Hello! My name is Christine Cooke and I am excited to be your instructor for this course. I have been teaching online and in-person taxation courses at McMaster University since 2013.

I am a full-time professor in the Lawrence Kinlin School of Business at Fanshawe College, teaching all levels of Taxation and Small Business Management in the Bachelor of Commerce – Accounting & Management Degree Programs. I made the switch to Education full-time in 2018 and previously worked in Public Accounting for 18 years, focusing on Small Business Management & Taxation for a variety of clients in many industries.

I hope that I can provide you with a combination of both academic and practical knowledge that you will find valuable!

Amal Shabana, MBA, CPA, is a strategic, results-oriented accounting professional with a strong record in financial leadership within the government and not-for-profit sectors. She has held progressive roles, including Senior Accountant and Financial Analyst, demonstrating expertise in financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, performance management, and taxation. Amal is known for her ability to improve financial oversight, strengthen internal controls, and refine organizational processes in accordance with accounting standards and regulatory frameworks.

In addition to her industry experience, Amal is a dedicated accounting educator passionate about developing future professionals. From 2021 to 2025, she served as an Accounting Instructor at York University, where she taught Intermediate and Advanced Financial Accounting, Strategic Management, and Corporate Governance. Between 2020 and 2024, she taught Managerial Accounting at Centennial College and actively contributed to curriculum development. Amal is skilled in delivering engaging instruction in in-person, online, and hybrid formats, with a strong commitment to supporting diverse student populations.

Amal earned her MBA in Strategic Management from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2021 and obtained her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) designation in 2012 through CPA Ontario. She also holds a Business Accounting Diploma from Mohawk College (2009), graduating with distinction on the Dean’s Honour List.

Amal, a dedicated mentor and advocate for the accounting profession, volunteered as a board panellist for CPA Ontario’s Capstone 1 Oral Board Reports from 2015 to 2019. In this role, she supported and guided CPA candidates through the final stages of their journey to becoming a CPA.

Claire St. Pierre is a Licensed Public Accountant based in Hamilton, Ontario. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Certified General Accountant (CGA) who has taught all levels of financial, management accounting, taxation, and finance courses. Claire has also acted as a SME for various courses and authored program audit case studies and online materials for CGA Canada and CGA Ontario.