UPDATE:  fmi | igf National Board of Directors: Election Process 2025 

Derek Cockburn- Director at Large  

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.

Athena Dinos- Director at Large 

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.

Mike Pestill – Director at Large 

Mike has over 30 years of public sector experience, with over 20 years at the senior leadership/executive level with the Government of Saskatchewan. He currently serves as the Executive Director, Sector Management & Relations with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education, with financial, legislative, governance and regulatory oversight responsibility for over 40 institutions in the SK post-secondary sector.

Mike’s has previous experience on the fmi I igf National Board of Directors, including two years as the first President/Chair to serve from Saskatchewan. He also served as Chair of the Saskatchewan (Regina) chapter for a number of years previous. Mike also served on the initial CPA Saskatchewan Board of Directors, including one year as Board Chair and Chair of the CPA Western Regional Forum. Mike was also Saskatchewan’s representative on the CPA Canada Collaboration Accord Renewal Task Force.

Mike has also served on three fmi I igf PSMW Organizing committees, including Organizing Committee Chair of the 2023 event in Regina. In 2013, he was named one of 50 people in Canada who shaped the success of fmi*igf over the organization’s first 50 years. In 2016, Mike also received one of the first five Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA) designations awarded in SK for exceptional service to the accounting profession/community.

In his spare time, Mike is a sports enthusiast and enjoys travel, cooking and adventures in wine tasting. Mike is currently pursuing his professional wine certification through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET Level 2).

Nicole Zywicki- Central Regional Director

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).