Sincerely,
The Northern Ontario Chapter Board
Events
HRPA Events
Keep up to date with the latest HRPA events.
Membership
At the Human Resources Professionals Association, we believe that better HR makes business better. Our goal is to ensure human resources professionals are recognized as an essential part of business success, and that our profession is as valued by organizations as those of other major professional associations.
We do this by equipping our members and students with the knowledge and tools that allow them to be specialized strategic thinkers relied upon to safeguard and futureproof Ontario businesses.
Interested in becoming an HRPA Member or joining as a Student? Learn more about member and student benefits and how to register.
Mentoring
Mentoring: 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
Learn more about our HRPA Mentoring Programs
Volunteering
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:
- Board of Directors
- Committees
- Annual Conference & Trade Show
- Mentoring
- Local HRPA Chapter Board’s and Chapter Committees
Register as a Volunteer:
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.
About Leadership
Karen Ball
Chapter Chair
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Karen Ball earned her Advanced Diploma in Business Administration – Human Resources at Confederation College. Along with her education, Karen holds her CHRL designation and has been gaining experience in the Human Resources field since 2005. In her current role as Senior Human Resources Advisor at Tbaytel, she provides guidance and support in many areas such as performance management, recruitment and selection, policy development, psychological health and safety, leadership and employee training, as well as employment equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Karen is passionate about fostering respect, fairness and equity in the workplace. In support of this, she is chair of the Employment Equity Committee, sits on the Respect Committee as secretary, and has volunteered in, and organized events for, employee led initiatives for the Heart & Stroke Foundation and the United Way.
Kirsten Kabernick
Chair Elect
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Kirsten earned her Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from Lakehead University. Kirsten joined HRPA as a student member in 2016 and has since obtained her Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation.
Currently, Kirsten is a Program Coordinator at the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) where she coordinates funding programs and works with entrepreneurs to help them achieve their business goals. Through her employment Kirsten was also able to obtain a Certificate in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo. Kirsten is currently the Chair Elect for the Northern Ontario HRPA chapter
Heena Bhataria
Secretary/Treasurer
Heena has completed Bachelor’s of Engineering – Major in Electronics and communications from India. She worked for about a year as a product Marketing Engineer with Cotmac Electronics. Her dream was to always settle abroad and in order to pursue it, she decided to study further and took Engineering Business and Safety Management at Confederation College and graduated in 2017. She brings one year of Health and Safety Assistant experience from Ontario Power Generation as a co-op student, 10 months of experience as a Human Resources Assistant from ParaMed Home Healthcare. She is working at Tbaytel as a Human Resources Advisor where she is responsible for the full cycle of recruitment from 2020. She is currently working towards her professional designation. She is passionate to join the Chapter as a Secretary-Treasurer and looking forward to adding knowledge and skills to her experience.
Tejraj Shah
Chair, Chapter Communications
Tejraj Shah is a post-graduate student from Confederation College’s Human Resources Program and a former lawyer from India Tejraj’s work experience stems from working in the legal field in India, interning first at the High court of Gujarat and practising both on the civil and corporate sides. He is currently working as a Research Intern for the North Superior Workforce Planning Board. He is a proud foster for Northern Rescue Reach Network, working actively with fellow members to rescue abandoned dogs from the Northern Communities and fostering them till they can be transported to Southern Ontario where they are adopted by families. Tejraj has also worked as a Peer and Student Mentor at Confederation College. He is currently the Committee Lead for Communications for the Northern Ontario HRPA chapter.
Amy Kembel
Chair, Chapter Student Liaison
For the past twenty-two years, Amy Kembel has demonstrated effectiveness as a Health & Safety and Human Resources Professional. She has held a variety of roles including Manager, Human Resources & Safety; Manager, Safety & Training; Health & Safety Coordinator; Employee Services Coordinator; Chairperson; Board Member; Specialist; Paramedic; Parent and Volunteer. She functions with a high level of energy and passion.
Her personal values include respect, fostering relationships, demonstrating integrity, confidentiality, and building trust and these are evident in her professional endeavors. While she has developed a solid reputation as an effective leader in the Electrical Distribution Industry over the last twenty years, she has also demonstrated successful leadership in the Health Care, Aviation, Service, Emergency Response, Municipal Government, and the Not-for-Profit sectors.
Amy’s skillsets include most areas of HR & Safety management, interpreting and implementing regulations, enterprise risk management, change management, conflict resolution, effective communication, reading and understanding financial statements and strategic planning, among others.
Amy believes that an effective leader never stops developing themselves professionally or personally. She has a Master of Business Administration degree, is an Honours Bachelor of Commerce graduate with advanced standing in Human Resources and Industrial Relations, has earned an Advanced Certificate in Labour Relations from Queen’s Industrial Relations Centre and an Executive Certificate in Conflict Management from the University of Windsor. In 2019, Amy graduated from an Experiential Leadership Program. Active participation in this program has elevated Amy’s effectiveness as a leader, enhanced her communication abilities and influence in building leadership in others and within her community.
Amy loves nature, enjoys downtime on the waters of Lake Superior with her husband and two teen daughters and spending time in her rural garden.
Karen Ball
Chapter Chair
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Karen Ball earned her Advanced Diploma in Business Administration – Human Resources at Confederation College. Along with her education, Karen holds her CHRL designation and has been gaining experience in the Human Resources field since 2005. In her current role as Senior Human Resources Advisor at Tbaytel, she provides guidance and support in many areas such as performance management, recruitment and selection, policy development, psychological health and safety, leadership and employee training, as well as employment equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Karen is passionate about fostering respect, fairness and equity in the workplace. In support of this, she is chair of the Employment Equity Committee, sits on the Respect Committee as secretary, and has volunteered in, and organized events for, employee led initiatives for the Heart & Stroke Foundation and the United Way.
Kirsten Kabernick
Chair Elect
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Kirsten earned her Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from Lakehead University. Kirsten joined HRPA as a student member in 2016 and has since obtained her Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation.
Currently, Kirsten is a Program Coordinator at the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) where she coordinates funding programs and works with entrepreneurs to help them achieve their business goals. Through her employment Kirsten was also able to obtain a Certificate in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo. Kirsten is currently the Chair Elect for the Northern Ontario HRPA chapter
Heena Bhataria
Secretary/Treasurer
Heena has completed Bachelor’s of Engineering – Major in Electronics and communications from India. She worked for about a year as a product Marketing Engineer with Cotmac Electronics. Her dream was to always settle abroad and in order to pursue it, she decided to study further and took Engineering Business and Safety Management at Confederation College and graduated in 2017. She brings one year of Health and Safety Assistant experience from Ontario Power Generation as a co-op student, 10 months of experience as a Human Resources Assistant from ParaMed Home Healthcare. She is working at Tbaytel as a Human Resources Advisor where she is responsible for the full cycle of recruitment from 2020. She is currently working towards her professional designation. She is passionate to join the Chapter as a Secretary-Treasurer and looking forward to adding knowledge and skills to her experience.
Tejraj Shah
Chair, Chapter Communications
Tejraj Shah is a post-graduate student from Confederation College’s Human Resources Program and a former lawyer from India Tejraj’s work experience stems from working in the legal field in India, interning first at the High court of Gujarat and practising both on the civil and corporate sides. He is currently working as a Research Intern for the North Superior Workforce Planning Board. He is a proud foster for Northern Rescue Reach Network, working actively with fellow members to rescue abandoned dogs from the Northern Communities and fostering them till they can be transported to Southern Ontario where they are adopted by families. Tejraj has also worked as a Peer and Student Mentor at Confederation College. He is currently the Committee Lead for Communications for the Northern Ontario HRPA chapter.
Amy Kembel
Chair, Chapter Student Liaison
For the past twenty-two years, Amy Kembel has demonstrated effectiveness as a Health & Safety and Human Resources Professional. She has held a variety of roles including Manager, Human Resources & Safety; Manager, Safety & Training; Health & Safety Coordinator; Employee Services Coordinator; Chairperson; Board Member; Specialist; Paramedic; Parent and Volunteer. She functions with a high level of energy and passion.
Her personal values include respect, fostering relationships, demonstrating integrity, confidentiality, and building trust and these are evident in her professional endeavors. While she has developed a solid reputation as an effective leader in the Electrical Distribution Industry over the last twenty years, she has also demonstrated successful leadership in the Health Care, Aviation, Service, Emergency Response, Municipal Government, and the Not-for-Profit sectors.
Amy’s skillsets include most areas of HR & Safety management, interpreting and implementing regulations, enterprise risk management, change management, conflict resolution, effective communication, reading and understanding financial statements and strategic planning, among others.
Amy believes that an effective leader never stops developing themselves professionally or personally. She has a Master of Business Administration degree, is an Honours Bachelor of Commerce graduate with advanced standing in Human Resources and Industrial Relations, has earned an Advanced Certificate in Labour Relations from Queen’s Industrial Relations Centre and an Executive Certificate in Conflict Management from the University of Windsor. In 2019, Amy graduated from an Experiential Leadership Program. Active participation in this program has elevated Amy’s effectiveness as a leader, enhanced her communication abilities and influence in building leadership in others and within her community.
Amy loves nature, enjoys downtime on the waters of Lake Superior with her husband and two teen daughters and spending time in her rural garden.