Description

Join us for our 8th annual Summit during Small Business Week! This dynamic morning offers attendees the chance to hear from successful entrepreneurs, gain actionable growth strategies, and explore innovative ideas shaping the future of business.

This high-energy morning session will bring together entrepreneurs, business professionals, and community leaders to explore how local businesses have successfully scaled up. The event will feature a keynote, supported by three dynamic local entrepreneurs who will share their own stories of growth, grit, and innovation.

Anchored by our DBC keynote and a dynamic fireside chat featuring all speakers, the event provides a powerful platform for knowledge sharing, storytelling, and visibility. Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and evolving U.S. tariff policies, this event also underscores the growing importance of supporting Canadian products and services. It’s a timely call to rally around local businesses - those that invest in our economy, create jobs, and strengthen our communities from within.

Speakers:

UROSPOT - Erin Craven, CEO & Founder

Donaldson Home Services - Jamie Donaldson, Owner

Libro Credit Union - Diane Dou, Chief Operating Officer

 

Véronique Dorval, Executive VP & COO, BDC

Véronique is a strategic business leader with over 24 years of experience driving growth, leading digital transformations, and building client-focused operating models. She was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at BDC in August 2022, where she oversees Financing, Growth & Transition Capital, and Advisory Services to ensure integrated and impactful support for Canadian entrepreneurs.

Prior to BDC, she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Client Experience Officer at Sun Life Financial, leading sales across direct channels and delivering double-digit growth. She also spent 12 years at McKinsey & Company as Associate Principal, advising major North American financial institutions.

Véronique is a CFA charterholder with a BBA from Université de Sherbrooke. A strong advocate for women and youth, she supports several community organizations including Fitspirit and serves on the Board of Eugeria.

Erin Craven, CEO & Founder of UROSPOT
Erin Craven is a passionate champion of women’s health and women entrepreneurs. In 2023, Erin was named one of the Top 100 most powerful women in Canada and an EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist. Over her 25-year career, Erin held Executive C-level positions in both private and Fortune 100 healthcare companies. Erin became a “corporate dropout” in 2019 when she followed her entrepreneurial instincts and her love of healthcare innovation to found UROSPOT, a purpose-driven femtech company focused on improving women’s healthcare.

Erin is a mom to four, an avid tennis player, has a sweet dog named Lincoln, and a husband who works right alongside her building businesses to help improve the lives of women.

Jamie Donaldson, Co-owner & CEO, Donaldson Home Services

Donaldson Home Services is a London-based multi-trades company serving Southwestern Ontario. For the past 15 years, the family-run business has specialized in home heating and air conditioning, earning a 4.9-star rating on Google with more than 2,000 reviews—placing it among the top-rated companies in the London market.

Four years ago, Donaldson Home Services expanded to include plumbing, renovations, and duct cleaning, evolving into the full-service home company it is today. Jamie takes pride in running a local business that employs over 40 London-area residents, keeping community at the heart of its mission. The company actively supports local organizations and events, including the Home County Festival, the London Knights, the Boys and Girls Club, and several community centres throughout the city.

Diane Dou, Chief Operating Officer, Libro Credit Union
An experienced and award-winning career COO, Diane has specialized in leading business strategy as well as key lines of business, including commercial, retail, wealth, call centres, and centralized operations. She has held COO/CXO roles with HSBC Retail Banking & Wealth Management Canada, HSBC Investment Funds Canada, Prospera Credit Union and Blueshore Financial. A strategic and innovative leader with a deep understanding of the credit union system and financial services industry, she served as the Managing Director for Ernst & Young (EY), leading Financial Services practices in Western Canada, and has helped lead a number of significant M&A transactions.

Diane has her MBA, Global Asset & Wealth Management and strong governance experience including her ICD.D designation. She has served on the Aviso Wealth board of directors and is a member of the Advisory Board for Morrison Park Advisors, a Bay Street investment banking firm. Diane also has a strong technology background; she has a degree in Computer Science and is a Microsoft Certified Engineer. Diane is a community catalyst, having been part of a number of non-profit and community boards, including the Terry Fox Foundation, the Abbotsford Airport Authority and the Business and Innovation Committee of the City of Abbotsford. Her experience leading at scale includes recognition as the best women-led places to work in financial services.

Meet Our Fireside Chat Moderator

We’re excited to announce that Natalee Davis, Director of Marketing, Firm & Community Engagement with Lerners LLP will be moderating this year’s Fireside Chat.  Natalee brings a wealth of experience with a reputation for thoughtful questions and engaging conversations. Her ability to connect ideas and draw out unique insights from speakers will set the stage for a dynamic and inspiring discussion.

 

Photography and Video Disclaimer:

The London Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to photograph, record, and live stream this event. These photos and videos may be used in publications, posters, graphics, and other promotional materials. By registering for this event, you acknowledge and consent that your image and any videos in which you appear may be captured and used at the discretion of the London Chamber of Commerce.