SUDS 2026 Speakers
This page is updated regularly with more info about speakers at SUDS 2026! Check back often.
Peter Guo
Partner / Senior Advisor, MNP LLP (Vancouver)
Good Governance and Success in Student Leadership
Peter Guo, CPA, CA, ICD.D, MBA, is founding Partner of MNP LLP’s Enterprise Risk Services in BC and leads MNP’s Post-Secondary Centre of Excellence. Over three decades he has delivered audit, risk, governance, and compliance work across post-secondary, tech, and nonprofit sectors globally. Peter was CPA BC’s first Chinese-Canadian Chair, is a BC500 Most Influential Business Leader, and a founding member of UBC Sauder’s BTM Program Advisory Board.
Jake MacDonald
Organizer (Growth & Partnerships), Showpass
Peer Networking: Designing Campus Events That Help Students Connect
Jake works with universities, student unions, athletics departments, and student organizations across Canada to help create better campus events. As a former varsity athlete, elected student union representative, and student club president, he understands firsthand what it takes to build experiences that students show up for and remember.
Today, Jake partners with campus leaders to improve event operations, increase student engagement, and help organizations maximize the impact of every event and every budget.
Ian Stone
Senior Consultant, Nous Group
Beyond the Bylaws: What Good Student Union Governance Looks Like
Ian is a Senior Consultant at Nous Group who works with post-secondary and education-sector organizations to improve how student-facing services are planned, delivered, and implemented. Before consulting, he ran student services at UBC's student union, giving him firsthand experience with the practical realities of supporting students, managing services, and making decisions in a student-led environment. He helps leaders make sense of complex issues, clarify what needs to happen next, and build practical ways of working that support students and the teams serving them.
Nathalie Mejia
Director, Nous Group
Beyond the Bylaws: What Good Student Union Governance Looks Like
Nathalie is a Director at Nous Group and brings over 15 years of experience supporting Canadian post-secondary institutions through complex academic planning, evaluation, governance, and system design. She is known for making complex requirements practical and sustainable, working closely with academic leaders, faculty, and communities to turn diverse perspectives into clear, usable tools. Her experience in post-secondary strategy, combined with her own involvement in student union leadership during university, gives her a practical understanding of how governance, decision-making, and institutional relationships are experienced by student leaders.
Lauren Fuerderer
Manager, Campus Recruitment, MNP LLP (Vancouver)
Career Readiness: Building Confidence for Future Opportunities
Lauren Fuerderer is MNP's Campus Recruitment Manager for British Columbia, where she leads the firm's campus recruitment strategy and student programming initiatives across the province. In her role, she partners with post-secondary institutions, students, and business leaders to build meaningful connections and create opportunities for students to learn about careers at MNP.
Samantha Li
Campus Recruiter, MNP LLP (Vancouver)
Career Readiness: Building Confidence for Future Opportunities
Samantha Li graduated from the SFU Beedie School of Business in 2025 and currently works as a Campus Recruiter at MNP. In her role, she supports campus recruitment initiatives across the Greater Vancouver region, helping students learn more about MNP, expand their professional networks, and explore meaningful career opportunities.
Having recently navigated the transition from student to professional herself, Samantha enjoys sharing her experiences, supporting students as they explore career options, and creating opportunities for meaningful connections with professionals across a variety of career paths. She is passionate about helping students build confidence in their career decisions and discover possibilities that align with their goals and interests.
Natassia Wong
Articling Accountant, Private Enterprise Services, MNP LLP (Vancouver)
Career Readiness: Building Confidence for Future Opportunities
Natassia Wong is an Articling Accountant in MNP’s private enterprise services team in Vancouver and is currently pursuing her CPA designation. As a recent UBC graduate, she is passionate about student leadership, community engagement, and professional development. Her experience in student leadership and community involvement has shaped her interest in fostering inclusive and engaging environments where students can connect and succeed.
James Cabangon
Consultant, Crestview Strategy
Advocacy and Government Relations 101
James Cabangon is a seasoned government relations and communications professional with extensive experience across Canada’s political, public, and private sectors. Before joining Crestview Strategy, James worked in the BC Premier's Office, Translink, and for other consultancies. Known for his ability to navigate complex policy environments, he delivers strategic solutions that advance client objectives and strengthen stakeholder relationships.
Brianne La Pierre
Chief of Staff, MP Wade Grant
Session: Good Governance and Success in Student Leadership
Brianne La Pierre is Chief of Staff to MP Wade Grant and previously served as Chief of Staff to former MP Joyce Murray. She has managed political campaigns, volunteers extensively in politics, and brings experience in government relations, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement. Brianne is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and serves on the Vancouver Heritage Commission.
Alex Golovko
National Vice-President (Partnerships & Development), Alumo
Session: Perspectives on Student Leadership
Following two terms as President of the Carleton University Students’ Association, Alex spent time in municipal politics working on a successful election campaign of the mayor of Ottawa, leading the mobilization of the youth vote in the nation’s capital.
Prior to his arrival in Canada as an international student, Alex grew up in several countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa, which gave him unique, diverse experiences and fluency in multiple languages.
Alex holds an MBA from a leading European institution and recently completed an EMBA equivalent from the Harvard Business School.
Larissa Chen
Director (Partnerships & Development), Alumo
Larissa is Director of Partnerships & Development at Alumo, where she got her start in 2019 (then Studentcare), working with student union partners across Ontario to create impactful plans, campaigns, and systems that drive meaningful outcomes for student wellbeing.
She previously served a two-year term at the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) as President and VP Student Services, and three-term SFU Senator, advancing initiatives in mental health, sexual violence prevention & policy development, international student advocacy, and accessible learning. Having sat on the other side of the table as a student leader, she brings firsthand understanding of what student union students and staff need.
Larissa holds a B.Sc. in Population Health & Quantitative Sciences from Simon Fraser University and spent four years on the Board of Bridge for Health, an international cooperative advancing cross-sector health and wellbeing, sharing her work globally including at the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE).
Nikiel Lal
Program Manager (Partnerships & Development), Alumo
Session: Perspectives on Student Leadership
Nikiel Lal is a Kinesiology graduate from the University of the Fraser Valley. He served for two years as President of the UFV Student Union Society, where he represented students and worked closely with the university and community to rebuild campus engagement following the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to that, he attended Douglas College, where he earned a Diploma in Sport Science and served for two years on the Douglas Students’ Union, as well as the Board of Governors.
After graduating, Nikiel completed a summer internship with Physical and Health Education Canada in Ottawa. He then returned to Vancouver to join Giesbrecht & Company, a government relations firm specializing in land development, where he worked with First Nations, municipalities, developers, and industry partners to advance land use initiatives across British Columbia.
Nikiel recently joined Alumo as Program Manager, Partnerships & Development. He is passionate about leadership, relationship building, and empowering others to create positive change.
Sophia Haque
Vice President (Partner Experience & Strategic Initiatives), Alumo
Session: Perspectives on Student Leadership
Sophia brings 18 years of experience working alongside student associations across Canada, helping launch and manage student health plans.
Sophia's passion for student leadership started long before her career. She graduated as the top female graduate from UBC's Sauder School of Business and was actively involved across campus, including serving as VP Finance of the Alma Mater Society at UBC. Having experienced student government firsthand combined with nearly two decades of supporting student leaders across the country, she brings a unique perspective on the lasting impact of campus leadership.
