May 13, 2026 - Meeting

Ryan Mallough is the Vice-President, Legislative Affairs and Communications with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). Ryan leads CFIB’s communications and campaigns strategy work on national files, including internal trade, red tape and major legislative campaigns like the Carbon Tax rebate fight. Prior to taking over the communications department, Ryan led CFIB’s Ontario legislative work, including the COVID-19 pandemic response. Ryan joined CFIB in 2015 with the communications team before moving over to the Ontario advocacy team in 2016. In 2023 he began to oversee both departments and moved over to communications and a national legislative role in 2025. Prior to joining the organization, Ryan worked at the University of Toronto and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Ryan holds a B.Soc.Sc. in Political Science from the University of Ottawa and a M.A. in Journalism from Western University.

Jerry Herenchowicz is a Senior Vice President with MNP’s Insolvency & Restructuring group, working out of Toronto. I possess a wide range of practical industry experience, which allows me to recognize options and opportunities for all stakeholders within the statutory insolvency and restructuring framework. I have considerable expertise providing advice to various creditor groups involved in CCAA engagements, corporate restructurings, and receivership proceedings, and in conducting asset/business sale transactions through insolvency proceedings.

Abhishek (Abe) Batavia is the Managing Director of HireLoft Recruitment and MediFlex Talent Solutions, two specialized staffing firms focused on finance, accounting, and healthcare talent across Canada. With over 20 years of experience spanning Big 4 accounting firms including EY and PwC, and global recruitment organizations such as Robert Half and Michael Page, Abe brings a deep foundation in finance, talent strategy, and business development. He works closely with organizations on critical hiring needs while building and scaling his own businesses from the ground up. In this session, Abe will share a candid, insider perspective on today's hiring landscape, drawing on two decades of experience on both the corporate and agency side. From best practices for sourcing and evaluating top talent, to common pitfalls hiring managers should avoid, to practical strategies job seekers can use to stand out, attendees will walk away with real, actionable takeaways. Abe will also weave in how AI is reshaping the hiring process today, and how both employers and candidates can leverage it to work smarter and move faster.