David Vares, PhD, is driven by a deep commitment to the future of the Canadian credit union system and Central 1’s mission to empower financial institutions. He maintains that Wholesale Financial Services are vital for all credit unions and the overall stability of the Canadian financial ecosystem.

David’s candidacy is focused on the Central 1 Technology and Innovation and Audit and Finance committees. He considers himself a “plug-and-play” asset due to his ethical capacity to oversee systemic risks, provide fiscal oversight, and leverage his background in cybersecurity.

With over a decade of experience at the intersection of cooperative values and rigorous financial oversight, he is eager to contribute to the stewardship of the “system utility” infrastructure that ensures the sector remains competitive and secure. He is particularly motivated to apply his “dual-track” expertise in complex governance and AI Risk Strategy to navigate Central 1’s 2026–2028 corporate strategy. David believes strong governance begins with an ethical foundation and concludes with digital resilience. His mission is to ensure Central 1 remains the trusted backbone of the credit union system through principled leadership and advanced security.

As an educator in Business Ethics, he brings scholarly and practical depth to corporate responsibility and principled decision-making. His alignment directly supports Central 1’s core belief that “good governance is part of everything we do” and ensures ethical practices reflect the organization’s purpose and values. A governance leader dedicated to the “Hearts Aligned” mission of the credit union system, his focus remains on ensuring Central 1 provides the scale and security members need to thrive in a digital landscape.

Currently the Past Chairperson of Sudbury Credit Union, Dr. Vares has seen firsthand how vital Central 1 is as a utility for local success. His goal is to ensure Central 1 remains a thriving partner delivering banking choice and innovative payment solutions for all Canadians.

Areas of Expertise: Technology and Innovation | Enterprise Risk Management/Risk Oversight | Strategy and Strategic Planning Experience | Legal, Compliance and Regulatory

Professional Experience:

• Quality Assurance Associate, Ontario College Quality Assurance Service, 2023 – Present
• Professor (Sessional) & Academic Research Supervisor, Laurentian University, 2018 – Present
• Executive Director, Laurentian University Graduate Student Association, 2019 – Present
• Specialist: Strategic Analytics & Information Security, Cambrian College & Laurentian University, 2018 – 2024
• Specialist: Researcher / Laboratory Financial Manager, Neuroscience Research Group/Laurentian Behavioural Neuroscience, 2011 – Present

Board Experience:

• Sudbury Credit Union, Director, Chair of the Board, Past Chair, 2018 – Present
• Sudbury Credit Union, Audit Committee, 2018 – Present
• Children’s Aid Society, Vice President & Chair of Risk Management, 2017 – 2023
• Workforce Planning Sudbury and Manitoulin, Board Director, 2015 – 2023
• Laurentian University Senate, Speaker of the Senate, Executive Committee, Senator, 2016 – 2021