Panel Discussion & Networking Evening
for ACFE-GTA Chapter + ACCA Members + IIA Toronto Chapter
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Fraud is a growing, systemic threat, eroding trust, draining value, and exposing gaps across organizations. Drawing on insights from Combatting Fraud in A Perfect Storm, developed by the ACCA in collaboration with seven leading professional bodies - including the ACFE and IIA - this panel will explore where current approaches are falling short and where meaningful progress is being made.
With a focus on the Canadian landscape, the discussion will examine emerging fraud risks, persistent control weaknesses, and the challenge of turning detection into effective prevention. Panellists will share practical perspectives on strengthening governance, embedding fraud risk into decision-making, and leveraging data and technology to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threats.
This session is a joint initiative between ACCA, the ACFE GTA Chapter, and the IIA Toronto Chapter, bringing together professionals across finance, audit, risk, cyber, and compliance. Together, they will highlight why collaboration is essential - and how organizations can move from reactive responses to more coordinated, proactive fraud management.
PANEL MEMBERS
Alessandra Leggio Di Matteo
CPA, CA, CPA (Florida), CFRE, CSAMS, CFI, MBA.
Alessandra is a member of the ACFE-GTA Chapter Board of Directors and a Partner with MNP Canada. Working out of their Toronto office, Alessandra leads the Forensics and Litigation Support Services Group across Ontario and Atlantic Canada. She helps individuals, privately owned companies, and multinational corporations by providing forensic accounting services around the world.
Alessandra brings extensive experience in forensic accounting, asset tracing, fraud investigations, internal audit support, fraud risk assessments, and anti-money laundering compliance program assessments to her role. Her investigative experience includes investigations dealing with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA – USA) / Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA), and anti-bribery and anti-corruption.
She has lived in both South America and North America and understands emerging countries’ business practices, which she applies to multinational engagements. Fluent in English and Spanish, and conversational in Italian, Alessandra has led projects throughout the U.S., Canada, and Latin America.
Alessandra started her career in the investigative forensic accounting field more than a decade ago. She graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in 2006 and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in management science and finance in 2009. She obtained a Certificate in Accounting and Auditing and an Executive Master in the Science of Taxation in 2012 from Florida International University. Alessandra is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (CA) in Ontario and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Florida. She is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and Certified Forensic Investigator (CFI).
Mohamed Irshad is the CFO for the Prosumer Software business at Schneider Electric, where he leads finance and integration for a portfolio at the intersection of software, sustainability, and the energy transition. In this role, he helps scale high-growth software-enabled businesses through strong financial governance, disciplined capital allocation, and a focus on long-term value creation, while advancing Schneider Electric's purpose of empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources.
With more than 20 years of global finance leadership experience, Irshad has held senior roles across audit, accounting, and transformation. Since joining Schneider Electric in 2012, he has served as an Internal Auditor in France, Head of Internal Audit for the Americas, and Chief Accounting Officer for Canada. In these roles, he has led major transformation initiatives, governance enhancements, and organizational integrations.
Irshad is a Fellow of ACCA (UK), CPA (Canada), and Certified Internal Auditor. He brings a unique perspective to modern finance leadership, combining strategic business partnership, digital fluency, and strong stewardship to help organizations navigate growth, transformation, and increasing complexity in a sustainability-focused world. He is also on the Chapter Board of Governors and serving as the Chair of the Audit Committee with the IIA Toronto Chapter. He is past Chair of the ACCA Canada Network Panel.
A Networking session will follow the Panel discussion.
Learning Objectives
- To understand the scale and systemic nature of fraud risk, including key trends and challenges highlighted in Combatting Fraud in A Perfect Storm and their relevance in the Canadian context.
- To explore how organizations can strengthen fraud detection and prevention by embedding practical tools, governance practices, and accountability into day-to-day operations and decision-making.
- To examine how cross-functional and cross-professional collaboration can close gaps in fraud risk management, improve response effectiveness, and drive more proactive prevention.