Team
Ugo joined the M&A Club as president in October 2024.
Having started his career in law at BCF, he later moved into entrepreneurship, acquiring and managing several businesses over more than 20 years. He then advised numerous business leaders on growth strategies, acquisitions, and business sales.
Since taking the lead at the Club, he has launched the expansion of new chapters across Canada and is preparing for international growth, while developing a range of new services.
Ugo also served as president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Montreal (2000), founded Business Volunteers (2005), and currently chairs the board of the Volunteer Bureau of Montreal.
Eric Cardinal has been involved with the M&A Club since its very first meeting in 2009.
He joined the executive team in 2023 as senior vice-president and serves as chapter president for the downtown Montréal chapter.
With over 20 years of experience in corporate finance and M&A, Eric has held leadership roles at Oaklins, IJW Capital, and Scotiabank, including international mandates in Asia. He also acts as strategic advisor to Optionality, is CFO of OncoXchange, and sits on the board of Hong Kong-Canada Business Association.
At the Club, he leads member relations, corporate partnerships, and programming. He holds a BAA from HEC Montréal and has completed the DFC, FLC, and CSC courses with the Canadian Securities Institute.
Laurine Chabert has been with the M&A Club since 2017, holding various roles in communications and marketing before being appointed managing director in 2025.
A specialist in business network development and showcasing M&A expertise, she now leads the Club’s visibility campaigns across Canada.
Laurine coordinates the Club’s regional chapters and oversees its flagship events such as the M&A Forum and the M&A Awards Gala.
With a background in B2B marketing and event management, she works to foster strategic connections among M&A professionals and promote the exchange of best practices.
Judy Murphy joined the M&A Club in 2025 as program director.
She oversees the Club’s core programs, leads the M&A Club Academy on a national scale, facilitates specialized groups such as Women in M&A Lunches, and plays an active role in recruiting members and partners both in Canada and internationally.
Coming from the translation sector, where she advanced from intern to partner, Judy is a strong bilingual leader with an ability to engage her audience and communicate effectively.
She is also director of a chapter of CorporateConnections® Canada, connecting business leaders worldwide and building strategic networks.
Joe Graci joined the M&A Club in September 2025 as Managing Director for Ontario.
A seasoned entrepreneur and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), he brings over twenty years of experience in building, growing, and selling businesses across various industries.
Recognized for his strategic leadership and ability to build high-performing organizations, Joe has successfully led several technology and professional services companies, driving their expansion across Canada and internationally. Passionate about entrepreneurship, he supports business owners, investors, and successors in their growth and transition strategies, with a strong focus on long-term value creation and business sustainability.
Florence Morin-Laurin joined the M&A Club in April 2026. Florence supports SMEs across all industries, with particular expertise in the construction sector, in driving sustainable sales growth. Through a structured approach, she helps clarify value propositions, organize prospecting efforts, and optimize the customer experience to turn growth into a true strategic lever. Her career has been guided by a constant drive to seize opportunities, build, and transform. With over 15 years of experience in marketing, sales, and business development—and after leading large-scale projects and teams—she founded FML Consultation. For her, entrepreneurship means aligning values, ambition, and vision, then taking action. Passionate about leadership, strategy, and sustainable growth, she enjoys connecting with entrepreneurs and leaders who seek to create meaningful impact. She works with those looking to broaden their horizons, rethink their approach, or evolve the way they grow—firmly believing that success is built through synergy.
Khalil Guliwala joined the M&A Club in April 2026. Khalil Guliwala is a Montreal-based expert in client acquisition and growth strategies. For over 15 years, he has focused on a central question: how to identify and implement practical, measurable approaches that convert prospects into clients. He supports organizations across a range of sectors—including healthcare, retail, technology, non-profits, and e-commerce—in building integrated marketing and sales systems. His results-driven approach aligns these two functions to drive sustainable growth without adding operational complexity. He has contributed to generating over $25M in revenue and has trained more than 500 professionals across North America. Khalil is also the co-author of “Un musulman à la cabane à sucre – Un mode d’emploi pour devenir Québécois”, which has been featured in national media such as CBC, Global News, and La Presse. Through his work—spanning strategic advisory, hands-on execution, workshops, and marketing support—he helps businesses clarify their value proposition, optimize their sales processes, and implement high-performing client acquisition systems.
A graduate of the University of Waterloo, Bikram Singh brings a diverse background, with experience spanning startups to large multinational organizations.
In his current role as a Relationship Manager at RBC, he serves as a strategic advisor to businesses, supporting them in their growth and financing decisions.
Bikram previously served as Co-President of the M&A Club Kitchener–Waterloo chapter and now holds the role of Business Development Manager for Ontario, actively contributing to the Club’s growth and provincial reach.
