Corporate Director | Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer | Toronto

Lara Shewchuk is a corporate director and operating executive with expertise in financial oversight, governance, and responsible AI-driven business transformation.

As Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Architech, a mid-market global digital consultancy specializing in AI-powered transformation, she holds financial and operational oversight across the enterprise. Under her leadership, the company has achieved significant growth, earning recognition as one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies, one of 10 companies globally recognized by Fast Company for excellence in AI, automation, and machine learning, and Microsoft Global Partner of the Year. As a member of the AI Governance Committee, she develops and evolves the company’s responsible AI governance approach and client delivery frameworks, and applies AI-driven operational redesign and workflow transformation to business operations.

Lara serves on the Board of Directors of Women’s College Hospital, a $550M academic health sciences institution. In her first year she sat on the Resources Committee with oversight of financial performance, external audit, integrated risk management, technology strategy, and people and equity. She now serves on the Quality, Academic and Equity Committee, with oversight of patient safety, clinical quality, academic research impact, and health equity across the institution. She also serves on CPA Ontario’s Sustainability Strategic Advisory Committee, advising on emerging sustainability standards and the intersection of AI and sustainability reporting.

Her prior executive experience spans technology, professional services, education, and entertainment. Prior CFO roles at Blyth Academy and Windmill Farms delivered global expansion into four countries, doubled revenue, and significant profitability improvement. At Live Nation Canada (NYSE), she served as VP Finance during the $100M acquisition of CPI that launched Artist Nation and introduced the groundbreaking 360-degree deal model to the music industry. She led post-acquisition integration across multiple companies, and achieved a perfect score on the Sarbanes-Oxley audit. She began her career at KPMG in audit, where her focus on entertainment clients launched a career spanning EMI Music Canada, Universal Music Canada, and ultimately Live Nation Canada.

Lara served two terms as Chair of the Canadian Centre for Women’s Empowerment, and has held board and executive board roles across the private, not-for-profit, and advisory sectors, with finance and governance responsibilities at each level.

Lara holds the NACD Directorship Certification (NACD.DC), the Global Competent Boards Designation (GCB.D), and the AI Oversight for Directors certificate from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College. She is a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA, FCA), the profession’s highest distinction.

Lara has been invited to ring the bell at five global stock exchanges across four countries: NASDAQ, NYSE, TSX, the London Stock Exchange, and the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores. She was named to the inaugural “50 Women to Watch for Boards” cohort by 50/50 Women on Boards. Her recognition includes Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, the Global 50 Women in Sustainability Award, and five consecutive years as a Global Outstanding LGBTQ+ Executive Role Model.

Connect with Lara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larashewchuk/