Author Archives: PFM Search

Tom Wong – Chief Risk Officer & Corporate Audit – ICBC

By

PFM Executive Search is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Wong as the new Chief Risk Officer & Corporate Audit for the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Tom commenced his employment on December 14th.

Tom was formerly a Risk Advisory Partner at EY. More recently, he was the Head of Wholesale Operational Risk for Canada at HSBC and the Global Head of Risk Management and Internal Audit at Harry Winston Diamond Corporation. He comes highly designated; CPA, CMA, Certified in Risk & IS Control (CRISC), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified IS Auditor (CISA). He has experience in building up both an internal audit and risk management function at EY, as a consulting practice, and at Harry Winston.

PFM Executive Search is recognized as a leader in executive search and has been working with some of the most prominent Canadian private, public, and not-for-profit clients over the past 28-years. We are known for our ability to recruit senior leaders from around the world to top management positions.

Al-Karim Kara – President & Chief Executive Officer – LTSA

By

PFM Executive Search is pleased to announce the appointment of Al-Karim Kara as the company’s next President and CEO effective December 7, 2020. Al-Karim joined LTSA in November 2009 as VP Business Transformation and CIO, helping LTSA become one of the world’s leading land title authorities over the past 11 years.

“Al-Karim has played a key role in our success during his 11 years with LTSA and we look forward to building on our achievements with him as President and CEO,” said Diane Friedman, Chair of the LTSA Board. “He will be working closely with the Board and Executive team to continue implementing our corporate strategy. Meeting with LTSA’s various stakeholder groups will also be a priority”.

PFM Executive Search is recognized as a leader in executive search and has been working with some of the most prominent Canadian private, public, and not-for-profit clients over the past 28-years. We are known for our ability to recruit senior leaders from around the world to top management positions.

Federica Di Palma – Chief Scientific Officer & Vice President, Sectors for Genome BC

By

PFM Executive Search is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Federica Di Palma as the new Chief Scientific Officer & Vice President, Sectors for Genome BC! Dr. Di Palma commenced her employment on September 1, 2020.

Dr. Di Palma brings over 20 years of international experience in science, technology and innovation with an emphasis on understanding complex biological systems. Her deep understanding of genomics and strategic expertise will make her an essential member of the Genome BC leadership team and a key asset in fulfilling the goals outlined in the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan.

Dr. Di Palma holds a PhD in Immunogenetics from the University of Reading and brings strong international connections, with experience in the US through institutions such as NIH, Harvard and MIT. Most recently, she was Director of Science at the Earlham Institute and she remains Professorial Fellow in Biodiversity in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia.

Her previous experience also includes roles as the Assistant Director, Vertebrate Genome Biology at the Broad Institute of Harvard, a Senior Research Scientist and Service Centre Manager at the Hubbard Centre for Genome Studies at the University of New Hampshire, Durham and a Fogarty Fellow, National Institutes of Health.

Throughout her career, Dr. Di Palma has also developed an extensive list of accomplishments in scientific outreach, publications, editorial development, public and policy engagement, and international development activities. She sits as an elected member to the “Mission de Sabios” to establish the future in Science, Innovation and Technology for Colombia’s Vice-President and holds a professorial fellowship in biodiversity in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia.

PFM Executive Search is recognized as a leader in executive search and has been working with some of the most prominent Canadian private, public, and not-for-profit clients over the past 28-years. We are known for our ability to recruit senior leaders from around the world to top management positions.

Debbie Carter – Vice President, Finance & Administration for Capilano University

By

PFM Executive Search is excited to announce the appointment of Debbie Carter as the new Vice President, Finance & Administration for Capilano University! Debbie commenced her employment on October 5th, 2020.

Debbie has held numerous leadership positions in her career, including chief administration and chief financial officer roles. Debbie comes to CapU from the District of Oak Bay, where she served as the municipality’s director of financial services and acting chief administrative officer. Prior to this, Debbie was the executive director, corporate finance & chief financial officer for the Province of Alberta’s Ministry of Human Services. Her professional background includes extensive leadership experience in complex, multi-discipline and unionized environments where her oversight has included financial planning and forecasting; asset and risk management and strategic planning.

Debbie is a Chartered Professional Accountant and earned her Master of Business Administration at Laurentian University. Her professional development includes management and leadership studies at the University of Alberta; Emergency Operations Centre training with the Justice Institute of BC and procurement and contract management training through the Province of British Columbia.

Debbie has volunteered as a presenter for municipal fire services and the Government Finance Officers Association BC. Her community service also includes invigilating examinations for the Certified General Accountants Association, BC at the University of Victoria and a term on the board of the Local Government Management Association.  In the relief efforts for the Southern Alberta Floods of 2013, Debbie’s department was responsible for issuing $63.6 million in emergency relief funding to 37,000 impacted families.

PFM Executive Search is recognized as a leader in executive search and has been working with some of the most prominent Canadian private, public, and not-for-profit clients over the past 28-years. We are known for our ability to recruit senior leaders from around the world to top management positions.

CPABC – Board Directors 2020/2021

By

PFM is excited to announce CPABC’s five new Directors who have each been elected to the Board for 2020/2021.

Joining the continuing Board members and government-appointed public representatives in alphabetical order are:

https://www.bccpa.ca/about-cpabc/governance/