Board of directors 2023–2024

Gary Wuschnakowski recently retired from the Ontario Public Service after 35 years of service.  He is currently involved with a number of charities sharing his financial management knowledge and expertise with them.  While employed with the Ontario Public Service he held various senior management positions including acting Provincial Controller and Chief Risk Officer as well as Director of Financial Capacity, Control and Assurance within the Ontario Treasury Board Secretariat.    His career passion included the development and implementation of financial management learning and development programs with the intent to attract, develop, and sustain financial management talent and ensure robust talent pathways across the organization.

Adam Taylor, CPA, CGA, is a Partner with MNP’s Enterprise Risk Services team. Adam provides risk management, consulting, internal and value-for-money audits, and assurance services to private and public organizations, helping them improve governance, processes, and reporting.

Prior to joining MNP, Adam served the B.C. government for 16 years in a variety of roles, including Chief Financial Officer of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Executive Director of Technology Initiatives in the Natural Resource Sector. Adam has extensive experience in helping organizations maximize opportunities, reduce risk exposures, and optimize operational effectiveness. His expertise also encompasses program and project governance, including IT governance, procurement, and negotiation support.

Adam’s focus includes internal and value-for-money audits, program reviews, financial and control effectiveness reviews, as well as performance measurement and benefits realization. His experience includes program and project governance, including IT governance and procurement and negotiation support.

president@fmi.ca

Derek Cockburn is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) working within the Province of BC as a Contract Manager supporting four Economy Sector Ministries, as well as many Crown Corporations, Agencies, Boards and Commissions.  For the past 29 years, Derek has been a leader, specializing in procurement/contract management, financial management, risk management, procurement and financial training, auditing, financial reporting, financial controls, and strategic planning.

Derek has also worked as a Sessional Accounting Instructor at Royal Roads University, University of Victoria and Camosun College in Victoria.

In his spare time, Derek enjoys spending time in the greater outdoors, being involved in athletics, and volunteering with local non-profits.

I am currently Manager, Resource Management and Reporting with the Department of Western Economic Diversification.  For over 10 years, have been responsible for financial management that includes department budget allocation and management of operating and grants and contributions, senior management reporting on department financial position, central agency reporting that includes Main and Supplementary Estimates, TB submission costing, parliamentary questions and financial system control and maintenance.

Prior to WED, I worked with Alberta Region, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) for 8 years.  Roles included programs funding services officer and Manager, Financial Allocations and Transfer Payments.

Before my positions at INAC, held several positions at Revenue Canada.  These positions included Enquiries, Identification and Compliance, Auditor and Appeals Officer.

I obtained my CMA designation in 2000 and am past president of the Edmonton Chapter of the Financial Management Institute from July 2011 to 2014.

Having completed her CPA-CGA and MBA, Athena is currently the Regional Finance Manager for the Department of Canadian Heritage – Prairies and Northern Region.  A long time FMI member, Athena has served on her chapter board for over 10 years, hold various positions including Chapter President and Treasurer. At the National level, Athena served on the Finance and Audit Committee for two years before transitioning to the National Board of FMI where she served as Wester Liaison for four years.

Outside of the government and FMI, Athena has significant board experience working for numerous Not-For-Profit organizations. Although she has primarily been involved in the areas of finance, she has had significant experience in governance and policy development. In addition, she has over 20 years of experience in education and program development, serving as the Comptroller and Board member of a small independent school, as well as significant experience in small/medium sized business management as the proprietor of three separate business ventures.

Stephanie Pretty CPA, CMA has been with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador since 2009. She received her Certified Management Accountant designation in 2013 and has been a member of the Financial Management Institute’s (FMI)St. John’s Chapter Board since 2019. 

Stephanie has a strong background in financial analysis and strategic decision-making. Stephanie joined the Treasury Board Support Division with Treasury Board Secretariat in 2020, where she is responsible for gathering, analyzing, and delivering complex information to support key financial and policy decisions as part of the Government decision making process. 

Stephanie has extensive experience in change management, managing financial systems and resources, and enterprise-wide financial integration projects. She has had various progressively responsible roles with the Office of the Comptroller General including Financial Systems Analyst, Business Change Management Lead and Manager of Financial Systems. Stephanie has a proven track record of developing, establishing, and streamlining financial management best practices. 

Stephanie is also committed to mentorship and professional development, actively participating in delivering FMI and Government professional development and training material that fosters the growth of finance professionals. Her passion for public service is evident in her efforts to improve financial management knowledge and learning within her organization and the FMI membership through collaboration and relationship-building across organizations. 

With a blend of analytical expertise and a collaborative spirit, Stephanie is dedicated to making a significant impact on public sector finance and continuously enhancing financial practices to better serve the public interest.

Nicole Zywicki has been the Chief Audit and Evaluation Executive (CAEE) at Infrastructure Canada since September 2022. She started with the federal public service in 2011 by leading internal audits at Employment and Social Development Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada. Her initial introduction to audit started in 2005 when she worked at Ernst and Young LLP as an Audit and Assurance Professional.

Nicole has a passion for finance and audit functions. She also has experience at the municipal level as she was the Head of Finance for the Municipality of North Grenville from 2016 to 2018. And she worked at TBS (2018-2020) as the financial advisor on the team at the Office of the Comptroller General responsible for the Horizontal Fixed Asset Review that made recommendations towards a sustainable and carbon-neutral real property portfolio.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting from Carleton University. She is a Chartered Professional Account (CPA, CA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Madison has been with the Province of New Brunswick for 15 years and is currently the Executive Director of Corporate Services in the Department of Finance and Treasury Board. Her prior experience includes financial services roles at the Office of the Comptroller, Service New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Internal Services Agency, and the Department of Government Services. She holds a BBA with honors in accounting from the University of New Brunswick and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. 

Actively engaged in various committees at both local and national levels, Madison is the Past President of the Fredericton Chapter of the Financial Management Institute Board of Directors. She is passionate about professional development, team building, and fostering collaboration within the financial management community at all levels. 

ceo@fmi.ca

Marty joined FMI August 2020 following his retirement from the Federal Public Service after an outstanding 32-year career, including his last 7 years as a CFO (Public Services & Procurement Canada and Fisheries, Oceans & Canadian Coast Guard).  He began his career in regional economic development and later strategic planning, following which, Marty spent 14 years with the RCMP in senior financial roles, including his last 6 years there as their Deputy CFO.

Among his greatest honors, Marty was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for Excellence. He is recognized for his leadership and commitment to the financial management community, his wealth of knowledge and experience from his 2O+ years as a senior executive in public sector financial management, and his open, collaborative and transparent approach.  Joining FMI was for Marty a natural next step, since it affords him an excellent opportunity to continue giving back to the community he has spent most of his career helping to develop.