Speakers for the 2026 Girls in Tech Conference
Saba Zuberi
Saba Zuberi is the Associate Vice President of Applied Artificial Intelligence at TD Bank. She leads a team of machine learning scientists to build AI solutions across the enterprise and drives applied AI research to support cutting-edge AI applications at TD.
Saba has 10 years industry experience in AI, from startup to enterprise. She holds a PhD in theoretical particle physics from the University of Toronto and completed her post-doctoral research in particle physics at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California.
Ruda Barar
Ruda is a senior consultant in the Technology Risk Consulting. She has 10 years of work experience and a master’s in information security & a bachelor’s in information technology. Ruda’s day to day job involves working on IT audits covering SOC 1, SOC 2, SOX, FSA, ISO 27001 areas. Her daily tasks involves client interaction, internal collaboration with team members and being a team player.
Sana Tonekaboni
I am an EWSC Postdoctoral Fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. My research lies at the intersection of machine learning and healthcare. I work on developing methods that integrate multimodal biomedical data to better understand human health. I am also interested in challenges of deploying clinical ML in healthcare environments and finding solutions for effective and safe use of such tools in practice. I received my PhD in Computer Science from the University of Toronto, under supervision of Dr. Anna Goldenberg. During my PhD, I received the Apple Scholars in AI/ML Fellowship and the CIHR Health System Impact Fellowship.
Tara Simeunovic
Tara Simeunovic is a Cybersecurity Analyst at Sun Life, where she works across incident response, enterprise security engineering, and the rapidly evolving field of Generative AI. She earned a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from McMaster University and later broadened her expertise through work in Cybersecurity Governance and Architecture, giving her a multidimensional view of today’s information security landscape.
Tara is actively committed to empowering the next generation of women in technology. She has led multiple events for Sun Life’s Global Cyber Security Women’s Network, bringing together cybersecurity professionals and coop students to learn, connect, and explore careers in the field. Beyond Sun Life, she has contributed extensively to Junior Achievement (JA) initiatives, by mentoring over 200 students at the Empowering Young Women event, teaching a Grade 8 class through the Economics for Success program, and speaking to over 1,200 students as a panelist in JA’s Career Discovery Series webinar.
Before her career in cybersecurity, Tara was a national competitive figure skater and coach. She speaks English, French, and Serbian, and in her free time enjoys spin classes and watching ballet performances.
Teodora Trifan
Teodora Trifan is a Manager in Learning & Development (Strategic Projects & Design team) and the national AI & GenAI Fluency Lead at Deloitte Canada, where she focuses on building AI fluency across the firm. Her work sits at the intersection of emerging technology, talent, and organizational change, helping leaders and teams move from curiosity to confident, responsible use of GenAI in their day-to-day work.
Teodora’s background spans talent strategy, AI focused talent acquisition, and people growth and development through enterprise learning. She holds academic training in Human Resources Management & Organizational Behaviour from the University of Toronto (BBA degree) and Wilfrid Laurier University (MSc degree), where she also served as a Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant. This strong academic foundation continues to shape her approach to learning design: evidence based, human centered, and grounded in real organizational context. Across her career, Teodora has led multiple national and global learning and talent initiatives, earned multiple performance awards and leadership accolades, and remained deeply committed to volunteering through mentoring, DEIA advocacy, and knowledge sharing. She is a frequent facilitator and firmly believes that AI is for everyone, and that its greatest value emerges when technology amplifies human judgment, creativity, and connection.
Katelyn Ilagan
Katelyn is a strategic, people-focused Senior Specialist at Deloitte with a proven ability to design and deliver programs that boost engagement, foster inclusion, and elevate the employee experience. Her expertise includes project management, communication, and inclusive design principles.
Diba Alam
Diba Alam is a final-year Engineering Science student at the University of Toronto, specializing in Machine Intelligence with a minor in Robotics. As a Systems Design Engineering Intern at MDA Space, she supports the development of Canadarm3 and next-generation robotic arms.
Her academic work focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics, with an emphasis on applying learning-based methods to autonomous systems. She has contributed to international initiatives, including representing Canada at the European Space Agency and co-founding the Women of SEDS (wSEDS) program.
Diba currently serves as Co-President of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) at U of T, where she leads the delivery of one of Canada’s largest student-run STEM conferences and year-long initiatives that empower women in technical fields. She is passionate about creating pathways for the next generation of innovators.
Amanda Mongillo
Amanda Mongillo is a second-year Engineering Science student at the University of Toronto, specializing in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Robotics. She is passionate about space exploration, robotics, and mission operations, and contributes to satellite development through her work with UTAT Space Systems.
Amanda is also the High School Outreach Events Director at Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), where she works alongside a team of passionate student leaders to organize multiple events each year designed to empower and inspire high school students to pursue STEM. Through hands-on workshops, speaker panels, and mentorship initiatives, she is committed to creating inclusive, supportive spaces that help young women build confidence and see themselves in science, technology, and engineering fields.
Fay Pittman
Fay Pittman is the Chief Engineering & Safety Officer at Metrolinx, leading Engineering, Asset Management, and Safety with a focus on technical excellence, system integration, and enterprise-wide safety. She serves as the organization’s technical authority, overseeing asset lifecycle management and system safety across transit operations and construction.
Since joining Metrolinx in 2021, Fay has advanced asset management maturity from 35% to 69%, earning recognition as a finalist in the 2023 Institute of Asset Management North America Awards.
Fay began her railway career with Canadian Pacific Railway in 1999, gaining broad operational and engineering experience across Canada. She later joined Rio Tinto, where she led energy and environmental engineering initiatives, and held a senior leadership role with Baffinland Iron Mines, contributing to rail expansion planning in Nunavut.
A strong advocate for women in rail, Fay received an honorable mention in the 2024 Railway Age Women in Rail Awards. She is a professional engineer registered with PEO and PEG-NL and holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Juliana Zaremba
Juliana Zaremba is the Director of Sales and Partnerships for Canada at Blue Voyant, a global cybersecurity firm. In this role she is responsible for strategic partnerships with Microsoft and channel partners in the Canadian ecosystem, while working with the sales team to bring cyber solutions to Canadians across the country. With deep experience building global partner programs, she has driven expansion of advanced security services and champions conversations about the ever-changing threat landscape that Canadian companies face daily. She has focused her career in cybersecurity, but has worked across organizations in various departments such as Project Management, Sales, Channel Management, Customer Success, Architecture, and Service Delivery. Utilizing her educational background in Statistics, Economics, and her Masters in Business Administration from Schulich University she has been able to create transformational change in various organizations, always putting the customer at the forefront of decision making. Juliana is also a passionate mentor and advocate for young women in tech, sharing her insights through panels and one-on-one coaching. Her work bridges technical leadership with community-building, helping to empower the next generation of female cyber professionals.
Sunita Kheterpal
Sunita Kheterpal is a Senior Manager in Digital Health Consulting at KPMG, where she helps healthcare organizations design and implement technology solutions that improve patient care and system efficiency. She brings nearly a decade of experience leading digital transformation and change management initiatives across the public and private sectors, including work with Ontario Health, the Ontario Ministry of Health, and non-profit national healthcare community organizations.
At KPMG, Sunita works closely with healthcare teams and technology partners such as Microsoft and Salesforce to bridge the gap between clinical needs and digital innovation. Her work focuses on turning complex healthcare challenges into practical, human-centered solutions that make a real difference for patients and care providers.
Sunita holds a Master of Science in Global Health Management from McMaster University and a Bachelor of Science in Physiology with minors in Management and International Development Studies from McGill University.
Growing up, Sunita thought she wanted to be a doctor until she discovered that she could make an impact in healthcare through technology and consulting. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation, especially young girls, to explore how technology can transform the way we live, work, and care for others.
Katherine MacDonald
Katherine is a Data and AI solution architect, and have a computer science background with 20 years experience working in the data space. Her current focus is data platform engineering, and is leading the Microsoft data team in enterprise solutions.
ASHLEY NAVARATNAM
Ashley Navaratnam is a Security Awareness and Training Strategist at Sun Life, where she delivers various communications, trainings, and events to create a security-conscious culture and drive behavioral change across the global organization.
With over 3 years of experience in cybersecurity education, Ashley specializes in creating customized awareness communications and trainings that address business-specific risks and emerging threats. She has led interactive security awareness events for diverse audiences ranging from corporate staff to elementary, high school, and university students. Ashley also spearheaded the implementation and global expansion of a paid internship program across Canada, the U.S., and Ireland to promote STEM careers and create mentorship pathways for the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. Through these initiatives, she fosters a culture of security awareness both internally and externally. Ashley partners with leadership to align security strategies with organizational risk posture, using data-driven insights to evolve the security awareness program and influence security behavior at scale.
Sabrina Khandakar
Sabrina Khandakar is a Senior Consultant at Deloitte and a lead for both their Women’s Impact Network and People Council in Ontario. Over her five years at the firm, she has championed numerous DEI initiatives and events focused on bring people together. Sabrina has also served as a governor on the University of Waterloo’s Board of Governor.
Mairah Hashmi
Mairah Hashmi is a Computer Engineering student at the University of Waterloo with experience in software engineering across backend and mobile development. She is passionate about building impactful technology and is actively involved in organizing hackathons and initiatives that support women and underrepresented groups in tech. Mairah is dedicated to mentoring students and inspiring the next generation to pursue STEM with confidence.
Lauren Altomare
Lauren Altomare is a graduating Engineering Science student at the University of Toronto (UofT), specializing in Biomedical Systems Engineering. Her work sits at the intersection of medicine, engineering, and entrepreneurship, guided by a commitment to translating scientific discovery into accessible healthcare solutions. She has conducted research across Canada, from wearable sleep sensor development at the University of British Columbia to neuropathic pain studies at Toronto Western Hospital. She also co-founded a cancer diagnostic startup supported by UofT’s Health Innovation Hub and iGEM’s Venture Creation Lab.
Lauren leads Women in Science and Engineering at UofT as Co-President, guiding initiatives that foster collaboration, mentorship, and connection across STEM. She is committed to building inclusive spaces where self-identifying women and gender-diverse students can explore new opportunities, and grow as leaders through meaningful contributions.
Angela Zheng
Angela Zheng is a first-year student at the University of Toronto studying Computer Science and Physics. She loves exploring everything related to math, machine learning, astrophysics, and quantum computing, often going down rabbit holes on the Internet to satisfy her curiosity. Her current endeavours include being a First-Year Representative for Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) at U of T, writing firmware for the U of T Aerospace Team (UTAT), and serving as an Internal Communications Writer for the U of T Machine Intelligence Student Team (UTMIST).
In high school, as a three-time national synchronized skating medallist, software developer for her FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team, and flute and piccolo player in band, she believes having a variety of fun and rewarding experiences is the best way to develop new skills. Angela is passionate about mentorship and encourages all younger girls to dream big and reach for the stars.
Winnie Zhao
Winnie is a web accessibility specialist and software engineer with a passion for creating inclusive and accessible digital spaces. She started her career as a paediatric occupational therapist, supporting children with disabilities in school and beyond. She noticed a major barrier to access for assistive technology users and transitioned into the tech world to tackle the issue head on. Winnie has 6 years of experience at the intersection of disability and technology, and uses her healthcare background to give her unique perspective while building solutions and user experiences that are seamless for everyone.
Pardis Talebian
Pardis is a Manager in the Cybersecurity team at the KPMG Canada, dedicated to helping clients mitigate the daily cybersecurity challenges of protecting their networks, Infrastructure, IT and IoT assets, applications, and resources. Pardis works closely with organizations to plan and prepare for evolving threats, ensuring they have the right tools and strategies in place to detect and respond to attacks effectively. Her team focuses on building resilience by implementing best practices and solutions that strengthen security posture and safeguard businesses against future risks.
Clare Butler
Clare Butler is a consultant specializing in technology-driven solutions and process optimization. Her experience includes leading AI tool rollouts and shaping AI strategy to support digital transformation, while coordinating technical teams and project management offices. She combines strong analytical skills with a focus on implementing innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and streamline operations.
Charlotte Oickle
Charlotte Oickle is a Partner Technology Manager at Microsoft, based in Toronto, Canada. With over 15 years of experience in the tech industry, Charlotte has built a diverse career spanning technical support, technical sales, project management, and now the technical partner ecosystem. Her academic foundation in Economics at U of T has shaped her perspective, and she is passionate about sharing her non-linear journey into technology to inspire others.
Tina Patricia D’Souza
Experienced Risk Management and Internal Audit professional with over 10 years of experience across Financial Services, Capital Markets, Technology, Media, Defence, Healthcare, and Telecommunications. Specializing in Technology and Operations environments, I focus on strengthening governance, enhancing operational efficiency, and driving process improvement through data analytics, visualization, and strategic process re-engineering.
I bring a proven track record of leading cross-functional initiatives, collaborating with senior stakeholders, and building strong control environments that enable sustainable business growth. My work centers on transforming complex operational challenges into structured, risk-aware solutions that support organizational resilience and performance.
Beyond my professional role, I am deeply committed to mentorship, community impact, and thought leadership. I serve as a Pro-Bono Board Director and Co-Founder of the Audit and Risk Network on LinkedIn — a global ecosystem that promotes knowledge sharing among mid- to senior-level professionals through curated newsletters, thought leadership content, and career opportunities in Risk Management, Internal Audit, Fraud, and Anti-Money Laundering.
I am also a published author and an active mentor, supporting emerging professionals and students through career coaching, my mentorship role with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (Texas), and the Girls E-Mentorship community, where I guide high school girls from diverse socio-economic backgrounds in building confidence, awareness, and access to future career opportunities.
Aditi Jalota
Aditi Jalota is a vCIO and AI Strategist at Reis Informatica, where she advises organizations on technology strategy, digital transformation, and the practical adoption of artificial intelligence. With over a decade of experience spanning global enterprises, startups, and the managed services ecosystem, she works with leadership teams to translate emerging technologies into measurable business outcomes.
Her career includes experience with organizations such as KPMG, HCLTech, and Orange S.A. (formerly France Telecom). Aditi holds a Master’s degree in Computer Networks from Toronto Metropolitan University and focuses on helping businesses adopt AI responsibly while addressing governance, risk, compliance, and security.
An advocate for women in technology, she encourages emerging leaders to stay curious, experiment boldly, and remember the philosophy often attributed to Michael Jordan: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
Eila Farnood
Eila Farnood is a third-year Engineering Science student at the University of Toronto, majoring in Machine Intelligence. She has a deep interest in machine learning research and has worked across multiple research labs on ML4Science projects in chemistry and physics. Over the past few years, her research experience has ranged from training generative models to building LLM-based multi-agent systems for chemistry, with a focus on translating research ideas into usable workflows.
Outside the lab, Eila serves as the Vice President of Professional Development at the Women in Science and Engineering UofT chapter, where she leads programming and networking events, creating opportunities for students to connect with research, industry, and mentorship.
LUCY RAK
Lucy Rak is a Partner Solution Architect in the Microsoft Americas partner organization, focused on AI and Machine Learning. She has advised partners and customers across industries on building and implementing effective GenAI solutions, growing an AI Practice, and developing robust Responsible AI and LLMOps approaches. She has a particular interest in AI Security, specifically AI Red Teaming and Prompt Injection mitigation. Prior to Microsoft, Lucy worked in the edtech space, with a focus on technology strategy.