HRPA Northern Chapter
Welcome to the HRPA Northern 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 Northern Chapter Council
Northern Chapter Map Boundaries
Leadership
Vishakha
Council Chair
An experienced Human Resources professional with a strong educational background and diverse industry expertise. Academically I hold an MBA degree in international Business & Diploma in Human Resources.
Nearing to a decade of experience, I have worked with companies like HCL Technologies and Times Internet. I am currently employed as a Training, Safety, and Compliance Officer at Patrick Mechanical – Patrick Group of Companies. My professional skills encompass talent acquisition, Learning & Development, Leadership development, Employee engagement, and aspects of business partnering.
In addition to my professional work, I am an active community volunteer in Sudbury, participating in various community events and assisting newcomer with resume-building and mock interviews. Volunteering and giving back to the community is passion that drives me to make a positive impact.
Sankar Janardanan
Council Vice-Chair
Over 18 years of experience in full-cycle HR management, I lead a high-performing IT talent acquisition team, oversee project managers, and identify new business opportunities. As a former Human Resource Manager in Dubai, I managed recruitment, performance appraisal systems, and grievance management. I have supported HR functions across various industries, generating HRIS reports, resolving HR issues, and enhancing employee engagement. My goal is to improve HR functions for overall growth and success continuously.
Katerina Kmet, CHRL
Council Volunteer
Katerina has 18 years of dedicated experience in Human Resources, with a focus on employee relations, training, and development and much more. As a Certified HR Leader, Katerina is passionate about maintaining HR standards and driving continuous improvement within our organization.
She is dedicated to leveraging her expertise to make a positive impact in our community and collaborating with the chapter to achieve its goals.
Julie Salvalaggio, CHRL
Council Volunteer
Julia Salvalaggio, CHRL, is a seasoned Human Resources professional with a robust background in strategic HR management and organizational development. With a certification as a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), Julia brings over a decade of experience in fostering workplace culture, enhancing employee engagement, and implementing innovative HR practices. Her expertise spans talent acquisition, performance management, and leadership development. Julia is known for her proactive approach to problem-solving and her dedication to driving organizational success through effective HR strategies. Passionate about mentorship and continuous learning, she actively contributes to professional communities and is committed to advancing the field of human resources.
Tori Vance, CHRP
Council Volunteer
I graduated from Laurentian University with a BBA, HR Management, and a Minor in Labour Relations. I hold the CHRP designation and was a chapter chair member of the North Bay/Sudbury board since May 2022. l am an HR consultant providing both internal and external HR services. I pride myself on being a collaborative communicator, excelling at building relationships and creating harmonious work environments.
Shelley Carpenter-Wright, B. Mgt, CHRL, MIR, CP
Council Volunteer
Shelley is a recently retired, bilingual senior Human Resources executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience, primarily within Canada’s public sector—spanning education, healthcare, and municipal government.
Renowned for her strategic vision, empowering leadership approach, and extensive expertise in labour relations, compensation management, and process improvement, Shelley has forged a distinguished career driving transformative HR initiatives in complex, unionized settings.
Throughout her career and into retirement, Shelley remains passionately committed to professional development and actively contributes to the growth and success of emerging HR professionals through mentorship, committee participation, and sharing her knowledge.
Theresa Osezua, MBA, CHRP
Council Volunteer
Theresa Osezua is a seasoned Human Resources professional with over 15 years of experience spanning consulting, healthcare, education, and non-profit sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration, along with credentials in General and Human Resources Management.
Theresa is deeply committed to cultivating high-performing workplaces by aligning organizational strategic objectives with employees’ professional development. Her expertise in talent development, employee engagement, strategic HR planning and change management is complemented by a thoughtful, people-centred approach that brings both empathy and insight to every initiative.
Driven by a passion for continuous learning and enhancing the employee experience, she focuses on fostering engagement and creating long-term value for both individuals and organizations.
Vishakha
Council Chair
An experienced Human Resources professional with a strong educational background and diverse industry expertise. Academically I hold an MBA degree in international Business & Diploma in Human Resources.
Nearing to a decade of experience, I have worked with companies like HCL Technologies and Times Internet. I am currently employed as a Training, Safety, and Compliance Officer at Patrick Mechanical – Patrick Group of Companies. My professional skills encompass talent acquisition, Learning & Development, Leadership development, Employee engagement, and aspects of business partnering.
In addition to my professional work, I am an active community volunteer in Sudbury, participating in various community events and assisting newcomer with resume-building and mock interviews. Volunteering and giving back to the community is passion that drives me to make a positive impact.
Sankar Janardanan
Council Vice-Chair
Over 18 years of experience in full-cycle HR management, I lead a high-performing IT talent acquisition team, oversee project managers, and identify new business opportunities. As a former Human Resource Manager in Dubai, I managed recruitment, performance appraisal systems, and grievance management. I have supported HR functions across various industries, generating HRIS reports, resolving HR issues, and enhancing employee engagement. My goal is to improve HR functions for overall growth and success continuously.
Katerina Kmet, CHRL
Council Volunteer
Katerina has 18 years of dedicated experience in Human Resources, with a focus on employee relations, training, and development and much more. As a Certified HR Leader, Katerina is passionate about maintaining HR standards and driving continuous improvement within our organization.
She is dedicated to leveraging her expertise to make a positive impact in our community and collaborating with the chapter to achieve its goals.
Julie Salvalaggio, CHRL
Council Volunteer
Julia Salvalaggio, CHRL, is a seasoned Human Resources professional with a robust background in strategic HR management and organizational development. With a certification as a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), Julia brings over a decade of experience in fostering workplace culture, enhancing employee engagement, and implementing innovative HR practices. Her expertise spans talent acquisition, performance management, and leadership development. Julia is known for her proactive approach to problem-solving and her dedication to driving organizational success through effective HR strategies. Passionate about mentorship and continuous learning, she actively contributes to professional communities and is committed to advancing the field of human resources.
Tori Vance, CHRP
Council Volunteer
I graduated from Laurentian University with a BBA, HR Management, and a Minor in Labour Relations. I hold the CHRP designation and was a chapter chair member of the North Bay/Sudbury board since May 2022. l am an HR consultant providing both internal and external HR services. I pride myself on being a collaborative communicator, excelling at building relationships and creating harmonious work environments.
Shelley Carpenter-Wright, B. Mgt, CHRL, MIR, CP
Council Volunteer
Shelley is a recently retired, bilingual senior Human Resources executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience, primarily within Canada’s public sector—spanning education, healthcare, and municipal government.
Renowned for her strategic vision, empowering leadership approach, and extensive expertise in labour relations, compensation management, and process improvement, Shelley has forged a distinguished career driving transformative HR initiatives in complex, unionized settings.
Throughout her career and into retirement, Shelley remains passionately committed to professional development and actively contributes to the growth and success of emerging HR professionals through mentorship, committee participation, and sharing her knowledge.
Theresa Osezua, MBA, CHRP
Council Volunteer
Theresa Osezua is a seasoned Human Resources professional with over 15 years of experience spanning consulting, healthcare, education, and non-profit sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration, along with credentials in General and Human Resources Management.
Theresa is deeply committed to cultivating high-performing workplaces by aligning organizational strategic objectives with employees’ professional development. Her expertise in talent development, employee engagement, strategic HR planning and change management is complemented by a thoughtful, people-centred approach that brings both empathy and insight to every initiative.
Driven by a passion for continuous learning and enhancing the employee experience, she focuses on fostering engagement and creating long-term value for both individuals and organizations.
Events
HRPA Events
Keep up to date with the latest HRPA events.
Today’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.