2026 Panelists

Tuesday, February 17

Nadine Niba

BDO Canada

Nadine Niba, CPA, MBA, Regional Risk Advisory Leader at BDO Canada, is known for equipping professionals and organizations to win in the boardroom and beyond and is a best-selling author.

With over a decade of experience advising executives, boards, and audit committees across Corporate North America, Nadine brings a rare blend of strategic leadership, governance expertise, and real-world boardroom insight to the stage. Her work focuses on strengthening leadership decision-making, enterprise risk management, internal controls, and organizational resilience in complex and fast-changing environments.

Nadine is the author of Quarterback: An Immigrant’s Guide to Corporate North America, an Amazon #1 bestseller in the Career Advancement and Professional Development categories. Through her widely recognized Quarterback Framework, she draws parallels between elite quarterback leadership and executive success, teaching leaders how to read the field, make high-stakes decisions, build high-performing teams, and lead with clarity, confidence, and composure under pressure.

She is a trusted voice on leadership excellence, executive presence, governance and risk, high-performance cultures, navigating complexity, and legacy-driven leadership. Her keynotes combine strategy, storytelling, and actionable insights that resonate with senior leaders, emerging executives, and high-potential professionals across industries.

Nadine’s leadership and impact have been recognized with the CPA Alberta Early Achievement Award, the SAIT Outstanding Young Alumni Award, the Calgary Black Chambers Professional Excellence Award, and multiple national and international recognitions for professional excellence and inclusive leadership. Beyond the stage, she is deeply committed to mentorship and leadership development, having mentored thousands of professionals globally

Erin Schwartz

CPA Education Foundation

Erin is the Director of the CPA Education Foundation, where she oversees scholarship and grant administration, sponsorships (like sponsoring RMBS!), Foundation events, and the Hesje CPA Knowledge Centre. Erin is an alumni of the U of A, and attended RMBS when she attended the Alberta School of Business.

When not working, Erin is typically spending time with her family. She’s either entrenched in chaos with two toddlers at home, renovating a dollhouse with her niece, or binge watching the latest comedies. Erin is a people-first leader who has a passion for lifelong learning, DEIA, and community building.

Jeff Herzog

University of Alberta

Jeff is an Assistant Executive Professor at the University of Alberta and a committed advocate for developing future leaders in the accounting profession. His teaching and professional interests centre on taxation and preparing students for the technical, ethical, and practical demands of the CPA pathway.

Jeff is actively engaged in the CPA community, serving as Chair of the CPA Assist Committee and hosting a variety of conferences and events. He also supports scholarships and initiatives that provide opportunities and resources for accounting students and leaders in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Outside the classroom, you’ll find him at CrossFit, practicing gymnastics, or connecting with others in the accounting community.

Elyse Krause, CPA is Vice President of Business Services at Rural Connect Ltd., a municipally controlled corporation working to close the digital divide in rural Alberta. She began her career as an auditor in public accounting and later transitioned into private business, building experience across both sectors.

In her current role, Elyse helps support the expansion of reliable internet infrastructure for underserved communities. She is passionate about sharing career pathways and practical insights with students interested in business, finance, and public-sector impact.