Executive Management

Kelly Gorman is an accomplished C-suite executive with over two decades of leadership experience in finance, governance, and regulatory compliance.

In her previous role as Executive Vice President of the Governance Advisory Group at Kingsdale Advisors, she was instrumental in advising corporate boards and executive teams on governance best practices. Her ability to navigate intricate governance and risk management issues makes her a sought-after advisor in the business world.

Before joining Kingsdale, Kelly spent over four years at CPA Ontario. As Executive Vice President and CFO, she led a team of 70 professionals across various operational areas, including finance, IT, and corporate real estate. Her leadership ensured financial strength and operational efficiency for a $100 million budget. She also held the role of Executive Vice President of Regulatory and Standards, overseeing key regulatory functions for the accounting profession.

Her tenure at the Ontario Securities Commission spanned nearly 15 years, where she played a pivotal role as Deputy Director of Enforcement and Chief of the Office of the Whistleblower. Kelly’s leadership in policy initiatives such as the No-Contest Settlement Program and the Whistleblower program led to significant enforcement settlements. Prior to this, she was Deputy Director of Corporate Finance, overseeing compliance for over 1,500 public companies in Ontario.

Kelly’s earlier roles include positions at CIBC and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions of Canada, where she honed her skills in shareholder reporting and financial supervision.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance from the University of Toronto and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) as well as holding the ICD.D designation.

Geoff Le Quelenec is Chief Operating Officer at Advocis. Geoff has an extensive set of strategic, management and technology skills honed by over 25 years of experience. These skills are complemented by a deep understanding of business issues and backed by proven field experience.

He is a graduate of the Royal Roads University MBA program and holds certifications in Business Analysis, Negotiation and IT Risk Management. Geoff has also studied Global Issues and Strategic Management at Grenoble Ecole de Management in Grenoble, France.

Lou Fisch is Vice President of Advocis Broker Services (ABS), where he leads risk management and insurance solutions designed to protect financial advisors, planners, and financial services organizations across Canada. With extensive experience in commercial insurance, business continuity, and risk management, Lou is recognized for his practical approach to helping professionals identify, mitigate, and manage complex business risks. Through ABS’s affiliation with Advocis, he works closely with advisors and firms to develop tailored insurance and liability protection strategies that support long-term business success and professional resilience.

Marsha Gerhart is General Counsel at Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada. With more than 30 years of experience in the Canadian financial services industry, she has held senior legal, regulatory, and policy leadership roles with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA), IIROC (now CIRO), the Ontario Securities Commission, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, and McCarthy Tétrault. Marsha brings deep expertise in securities regulation, compliance, governance, and public policy, supporting Advocis’ mission to advance professionalism and strengthen consumer confidence in financial advice.