Jay-Ann Gilfoy joined Meridian as President & CEO on January 3, 2022. She is focused on leveraging Meridian’s unique value proposition to transform the business, achieve its winning aspiration and secure its future. In collaboration with the Board and senior management, she is responsible for articulating the organization’s strategy and delivering on its purpose on helping Members and customers achieve a better life, while growing the business.

Jay-Ann’s wealth of business transformation and management expertise has been cultivated over more than 20 years as a senior executive in a broad range of roles and experiences in the private and public sector, and co-operative financial services.

Since 2018, Jay-Ann served as CEO of Vancity Community Investment Bank (VCIB), a nationally focused subsidiary of B.C.-based Vancity credit union. In this role, Jay-Ann brokered partnerships with the Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CHMC) and Habitat for Humanity to help create innovative, affordable housing solutions for Canadians. She also led VCIB’s efforts to be the first bank in Canada to acquire an impact investment firm: CoPower, a leading provider of clean energy financing and investments.

Prior to that, she served as Senior Vice-President of Digital Solutions and Business Technology for Vancity. While there, Jay-Ann led the development and implementation of the credit union’s technology road map. Previously, she served as Chief Transformation Officer/Chief HR Officer at Coast Capital Savings.

Jay-Ann currently serves as President & CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of motusbank. Current volunteer roles include Director, ParticipACTION and Director, Innovate, Cities. Previously she has served as Vice Chair Director, Nch’Kay Development Corporation (2019-2022), Chair of the Board, BC Human Resources Association (2009-2011), Director, BC Human Resources Association (2009-2012), and Board Director of the British Columbia Automobile Association (2021).

Lucy Ito is passionate about the role of credit unions in providing everyday consumers with choice and options in the U.S. financial services marketplace. With more than three decades of experience in the credit union system, Ito has always been guided by the best interests of Members—including the safety and soundness of their credit union.

Appointed Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Orange County’s Credit Union in July 2022, Ito works with the Board of Directors and Executive Management Team to develop multi-faceted strategies to expand and strengthen the credit union’s reach, services, and special culture. This is accomplished by a commitment to (1) ensuring that Associates can provide Members with truly exceptional service and (2) nurturing a future-focused work environment where Associates can experience professional growth, mutual respect, and a deep satisfaction in providing exemplary service.

Prior to joining the Team at Orange County’s Credit Union, Ito worked at all levels of the state, national, and international tiers of the credit union system. Most recently, she served as President and CEO of the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS) from 2014-2021. As the professional organization for state credit union regulators, NASCUS works hand in hand with its peers at the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) to assure regulatory and supervisory harmonization across the financial services sector while recognizing the critical distinctions between the business models of credit unions and banks.

Prior to joining NASCUS, Ito spent 1989-2004 at the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and 2004-2014 at the California and Nevada Credit Unions Leagues (CCUL/NCUL). As Vice President of WOCCU, she was responsible for technical programs and legislative and regulatory issues in Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Asia, and the Pacific. As executive vice president and chief operations officer at CCUL/NCUL, Ito provided oversight to the Leagues’ four divisions of Advocacy; Member Solutions; Strategic Innovation and Planning; and Finance and Human Resources.

Prior to her retirement from NASCUS at the end of 2021, Ito served on Board of Directors of the International Credit Union Regulators’ Network (ICURN), the State Issues Committee of the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL), and the NCUA-SSA Joint Supervisory Working Group. In 2022, Ito is honored to serve in the African-American Credit Union Coalition’s Cross Cultural Exchange Program and on the Board of Directors of the Affiliates Management Company (AMC) of the Iowa Credit Union League which strives to improve the financial lives of consumers. Also in 2022, Ito was honored with the National Credit Union Foundation’s Herb Wegner Award for Lifetime Achievement and induction into the “Herstory” Hall of Fame of America’s Credit Union Museum.

Renée Sattiewhite is the President/CEO of the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC).  Renée brought both her unique vitality and a forward-looking vision in order to create one of the most dynamic organizations in the credit union movement. Her high energy, high expectations and high touch approach for leading the organization has created a momentum for growth and change and directs a strong commitment toward eradicating racism. Today, AACUC is the leading voice on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Credit Union Movement thanks to Renée. She has successfully propelled the organization forward to offer a credible voice that addressed today’s dialogue on race, equity, and inclusion for all.

In 2020, after the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and with the growing visibility of the Black Lives Matter movement, this momentum galvanized the country against racial injustice.  Renée became one of the most notable catalysts, encouraging the credit union industry to become more aware of the urgent need for change toward true racial equality and economic justice, and launched the Commitment to Change: Credit Unions Unite Against Racism initiative.  As a direct result of  Renée’s leadership AACUC received the 2022 Anchor Award from the National Credit Union Foundation which is the equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize of the credit union movement.

In September 2022, Renée was inducted to the America’s Credit Union Museum newest exhibit “Credit Union Women Making History….Herstory” Hall of Fame.  The exhibit highlights incredible women’s achievements making history in the credit union industry. “Herstory” is an interactive exhibit showcasing women’s stories never heard before. 

Renée is a certified diversity professional, a credit union development educator, motivational speaker, executive coach, mentoring trainer, and is a recognized expert on marketing and branding.  Finally, she serves as a Board Member of the World Council of Credit Unions Foundation and a Master Trainer for the United Way of Atlanta’s VIP Board Development Program.

As President and Chief Executive Officer of Vancity, Canada's largest community credit union, Christine believes that banking plays a vital role in developing a healthy society - building the well-being of people and, at the same time, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the communities in which they live and work.  Christine is also the CEO of Vancity’s federally chartered bank, Vancity Community Investment Bank (VCIB). 

Prior to becoming CEO, Christine held several senior leadership roles within Vancity. Prior to joining the credit union, she spent her career working in early-stage venture capital, public markets and broadly with entrepreneurs; financing innovative companies and building financial firms – all focused within the cleantech, sustainability and impact investing sectors.

Christine's achievements in fostering community impact, social justice and environmental sustainability have earned her accolades from Business in Vancouver magazine as a previous Top 40 under 40 winner and influential business leader within British Columbia’s banking sector. In 2022, Christine was named as Corporate Leader in the Women of the Year awards by BC Business. 

Christine chairs the board of InBC Investment Corp., and currently represents North America on the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative’s Banking Board. She is a member of the Government of Canada’s Sustainable Finance Action Council. She serves on the board of Aviso Wealth and the Board of Governors for the BC Business Council. 

A trusted authority on the application of neuroscience for leadership, Sandra founded the eLeadership Academy in 2012 to help credit unions worldwide build a leadership force for good. She has dedicated her career to the CU system, having served almost two decades in executive roles including VP People & Culture, COO, and acting CEO. 

Sandra holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University, a Certified Executive Coach (PCC) designation, a Certificate in NeuroLeadership, and the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and SHRM-SCP human resource designations. Author of Your Mother Was Right: 15 Unexpected Lessons About Leadership and the Brain, Sandra supports credit union leaders through her online programs and workshops, and as associate faculty for two universities. She was a founding co-chair for the CCUA National Young Leader Committee and a past recipient of the Canadian National CU Young Leaders Award and the WYCUP award.

Shona McGlashan is the principal at McGlashan Consulting, specializing in values-based governance, EDI in leadership, and workplace mental health. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute, holds a certificate in Workplace Mental Health Leadership, and is a qualified mental health first aider. Shona’s most recent executive roles were VP Governance & Corporate Secretary at Vancity Credit Union, where she led the organization’s mental health strategy, and Chief Governance Officer at Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC). An optimist and innovator, known for her empathetic and authentic leadership style, Shona has depth and lived experience in driving and championing inclusive organizational culture and advocating for diversity.

Shona is dedicated to breaking taboos around mental health. For more than a decade she has balanced executive roles and family responsibilities with managing a mental health disorder. Authentically sharing her own mental health journey, she promotes actions individuals and leaders can take—both to maintain and enhance their own mental health, and to create a more mentally healthy workplace for everyone. Shona is the board vice-chair at Pain BC and secretary and Governance Committee chair at Bard on the Beach. She is a parent of teenagers, voracious reader, Gaelic learner, and student of mindfulness.

Called one of the most inspirational TED speakers in the world, Drew Dudley is on a mission to redefine leadership. With more than five million views, his TED talk “Everyday Leadership (The Lollipop Moment)” proved that leadership is not a characteristic of an elite few, but one that lives within us all. Through his high-energy talks, Dudley shares practical and actionable insights on creating cultures of leadership that lead to higher levels of pride, productivity, happiness, and retention. He empowers audiences and equips them with the tools needed to make a difference, at home and work.

Dudley is the founder and Chief Catalyst of Day One Leadership, where he has helped organizations around the world increase their leadership capacity. His clients have included such dynamic companies as McDonald’s, JP Morgan Chase, the United Way, and more than 75 colleges and universities.

Prior to founding Day One, Dudley spent eight years as the director of one of Canada’s largest leadership development programs at the University of Toronto, and served as a national chair of one of Canada’s largest youth charities, which mobilized 35,000 volunteers to raise $1 million dollars annually in support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

Dudley’s passion for personal leadership has inspired millions of people worldwide to embrace the belief that leadership is something that we all can and should aspire to. He has been featured in The Huffington Post, Radio America, Forbes.com, and TED.com, where his talk was voted “one of the 15 most inspirational TED talks of all time”. TIME, Business Insider, and Inc. magazines have all named his talk one of their “10 speeches that will make you a better leader”.

A bestselling author, Dudley’s book This is Day One: A Practical Guide to Leadership That Matters debuted at #6 on The Wall Street Journal bestseller list and has gone on to become an international bestseller.