lead, Digital AccessAbility and Accommodations Centre of Excellence (CoE), Deloitte Technology Canada
Shiri is the National Lead and Founder of Deloitte Technology Canada's Digital AccessAbility and Accommodations Center of Excellence, where she provides strategic leadership for the firm's digital accessibility initiatives. She has led the design and delivery of scalable accessibility programs, including establishing in-house digital accessibility assessment services, launching bilingual training, and embedding accessibility into technology onboarding, procurement, and compliance processes. Shiri also leads Deloitte Canada's AODA Digital Accessibility Compliance Program, guiding asset owners and delivery teams toward accessibility-first practices that move beyond reactive compliance. She founded and chairs a Global Accessibility Community of Practice, hosting guest speakers for a global Deloitte audience, as well as a monthly Digital A11y Connect, bringing together 30+ cross-sector senior digital accessibility leaders at Fortune 500 companies. A CPACC-certified accessibility professional with 25+ years of global experience across IT, service delivery, and operations, Shiri is recognized for driving cultural change and building internal accessibility capability at scale. A disability ally and parent to neurodivergent twins, she brings both lived experience and systems leadership to her speaking, inspiring organizations to treat accessibility as a foundation for excellence.
Giuseppina (Pina) D'Intino
CEO and Founder, Aequum Global Access Inc. | IAAP Canada Chapter Representative, Aequum Global Access Inc.
Pina D'Intino is the CEO and founder of Aequum Global Access Inc., bringing more than 30 years of international experience in accessibility, inclusion, and digital transformation. She serves as the IAAP Canada Chapter representative and is Project Lead of the Business Accessibility Criteria program. An IAAP member since 2014 and CPACC certified, Pina holds a Master's in Inclusive Design from OCAD University. She is fluent in English, French, and Italian, and works with organizations across sectors to advance accessible practices.
Vanessa Leu
Disabled artist and advocate, AMI apprentice, Accessible Media Inc.
Vanessa Leu is a Toronto-based Disabled artist, advocate, and community builder passionate about authentic storytelling, creativity, and accessibility. She is currently completing her apprenticeship with Accessible Media Inc. Audio, where she developed skills in pitching, producing, and editing stories for the podcast series Reflections. Her story on autism in women draws from her lived experiences with late diagnosis and internal ableism. Vanessa is also the founder of the GTA Craft Club, an accessible crafting community that hosts in-person events in the GTA to create connections through art. Alongside her creative work, she creates Access Guides for events to help attendees better understand accessibility features and accommodations. Across her work, she aims to create spaces and conversations that are genuine, welcoming, and radical. She is excited to share her experience working on the set of the upcoming Judy Heumann biopic: Being Heumann.
Andrea Podruski
Chief Operating Officer and Director General of Standards and Research, Accessibility Standards Canada
Andrea Podruski, currently the Chief Operating Officer and Director General of Standards and Research, has been with Accessibility Standards Canada since 2020 and is responsible for standards development and research funded by the grants and contributions program. Prior to joining the public service, she was a social worker and spent twenty years working in community and supporting the full inclusion of people with disabilities. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work and Masters in Philanthropy and Non-Profit Leadership. Andrea lives in Chelsea, Quebec with her husband and two teenage children, one of whom lives with multiple disabilities. As a parent to a child with disabilities, she dedicates her personal time to volunteering in various capacities in the education and disability communities.
Niki Ramesh
Product Equity and Accessibility, CBC
Niki Ramesh leads product accessibility at CBC, Canada's public broadcaster and media company. She collaborates with research and product development teams to create innovative accessible experiences, driven by a deep understanding of the disabled community's needs. A Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA), Niki also contributes to national accessibility standards as a technical committee member with Accessibility Standards Canada. She is a co-founder and board member of Access to Success.
Carole Mendonca
Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility, Deloitte Canada
Carole Mendonca is the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) at Deloitte Canada and co-authored Deloitte Canada's Accessibility Action Plans. In her role, Carole provides strategic leadership across DEIA, overseeing the DEI and Accessibility team and the execution of Deloitte's accessibility strategy and action plan as part of the firm's broader inclusion agenda. She also co-founded Deloitte's accessibility-focused client service offerings in Canada, supporting provincial and federal organisations with the development of accessibility strategies, action plans, and consultations with people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals. Carole has over a decade of experience across the private and non-profit sectors, specialising in management consulting, program development, community investment, risk management, compliance, and stakeholder engagement. She holds a Bachelor of Honours in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Carleton University, a graduate diploma in Inclusion and Leadership, and an active professional designation in Accessibility from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). Guided by a strong business mindset and a deep commitment to equity, accessibility, disability inclusion and neurodiversity, Carole is dedicated to advancing meaningful, systemic change and helping build a stronger future for all.
Samantha Evans
Certification Director, IAAP, International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)
Sam Evans is the Certification Director at the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), where she has led the certification team since 2016. With more than 20 years of experience leading, growing, and managing associations and non-profit organizations, Sam brings deep expertise in change management and value proposition development. She holds an MBA in Marketing and International Sales and a BA in Political Science from Kennesaw State University. Sam has earned ASAE's Certified Association Executive (CAE) certification and The Institute for Credentialing Excellence's Certified Credentialing Professional (ICE-CCP) certification.
Sam Sundermann
Operations Manager, IAAP, International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)
Sam Sundermann is the Strategic Operations Management Coordinator at the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). She joined IAAP in 2020 and is responsible for the IAAP Education Training Database (ETD) and Speakers Bureau, as well as coordinating social media content. Sam also works on the M-Enabling Summit as registration coordinator and assists with certification programs and new IAAP initiatives.
Ana Sofia Barrows
Director of Accessibility and Inclusion, CNIB
Ana Sofia Barrows (she/her) is the Director of Accessibility and Inclusion at CNIB. Her work has focused primarily on building inclusive practices across organizational systems, with a secondary focus on research related to accessibility in the workplace. Her experience spans academic, regulatory, and corporate environments, with an emphasis on accessibility, inclusion, and systems-level change. Ana Sofia has taught at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, including programs for business leaders, public sector directors, and upper-year undergraduate students. She regularly speaks at conferences and contributes to publications focused on accessibility and inclusion, and has shared perspectives through multiple channels such as CBC Radio and On the Money.
Amandipp Singh
Founder, Enabled Talent, Enabled Talent
Amandipp Singh is an entrepreneur and founder with partial vision, working at the intersection of accessibility, inclusion, technology, education, and workforce innovation. He is the founder of Enabled Talent, an accessibility and workforce inclusion company building AI-powered tools, inclusive workforce systems, and accessible opportunities for people with disabilities across multiple regions globally. He also leads the ENABLE Canada Series and Tour, bringing together communities, employers, educators, policymakers, and innovators across Canada to advance conversations around accessibility, workforce inclusion, and building systems where more people can participate fully.
Loran Upton
IT Build Specialist (Accessibility), TD Bank
Loran Upton brings over a decade of experience delivering and advancing workplace accommodations within large financial institutions. Her work focuses on ensuring employees with disabilities receive practical, timely supports, whether through technology, hiring processes, or workplace systems, so they can fully participate and succeed at work. She has supported accommodations end-to-end, from hands-on delivery of technology solutions to influencing enterprise processes that shape how accommodations are requested, implemented, and sustained. Loran is known for translating accessibility standards into practical action and building cross-functional partnerships that lead to measurable improvements for employees. Loran is an active contributor to national disability inclusion conversations, having presented at conferences such as Connecting the Dots (CNIB) and Rethinking Disabilities. She served on the National Advisory Committee for the Increasing Diversity Hiring in Canadian Banks project and sits on the board of the DeafBlind Ontario Foundation, supporting the advancement of accessibility and inclusion across the province.
Aidan Tierney
Lead Product Manager, Accessibility, eBay
Aidan Tierney, CPWA, works across product, design, and engineering to embed accessibility into the decisions that shape the experiences of eBay customers. Increasingly this involves influencing how AI contributes to those experiences. He is particularly interested in what it takes for large technology organizations to sustain accessibility at scale and at speed. Aidan combined engineering and consulting work at IBM Canada before leading the digital accessibility program at TD. He has worked extensively with organizations on the structures and practices that turn regulatory requirements into operational reality.
Sheetal Kochhar
Lead Accessibility, CNIB
Sheetal Kochhar is the Lead Accessibility at CNIB, where she advances inclusive practices across business systems and digital platforms. A former educator with over 15 years of experience, Sheetal holds a master's degree in science and a Bachelor of Education. Her transition into accessibility and research was shaped by her lived experience with vision loss. She is a member of CNIB's IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) team and contributed to research on inclusive procurement and supply chains, supported by Accessibility Standards Canada. She has also contributed to provincial research initiatives funded by the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility.
Jutta Treviranus
Director, Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC), OCAD University
Jutta Treviranus is the Director of the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) and professor in the faculty of Design at OCAD University in Toronto. She established the IDRC in 1993 as the nexus of a growing global community that proactively works to ensure that our digitally transformed and globally connected society is designed inclusively. Dr. Treviranus also founded an innovative graduate program in inclusive design at OCAD University. Jutta is credited with developing an inclusive co-design methodology that has been adopted by large enterprise companies as well as public sector organizations internationally. Jutta has coordinated many research networks with and by people with disabilities. Jutta was recognized for her work in AI by Women in AI with the AI for Good, DEI AI Leader of the Year award as well as by Women in AI Ethics. She is the chair of the Accessible and Equitable Artificial Intelligence standards committee for the Accessible Canada Act.
Rachel Paul
Membership Director, IAAP, International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)
Rachel Paul is the Membership Director at the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). She brings nearly 20 years of diverse marketing and communications experience, including product and channel management at a Fortune 500 company, social media strategy, and account management. Rachel holds an MBA in Marketing from Ashland University and a BA in Political Science from Ohio University. She has contributed to several non-profit boards and committees, including the Cleveland Sight Center, Seedlings Braille Books, and the Foundation for Retinal Research.
Stephanie Cadieux
Government of Canada
Stephanie Cadieux is Canada's first Chief Accessibility Officer, appointed under the Accessible Canada Act in 2022. Prior to her appointment, she was the first woman with a visible disability to serve in the BC Legislature and Cabinet, bringing a unique perspective shaped by lived experience and leadership at the highest levels of government. Known for collaborative and visionary leadership, her decision-making style is inclusive and evidence-based. She leads with empathy and strategic insight, building consensus while driving bold, systemic change, making her a trusted advisor and catalyst for inclusion.
Varun Chandak
Access to Success
Varun Chandak is the Founder and Executive Director of Access to Success, a Toronto-based non-profit on a mission to Enable Everyone. Driven by his own lived experiences with disabilities, Varun grew ATS to be a leading global innovation hub for accessibility startups. Under his leadership, ATS has expanded its reach to 41 countries and its startups have benefited over 2.5 million people with disabilities worldwide. As a leader in accessibility innovation, disability inclusion and inclusive design, Varun has been invited to speak on 5 continents. He has been recognized as a Top 50 Changemaker in Canada and was awarded the inaugural Tom Wilson Leadership in Disability Award. Varun has a professional background in financial services, holds an MBA from the University of Toronto, and is a Chartered Accountant.
Eugene Woo
Venngage
Eugene is the CEO of Venngage, a design platform that helps organizations produce accessible documents at scale. He focuses on moving accessibility upstream, shifting from remediation to creation with built-in checks, templates, and governance. His team partners with public sector and higher-ed institutions to standardize accessible-by-default outputs across departments.
Jennison Asuncion
Co-Founder, Global Accessibility Awareness Day & Chair, GAAD Foundation, GAAD Foundation / LinkedIn
Jennison's interest in digital accessibility can be traced back to his participation in a CNIB summer national program that exposed blind and visually impaired youth to access technology. Fast-forward to 2006 when he took on his first full-time digital accessibility role at RBC. He is currently LinkedIn's Head of Accessibility Engineering Evangelism. Outside his professional pursuits, Jennison co-founded Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) in 2012, after happening upon a blog post by a developer, Joe Devon, who called for such a day of digital accessibility awareness. On the occasion of the 10th GAAD, Joe and Jennison co-founded the GAAD Foundation, whose mission is to disrupt the culture of technology and digital product development to include accessibility as a core requirement. A member of the Consumer Technology Association Foundation Board of Trustees, Jennison has been recognized for his industry contributions. These include: featured by Business Insider in 2020 among 30 power players and rising stars helping new CEO Ryan Roslansky run LinkedIn; recognized in 2023 by his alma mater, Concordia University, as a Benoît Pelland Alumnus of the Year; and named alongside LinkedIn in 2025 to the inaugural Forbes Accessibility 100 List of Top Innovators and Impact Makers in accessibility.
Juan Olarte
Founder and CEO, A11YVERSE / Digita11y Accessible
Juan Olarte is a technology entrepreneur and digital accessibility leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing inclusive digital experiences. His work is shaped by both deep technical expertise and lived experience with visual impairment, giving him a practical and personal understanding of what accessibility truly means. As Founder and CEO of Digita11y Accessible, Juan leads a company focused on helping organizations embed accessibility into the core of their digital products and operations. Through a combination of expert services and AI-driven solutions, the company enables teams to move beyond compliance and build accessibility into their workflows in a sustainable, scalable way. Juan is also the founder of A11YVERSE, a growing initiative focused on connecting the accessibility ecosystem through knowledge, stories, and innovation. A11YVERSE brings together organizations, professionals, and communities to make accessibility easier to understand, implement, and scale, while creating space for collaboration and real-world impact. Throughout his career, Juan has worked across sectors including finance, education, and government, helping organizations translate accessibility standards into practical strategies that improve user experience and drive business outcomes. Beyond his companies, he is deeply involved in the accessibility community, organizing events, contributing to industry conversations, and supporting initiatives that empower people with disabilities to participate in and shape the future of technology. Juan's work sits at the intersection of accessibility, AI, and innovation, with a clear focus on one outcome: making accessibility a natural and essential part of how technology is built.
Jennifer Chadwick
Senior Accessibility Strategist, CPACC, CUA, CXR, Aequum Global Access Inc.
Jennifer Chadwick is an award-winning digital accessibility strategist and former UX designer with 15+ years of global experience guiding digital teams to understand, own and operationalize accessibility and disability needs. She is a policy and standards advisor (WCAG, EN 301 549) and W3C invited expert, contributing to WCAG 3.0 and co-chair of the Accessibility Roles and Responsibilities Mapping (ARRM) Community Group. Her 4-week Journey Accessibility Task-planning Program (ATP) helps organizations quickly adopt accessibility efforts and transform culture. She has spoken at CSUN, A11yTO, AccessU, IAAP M-Enabling Summit and United Nations COSP 2018 and 2022. In 2025, Jennifer wrote Chapter 6: Creating Inclusive Content for the best-selling book Inclusive Design for Accessibility.
David Dame
Senior Director, Product Accessibility & Human Centered Design for Windows and Devices, Microsoft
David Dame is the Senior Director of Human Centered Design at Microsoft, where he leads the strategy, design, and delivery of inclusive, human-first experiences across Windows and Devices. A product maker at heart, David has spent more than 30 years helping build and scale technology used by millions of people around the world. His work sits at the intersection of design, engineering, accessibility, AI, and organizational change. David has led the creation of shipped products and platforms including Microsoft Adaptive Accessories, the Surface Adaptive Kit, Inclusive Trackpad, Bold Keyboard, and the Inclusive Tech Lab. These are not concepts or prototypes - they are real products designed to remove friction and expand what is possible for people. David lives with cerebral palsy. That lived experience gives him a firsthand understanding of where technology breaks down and how thoughtful design can unlock independence, dignity, and opportunity. It shapes how he leads, how he builds, and how he challenges teams to think differently. He believes human centered design is not about empathy alone - it is about outcomes. When we design for the edges, we improve the experience for everyone. Accessibility becomes innovation. Inclusion becomes a growth strategy. Before Microsoft, David held senior leadership roles at Scotiabank, OpenText, PTC, BlueCat Networks, and MedShare, leading large-scale agile and organizational transformations across global enterprises. He is a TEDx speaker, Professional Scrum Trainer, Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, and the author of the upcoming book Leading with Imperfect Feet, which explores leadership, resilience, and designing systems that adapt to people instead of forcing people to adapt to systems.