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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Samantha McDonald

Senior Sustainability Advisor

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Christa Wessel

Senior Counsel Regulatory Affairs

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Michelle Snow

Senior Governance Advisor

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Stephanie Wood, CDI.D

Director of Business Development & Sales

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Sharah Gallego

Senior Associate Sustainable Governance

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Gerlando Caruana

Senior Associate Sustainable Governance

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Alicia York Bird

Governance Specialist

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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.

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.

Christa Wessel

Senior Counsel Regulatory Affairs

An innovative and transformative C-suite leader, Christa brings more than 20 years experience in large and small global and Canadian businesses, developing comprehensive strategies to support expansion and profitability. Prior to joining BIG, Christa held leadership roles in legal, governance, human resources, compliance and operations at Siemens, McCain Foods and ClearView Strategic Partners and was a partner in the business law sections of McCarthy Tetrault and Gowlings. She has also served as a member of several boards, including as a member of EDC’s Corporate Social Responsibility Advisory Board and Canadian Commercial Corporation’s ESG Committee Chair.

Christa obtained a Bachelor of Arts from York University, LL.B from the University of Ottawa and C.Dir from McMaster University. Christa also holds a certificate in Enterprise Risk Management from the University of Toronto and is a Certified In-House Counsel (CIC.C)

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.

Stephanie Wood, CDI.D

Director of Business Development & Sales

Stephanie is a senior growth strategy and sales leader with a significant background in STEM fields, ESG and finance. Prior to BIG, Stephanie managed global M&A and investment portfolios/verticals of software technology businesses, foreign exchange trading and, as an environmental scientist, managed mineral exploration and extraction projects in consultation with Canadian oil and gas industry clients and Indigenous and First Nations communities.

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.

Alicia York Bird

Governance Specialist

Alicia is a resourceful and accomplished senior Administrative Professional and Governance Specialist, with over 15 years of providing comprehensive, high-level support to Executives, Managers, and Boards.

She has worked at major financial institutions, consultancy firms, municipal and federal government agencies, post-secondary institutions, and also currently serves as a Board Director. Alicia holds a B.Commerce degree and an Honours Associate Degree in Business Administration and is currently working towards her GPC.D designation.