Gordon Cressy is an extraordinary storyteller. Revered as a visionary and "agent of change" in the not-for-profit world, his experience has taken him around the world - from early CUSO (formerly Canadian University Services Overseas) days in Trinidad, to his former position as President of the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families. He shares valuable lessons learned, with succinct messaging like " you have to get the 'inside onside' before you go outside", backed by entertaining and colourful anecdotes, that offer long-term impact.

As President of the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families, Cressy initiated it's signature program, Canadian Tire JumpStart "Giving All Kids A Sporting Chance", a Canada-wide grass roots programme that helps children in need participate in sport and recreation by providing financial support for registration fees, transportation and equipment.

As President of the United Way of Greater Toronto, Cressy pioneered outreach strategies into the ethnocultural communities that helped transform the United Way and served as a model for other agencies.

As President of The Learning Partnership, Cressy created the nationally recognized "Take our Kids to Work" day where each year 400,000 grade nine students spend a day at work with their Mom or Dad.

At 20, while working for the YMCA in Trinidad, Cressy somehow managed to sell 1500 Canadian Christmas Trees as a fundraiser. How the trees got to Trinidad is an amazing story all by itself.

A graduate of the University of Toronto's Master of Social Work program, Cressy is a past Chair of the Toronto Board of Education, and a former City Councillor.

Cressy brings with him more than 30 years of experience in the not-for-profit and academic sectors, including a distinguished track record of leading breakthrough fundraising campaigns as President of the United Way of Greater Toronto and as Vice President of both the University of Toronto and Ryerson University.

As a volunteer, Cressy, is Founding Co-Chair of the National Harmony Movement, a Founding Board Member of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and a past Chair of YMCA Canada. In addition, he serves as the Honorary Chair of the YMCA of Trinidad and Tobago and a Special Advisor to the United Way of Trinidad and Tobago. In March 2007, he was appointed President of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (Canada).

A Keynote & Motivational Speaker to a wide variety of business, government, labour, volunteer sector, education and ethnocultural groups, Gordon Cressy uses funny, inspirational and provocative stories that provide relevant applications to organizations focusing on partnerships, leadership, community service, marketing and fundraising.

Doing Well by Doing Good - Connecting the Dots

Dreaming & Doing - Implementing Change

Leadership, Corporate Culture & Change

School & the Community - Making Connections

The Other Audit: The Human Side of Enterprise

Business, Personal Growth, Motivational, Leadership,