Governor General of Canada to preside over Charity Leaders Conference

Canada's Leaders Gather to talk about the big issues facing the charitable sector at D3 Conference

TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2014 /CNW/ - Canada's charitable sector makes up 7% of this country's Gross Domestic Product - larger than the automotive or manufacturing sector. On Thursday, February 13, 2014, the leadership of Canadian charities will gather to talk about transforming the sector at the annual D3 Conference hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Toronto Chapter. At 9:00 a.m. EST His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada will speak about the importance of leadership within the charitable sector and share his vision for strengthening the climate of giving in Canada.

"I am passionate about the opportunities to transform the social profit sector, and to use the knowledge and experience of the broader business, creative and academic communities to do so," says D3 co-Chair and speaker Annette Verschuren, Chair & CEO, NRStor Inc. "D3 is the only event of its kind in Canada, so I'm delighted that we will be able to gather to collectively spur change."

In addition to His Excellency and Mrs. Verschuren, speakers will include:

• Michael McCain, President & CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, who will talk about leading through change, drawing on his experience transforming Maple Leaf into Canada's leading food exporter and processor.
• Dominic Barton, Global Managing Director, McKinsey & Company will outline what today's leadership requires in a fast-changing world. In addition to steering McKinsey's growth around the world, Barton is an author specializing in business in society, leadership and Asia, and an academic who teaches at Oxford and Tsinghua University, Beijing.
• Rahaf Harfoush, will discuss the power of Big Data and how to harness it to change the way we do business. Her book, The Decoded Company: Know Your Talent Better Than You Know Your Customers will be released later this month.
• Zita Cobb, who will bring her story of transforming her hometown of Fogo Island from economically challenged to growing community - a lesson in resiliency, creativity and philanthropic and business acumen.
• Rita McGrath, one of Thinkers50 top 10 management thinkers, takes on strategy in uncertain and volatile environments.
• Susan McIsaac, President & CEO, United Way Toronto, who has helped take UW from a trusted fundraiser to a community mobilizer and catalyst for change. She brings the organizational view, pressing for the sector as a whole to transform philanthropy.

Follow the D3 Conference on Twitter and hashtag #D3ideas, Facebook and LinkedIn

Note to Editors:
Location of the D3Conference:
Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, SickKids
686 Bay Street, (north west corner of Bay Street and Elm Street)
February 13, 2014
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST

About AFP Greater Toronto Chapter
The Greater Toronto Chapter of AFP is the largest in the world with over 1,300 members. Members are encouraged to learn, think and grow as fundraisers and leaders in the philanthropy sector. For more information about this chapter, visit www.afptoronto.org.

D3 is produced by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Toronto Chapter. D3 is "Important talks about big issues." What we mean by that is that Canada's senior sector leaders come together with an aim to look forward to face head on, some of the most perplexing issues facing our sector in the next few years. It's about proactive, not reactive, transformation.

SOURCE: Association of Fundraising Professionals

For further information:

Media interested in attending or scheduling an interview should contact:  
Cynthia Quigley, Director AFP Canadian Services and Manager AFP Greater Toronto Chapter
416-941-9212
[e-mail]