Speakers

Saby Waraich is an international keynote speaker, CIO, and international bestselling author of "SCARE to CARES: Leading Digital Transformation without Chaos." With more than 25 years of leadership experience, he helps senior leaders navigate digital transformation, organizational change, and cybersecurity challenges with clarity and confidence.

Ranked as a Top 10 Global Thought Leader in IT Leadership, Saby has led multimillion-dollar initiatives across government, higher education, and global organizations and has spoken in more than 20 countries on five continents. His insights have been featured through Forbes Technology Council, Thinkers360, and national media outlets.

Dr. Cooper's presentation at the Symposium will be exploring how strategic leaders can treat risk not as an obstacle to be managed around, but as the core discipline through which lasting organizational impact is built.

Dr. Tom Cooper lectures in the areas of strategy, risk management, management consulting, and ethics/values at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. His research is primarily focused on the interplay between strategy and risk management. Dr. Cooper’s research has been published widely in industry and academic publications. He has won a number of awards for his research, teaching and engagement activities.

Prior to taking his position at Memorial University, Dr. Cooper was a senior manager in PwC’s Performance Improvement Consulting practice in London, UK. He is an active facilitator with the Gardiner Centre at Memorial, a business advisor, board member, and is a Certified Management Consultant.

Dr. Cooper is also a regular speaker to industry conferences on his research. He holds a doctor of philosophy (PhD) in business from the Warwick Business School, University of Warwick as well as a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) and Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) from Memorial University.

Tessa Whelan is CoLab Software's resident recruiter. She has spent many years recruiting top talent at fast-growing organizations, predominantly in the technology industry. Tessa has a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts from Memorial University and spent 4 years living and working in Vancouver. Relocating back to the East Coast, Tessa is excited to be home and helping to grow the local tech sector. 

Nicole Bailey holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Employment Relations from Memorial University. After spending nearly two decades in progressively senior leadership roles across a variety of organizations, she founded People & Business Solutions to provide organizations with practical, fractional HR leadership tailored to their operational realities. Nicole partners with leaders to navigate complex people and organizational challenges, combining strategic thinking with hands on execution. Her expertise is in employee and labour relations and talent development, recognizing that people issues influence every aspect of an organization's success. She is passionate about helping organizations build practical systems, develop strong leaders and create workplaces where both people and performance thrive. 

Outside of her consulting work, Nicole volunteers her time supporting individuals with resume development and career transitions, recognizing that today's labour market often requires people to adapt and pivot throughout their careers. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Admiralty House Communications Museum. When she's not working, Nicole enjoys spending time with her family and can usually be found in a sports complex somewhere, either playing herself or cheering from the sidelines. 

Currently based in Ktaqmkuk, the unceded traditional lands of the Beothuk and Mi'kmaq, Ema (she/they) is an award-winning educator, Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP®), musician, and EDI-AR (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism) advocate. Ema sees life as the ultimate project, exploring its most profound questions through the lens of personal development, relationship building, and continuous learning. With an interdisciplinary background spanning four provinces and diverse experience managing initiatives across nonprofit, public, and private sectors, Ema partners with people to help them design and navigate their way forward. 

In addition to working in career development, Ema serves as a loyal servant to Her Royale Canine Highness, Queen Ginevra of Beaumont, and also performs with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra as Assistant Principal Viola. Outside of her work life, she also has a lot of interests, and dreams of getting around to them one day. 

Tonya Knopp is a Professional Engineer with over 22 years progressive experience in the construction industry. She has worked in both public and private sector with her main areas of expertise in linear and vertical (building) infrastructure projects. She is currently the Project Director/Senior Project Manager for Riverhead WWTF Secondary Expansion project. 

Academically, Tonya is a strong advocate for continuing education and has added the following qualifications to her resume over the years: a Master’s Certification in Project Management from York University, a Lean Green Belt in Continuous Improvement from the Leading Edge Group, a Certified Asset Management Professional from PEMAC, a Master’s Degree (M.Sc.) in International Construction Management with Merit from the University of Bath, a Certified Passive House Designer, a Gold Seal Intern and is currently completing a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Civil Engineering from the University of Bath with a specialization in Climate Resilience of Building Infrastructure. 

When she is not working or studying, she spends her time volunteering with the following organizations: PEGNL, Tequity+, AMAL Unite & Empower Connector Program, YWCA Career Compass Program, PMI-NL Construction Focus Group, National Model Codes Committee,  and is currently the 3rd Vice Chair of the Executive Committee with the NLCA Board of Directors.  

In 2024, Tonya was awarded the NLCA Women in Infrastructure Award of Excellence for her work in advancing women in construction and the promotion of skilled trades and technology as successful careers for youth, and women specifically. In 2025, Tonya was a nominee for the Community Leader Award with the Canadian Construction Association, a nominee for the YWCA Circle of Distinction Awards, and she was awarded the 2025 Trailblazer Award from the Project Management Institute - NL Chapter and the 2025 NLCA Community Leader Award. 

Lynn Shannon, B.Ed., Dip.Sp.Ed, DASSM, PMP, PMI-PBA, has served on the PMI Board of Directors since 2023, including as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. She is a long-time PMI volunteer and past president of the PMI Chapter in Toronto, Canada, and Region Three Mentor.

Shannon is a dedicated professional leader with extensive management experience leading media and digital transformation programs for large Canadian companies, including Thomson Reuters, Torstar, Rogers Communication and Sun Life Financial.

She is a popular instructor on various project management topics at the University of Toronto, Canada, and she is a regular speaker at events and conferences around the world. She was awarded the Colin J. Morris Distinguished Contribution Award for PMI service from the PMI Toronto Chapter in 2020 and has received several Ted Rogers Innovation Awards.

Shannon holds a bachelor’s degree in Education and a Diploma Special Education and Educational Media, both from McGill University, Canada.