HRPA Northeast Chapter
Welcome to the HRPA Northeast Chapter
The Chapter Council act as ambassadors for the HRPA and the human resources (HR) profession, providing professional development opportunities, arranging networking and social events, hosting HR Power Lunch webinars, and facilitating ad-hoc volunteer opportunities. Chapter events provide members with the opportunity to develop skills and proficiencies, obtain CPD hours and build valuable connections with peers.
Chapter Councils also help promote and support HRPA initiatives such as the HRPA Mentorship Programs, HRPA Online Communities, HRPA Student activities and more. We encourage you to explore the HRPA website further to learn more about all that HRPA has to offer. We have included some helpful links below.
Whether you are a seasoned HR professional or a student who is looking to begin a career in HR, your Chapter Council and Chapter peers are here to support you!
Sincerely,
The Northeast Chapter Council
HRPA Northeast Chapter Map Boundaries
Kerry Halliwell, BSc, CHRP
Council Chair
After graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in Statistics and Applied Mathematics, Kerry left Canada to join and drought relief team in Africa to help with a famine. The six month commitment became a 21 year journey. Upon returning to Canada, she completed her HR studies at Sheridan College and has been managing operations and HR for the last 11 years. Her passion is to bring her international perspective to the unique challenge of serving over 300 Canadians doing work in 72 countries around the world. She specializes in Canadian charity law and compensation and benefits that fit the needs of this group of employees and volunteers working in difficult places.
Kerry looks forward to serving on the Central East and Northern Council to help the HRPA in their strategic initiatives across the region and to foster acceptance of the new structure through representation of less populous areas of Ontario.
Maurice Le Maire, CHRL, SHRM-SCP
Council Volunteer
A Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), Maurice has over 20 years of HR leadership and consulting experience globally, in diverse industries for Fortune ranked companies, and Canadian top 100 employers. Always striving to find the strategic balance between Human Capital and Business Performance, his focus are HR and Business Transformation, Talent Management Strategy as well as Governance.
Perfectly tri-lingual (French, English and Spanish), he positions himself as a resource to people, enabling their contributions by creating strong relationships, developing and coaching talent as well as finding opportunities for innovation and strategies that add long term value.
Classically trained pianist, Maurice serves as well in different boards in the arts and classical music industry. After devoting time to his family, the “Dad of 3” can be found sitting at his piano, jogging outside or on the basketball court.
Marta Austin, CHRL
Council Volunteer
Marta Austin is a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) and Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR) with over ten years experience in human resources, research and development, strategic planning, and regulatory compliance.
Marta holds a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Social Sciences, and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management. Marta currently works as a Sr. Director of People & Culture in the health and fitness industry, and has experience working in both the public and private sector.
Outside of work, Marta serves as a volunteer with Dress for Success, helping women to attain economic independence through interview coaching and mentoring sessions.
Laurie Mezger, CHRP
Council Volunteer
Since June 2022, Laurie Mezger has been with the YMCA of the National Capital Region, initially starting as the People and Culture Specialist before being promoted to People and Culture Manager. She manages human resources for 400-600 employees, overseeing recruitment, employee investigations, performance management, training and development. Laurie is dedicated to fostering a positive work environment and implementing effective HR practices to enhance employee engagement. She holds a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources from the University of Fredericton, a Human Resources Management Ontario College Graduate Certificate from Algonquin College, and a Certified Human Resource Professional designation from the Human Resources Professional Association. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, Thor, and spending time with her family
Kirsteen Hebert, MIR, CHRL
Council Volunteer
Kirsteen Hebert, CHRL, is a seasoned HR leader with over 20 years of experience in benefits, disability management, and total rewards across employer, carrier, and third-party administrator environments. She is known for designing and delivering strategies that balance compliance, cost efficiency, and employee wellbeing, while successfully navigating both complex multi-union settings and global organizations.
Currently an Adjunct Professor at Queen’s University, Kirsteen teaches workplace wellness, disability management, and plan design, where she is passionate about equipping future HR professionals with practical expertise and strategic insight. Her career has been marked by a commitment to advancing HR as a strategic lever for organizational performance and employee experience.
Kirsteen holds a Master of Industrial Relations from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Diagnostic Radiography from Queen Margaret.
Cynthia O Mezue, CHRP, PgCert, BSc
Council Volunteer
Cynthia is an accomplished Human Resources professional with nearly a decade of HR and Labour Relations experience across the private and public sectors in Canada. Known as a trusted advisor with a results-driven, forward-thinking approach, she is passionate about employee engagement, retention, and advancing diversity and inclusion. Staying at the forefront of HR trends, Cynthia ensures her strategies are effective, innovative, and impactful. She actively contributes to her workplace through committees on innovation, DEI, and wellness, reinforcing her commitment to building inclusive, sustainable organizations. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, music, travelling, and time with family and friends, and leads a personal empowerment project supporting widows, widowers, and underserved youth in Nigeria.
Jyotsana Jaswal, Ph.D, MBA, CTDP
Council Volunteer
Dr. Jyotsana Jaswal is a senior Human Resources executive with 15+ years of experience shaping people and culture strategies across private, public, and non-profit sectors. Recognized for inclusive leadership, executive leadership recruitment and development, employee wellness, and equity-centered policy development, she has led complex labour relations, strengthened union-management partnerships, and advanced organizational change with a people-first approach. A trained workplace harassment investigator, she fosters cultures of respect, accountability, and fairness. Dr. Jaswal serves on the Girls Inc. Board of Directors and has held volunteer leadership roles with the Ivey Alumni Association and the Institute for Performance and Learning. Holding a Ph.D. in Human Resources, an MBA from Ivey Business School, and a CTDP designation, Dr. Jaswal is committed to advancing HR excellence, ethical leadership, and inclusive workplace cultures.
Kerry Halliwell, BSc, CHRP
Council Chair
After graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in Statistics and Applied Mathematics, Kerry left Canada to join and drought relief team in Africa to help with a famine. The six month commitment became a 21 year journey. Upon returning to Canada, she completed her HR studies at Sheridan College and has been managing operations and HR for the last 11 years. Her passion is to bring her international perspective to the unique challenge of serving over 300 Canadians doing work in 72 countries around the world. She specializes in Canadian charity law and compensation and benefits that fit the needs of this group of employees and volunteers working in difficult places.
Kerry looks forward to serving on the Central East and Northern Council to help the HRPA in their strategic initiatives across the region and to foster acceptance of the new structure through representation of less populous areas of Ontario.
Maurice Le Maire, CHRL, SHRM-SCP
Council Volunteer
A Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), Maurice has over 20 years of HR leadership and consulting experience globally, in diverse industries for Fortune ranked companies, and Canadian top 100 employers. Always striving to find the strategic balance between Human Capital and Business Performance, his focus are HR and Business Transformation, Talent Management Strategy as well as Governance.
Perfectly tri-lingual (French, English and Spanish), he positions himself as a resource to people, enabling their contributions by creating strong relationships, developing and coaching talent as well as finding opportunities for innovation and strategies that add long term value.
Classically trained pianist, Maurice serves as well in different boards in the arts and classical music industry. After devoting time to his family, the “Dad of 3” can be found sitting at his piano, jogging outside or on the basketball court.
Marta Austin, CHRL
Council Volunteer
Marta Austin is a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) and Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR) with over ten years experience in human resources, research and development, strategic planning, and regulatory compliance.
Marta holds a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Social Sciences, and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management. Marta currently works as a Sr. Director of People & Culture in the health and fitness industry, and has experience working in both the public and private sector.
Outside of work, Marta serves as a volunteer with Dress for Success, helping women to attain economic independence through interview coaching and mentoring sessions.
Laurie Mezger, CHRP
Council Volunteer
Since June 2022, Laurie Mezger has been with the YMCA of the National Capital Region, initially starting as the People and Culture Specialist before being promoted to People and Culture Manager. She manages human resources for 400-600 employees, overseeing recruitment, employee investigations, performance management, training and development. Laurie is dedicated to fostering a positive work environment and implementing effective HR practices to enhance employee engagement. She holds a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources from the University of Fredericton, a Human Resources Management Ontario College Graduate Certificate from Algonquin College, and a Certified Human Resource Professional designation from the Human Resources Professional Association. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, Thor, and spending time with her family
Kirsteen Hebert, MIR, CHRL
Council Volunteer
Kirsteen Hebert, CHRL, is a seasoned HR leader with over 20 years of experience in benefits, disability management, and total rewards across employer, carrier, and third-party administrator environments. She is known for designing and delivering strategies that balance compliance, cost efficiency, and employee wellbeing, while successfully navigating both complex multi-union settings and global organizations.
Currently an Adjunct Professor at Queen’s University, Kirsteen teaches workplace wellness, disability management, and plan design, where she is passionate about equipping future HR professionals with practical expertise and strategic insight. Her career has been marked by a commitment to advancing HR as a strategic lever for organizational performance and employee experience.
Kirsteen holds a Master of Industrial Relations from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Diagnostic Radiography from Queen Margaret.
Cynthia O Mezue, CHRP, PgCert, BSc
Council Volunteer
Cynthia is an accomplished Human Resources professional with nearly a decade of HR and Labour Relations experience across the private and public sectors in Canada. Known as a trusted advisor with a results-driven, forward-thinking approach, she is passionate about employee engagement, retention, and advancing diversity and inclusion. Staying at the forefront of HR trends, Cynthia ensures her strategies are effective, innovative, and impactful. She actively contributes to her workplace through committees on innovation, DEI, and wellness, reinforcing her commitment to building inclusive, sustainable organizations. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, music, travelling, and time with family and friends, and leads a personal empowerment project supporting widows, widowers, and underserved youth in Nigeria.
Jyotsana Jaswal, Ph.D, MBA, CTDP
Council Volunteer
Dr. Jyotsana Jaswal is a senior Human Resources executive with 15+ years of experience shaping people and culture strategies across private, public, and non-profit sectors. Recognized for inclusive leadership, executive leadership recruitment and development, employee wellness, and equity-centered policy development, she has led complex labour relations, strengthened union-management partnerships, and advanced organizational change with a people-first approach. A trained workplace harassment investigator, she fosters cultures of respect, accountability, and fairness. Dr. Jaswal serves on the Girls Inc. Board of Directors and has held volunteer leadership roles with the Ivey Alumni Association and the Institute for Performance and Learning. Holding a Ph.D. in Human Resources, an MBA from Ivey Business School, and a CTDP designation, Dr. Jaswal is committed to advancing HR excellence, ethical leadership, and inclusive workplace cultures.
Events
HRPA Events
Keep up to date with the latest HRPA events.
Feb12
HR Power Lunch: Reimagining HR Functions People Analytics: Transforming Recruitment and Selection
This webinar unpacks how the Seven Pillars of People Analytics can elevate every HR function from workforce planning and engagement...
Learn MoreToday’s HR leaders face many competing priorities— while reimagining the future of work and ensuring employees stay engaged, and more.
The HRPA is here to partner with you through this constantly changing landscape. We are dedicated to empowering HR professionals, ensuring that you, alongside our 24,000 members, remain equipped to respond in an ever-evolving world.
Joining the HRPA means becoming part of a dynamic community of HR professionals dedicated to ethical practice, continuous learning, and advancing the HR profession.
By giving you the tools you need to create positive change, we’re empowering members, inspiring prosperity, and reshaping the future of HR in Ontario and beyond.
The HRPA Mentorship Program encourages career growth and development by providing students – and HR Professionals who are early in their careers – with the opportunity to receive one-on-one coaching from more experienced Human Resources Professionals.
Volunteering at HRPA is a rewarding membership experience and volunteers are critical to the association’s continued success.
With the expertise and involvement of members, we create awareness of workplace issues, promote excellence in human resources management practices and provide services that support the HR community, knowledge-sharing and continuous professional development.
HRPA members and students are involved in a variety of volunteer service opportunities including:
- HRPA Board of Directors
- Committees
- Conferences, Forums and Summits
- Mentoring
- Focus Groups
- Adhoc Opportunities
- Outreach Initiatives
- Chapter Councils
The first step to volunteering at HRPA is registering in our volunteer services database. If your registration is accepted, you receive a notification. When an opportunity that matches your preferences and/or skills becomes available, you may be contacted directly with more information about the available volunteer role.