Early this month, the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) joined forces with Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Canada (CPHR Canada) for a stellar two days at HRXchange 2025.
Supported by our Title Sponsor EY, the November 3-4 sessions of HRXchange 2025 brought together more than 250 senior HR leaders from across the country. Together, our attendees explored new ideas and bold strategies for the most pressing issues at work.
From expert keynotes to powerful breakout sessions, HRXchange guests were treated to expert insight into topics like wellbeing, pay, cybersecurity and AI. Here’s a recap of this landmark 2 day event:
HRXchange Day 1: Making Connections with Senior HR Leaders
The Welcome Dinner and Reception on November 3 brought attendees together and helped kick off the event. Guests enjoyed live entertainment from Red Sky Performance, followed by opening remarks from the HRPA’s CEO Jodi Kovitz and CPHR Canada CEO Anthony Ariganello.
As guests mingled over appetizers and enjoyed the meal, they were treated to a kickoff keynote from motivational speaker Spencer West, whose talk “Redefining Resilience, Purpose, and Leadership in the Face of Adversity” reminded us that resilience is about finding purpose in adversity, leading with humanity, and lifting others. In our recent blog spotlight, Spencer told the HRPA that HR professionals are some of his favourite audiences because of their capacity to make organizations more inclusive and more equitable.
The night ended with inspiring remarks by the HRPA’s Board Chair Alison Staples and CPHR Canada Vice Chair Erin Polcyn Sailer. Our co-hosts The Personal, and supporting sponsor Venngo Inc. helped make our evening especially memorable.
HRXchange Day 2: Human-First Panels and Powerful Keynotes
Day 2 of HRXchange kicked off with the Connections Breakfast sponsored by ADP, where guests enjoyed hand-poured lattes and a delicious spread. Guests enjoyed opening remarks from award winning TV personality Sangita Patel, who reminded the audience that big ideas live at the heart of HR.
“I love that you’re here today because you believe in the power of people,” Patel said. “You believe your voice, your experiences, and your ideas are a catalyst for change.”
Patel set the stage for Candice Faktor, the Co-Founder and CEO of Disco. Candice brought the room to life with her keynote “AI Fluency – Unlocking Human Potential in an AI-First World.”
“I think AI, if used well, is capable of making our companies more human than less,” she told the audience. Candice reminded us that while technology has the potential to transform the way we work, it’s people who will define its purpose and determine how it delivers.
After the keynote, guests enjoyed a discussion on Canada’s Economic Outlook, moderated by Vanmala Subramaniam of The Globe and Mail and featuring Douglas Porter of BMO Financial and Nadim Kara of GreenShield. It was followed by a second panel on Canada’s AI workforce moderated by Chris Dodge of EY. Here, panelists Alida Meghji of EY, Gianluca Cairo of Dayforce, and Cynthia Currie, ICD.D of IGM Financial Inc. agreed that Canada has potential, but must invest in AI education, innovation, and capability to truly be leaders in the field.
Guests then jetted off to the power session of their choice. Each power session began with thought leadership from an industry expert, followed by an immersive, action driven workshop. Attendees could choose between power sessions: study employee wellness with Indeed, retain talent with experts at Normandin Beaudry, brush up on cybersecurity with Peninsula Canada, and learn next-gen AI with EY.
In the afternoon, guests enjoyed an inspiring keynote from Stephanie Case, who ran a 200 mile ultramarathon just six months post-partum. Her keynote “Tenacity’s Fundamental Role in Company Culture” focused on building a resilient, values-driven organization. Guests also enjoyed an inside look at the culture of the world’s most influential companies from Anju Chandarana, Google Canada’s Head of HR, and learned about soul-aligned leadership from Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson, CEO of Empowered in My Skin Inc.
The day closed with a talk from Michéle Boudria, the recently retired CEO of McDonald’s Canada. Michéle spoke about her journey from McDonalds team member to CEO, encouraging guests to dream big and sharing some of her entrepreneurial mindset. Guests walked away with bold, actionable ideas for their company’s culture, before meeting one last time at our networking reception. It was the perfect close to a day of learning, insights, and plans. After the event, HRXchange attendees mingled, sank into massage chairs, and enjoyed visiting with playpens full of puppies in the Wellness Zone.
Shaping HR Leadership at HRXchange 2025
With economic pressures, skill shortages, and technological disruption shaking the foundation of Canada’s workforce, there’s never been a better time for HR leaders to come together and make change. HRXchange 2025 saw over 250 senior HR professionals sharing ideas, building relationships, and making plans. We thank everyone who came to join us and hope to see you next year!