Board of Directors
President & Board Chair
Henry Hamud
henry.hamud@pmi-ctt.org
Henry Hamud, President, is responsible for leading the creation and development of the overall vision and strategy execution of the PMI-CTT chapter and is jointly accountable with the Board of Directors for its oversight..
Mr. Hamud began volunteering with PMI-CTT in January 2020 as VP, Certification, he led the
certification team to review, develop, and continuously improve educational training, workshops, webinars, and courses for the advancement of project management knowledge, and the preparation for PMI certification. In November 2020 Mr. Hamud accepted the role of Disciplined Agile Chapter Champion (DACC) to serve as an advocate and the primary link between the PMI-CTT chapter and Disciplined Agile. In September 2021, he was elected to the Board as Director, Professional Development. After a year in this role, he was elected as President-Elect.
Mr. Hamud has been a PMI member since 2009, achieving his Project Management Professional (PMP) and Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) designations in 2012.
Mr. Hamud currently works with BWXT Canada, with 16+ years of Canadian and International
experience in project and risk management, including infrastructure, Oil & amp; Gas, and Nuclear Energy. Mr. Hamud is also a part-time professor at the school of Business in Conestoga College.
Mr. Hamud holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and is a member in good standing of Professional Engineers Ontario. He also has credentials in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Mr. Hamud and his family live in Cambridge, Ontario.
President Elect and Director, Events
Alex Letona
alex.letona@pmi-ctt.org
Alex Letona, Director of Events, is responsible for PMI-CTT’s annual calendar of events, including the chapter’s flagship event, the Symposium, and jointly accountable for the oversight of the PMI-CTT chapter. This role reports directly to the President of the Board.
Alex is also the President Elect!
Director, Communication and Marketing
Max Xu
max.xu@pmi-ctt.org
Max Xu, Director, Communication and Marketing, is responsible for all chapter communications activities including social media, newsletters, sponsorship, etc. This role reports directly to the President of the Board.
Max is a dedicated professional and leader who has made significant contributions to the PMI - CTT chapter. He began his journey with the chapter in 2010, serving as the Website Administrator before taking on the role of Content Manager in 2019. Throughout his tenure, Max has showcased his versatility by transitioning through various positions within the chapter, such as Communications Manager, Interim VP of Social Media, and his current role as VP of Content Management.
In his current capacity, Max spearheads the content management team at PMI-CTT, overseeing the delivery of monthly newsletters and on-demand e-blasts. His strategic vision and strong leadership have played a crucial role in enhancing communication and engagement within the chapter.
Outside of his involvement with PMI-CTT, Max brings over two decades of experience in the financial industry to his role as a manager at a prominent financial institution in Toronto. With a solid educational background, including an MBA from McMaster University, Max is well-equipped to navigate the complex landscape of the finance sector.
Mr. Xu holds a Masters of Software Engineering and lives with his family in Kitchener, Ontario.
Director, Technology
Ann Cesar
ann.cesar@pmi-ctt.org
Ann Cesar , Director of Technology is responsible for a team to deliver PMI-CTT’s technology needs, including the web technologies and tools required to support the Chapter.
Ann has been a member of PMI-CTT since 2016 and has contributed as a volunteer on the Technology team in 2 key roles, Web Manager and IT Special Projects Manager, helping to transform IT web services for the Chapter, including leading the migration of the website to a new platform.
Ann is an experienced IT and data strategy leader with over 20 years of expertise in managing complex projects. Since 2023, she has been the Senior Manager of IT Shared Services at the University of Guelph, overseeing IT services across multiple campuses. Ann leads strategic planning and service delivery, ensuring efficient IT operations for over 30 university spaces.
From 2020 to 2023, Ann served as Program Manager for Data Strategy at the University of Guelph, where she led an enterprise-wide initiative to transform data into a strategic asset. She established data governance frameworks, modernized data architecture, and managed a multi-million-dollar budget to align data strategies with institutional goals.
Earlier, Ann was a Senior IT Project Manager and Business Analyst at the University of Guelph from 2014 to 2020, managing high-profile IT projects related to web, infrastructure, and academic systems. Prior to the University, she worked at Compusense Inc. from 1994 to 2006, managing software development projects and support teams.
Ann holds a BSc in Biological Science from the University of Guelph and certifications in PMI-PBA (Business Analysis) and ITIL V3 Foundations. She lives with her husband and 2 sons in Guelph, Ontario.
Director, Finance & Volunteer Management
Rick Black
rick.black@pmi-ctt.org
Rick Black, Director, Membership & Volunteer Management, oversees the strategy and execution of all activities within the Membership and Volunteer portfolios. This role reports directly to the President of the Board.
Prior to assuming this position, Mr. Black served as the VP, Finance & Controller from September 2007 and served as the CFO on the PMI-CTT Chapter Board between September 2007 and August 2015. Since 2007, he has been responsible for the Financial Management of the Chapter, including all banking, cheques, deposits and GIC investments, the Chapter's bookkeeping and accounting, preparing quarterly and annual financial reports and assisting with the annual budget process. In addition, he actively participated in Chapter Leadership team meetings, the Chapter’s Symposium, and contributed to the annual strategic plan. He achieved his Project Management Professional (PMP) designation in June 2007 and has been actively volunteering with PMI-CTT since 2007.
Mr. Black is a Project Manager/Director with his own independent consulting business, Blackstone Consulting Group Inc. He manages ERP projects for clients using PeopleSoft HCM, Finance & Supply Chain, ELM and CRM applications. Most of his clients are in Western Canada and include organizations such as TELUS, Province of BC, City of Calgary, City of Richmond, and the Vancouver School Board.
Mr. Black is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours degree in Bachelor of Business Administration and is also a Certified Management Accountant (CPA CMA) with CPA Canada. Mr. Black lives in Waterloo, Ontario with his recently retired wife.
Director, Special Programs
Mohamed Abdalla
mohamed.abdallah@pmi-ctt.org
Mohamed Abdalla, Director, Special Programs, and jointly accountable for the oversight of the PMI-CTT chapter. This role reports directly to the President of the Board.
Mohamed has been a volunteer with PMI since 2015 and has been serving the PMI community under more than one chapter.
He Joined PMI-CTT as a sponsorship manager in 2021 and was nominated VP sponsorship in 2022.
During this time, Mohamed focused on building the sponsorship portfolio and successfully acquired sponsors to the PMI-CTT chapter.
Appointed as director of special programs, Mohamed will set up long term outreach initiatives focusing on high school students and young professionals aiming to raise the awareness about the importance of project management practice in professional and personal life.
Mohamed will also keep working on the sponsorship program to connect organizations of different disciplines to PMI and explore collaboration opportunities with those organizations.
Mohamed is passionate about volunteering and believes in the noble role of PMI as a life changer to young and experienced professionals of project management practice in different industries.
Director, Professional Development
Shirley De Souza
Shirley.desouza@pmi-ctt.org
Shirley De Souza, Director of Professional Development (PD), is responsible for chapter initiatives associated with the professional development of members, & promotion of project management in the community and is jointly accountable for the oversight of the PMI-CTT chapter. This role reports directly to the President of the Board.
Prior to assuming this position, Ms. De Souza served as Acting Director PD, VP, Disciplined Agile, and Events Manager. During her terms, she oversaw a team, who together were responsible for delivering professional development opportunities for professional and outreach groups. Additionally, she actively participated in Chapter Leadership team meetings and contributed to the annual strategic plan. She earned her Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification in 2020, and Disciplined Agile® Scrum Master (DASM) in 2021.
Ms. De Souza brings a wealth of cross-industry experience and passion for project management techniques spanning Toyota Manufacturing as VE VA Leader, Alcatel-Quality Assurance Manager, and Plastics Injection Moulding sectors. Shirley is passionate about cultivating relationships to achieve team results through continuous improvement agile techniques.
Ms. De Souza holds a B.A.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and continues her professional development with certifications in Agile Project Management, Emotional Intelligence, and Leadership. Shirley resides with her family in Cambridge, Ontario.
