We are more than just an advisory firm
We are people supporting people in a new world

The BIG Team

We are a diverse team of seasoned professionals, dedicated to providing superior service and future-focused guidance with integrity and accountable solutions.

Sharing our collective expertise in governance, compliance, legal, risk, privacy, and audit stems from multi-disciplinary fields and sectors such as banking and capital markets, mining, real estate, travel, environment, human rights, health & safety, and technology.

Ivy Lumia

CEO and Founder

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Nicholas Cheung

Chief Operating Officer

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Colin Shaw

VP, Business Development

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Shirley Farr

Senior Governance Advisor

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Samantha McDonald

Senior Sustainability Advisor

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Michelle Snow

Senior Governance Advisor

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Christine Thomas

Senior Governance Advisor

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Seema Rizvi

Supply Chain Governance Advisor

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Sharah Gallego

Senior Associate Sustainable Governance

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Gerlando Caruana

Senior Associate Sustainable Governance

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Nabil Hasbun

Lead, Growth Operations

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Our Mantra

We are the curious... the analytical... the innovators... and those who say, “Challenge accepted!”

We always go BIG by providing superior service, accountability and integrity to build trust with our clients.

We want to learn... all. the. time. It fuels our passion for diverse thought as we push the boundaries as leaders in governance.

BIG Opportunities

Want to be part of something BIG? 

We’re committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we operate within. Creating a diverse and inclusive culture where we all feel equal, valued, and empowered to be our best, is just as important today, as it is for tomorrow.

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Head Office

  • 320 Bay Street, Suite 101 Toronto, Canada M5H 4A6

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Acknowledgement

BIG’s Head Office is located on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

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Ivy Lumia

CEO and Founder

Ivy brings 25 years of governance experience and is most passionate about pushing the envelope for best practices in governance. In 2023, Ivy was recipient of the Diligent MG100 – awarded as Top 30 of the world’s most innovative board and governance leaders. Ivy has also been recognized as Global Top 50 Women Leaders in Sustainability in 2023 by SustainabilityX Magazine. Prior to founding BIG, Ivy led the corporate governance departments for a Schedule 1 bank, publicly traded multinational, federal crown corporations and not-for-profits.

Prior to settling in Canada, Ivy managed eight offices internationally where she worked with high-profile government leaders to develop sustainable infrastructure projects. Ivy is currently the Ontario Chapter Chair for the Governance Professionals of Canada and member of the Standards Council of Canada / ISO for Governance of Organizations, ESG and Human Trafficking. She holds a GPC.D, GCB.D ESG, Sustainability ESG Practitioner and I.B.B.A. with Honours. Ivy is a polyglot, advocate for minority rights, expert cat herder, terrible golfer, Second City alum, and general do-gooder.

Nicholas Cheung

Chief Operating Officer

Nick is an experienced senior leader who advises and educates organizations about risk with expertise in privacy, education and association management. Prior to BIG, Nick was VP Privacy Training at The Privacy Pro, where he helped educate clients about establishing and strengthening their privacy program to foster a strong privacy culture throughout the organization. He was a co-author of the AICPA/CPA Canada Privacy Maturity Model and a co-author of The Canadian Privacy and Data Security Toolkit for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. As VP Member Services at CPA Canada, he was on the transition team that unified the three accounting designations. He also held the roles of Chief Privacy Officer, National Sustainability Leader and served as the national spokesperson for financial literacy. Nick is the Treasurer and board director for the Governance Professionals of Canada and a faculty member with the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada. For the p aast 25 years, he has volunteered with CRA’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program to complete tax returns for individuals and families with modest income. Nick is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified Information Privacy Manager and holds the GPC.D designation.

Colin Shaw

VP, Business Development

Colin Shaw, C.Dir, FCPA, FCMA, is a corporate director and former C-suite executive with over 30 years of global experience in governance, risk, compliance, internal controls, audit, and forensic accounting within complex, highly regulated organizations. 

Prior to joining BIG, Colin served as Global Head of Audit at OMERS Administration Corporation; one of Canada’s “Maple 8” pension plans, which includes Oxford Properties. He reported to the Audit & Actuarial Committee of the Board and oversaw internal audit for the $140B AUM institutional investor in Canada, U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia. A PWC Alumni, he has held senior leadership roles at Canadian Tire, AMEX Bank of Canada, Greater Toronto Airports Authority and CIBC. 

Colin has served public, private, and not-for-profit boards, working closely with external auditors, regulators, and law enforcement. He is a longstanding faculty member at The Directors College (DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University) and has held leadership roles with the Institute of Internal Auditors (including President and Governor of the Toronto Chapter, and member of the Canadian Advisory Committee). He is a recipient of the Diligent Modern Governance 100, and, in 2025, was honoured as an Ontario CPA Fellow. 

Beyond his professional work, Colin is an active community advocate, a founding parent of Toronto City Youth Rugby, member of the board of BGC Canada and Badge of Life Canada, and active ally for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. An avid skier and former rugby referee, he brings energy, mentorship, and a deep commitment to principled leadership.

Shirley Farr

Senior Governance Advisor

Shirley Farr is a seasoned corporate governance leader with over 30 years of experience across TSX and TSX Venture Exchange-listed public companies, private enterprises, and not-for-profit organizations. Her career spans a broad range of industries, including finance, insurance, asset management, oil and gas, mining, real estate, utilities, and technology.

She has served as director and officer for numerous organizations, guiding them through complex governance challenges and successfully navigating three hostile take-over bids.

Shirley holds a B.A (with distinction) from the University of Calgary and the GPC.D designation from the Governance Professionals of Canada. She is Vice Chair of the Ontario Great Lakes Chapter of GPC and has been an active volunteer with both the Ontario and Calgary Chapters for over 15 years.

Samantha McDonald

Senior Sustainability Advisor

Samantha is a seasoned sustainability professional and project manager, with 15 years experience in the ESG and responsible investing industry. Prior to joining BIG, she was Executive Director and Global Head of Issuer Communications at MSCI ESG Research, and VP and Stewardship Lead with TD Asset Management’s ESG Research and Engagement team. She has also held business development roles with ISS Corporate Solutions and sustainability data analytics fintech, PortageBay. She is a master problem solver and thrives in execution mode. Over her career, she has flexed her project management muscles across the sustainability and ESG ecosystem in a variety of ways – from large research projects to product development; from designing investor ESG engagement strategies to building digital sustainability data platforms. Samantha has a Masters degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Political Science, focused on human rights and international development.

Michelle Snow

Senior Governance Advisor

Michelle Snow is an executive leader, governance professional and consultant with extensive experience in board governance as both a director and senior advisor to numerous boards in the voluntary, non-profit and public sectors. 

Her professional career has spanned over three decades of public service with Memorial University and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. She has served as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Workforce Development, Labour and Immigration with the Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour as well as Director positions with the Department of Natural Resources, Rural Secretariat and Office of Public Engagement. From 2020 to 2030 Michelle was a senior advisor to Memorial University as the Executive Director, University Governance Secretariat and Interim Secretary of Senate providing strategic advise to the President and the Chair of the Board of Regents on matters of governance. She is the founder and CEO of Elevate Governance Consulting offering customized governance advisory services and training to companies, organizations and their boards of directors.

Her board experience includes both oversight and operational boards in various stages of the governance spectrum. A passionate thought-leader on good governance, Michelle seeks to challenge the status quo and drive change by bringing an ESG lens to every board she serves.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts and certificates in Public Administration and Newfoundland Studies from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a Masters Certificate in Project Management from York University. In 2023 she completed the Directors Education Program from the Rotman School of Management earning the coveted Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D designation.

Christine Thomas

Senior Governance Advisor

Christine is a distinguished governance leader whose career has been defined by her ability to guide organizations through complexity with clarity, integrity, and strategic foresight. With deep expertise spanning legal services, corporate governance, risk management, and compliance, she has become a trusted advisor to notforprofit associations, publicly traded companies, privately held corporations, regulated financial institutions, and private foundations. Her experience in both private practice and inhouse roles has shaped her reputation for working seamlessly with boards as they navigate evolving risks, shifting regulatory landscapes, and transformative business challenges. 

Recognized for her steady leadership and nuanced understanding of governance dynamics, Christine is a soughtafter board director, committee member, and governance advisor. She is intentional about aligning her skills with purposedriven organizations and is energized by opportunities to contribute to mission, strategy, and longterm organizational growth. She currently serves on the boards of the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities, the Council of Canadian Academies, and Tradex Management Inc. 

Christine is equally committed to strengthening the governance and legal communities that have shaped her career. She serves on the Equity & Governance and Awards Committees of the Canadian Bar Association and has served as a mentor to lawyers transitioning into inhouse roles for over 10 years. From 2022 to 2025, she served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC), and since 2016 has been an active Board member, volunteer, speaker, and panelist for GPC, dedicated to advancing governance education across Canada. 

Her academic and professional credentials reflect her dedication to continuous learning and excellence. Christine holds a B.Sc. from McMaster University, an LL.B. from the University of Ottawa, the Partners, Directors and Senior Officers designation from the Canadian Securities Institute, the Certified InHouse Counsel designation from the Rotman School of Management, and the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Seema Rizvi

Supply Chain Governance Advisor

Seema is a sustainability professional passionate about human rights. Her award-winning capstone on modern slavery in Canadian supply chains provide actionable insights for corporate governance and human rights due diligence. With over a decade experience as a board leader and as the founder of a sustainable fashion brand, she has led governance initiatives, supplier collaborations, and ESG strategy. Seema holds a Graduate Diploma in Social Responsibility & Sustainability from the University of Toronto, as well as a certification in OECD Due Diligence for Responsible Business Conduct.

Sharah Gallego

Senior Associate Sustainable Governance

Sharah Gallego is a distinguished graduate of the University of Waterloo, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Environment, Resources, and Sustainability, and a Hospitality Management diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Fluent in Spanish, French, and English, Sharah possesses extensive experience in diverse environmental initiatives, ranging from ocean conservation to forest restoration. Her contributions have earned her prestigious awards including the Academic Achievement Award from the University of Waterloo and the Leo Sheftel Award of Excellence from SAIT.

Sharah’s passion for environmental issues extends to the global stage. She has actively participated in important international conferences, including COP 26, COP 15, and IMPAC5. In addition to her environmental advocacy, Sharah is a certified PADI diver, currently mastering Italian, and proficient in coding languages including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Gerlando Caruana

Senior Associate Sustainable Governance

Gerlando Caruana is a third-year student at McGill University majoring in Political Science and International Development. As a dedicated scholar proficient in both French and English, he brings a nuanced understanding to the complex dynamics of corporate governance and sustainable development. Gerlando’s academic excellence is complemented by his active involvement in initiatives that champion social responsibility and environmental stewardship. He is eager to leverage his comprehensive theoretical and practical skills in a professional setting, aiming to make a significant and positive impact on the world.

Nabil Hasbun

Lead, Growth Operations

Nabil is a sales professional with over 20 years of experience helping clients find solutions and building high-trust relationships, which aligns perfectly with BIG’s personalized client experience. Throughout his career, he remained focused on territory development and sales enablement, consistently bridging the gap between strategic vision and operational excellence.

Drawing on a deep background in sales leadership at organizations such as CPA Canada, Nabil has a proven track record of enhancing the customer lifecycle and aligning growth operations with corporate strategy. His expertise is in building the operational discipline needed to support high-growth environments while staying personally engaged.

At BIG, he ensures every client receives seamless, white-glove service and exceptional results. Nabil provides the foundational support that allows BIG’s leadership to remain focused on delivering elite governance solutions to its partners.