Board of Directors
Brent Brough
Chairperson
CCO of InflowControl
Brent Brough is the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of InflowControl, a Norwegian oil and gas technology company. With 23 years of international experience, he has worked and lived in various countries, including Canada, Russia, the UK, Norway, and the UAE. Brent has extensive director-level experience in energy technology companies and start-ups. He earned an MBA from Warwick Business School in Coventry, UK, and holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, Canada. Brent's diverse background and international expertise enables him to be a valuable asset within the broader energy sector.
Stacia Leonard
Vice Chair
Stacia Leonard is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. She holds degrees in Geology and Psychology from the University of Calgary and began her career as a professional geologist in the oil and gas industry, with positions at CNRL, Talisman, Encana, and Murphy Oil. After completing her MBA at the Haskayne School of Business, she broadened her expertise across industries, including industrial equipment and machinery (Finning Canada), railroad (Canadian Pacific Railway), and government (City of Calgary). With a strong multidisciplinary background, Stacia is passionate about helping others solve complex problems, drive innovation, and deliver value across a range of sectors.
Cassandra Maria Defazio
Secretary | Head, Admin and Governance
Commercial Manager and Export Control Officer (Middle East) - CAE MME L.L.C.
Cassandra Maria Defazio was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, and has been with CAE for the past 14 years - spending 12 years in Montreal at CAE Headquarters before relocating to the UAE. She currently serves as a Commercial Manager and Export Control Officer (Middle East), where she plays a key role in business negotiations, compliance, and strategic initiatives. Known for her expertise in relationship building, identifying business opportunities, strategic planning and drive for consistent collaboration. She also leads the Professional Women's Network at CAE for the Middle East Region, fostering a strong community for women in business and aviation.
Andrew Fawcett
Treasurer
Andrew is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA Canada) with over 20 years of experience. He has worked across several industries including, insurance, government, infrastructure, resort operations, international aid and development and higher education. He brings a range of expertise in compliance and governance, contract and commercial management, and financial and management accounting. He holds a Bachelor's of Business Administration (B.B.A) from Bishop's University and is a member of the hockey community in the UAE.
Faiza Chaudhary
Board Director
Senior Vice President, Business Finance - UAE Platform Mubadala Investment Company
Faiza Chaudhary is Senior Vice President for the UAE Investments Platform at Mubadala Investment Company. A Canadian Chartered Accountant, she has over 20 years of experience enhancing accounting and finance functions. Before moving to the UAE, Faiza managed internal controls, statutory reporting, management reporting, and taxation at KPMG, Bell Canada, and Barrick Gold. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from York University and is also a Certified Public Accountant (Illinois) and Project Management Professional. Faiza excels in developing teams, strategies, systems, and processes to improve organizational efficiency.
Tasha Sawchuk
Board Director
VP Strategy Development, Abu Dhabi Ports
I am a proud Canadian who has had the opportunity to be an expat for over 15 years in Australia and Middle East. On a personal perspective, first and foremost, I am mom with amazing children aged 4 and 6 who are thriving here in UAE and consider themselves Canadian, French (husbands from France) and from the desert. I enjoy being active and participate across local fitness events such as running, CrossFit and triathlons. Career wise, I have an MBA and am an executive-level professional with 15+ years’ experience in strategy execution across airlines, hospitality, property development, tourism and most recently transportation within the Middle East and Australia.
Amin Sajan
Board Director
Consultant Emergency Physician, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City
I am a Consultant Emergency Physician from Vancouver. This stint will be my third time living in the Middle East. Most recently, we lived in Abu Dhabi from 2012 to 2018 and just returned last December. While we lived here, I completed an MBA from London Business School and was able to work on multiple collaborations with major health tech industry partners on projects to support the clinical planning of a $2B green field health campus build in Vancouver. I’m excited to explore how to raise the profile of Canadian health care brands in the GCC market. .
Mazen Shehada
Board Director
Director of Business Development, Abu Dhabi Oilfield Services (ADOS
Mazen Shehada is the Director of Business Development at Abu Dhabi Oilfield Services (ADOS), a role he has held since 2016. He leads multiple sales and operational teams, connecting international businesses with the UAE market. Mazen started his career in Calgary in the energy industry before taking on international assignments in Southeast Asia, the USA, and Saudi Arabia. He holds a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University, a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Legal Studies specializing in Commercial Law from Washington University. With strong ties to both the UAE and Canada, Mazen brings a unique perspective, enabling him to foster collaboration and build strategic relationships across diverse markets.
Loc Pham
Counsellor (Commercial) and Trade Program Manager
Embassy of Canada in the UAE
Loc Pham holds a B.A.Sc. in Computer Engineering (University of Ottawa), an MBA (McGill University), and a Graduate Diploma in International Relations (LSE). He joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2008, serving in roles such as Deputy Director of the CanExport SMEs program. He has held positions in Pacific Gateway Marketing, Europe & Central Asia, and South, Southeast Asia, and Oceania Commercial Relations. Abroad, he served in Turkey and Myanmar. Currently, he is the Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of Canada in the UAE.
George Holland
Board Director
Vice President of Operations, PAL Aerospace LLC Abu Dhabi
Born in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, George is Vice President of Operations for PAL Aerospace LLC in Abu Dhabi. He oversees PAL operations in the UAE, including support, maintenance, training, and manufacturing. Before joining PAL in 2016, he served as a Logistics Officer in the Canadian Military for 15 years, specializing in global strategic movements. From 2006 to 2010, he co-owned a digital marketing company in Montreal. From 2010 to 2015, he was Senior Operations Manager in Afghanistan, supporting US and NATO aviation operations. George holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Royal Military College of Canada and enjoys golfing, fitness, reading, and music.
CBC Executive Team
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Peter Hastie
Business Development Specialist
Peter Hastie is the Business Development Specialist at CBC, where he has been making significant contributions since joining in September 2023. Originally from Ireland, Peter’s role is to drive growth and foster strong client relationships. With a background in sales and a deep enthusiasm for business development, he is committed to delivering and building lasting partnerships
Camille Velayo
Finance and Administration Officer
Camille Velayo holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and has amassed five years of professional experience in the UAE. Camille is currently, the Finance and Administration Officer at the Canadian Business Council, where she manages the day-to-day financial transactions and administrative operations to ensure the smooth running of the Council’s activities and previously worked at Burjeel Medical City. Camille is dedicated to using her expertise to support the Council's mission of strengthening business connections between Canada and the UAE.