Name: Mary Anne Palangio
Job title: Chief Financial Officer
Organisation: Canadian Securities Exchange
1. Brief description of nominee’s role and job.
As Chief Financial Officer of the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), Mary Anne oversees all financial activities across the company and its affiliates. Her responsibilities include strategic financial planning and reporting, corporate administration and human resources. She works closely with the executive team on overall strategy and corporate development initiatives, supporting the CSE’s growth and long-term positioning within global capital markets.
2. Short bio (career highlights, education, interests/hobbies).
Mary Anne is an accomplished financial executive with a strong track record of driving strategic growth across leading North American organisations. She served as a Director on the CSE Board from 2016 before transitioning into her current CFO role in early 2020.
Previously, she was CFO of Converge Technology Solutions Corp., where she led the North American hybrid IT solutions provider through its public listing. Prior to that, she served as CFO of a publicly traded asset management firm and held senior leadership roles spanning investments, operations and technology at Manulife Financial Corporation, The Canada Life Assurance Company and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
Mary Anne began her career at Deloitte, where she earned her Chartered Accounting designation.
Since the CSE joined the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) in 2024, she has been an active member of both the Technology Working Group and the Cyber Security Working Group, representing the CSE. She has served on the Membership Committee of CFA Society Toronto since 2016 and currently chairs the committee. She is also an Advisor and Member of the Room Women’s Network.
Mary Anne is a CPA, CA and CFA, and holds a BA in Commerce and Economics from the University of Toronto.
Outside of work, she enjoys travel, cheese making, sourdough baking, glass blowing and creating lasting memories with family and friends.
3. What were your professional highlights and challenges of 2025?
A major highlight of 2025 was working with the CSE team to initiate and complete the landmark acquisition of the National Stock Exchange of Australia (NSX). The transaction marked a significant step in expanding the CSE’s international footprint, and Mary Anne continues to work closely with the NSX team as integration progresses into 2026.
The process presented its challenges – including time zone differences, extensive travel and balancing ongoing CFO responsibilities – but the opportunity to help shape a cross-border exchange platform made the effort worthwhile.
4. Tell us about a few of your key achievements throughout your career?
One of Mary Anne’s defining career achievements has been broadening her remit beyond traditional audit and accounting into operational and strategic leadership roles. Across various organisations, she has taken responsibility for operations, credit and treasury, financing, mergers and acquisitions, integration, corporate governance, risk, IT, information security, project management, investor relations, HR, business transformation, data management and compliance.
This breadth of experience across multiple financial services sectors – both locally and globally – has enabled her to operate strategically and provide holistic support to executive teams navigating growth and transformation.
5. What and who inspires, and has inspired, you to achieve your professional success?
Mary Anne has been inspired throughout her career by leaders who paved the way for women in capital markets and finance. Mentorship and visible female leadership have played a critical role in shaping her journey.
Her earliest inspiration came from her mother and grandmothers, who demonstrated through their actions what resilient, values-driven leadership looks like.
6. How have you overcome setbacks, and what advice would you give to others dealing with setbacks?
Mary Anne views setbacks as inevitable and believes the key lies in responding intentionally rather than reactively. By focusing on root causes and implementing long-term solutions, challenges can become catalysts for stronger systems and better outcomes.
Her advice is to approach setbacks with perspective and discipline, using them as opportunities to build resilience and improve future performance.
7. What advice do you have for other women who aspire to be in leadership positions? What is the biggest takeaway you want to leave with the reader?
Mary Anne encourages women to take calculated risks, build strong networks and actively pursue opportunities. Stay curious, create visibility, put yourself forward and empower others along the way.
Invest in your well-being and do not fall victim to Imposter Syndrome. Women leaders today are uniquely positioned to innovate, lead and shape the future of capital markets – and stepping into that space with confidence makes all the difference.