Small Business Re-Wired

Featured Participants

• 

  The Hon. Rechie Valdez

  Minister of Small Business

  Biography

  The Hon. Rechie Valdez

  The Honourable Rechie Valdez was elected as the Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Streetsville in 2021. She has been a member of various parliamentary committees and associations, including the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, as well as the Chair of the Canada-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group. Minister Valdez is a Canadian entrepreneur, television personality, and community advocate. She is the first Filipino-Canadian woman elected as a Member of Parliament and appointed to Cabinet, and is committed to ensuring the diverse voices of her community are heard. Before entering politics, Minister Valdez owned and operated a small business, and dedicated herself to growing her online business avenues. She was also the host of a television show that shares the stories of entrepreneurs, creators, and artists. Prior to that, she worked in corporate banking for 15 years, where she developed her expertise in change management and strategic initiatives. Drawing on her longstanding advocacy, Minister Valdez also sponsored the National Women’s Entrepreneurship Act in 2022. A sports enthusiast, Minister Valdez has used her love for basketball to raise funds for children’s charities. She has made numerous media appearances, was a public speaker, and is a mentor dedicated to the empowerment of women, girls, youth, and diverse and marginalized groups. Born and raised in Zambia, Minister Valdez immigrated to Canada with her family in 1989. She is married and the mother of two children.
• 

  Debbie Gamble

  Group Head, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, Interac Corp

  Biography

  Debbie Gamble

  With over 35 years of experience, Debbie Gamble is one of Canada’s leading authorities on payments technologies impacting the digital economy. Her work with innovative technology has brought meaningful impact to society and she has been involved in initiatives including crypto currencies, contactless and mobile commerce, micro-finance, and digital ID on an international scale. Debbie leads a team overseeing strategies in emerging technologies including digital verification and identity, open banking, blockchain and AI. She spearheaded Interac’s acquisitions of 2Keys and the exclusive Canadian SecureKey Technologies’ solutions to advance digital identity across Canada. Debbie is an active supporter of Canada’s FinTech community and is passionate about how technology can be a catalyst for abundance.
• 

  Viet Vu

  Manager, Economic Research, The DAIS

  Biography

  Viet Vu

  Viet (he/him) leads economics research at the Dais as Manager, Economic Research. At the Brookfield Institute (predecessor organization to the Dais), Viet has done extensive work on the impact of technology in the labour market in Canada, the technology sector and workers, digital skills, and scale-ups. His research has been cited widely in national media, and has impacted policies at all levels of government advising multiple provincial and federal governments. He believes that research, when done rigorously, can not only help shape policy, but also bring attention to issues that impact those who have been left out of conversations about Canada’s future. Viet holds a Masters of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics & Political Science, and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Economics from the University of British Columbia. Being a queer immigrant to Canada, Viet also devotes significant attention to ensuring the field of economics is inclusive to all. He sits on the Canadian Economics Association’s Diversity committee, chairs the Canadian Queer Economists Network.