Leadership and Trust: Build, Restore and Redefine HR   

“Leaders must be lighthouses who safely guide their people and organization to success. They must build themselves up then shine their light onto others and the sea of uncertainty that we are all a part of.” – Jacob Morgan

“The more we expose the injustice in the workplace, the more hope there will be for meaningful change.” – Jennifer Valentyne

Attention registered guests:

The event platform is now live! Please sign in using the same email address that you registered with.

Sessions will kick off on Tuesday, November 22 at 8:45 AM EST.

Difficulty logging in? For technical support, please email: webinars@hrpa.ca

Presenting Sponsor
UKG Teal Logo

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Location

Virtual

Event platform access will be communicated by email 48 hours prior to the event start.

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CPD

TOTAL: 23.5 CPD Hours

(11 Hours live + 12.5 Hours on-demand)

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Price

Member, Non-Member and Student pricing available. Details to be announced.

Early Bird pricing available until October 20.

This three half-day conference, happening November 22 – 24, will address recurring workplace issues, tackle emerging HR trends, and prepare attendees for the future of HR in organizations.

Sessions will equip HR professionals with new and critical skills, tools and strategies to strengthen, develop and transform their practices and organization.

Cultivate leadership skills and tackle toxic workplace cultures head on at this year’s Fall Conference. Over the course of three half-days, this virtual conference will offer insights into issues that are front of mind for HR professionals such as enhancing inclusivity in your workplace by prioritizing neurodiversity at work, centering accessibility needs and establishing respectful, healthy boundaries at work. Participants will examine trending concepts like four-day work weeks and creative employee well-being strategies as well as harnessing technological advancements and integrating AI into HR. Industry leaders will offer expertise in management techniques, innovative best practices for onboarding the next generation of workers and ensuring that HR meets the varying needs of how business leaders can restore trust and rebuild organizations to shape the future trajectory of HR.

Level up your HR knowledge in these virtual conversations over three half-days on November 22 – 24 and register today.

Why attend

  • Gain the latest insights and information to support your business and prepare for the future
  • Learn from leading experts on today’s most pressing workplace issues
  • HR professionals who are involved with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the workplace
  • Collaborate with and learn from other HR professionals facing similar workplace challenges

Who should attend

  • HR Specialists, HR Generalists, HR Managers, HR Directors, HR Business Partners
  • Organizational Development Professionals and others who lead or execute OD strategies and programs in their organizations
  • Business Leaders who are responsible for leadership training and development, employee engagement and policy development
  • HR Professionals who are involved with organizational effectiveness, psychological safety and change-management and DEI principles

This three half-day conference, happening November 22 – 24, will address recurring workplace issues, tackle emerging HR trends, and prepare attendees for the future of HR in organizations.

Sessions will equip HR professionals with new and critical skills, tools and strategies to strengthen, develop and transform their practices and organization.

Cultivate leadership skills and tackle toxic workplace cultures head on at this year’s Fall Conference. Over the course of three half-days, this virtual conference will offer insights into issues that are front of mind for HR professionals such as enhancing inclusivity in your workplace by prioritizing neurodiversity at work, centering accessibility needs and establishing respectful, healthy boundaries at work. Participants will examine trending concepts like four-day work weeks and creative employee well-being strategies as well as harnessing technological advancements and integrating AI into HR. Industry leaders will offer expertise in management techniques, innovative best practices for onboarding the next generation of workers and ensuring that HR meets the varying needs of how business leaders can restore trust and rebuild organizations to shape the future trajectory of HR.

Level up your HR knowledge in these virtual conversations over three half-days on November 22 – 24 and register today.

Why attend

  • Gain the latest insights and information to support your business and prepare for the future
  • Learn from leading experts on today’s most pressing workplace issues
  • HR professionals who are involved with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the workplace
  • Collaborate with and learn from other HR professionals facing similar workplace challenges

Who should attend

  • HR Specialists, HR Generalists, HR Managers, HR Directors, HR Business Partners
  • Organizational Development Professionals and others who lead or execute OD strategies and programs in their organizations
  • Business Leaders who are responsible for leadership training and development, employee engagement and policy development
  • HR Professionals who are involved with organizational effectiveness, psychological safety and change-management and DEI principles

The Fall Conference will be collectively eligible for 23.5 CPD Hours (11 Hours live + 12.5 Hours on-demand).

CPD codes are only issued for sessions you attended live. No CPD code is provided for sessions viewed on-demand. Sessions you view on-demand do qualify for CPD Hours and will accumulate toward the total eligible CPD hours, however you will need to log those hours manually. Details can be found on the CPD FAQs page.

Not sure of your schedule?
Whether you attend the sessions live or not, register anyway to gain access to the conference recordings post-event. On-demand viewings still qualify for CPD Hours and recordings are made available for one year post-event date.

Event Pricing
All registration fees include access to the live, virtual streamed sessions as well as access to the conference recordings post-event.

INDIVIDUAL
REGISTRATION
Early bird
Until October 20, 2022
Regular
October 20, 2022 onward
MEMBERS
Single Day
Full Event

$75
$180

$95
$230
NON-MEMBERS
Single Day
Full Event

$100
$240

$120
$290
STUDENT MEMBERS
Single Day
Full Event

$35
$80

$35
$80

GROUP
REGISTRATION

3+ MORE REGISTRANTS
Early bird
Until October 20, 2022
Regular
June 17, 2022 onward
MEMBERS
Single Day
Full Event

$70
$165

$90
$210
NON-MEMBERS
Single Day
Full Event

$95
$230

$115
$275
STUDENT MEMBERS
Single Day
Full Event

$35
$80

$35
$80

Please note that HRPA reserves the right to modify and update session titles, descriptions and speakers.

DAY 1: Tuesday, November 22

8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks

Speaker(s): Kris Tierney (she/her/hers), CHRP, CHRL, Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA; Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers), President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc. 

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM 
2023 HR Insights & Creating Your Internal Talent Marketplace: It’s Not Just a New Piece of HR Technology  

Looking for the inside scoop on major 2023 trends that will reshape HR? This is your opportunity to equip yourself with information to enhance your HR business practices.  

Employers are scrambling to prepare for the future of work while employees are looking to ensure they have the skills to succeed in an uncertain and ever-changing environment. HR plays a significant role in managing change and fostering a culture that values growth and talent sharing. An internal talent marketplace can fundamentally change how an organization grows and meets employee needs and strategic priorities. However, this potential can only be unlocked by a purposeful approach that puts people, mindsets and culture before technology.  

Speaker(s): Jennifer Rozon, President, McLean & Company & Official Member at Forbes Human Resources Council 

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
MASTERCLASS SESSIONS: Select 1 of 3

Neurodiverse workers bring many skills and talents to the workplace. Neurodiversity describes the natural way that people feel, think, learn, observe the world, interact and process information differently. Organizations can benefit from supporting neurodiversity at work by tapping into the talents and skills of neurodivergent workers and embracing different ways of thinking, learning, perceiving the world and interacting with others. This session will delve into lived experiences of neurodiversity in the workplace in order to understand what it means to be inclusive towards neurodiverse individuals from an HR lens.

Speaker(s): Sydney Elaine Butler (they/them), Founder, Speaker, and Accessibility/Neurodiversity Consultant, Accessible Creates; DEIB Facilitator 

Toxic workplaces are effectively destroying organizations and having profound impact on all involved. Media examples abound of individuals who are outing organizations for workplace discrimination in all facets from gender discrimination, harassment and ageism to bullying, racism and more. Undoubtedly, working in a toxic work environment can be challenging and harmful to employees’ mental and physical well-being. This session will examine how to recognize the signs of a toxic workplace and what actions you can take to mitigate the risks and keep workers safe.

Speaker(s): Patrick Bensen, Organizational & Clinical Psychologist Director, Leaders of Tomorrow Institute

Often, those who are promoted to the role of manager are good individual contributors. However, as managers, they need to learn and master many leadership skills too. While training is the usual answer for companies, it is not the only answer, nor should it be. Even long-time managers can develop and improve their skills. Join Dr. Chris Mullen as he discusses the importance of being a better manager, the four principles of becoming a better manager and how to develop a practical action plan to get there.

Speaker(s): Dr. Chris Mullen, Director, The Workforce Institute 

11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
The Future Leader: 9 Leadership Skills & Mindsets for the Future of Work

How do you lead in a rapidly changing world where it is clear that what worked in the past won’t work now or in the future? 

Leadership is changing and the pandemic has only accelerated the transformation. It has never been harder to be a leader but the impact that leaders have has also never been greater. How should current and prospective leaders think and what do they need to know? In this ground-breaking keynote, Jacob shares insights from the exclusive research he conducted by interviewing over 140 of the world’s top CEOs and surveying nearly 14,000 employees. Jacob identified a specific set of four mindsets and five skills that all leaders need to guide themselves, their teams and their organizations to success. In this session, we explore why and how leadership is changing, what these particular mindsets and skills are, and how attendees can practice them. Participants can expect lots of stories, insights and research-backed findings.

Speaker(s): Jacob Morgan, International Best-selling Author, Keynote Speaker, Professionally Trained Futurist; Founder, FutureOfWorkUniversity.com

12:45 PM – 1:00 PM
Closing Remarks and Day 1 Wrap-up

Speaker(s): Lindsay Recknell (she/her/hers), President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.

Please note that HRPA reserves the right to modify and update session titles, descriptions and speakers.

DAY 2: Wednesday, November 23

8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks

Speaker(s): Diane Biesinger (she/her), CHRP, HR and Learning Specialist, HRPA

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
CONCURRENT SESSIONS: Select 1 of 3

Shout it from the roof top – we know our worth! We know what we deserve! And women are refusing to settle for less. They are demanding more from work -and they are leaving companies that don’t meet their demands in unprecedented numbers. According to new data from Lean In & McKinsey & Company, women leaders are leaving their companies at the highest rate in years, and the gap between women and men leaders leaving is the largest we have ever seen. This session will examine the barriers that women from all walks of life continue to face in the workforce. Join us as we examine the importance and impact of having women in leadership roles and how women leaders are rising to unique challenges.

Speaker(s): Allison Venditti, CHRP, CHRL, Founder of Moms at Work and My Parental Leave

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was introduced in 2005 with the goal of making Ontario accessible for people with disabilities by 2025. With that date fast approaching, where are we now? This progressive legislation has been setting regulations and deadlines for employers to implement standards affecting customer service, employment, information, and communication, and more. Learn what’s new in accessibility legislation, compliance requirements, and best practices. This presentation will share resources to help guide employers to identify, remove, and prevent barriers, and create more inclusive workplaces and communities. The impact of the Accessible Canada Act (2019) and related legislation will also be discussed.

Speaker(s): Mary Neilans, Accessibility and Aging Well Consultant; Founder, AIM for Inclusion

Healthy boundaries require self-awareness and strategic application. This requires understanding your own needs and motivations to protect your physical, emotional, and mental health while using your skills and talents generously. Creating healthy boundaries in the workplace is essential for preventing employee burnout and creating a healthy and thriving workplace culture.

This workshop will explore six factors that create burnout in the workplace and provide boundaries for HR Professionals as well as social etiquette boundaries when leading your teams and direct reports.

Speaker(s): Bonita Eby, Burnout Prevention Strategist & Organizational Culture Consultant; Owner, Breakthrough Personal & Professional Development Inc. 

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
KeynotePositively Influencing a Thriving Workplace

As HR professionals, you are increasingly dealing with the impacts of mental health in the workplace – in addition to your already full plate of responsibilities. Not only that, but a muddiness in accountability and responsibility between HR and the Business might have increased tensions between yourself and the very partners you’re meant to be supporting.

It can feel overwhelming, and it’s hard to know where to start – but it doesn’t have to be.

In this talk, Brandy Payne and Lindsay Recknell will share the step-by-step action plan you can act on to embed a focus on mental health into your employee experience, empowering a thriving workplace. We’ll help great leaders like you leverage your positive influence and make more impact so you can stress less, take more action and continue to make a valuable difference in your organization.

Speaker(s): Lindsay Recknell (she/her/hers), President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.; Brandy Payne, CMHA-Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor

11:30 AM – 12:45 PM
Ask the Experts: Select 1 of 3

Attendees are invited to join these moderated, peer-to-peer learning sessions that are a safe space for asking questions, exploring HR issues and sharing insights.  

Each session will open with a 15-minute presentation on the topic, facilitated by an industry expert. This presentation will introduce or explain ideas and concepts to initiate discussion. The remaining time will be an open forum question and answer period. 

Although there will be a moderator and subject matter expert, you as the audience member drive the discussion. Come prepared to share and discuss the ideas that keep you awake at night, best practices you have discovered and solutions that work for you. Note, these sessions will be recorded. 

What are effective and ineffective leadership skills? How has leadership transformed over the years? What comes to mind when you think of leadership? Effective leaders in the workplace do not only include people who hold management positions, but rather they are individuals who use their leadership skills to empower, engage and bring about higher morale and better outcomes for their organization. 

Facilitator: Ingrid Wilson, CHRL, CMS, Senior HR Executive & CHRO|CDEI Strategist and Advocate; Board Member and Advisor

We continue to hear buzz words and trending topics about the workforce these daysquiet quitting, human-centric workplace, and the great resignation are just a few. It’s time to get back to basics and evaluate the employee lifecycle from the beginning. It’s time to focus on and support employee needs by cultivating meaningful employee experiences that encourages growth and development. 

Facilitator: Melanie Drouin, Senior Consultant at Great Place to Work® Canada

On April 11, 2022, Bill 88 – the Working for Workers Act, 2022 (“the Act”) – became law. The Act requires that all employers who employ 25 or more workers must have a written policy in place on electronic monitoring of employees. How does this get implemented? What policy updates should or should not be included? 

Facilitator: Saba J. Khan, Principal Lawyer, Saba Khan Law 

12:45 PM – 1:15 PM
Ask the Expert Summary, Closing Remarks and Day 2 Wrap-up

Speaker(s): Lindsay Recknell (she/her/hers), President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.

Please note that HRPA reserves the right to modify and update session titles, descriptions and speakers.

DAY 3: Thursday, November 24

8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks

Speaker(s): Lindsay Recknell (she/her/hers), President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
MASTERCLASSES: Select 1 of 3

Organizations around the world are becoming increasingly interested in the benefits of moving from a traditional 5-day work week to a 4-day work week. Some would argue that the traditional approach to work needs a redesign. This session will examine this new working model – does it truly live up to the hype? Is it right for your organization? Examine the large-scale research on this, along with a case study to assess the possibilities for your organization. 

Speaker(s): Sarah Lussier Hoskyn, MA Econ, BPHA; Health & Wellness Researcher; Founder, Rooted Sky Solutions; Valerie Stam, PhD (she/her/elle), Operations Director | Directrice des opérations, City for All Women Initiative (CAWI) | Initiative: une ville pour toutes les femmes (IVTF)

Learn best practices and strategies derived from research and from Waterloo’s world-leading co-operative education program, for successfully onboarding next gen talent. In this session, you will learn more about research on Gen Z values, tips for onboarding in remote, hybrid and in person work modes, and strategies for building organizational commitment quickly. HR professionals will be presented with a range of strategies that can be implemented across organizations of all sizes to improve onboarding practices and ultimately employee success and retention. The focus of this session will be on emerging talent in work-integrated learning or new hire contexts.

Speaker(s): Anne-Marie Fannon, Director of the Work-Learn Institute, University of Waterloo; Nevetha Kugathas, Co-op Student, Research Assistant of the Work-Learn Institute, University of Waterloo

A recent study indicates that 56% of Canadians are more concerned about their health now before the pandemic, with 82% wanting to take better care of themselves. It is critical for leaders to understand their employees’ needs and implement the necessary support systems to meet those needs. You will learn the tools to promote mental health and wellness among employees through HR strategies that foster a positive work culture, create psychological safety and promote emotional strength and stability in the workplace.

Speaker(s): Mamy Kalambay, Mental Health Content Specialist, Dialogue; Martine Massarelli, Director, Employee Experience, Dialogue; Alyssa James, Mental Health Therapist, Dialogue; Dr. Marc Robin, Medical Director, Dialogue

 

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
CONCURRENT SESSIONS: Select 1 of 3

It is widely accepted among health practitioners that our biological health can be influenced by psychological and social factors and vice-versa. With that in mind, choosing a job can be one of the most important health decisions you make in your life! Your job can have a profound positive or negative impact on your health. Based on recent research in partnership with John Hopkins University, Alison Grenier will present a model for thinking about employee well-being which goes way beyond employee’s physical health and their job. By creating a climate of mental and emotional support, personal support, financial health and meaningful connections, business leaders can support positive well-being that allows employees to flourish in and beyond work. 

Speaker(s): Alison Grenier, Senior Consultant, Head of Culture & Research, Great Place to Work® Canada

This panel will discuss the stigma associated with seeking employment with a criminal record. It will examine how employers address record checks in the hiring process and offer practical tips on how to build more inclusive workplaces by reducing barriers for individuals with a criminal record. 

Speaker(s): Tyler Fainstat, Executive Director, John Howard Society of Ottawa; Dr. Kemi Anazodo, Professor, Human Resources Management, University of Windsor; Andrew Roeske, Certified Financial Planner, JHS Ottawa Board Member 

The challenges facing HR leaders have become more numerous and complex than ever – hiring effectively, developing and retaining top talent, managing layoffs and their after math, optimizing mergers and acquisitions, offering actionable advice to their business peers, and much more.  Impro.AI’s co-founders, Opher Brayer and Josh Blair, will discuss how today’s HR leaders can leverage AI and data analytics to navigate these challenges effectively and become heroes in the eyes of their employees by accelerating their professional growth as well as in the eyes of their company executives by helping the company to optimally manage key risks.

Speaker(s): Opher Brayer, Co-Founder, Chief Scientific Officer, Impro.AI; Josh Blair, Co-Founder & CEO, Impro.AI

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
HR Failed Me: A Reality Check

“What would you do if a co-worker screamed at you? Belittled you? Called you names? Shut you out? Brought you to tears and then laughed when he told you to cry all you want; that he didn’t feel one bit sorry for you and let you know with utter conviction that if you went to HR, they would choose him.” 

Hear Jennifer Valentyne’s powerful declaration on her experience here

Join powerhouse HR law expert Laura Williams and Canadian household TV personality Jennifer Valentyne as they discuss instances of when HR has failed and how Jennifer’s experiences in the public eye can spark change for HR professionals and organizations. This fireside chat will urge HR business leaders and organizations to recognize missed opportunities and ways to subsequently rebuild and restore workplace trust. 

Moderator: Laura Williams, Managing Partner, Williams HR Law LLP President and CEO, Williams HR Consulting Inc. 
Speaker(s): Jennifer Valentyne, Television Personality

1:30 PM – 1:35 PM
Closing Remarks and Day 3 Wrap-up

Speaker(s): Lindsay Recknell (she/her/hers); President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.; Diane Biesinger (she/her), CHRP, HR and Learning Specialist, HRPA

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Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her)

Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA

Kris Tierney is the Vice President of Human Resources and Learning at the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), Ontario’s regulator of the Human Resources profession. In her role, she provides strategic leadership to the Association’s professional development and learning programming for the HRPA’s more than 24,000 students and members; as well as serving as a member of the executive leadership team providing expertise in the areas of people, culture and HR strategy.

Kris is a passionate HR and business executive who believes that outstanding businesses run on outstanding workplaces where people and culture are strategic priorities. Kris spent more than 15 years’ leading HR and strategic talent programs in high growth, tech companies in automotive and financial services where she served as a trusted people and culture strategist, advisor and business partner to the C-Suite.

Known for her easy and approachable style, she thrives when helping others live their lives with purpose, belonging and value, and is a sought-after speaker and HR, culture and leadership expert. Kris holds the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designations as awarded by the HRPA.

Diane Biesinger
Diane Biesinger (she/her)

CHRP, HR and Learning Specialist, HRPA

Diane Biesinger has more than 20 years of experience in HR and has enjoyed working in a wide range of industries from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Diane holds the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation as awarded by the HRPA. She currently brings her passion for HR to the role of HR & Learning Specialist at the HRPA, where her focus runs the range of the workplace experience for all HRPA employees, “keeping the lights on in HR” and delivering on the association’s strategic initiatives. 

Diane is proud that HRPA has been certified as a Great Place to Work by GPTW Canada for the last four years and is looking forward to having that continue and improve. Prior to joining HRPA, she spent six years in the telecommunications space working with companies such as Bell and Rogers, as Director of HR. She is passionate about IDEA (inclusivity, diversity, equity, accessibility) and supporting leaders and staff to promote organizational objectives. Diane likes to bring her whole self to work and is enthusiastic about relationships as she brings a genuine love of people, especially our differences, to her daily interactions. 

Recknell, Lindsay
Lindsay Recknell (she/her)

President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.

Lindsay gets people talking, teaches self-awareness and brain science, and helps as many people as she can use positive psychology to motivate positive change. As President & CEO of Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc, she continues to raise mental health maturity in organizations while making conversations about mental health in the workplace as normalized as any other conversation.  

A certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor, Lindsay works with leaders and HR professionals to give them the knowledge and confidence to know what to say about mental health at work, how to help while considering the moral, ethical and legal considerations and how to make mental health-related decisions in the best interest of the company, their individual teams and themselves. 

She empowers individuals, strengthens teams and transforms organizations through her podcast, Mental Health for Leaders, a certificate program for leaders and HR professionals titled, Mental Health Skills Training, a digital subscription of conversation starters titled, Language of Mental Health, and a live, virtual or in-person workshop titled, From Burnout to Hope. Lindsay lives in Calgary with her husband and their two Golden Retrievers. 

lindsay@paradigmcw.com 

Paradigm Corporate Wellness logo

Bensen, Patrick
Patrick Bensen

Organizational & Clinical Psychologist Director, Leaders of Tomorrow Institute

Patrick is a highly experienced and versatile organizational and clinical psychologist with expertise in all facets of workplace behaviour, including HR-workforce relationship, organizational leadership, training and professional development, workplace ergonomics and workplace structural and cultural redesign as well as psychological health and safety, organizational wellness, burnout prevention and work-life harmonization. 

Patrick has a proven ability to uniquely blend forward-thinking business approaches with expert organizational psychology methodology, leading to highly successful employees, healthy work environments and elevated career paths. Adept at assessing business’s needs, he can create tailored workplace solutions to address issues, find opportunities and leverage emerging trends.  

With exceptional communication skills in given languages, Patrick can effectively communicate with various organizational stakeholders, leaders, community members and professional organizations. His areas of expertise include: organizational consultations leadership and change management, as well as project and HR management, and training development. He is also well-versed in cognitive psychology, counselling psychology and clinical psychology. 

– Organizational Consultant
– Project Management
– Cognitive Psychology
– Human Resource Management
– Training & Development
– Counselling Psychology
– Operational Leadership
– Organizational Change Management
– Clinical Psychology 

Patrick is a board member at Mental Health Europe under the EU Commission, an organizational expert and senior advisor to the board of the Hong Kong Psychological Association, a member of the steering committee at the American Psychological Association for the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award, a member of the International Association for Counselling, and a senior advisor and contributor at Forbes Business Council. 

Leaders of Tomorrow Institute Logo

Blair, Josh
Josh Blair

Co-Founder & CEO, Impro.AI

Josh knows that technology is at its best when combined with human ingenuity to deliver exceptional customer experiences. His company, Impro.AI enables organizations and people to accelerate their growth through AI-powered risk management and performance coaching.

Josh is also the Chairman of Straive, a global EdTech and digital content leader, the Vice Chair of TELUS International, a global leader in the delivery of digital customer experience solutions, and the Governance Chair of Neighbourly Pharmacy, Canada’s largest network of community pharmacies. He additionally serves as a Partner at Esplanade Ventures, a venture capital firm empowering entrepreneurs to deliver technology-based healthcare breakthroughs.

Over his career, Josh has held many roles that bridge the combined power of people, technology and business excellence, including serving as a Chief Learning Officer, Chief HR Officer, Group President, CEO, Board Chair and investor. He is a distinguished engineering alumnus from the University of Victoria and a graduate of the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.

 

 

Brayer, Opher
Opher Brayer

Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, Improv.AI

Opher is a C-Level executive coach that has worked with hundreds of companies in five continents, he is a systems thinker, Polymath, and game theory practitioner, a former jazz musician, and an education innovator – with hundreds of methodologies to his name. Early in his career, Opher was a trainee of thought leaders Michael Hewitt-Gleeson and Jay Abraham. He trained in Systems Dynamics at MIT and in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) with Richard Bandler. Over the past 30 years, he has coached thousands on their way to realizing their potential both personally and professionally. Opher’s groundbreaking work in developing thinking algorithms that help youth and adults alike to elevate their thinking and performance led to him receiving the Tribeca Disruptive Innovator Award in 2018.

Butler, Sydney Elaine
Sydney Elaine Butler (they/them)

Founder, Speaker, and Accessibility/Neurodiversity Consultant, Accessible Creates; DEIB Facilitator

Sydney’s professional purpose is to ensure that everyone can be successful regardless of barriers, and for them, as a professional to remove these barriers. Sydney is a 2020 graduate from Sheridan College with an Honours of Bachelor of Business Administration-Human Resources program. They wrote AODA policies, practices and procedures for a non-profit organization, ensured compliance and supported employee training for working alongside and supporting clients with disabilities. At their company called Accessible Creates, they also consult other companies on human-centric accessibility and inclusivity and on empowering and recruiting more diverse teams, in light of intersectionality and other areas of DEI.  

Accessible Creates Logo

 

 

Drouin, Melanie
Melanie Drouin

Senior Consultant at Great Place to Work® Canada

Melanie joined GPTW following a very successful 20-year career in marketing research. Having managed, coached and supported people’s growth in fast-paced, high-stress, multicultural environments while working with clients from all industries, Melanie learned first-hand the value of people-centered leadership. She has facilitated leadership workshops and supported leaders in North America, EMEA and APAC. Melanie attended McGill university where she studied Human Resources Management with a focus on organizational behaviour, training and development. She is an active member of the International Association of Facilitators.

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Bonita Eby

Burnout Prevention Strategist & Organizational Culture Consultant; Owner, Breakthrough Personal & Professional Development Inc.

Bonita Eby specializes in burnout prevention and wellness for organizations and individuals, operating at the intersection of health and leadership development.

TYLER_Headshot
Tyler Fainstat

Executive Director, John Howard Society of Ottawa

Tyler has been the Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Ottawa since August 2016, where he oversees the organization’s wide range of housing and non-housing-based programming, for adults and youth who have been or are at risk of being in conflict with the law. Previously, he was the Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Kingston and has spent ten years working in senior management positions with Médecins Sans Frontières. He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Economics from the London School of Economics. 

Fannon, Anne-Marie
Anne-Marie Fannon

Director of the Work-Learn Institute, University of Waterloo

In her role, Anne-Marie Fannon sets the research and innovation agenda for the Work-Learn team.  She is passionate about leveraging Work-Learn’s research insights to inform the practice and pedagogy of WIL.    

For the last decade, Anne-Marie was director of Work-Integrated Learning Programs at the University of Waterloo. Here, she oversaw the development and delivery of curriculum that supported students in a variety of work-integrated learning opportunities including the new (WE) Accelerate program, the EDGE program and the WatPD courses.  She is also actively engaged with Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada and serves as co-chair of CEWIL’s Government and External Relations Committee.    

Anne-Marie was president of the association in 2016/2017 during which time she led the association through an expansion of its mandate from co-op to work-integrated learning. She is a graduate of the University of Waterloo (MA ’03), Western University (BA ’01) and Brock University (BEd ’11). 

Grenier, Alison
Alison Grenier

Senior Consultant, Head of Culture & Research, Great Place to Work® Canada

With over 15 years’ experience studying the Best Workplaces, Alison leverages GPTW’s unparalleled data library to uncover emerging workplace trends and insights. She is skilled in high-level analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data and supports some of Canada’s leading organizations with specific and actionable feedback to improve their workplace culture. Prior to this, Alison worked in a variety of human resource roles in the manufacturing, not-for-profit and service sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in Workplace Learning and Change, and lives in beautiful British Columbia with her husband and four children. 

James, Alyssa
Alyssa James

Mental Health Specialist, Dialogue

Alyssa has her master’s degree in social work from the University of British Columbia. Alyssa works as a Mental Health Therapist at Dialogue providing Solution Focused Brief Therapy to members in areas such as anxiety, depression, grief, and relationships. She has experience working in community and residential mental health settings, including in-home counselling for seniors, addiction treatment centers, and concurrent disorder counselling for health agencies.

Kalambay, Mamy
Mamy Kalambay (MACP)

Mental Health Content Specialist, Dialogue

Mamy creates and presents engaging content (i.e., webinars, articles, scripts, capsules) related to mental health issues. Mamy also has valuable experience as a psychotherapist, assisting individuals facing various challenges related to their mental health such as depression, anxiety, stress related to work/personal life or traumatic events. 

Khan, Saba
Saba J. Khan

Principal Lawyer, Saba Khan Law 

Saba is the founder and Principal Lawyer at Saba Khan Law. She practices in the areas of employment and human rights law, assisting both employer and employee clients with a key focus on efficiency and client service. In her practice, she assists clients on a wide range of areas including drafting and reviewing employment agreements, navigating terminations, negotiating severance packages, human rights matters, workplace harassment and conducting workplace investigations, constructive dismissals, and drafting workplace policies. In her personal time, Saba enjoys training in kickboxing, skiing and expanding her culinary repertoire.   

Kugathas, Nevetha
Nevetha Kugathas

Co-op Student, Research Assistant of the Work-Learn Institute, University of Waterloo

Along with her team, Nevetha conducts research on the role of co-op and work-integrated learning and the development of talent. She is currently completing her third year in psychology with a research-intensive specialization and a minor in cognitive science. She hopes to pursue research on children’s neurodevelopmental milestones and aspires to working closely with children on the autism spectrum.    

Lussier Hoskyn, Sarah
Sarah Lussier Hoskyn

MA Econ, BPHA; Health & Wellness Researcher; Founder, Rooted Sky Solutions

Sarah’s mission is to empower individuals, workplaces and health systems to transform their health and wellbeing by uncovering new possibilities rooted in research. She can help you find and measure innovative solutions for your unique health and wellbeing challenges. She helps workplaces by performing assessments and root cause analyses, as well as researching solutions and conducting evaluations.  

She is an economist with 15+ years of experience in the healthcare policy field, mostly in pharma. Her research has influenced many policy decisions, and has been featured in peer-reviewed journals, professional magazines, industry blogs, as well as her own newsletter, Dreams and Roots. She is also a public speaker, a musician and a personal trainer. She has an M.A. in Economics from the University of Waterloo and a B.A. in Economics and Management from McGill and has completed her Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate (BPHA) designation from Connex Health in 2021. She is currently undergoing her Certified Personal Training through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.  

Sarah is intuitive, resourceful and knowledgeable about data sources and collection methods. She is curious about digging to find the root cause, and creative at communicating findings to generate meaningful insights and ensure proper understanding.  

Visit her LinkedIn page at www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlussierhoskyn/ or contact her at: sarahlussier@gmail.com  

Massarelli, Martine
Martine Massarelli

Director, Employee Experience, Dialogue

Martine thrives when finding new solutions for an engaging and stimulating workplace. With a well-rounded HR background ranging from employee relations and HR analytics, to communications and recruitment, along with experience in the healthcare and technology sectors, Martine thrives by seeing others grow and by sharing her passion for a strong employee experience with others. 

Jacob Morgan Headshot
Jacob Morgan

International Best-selling Author, Keynote Speaker, Professionally Trained Futurist; Founder, FutureOfWorkUniversity.com 

Amongst other accolades, Jacob is the international best-selling author of 4 books and the founder of FutureOfWorkUniversity.com an online education and training platform which offers courses on leadership, the future of work and the employee experience. He is also the host of Leading The Future of Work, one of the world’s most popular leadership podcasts. His work has been endorsed by the CEOs of Unilever, Cisco, Mastercard, Nestle, Best Buy, SAP, KPMG, T-Mobile, Audi, Kaiser Permanente and many others. Jacob has also contributed to and been cited in publications such as Cosmopolitan, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, CNN, Glamour, the MIT Sloan Management Review, USA Today and The Harvard Business Review. He is currently working on a new book exploring leadership and vulnerability, to be released mid 2023. You can learn more about Jacob and get access to his content by visiting TheFutureOrganization.com. 

Mullen, Chris
Dr. Chris Mullen

Director, The Workforce Institute

Dr. Chris Mullen, PhD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is the executive director of The Workforce Institute at UKG, the leading workplace think tank focused on the frontline employee experience.  In this role, he leads the institute’s education and research initiatives, which focus on empowering organizations with meaningful strategies to improve employee engagement by delivering a modern work experience. Dr. Mullen’s 15-year career as an HR practitioner and leader has shaped his Ph.D. work in work-life negotiation.  

Neilans, Mary
Mary Neilans

Accessibility and Aging Well Consultant; Founder, AIM for Inclusion

Mary has worked on numerous accessibility projects as a consultant, business analyst, and accessibility documentation and training specialist. She has managed and completed projects both through her own organization—AIM for Inclusion—as well as through collaboration with other organizations, including AccessAbility Advantage, Enabling Access, and Human Space.

With over 20 years of consulting experience in a wide range of sectors, Mary now focuses on raising awareness of accessibility barriers and requirements in the workplace. She assists organizations in meeting or exceeding provincial and federal accessibility legislation compliance standards, identifying and removing barriers, and creating a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Mary develops and delivers customized presentations and workshops that provide informative and interactive opportunities for management, employees, board members, volunteers and community members. Topics cover various aspects of accessibility awareness and aging well, with the goal of eliminating ableism and ageism in the workplace and the broader community.

Mary has a Sociology degree from the University of Toronto, a certificate in Principles and Practices in Accessibility from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), and additional certification and training related to project management, research, documentation and adult education. She is an active member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies, and a Certified Professional Consultant on Aging.

Payne, Brandy
Brandy Payne (she/her/hers)

Workplace Mental Health Strategist, Thriving Workplaces

Brandy helps leaders and their teams extinguish burnout, bolster well-being, and build a workplace where everyone’s mental health can thrive. She helps leaders and managers lead in a way that fosters a healthy workplace culture, while reducing or eliminating the underlying (and often unintentional) factors that undermine mental wellness at work.  

She has worked with corporations, non-profit/social-profit agencies and government departments of various sizes and is focused on meeting her clients where they are with tailor-made advice, strategies and solutions.   

Brandy is a CMHA-Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor, and former Associate Minister of Health in Alberta (responsible for Mental Health & Substance Use). She draws on a combination of scientific evidence, best practices and lived experience to help individuals and organizations. 

Robin, Marc Dr.
Dr. Marc Robin

Medical Director, Dialogue

Dr. Marc Robin has over 20 years of experience as a family physician providing person-centered care. As Medical Director of Dialogue, he leads a multidisciplinary team that develops a virtual approach to collaborative care in primary care and mental health. He is passionate about empowering members to adopt evidence-based lifestyle changes that lead to better wellness and disease prevention.

Roeske, Andrew
Andrew Roeske

Certified Financial Planner, JHS Ottawa Board Member

Andrew is an individual with lived experience in addiction and of the Canadian justice system. He is currently the Office Manager of Turn Key Wealth Management. He also serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the John Howard Society of Ottawa and is co-Chair of the Fresh Start Coalition, which is comprised of over 90 organizations across the country that advocate for criminal record reform. 

Rozon, Jennifer
Jennifer Rozon

President, McLean & Company & Official Member at Forbes Human Resources Council

Jennifer manages the overall vision and strategy for research, product development, business development and customer experience at McLean & Company. She is passionate about elevating HR departments and executing innovative ideas through inspired team members. Jennifer is an analytical leader who drives bottom-line results while staying people focused and embracing change as an opportunity to drive breakthrough performance.  

She firmly believes that creating an exceptional employee experience will in turn create a better member experience. Since joining the organization in 2006, Jennifer has held positions in research, business development, corporate strategy and product development. She pioneered some of the first blueprints and diagnostic products, including the development of the Employee Engagement Program. Prior to joining McLean & Company, Jennifer held roles at Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, BlackBerry and Wal-Mart. She received her Honors in Business Administration from the Ivey Business School at Western University. 

Salawu Anazodo, Dr. Kemi
Dr. Kemi S. Anazodo

Professor, Human Resources Management, University of Windsor

Kemi S. Anazodo, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. Dr. Anazodo’s research focuses on giving voice to marginalized and stigmatized persons navigating the employment process. Through this work, Dr. Anazodo integrates mixed methodologies to explore social phenomena such as identity, equity and stigma, and examine how individuals navigate the complexity of their experiences in employment. His research captures experiences of integrating and reintegrating justice-involved persons into employment.  Dr. Anazodo is currently leading a SSHRC funded project titled A Second Chance in Sight: Employer Perspectives of Employment for Individuals with a Criminal History, which involves capturing the perspectives of Canadian HR professionals and organizational leaders towards hiring justiceinvolved persons.  

Stam, Valerie
Valerie Stam, PhD, (she/her/elle)

Operations Director, City for All Women Initiative (CAWI)

After working for three and a half years as Executive Director, Valerie now focuses on building and growing the internal operations at CAWI. She is particularly interested in creating systems and cultures that embody strong intersectional feminist values. Valerie is an experienced facilitator and loves connecting people and building community.  

Valerie has more than 20 years of experience in local and international development. She has worked in West Africa, South Asia, Europe and Canada on gender equality, peacebuilding, anti-racism and anti-poverty initiatives. She has a PhD in sociology from Carlton University where she used participatory theatre to research race and belonging with second-generation youth. In her free time, Valerie can be found gardening, playing her cello, kayaking and reading. 

Jennifer Valentyne - Circle
Jennifer Valentyne

Television Personality

The face of morning television’s “Live Eye” segment for 23 years, Jennifer Valentyne was also the host of Global News Morning Toronto as well as The Bachelor and The Bachelorette Canada’s first live after show on the W Network. Her journey to being one of the most recognizable faces on television started when she was attending Centennial College for Radio and Television Broadcasting while working as the Key590 radio station Cash Car Girl. She then took an internship at MuchMusic, and after graduation, obtained a full-time position as a graphics operator in hopes of becoming a VJ. Moses Znaimer, founder of CityTV, had other plans, and brought her to morning television in the memorable role of the singing weather girl, and the rest is history. 

Over the course of her career, Valentyne has interviewed celebrities such as Sir Richard Branson, Billy Crystal, Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum and Harrison Ford, but her passion has always been people in the community. She has the exceptional gift of unearthing their fascinating stories and sharing them in a meaningful way. 

Additionally, Valentyne was a founding member of the comedy troupe “On the Off Ramp” and studied improv at The Second City. She has been writing songs and singing jazz since she was a teenager and went on tour after releasing two CDs. She was also previously a co-host of Q107 with John Derringer. 

Valentyne is deeply fulfilled by giving back to the community with volunteer initiatives and is actively involved with Camp Oochigeas, The Children’s Breakfast Club, Dreams Take Flight, Habitat for Humanity, Women Build, Pride Build and World Vision. 

Venditti, Allison
Allison Venditti

CHRP, CHRL; Founder, Moms at Work + My Parental Leave 

Allison Venditti is a career coach and an HR and return-to-work expert with over 15 years of experience creating programs, policies and best practices that improve workplace culture and increase employee retention.  

 After becoming a mother and surviving a life-altering brain injury, Allison decided to leverage her expertise as a corporate recruiter for industries ranging from healthcare to banking. To do so, she started a career coaching business to help women, and especially mothers, build meaningful careers and develop leadership skills to become change makers in their organizations. She has since grown Moms at Work to Canada’s largest professional network for working mothers, providing resources, community and support to over 13,000 women.  

 Allison is passionate about breaking down the barriers women face in succeeding in their careers and in motherhood, she is a sought-after speaker and regular commentator for national news outlets on return-to-work, pay transparency and working parenthood.  

In 2021, Allison organized a roundtable discussion with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to discuss ways the government can better support working families during the pandemic. Her input is regularly sought on policy changes impacting women and families. When not at work, Allison can be found sitting on her front porch in her favourite Star Wars T-shirt, planning her next advocacy initiative or biking around downtown Toronto with her three boys – yes, even in wintertime. 

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Laura Williams

Managing Partner, Williams HR Law LLP President and CEO, Williams HR Consulting Inc.

Laura has extensive experience providing strategic advice and legal representation to organizations on a wide range of labour and employment law matters. She is a seasoned workplace investigator with specific expertise in conducting investigations and organizational reviews related to equity, diversity, inclusion and systemic discrimination issues.  

A recognized thought leader, Laura has been featured in various publications, including Canadian Lawyer, Lawyers Weekly, Law Times, HR Professional Magazine, Canadian HR Reporter, Canadian Employment Law Today and Canadian Labour Law Today. In addition, she has appeared in various national broadcast and print media including CTV News, Global News, BNN, CBC Radio, the Globe and Mail, National Post, Canadian Business Magazine and Chatelaine.  

Moreover, Laura is a member of various professional organizations and community service associations. She has been appointed as an advisor on the University of Western Ontario’s newly formed Equity Council and to the Adidas United Against Racism Accountability Council. She also has many years of service on various Boards of Directors, including most recently for Canadian Society of Association Executives and is the Chair of the 360Kids Board of Directors. 

Laura’s work has been widely recognized, including with the Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Toronto, being listed on the annual W100 in 2016, which ranks the top 100 female entrepreneurs in Canada, and being listed as one of the Top 100 Black Females to Watch in 2020 from Canadian International Black Women Event. She has recently launched a podcast for business leaders and HR professionals called, We Thrive Forward – Conversations with Laura Williams, which is available on all major platforms. 

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Wilson, Ingrid
Ingrid Wilson

CHRL, CMS, Senior HR Executive & CHRO|CDEI Strategist and Advocate; Board Member and Advisor

Ingrid brings with her 30 years of global experience in corporate human resources, board and business strategy. She is a recipient of the Top 25 DEI Person of the Year Award, 2021, The Canadian Multicultural Group and LinkedIn Directory of 1000+Women Who Inspire Through Their Work, July 2022. She serves on several community and advisory member boards, including as a Board Director, Governance and Audit at the Canadian Association of Black Insurance Professionals.  

Ingrid has organizational experience with private and public companies, in regulatory environments, with global expertise working for organizations with diverse operations. She has a deep knowledge and understanding of diversity, inclusion and equity through lived experiences and working with vulnerable and marginalized communities. She develops and implements strategies through inclusive talent management strategies, leadership development and culture assessments. She also leads focus groups, speaking circles, interactive awareness programs and webinars, and accessibility strategies focused on eliminating systemic racism as well as physical and technological barriers in order to foster an inclusive, equitable and respectful work environment. 

 

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Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her)

Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA

Kris Tierney is the Vice President of Human Resources and Learning at the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), Ontario’s regulator of the Human Resources profession. In her role, she provides strategic leadership to the Association’s professional development and learning programming for the HRPA’s more than 24,000 students and members; as well as serving as a member of the executive leadership team providing expertise in the areas of people, culture and HR strategy.

Kris is a passionate HR and business executive who believes that outstanding businesses run on outstanding workplaces where people and culture are strategic priorities. Kris spent more than 15 years’ leading HR and strategic talent programs in high growth, tech companies in automotive and financial services where she served as a trusted people and culture strategist, advisor and business partner to the C-Suite.

Known for her easy and approachable style, she thrives when helping others live their lives with purpose, belonging and value, and is a sought-after speaker and HR, culture and leadership expert. Kris holds the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designations as awarded by the HRPA.

Diane Biesinger
Diane Biesinger (she/her)

CHRP, HR and Learning Specialist, HRPA

Diane Biesinger has more than 20 years of experience in HR and has enjoyed working in a wide range of industries from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Diane holds the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation as awarded by the HRPA. She currently brings her passion for HR to the role of HR & Learning Specialist at the HRPA, where her focus runs the range of the workplace experience for all HRPA employees, “keeping the lights on in HR” and delivering on the association’s strategic initiatives. 

Diane is proud that HRPA has been certified as a Great Place to Work by GPTW Canada for the last four years and is looking forward to having that continue and improve. Prior to joining HRPA, she spent six years in the telecommunications space working with companies such as Bell and Rogers, as Director of HR. She is passionate about IDEA (inclusivity, diversity, equity, accessibility) and supporting leaders and staff to promote organizational objectives. Diane likes to bring her whole self to work and is enthusiastic about relationships as she brings a genuine love of people, especially our differences, to her daily interactions. 

Recknell, Lindsay
Lindsay Recknell (she/her)

President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.

Lindsay gets people talking, teaches self-awareness and brain science, and helps as many people as she can use positive psychology to motivate positive change. As President & CEO of Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc, she continues to raise mental health maturity in organizations while making conversations about mental health in the workplace as normalized as any other conversation.  

A certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor, Lindsay works with leaders and HR professionals to give them the knowledge and confidence to know what to say about mental health at work, how to help while considering the moral, ethical and legal considerations and how to make mental health-related decisions in the best interest of the company, their individual teams and themselves. 

She empowers individuals, strengthens teams and transforms organizations through her podcast, Mental Health for Leaders, a certificate program for leaders and HR professionals titled, Mental Health Skills Training, a digital subscription of conversation starters titled, Language of Mental Health, and a live, virtual or in-person workshop titled, From Burnout to Hope. Lindsay lives in Calgary with her husband and their two Golden Retrievers. 

lindsay@paradigmcw.com 

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Bensen, Patrick
Patrick Bensen

Organizational & Clinical Psychologist Director, Leaders of Tomorrow Institute

Patrick is a highly experienced and versatile organizational and clinical psychologist with expertise in all facets of workplace behaviour, including HR-workforce relationship, organizational leadership, training and professional development, workplace ergonomics and workplace structural and cultural redesign as well as psychological health and safety, organizational wellness, burnout prevention and work-life harmonization. 

Patrick has a proven ability to uniquely blend forward-thinking business approaches with expert organizational psychology methodology, leading to highly successful employees, healthy work environments and elevated career paths. Adept at assessing business’s needs, he can create tailored workplace solutions to address issues, find opportunities and leverage emerging trends.  

With exceptional communication skills in given languages, Patrick can effectively communicate with various organizational stakeholders, leaders, community members and professional organizations. His areas of expertise include: organizational consultations leadership and change management, as well as project and HR management, and training development. He is also well-versed in cognitive psychology, counselling psychology and clinical psychology. 

– Organizational Consultant
– Project Management
– Cognitive Psychology
– Human Resource Management
– Training & Development
– Counselling Psychology
– Operational Leadership
– Organizational Change Management
– Clinical Psychology 

Patrick is a board member at Mental Health Europe under the EU Commission, an organizational expert and senior advisor to the board of the Hong Kong Psychological Association, a member of the steering committee at the American Psychological Association for the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award, a member of the International Association for Counselling, and a senior advisor and contributor at Forbes Business Council. 

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Blair, Josh
Josh Blair

Co-Founder & CEO, Impro.AI

Josh knows that technology is at its best when combined with human ingenuity to deliver exceptional customer experiences. His company, Impro.AI enables organizations and people to accelerate their growth through AI-powered risk management and performance coaching.

Josh is also the Chairman of Straive, a global EdTech and digital content leader, the Vice Chair of TELUS International, a global leader in the delivery of digital customer experience solutions, and the Governance Chair of Neighbourly Pharmacy, Canada’s largest network of community pharmacies. He additionally serves as a Partner at Esplanade Ventures, a venture capital firm empowering entrepreneurs to deliver technology-based healthcare breakthroughs.

Over his career, Josh has held many roles that bridge the combined power of people, technology and business excellence, including serving as a Chief Learning Officer, Chief HR Officer, Group President, CEO, Board Chair and investor. He is a distinguished engineering alumnus from the University of Victoria and a graduate of the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.

 

 

Brayer, Opher
Opher Brayer

Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, Improv.AI

Opher is a C-Level executive coach that has worked with hundreds of companies in five continents, he is a systems thinker, Polymath, and game theory practitioner, a former jazz musician, and an education innovator – with hundreds of methodologies to his name. Early in his career, Opher was a trainee of thought leaders Michael Hewitt-Gleeson and Jay Abraham. He trained in Systems Dynamics at MIT and in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) with Richard Bandler. Over the past 30 years, he has coached thousands on their way to realizing their potential both personally and professionally. Opher’s groundbreaking work in developing thinking algorithms that help youth and adults alike to elevate their thinking and performance led to him receiving the Tribeca Disruptive Innovator Award in 2018.

Butler, Sydney Elaine
Sydney Elaine Butler (they/them)

Founder, Speaker, and Accessibility/Neurodiversity Consultant, Accessible Creates; DEIB Facilitator

Sydney’s professional purpose is to ensure that everyone can be successful regardless of barriers, and for them, as a professional to remove these barriers. Sydney is a 2020 graduate from Sheridan College with an Honours of Bachelor of Business Administration-Human Resources program. They wrote AODA policies, practices and procedures for a non-profit organization, ensured compliance and supported employee training for working alongside and supporting clients with disabilities. At their company called Accessible Creates, they also consult other companies on human-centric accessibility and inclusivity and on empowering and recruiting more diverse teams, in light of intersectionality and other areas of DEI.  

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Drouin, Melanie
Melanie Drouin

Senior Consultant at Great Place to Work® Canada

Melanie joined GPTW following a very successful 20-year career in marketing research. Having managed, coached and supported people’s growth in fast-paced, high-stress, multicultural environments while working with clients from all industries, Melanie learned first-hand the value of people-centered leadership. She has facilitated leadership workshops and supported leaders in North America, EMEA and APAC. Melanie attended McGill university where she studied Human Resources Management with a focus on organizational behaviour, training and development. She is an active member of the International Association of Facilitators.

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Bonita Eby

Burnout Prevention Strategist & Organizational Culture Consultant; Owner, Breakthrough Personal & Professional Development Inc.

Bonita Eby specializes in burnout prevention and wellness for organizations and individuals, operating at the intersection of health and leadership development.

TYLER_Headshot
Tyler Fainstat

Executive Director, John Howard Society of Ottawa

Tyler has been the Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Ottawa since August 2016, where he oversees the organization’s wide range of housing and non-housing-based programming, for adults and youth who have been or are at risk of being in conflict with the law. Previously, he was the Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Kingston and has spent ten years working in senior management positions with Médecins Sans Frontières. He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Economics from the London School of Economics. 

Fannon, Anne-Marie
Anne-Marie Fannon

Director of the Work-Learn Institute, University of Waterloo

In her role, Anne-Marie Fannon sets the research and innovation agenda for the Work-Learn team.  She is passionate about leveraging Work-Learn’s research insights to inform the practice and pedagogy of WIL.    

For the last decade, Anne-Marie was director of Work-Integrated Learning Programs at the University of Waterloo. Here, she oversaw the development and delivery of curriculum that supported students in a variety of work-integrated learning opportunities including the new (WE) Accelerate program, the EDGE program and the WatPD courses.  She is also actively engaged with Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada and serves as co-chair of CEWIL’s Government and External Relations Committee.    

Anne-Marie was president of the association in 2016/2017 during which time she led the association through an expansion of its mandate from co-op to work-integrated learning. She is a graduate of the University of Waterloo (MA ’03), Western University (BA ’01) and Brock University (BEd ’11). 

Grenier, Alison
Alison Grenier

Senior Consultant, Head of Culture & Research, Great Place to Work® Canada

With over 15 years’ experience studying the Best Workplaces, Alison leverages GPTW’s unparalleled data library to uncover emerging workplace trends and insights. She is skilled in high-level analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data and supports some of Canada’s leading organizations with specific and actionable feedback to improve their workplace culture. Prior to this, Alison worked in a variety of human resource roles in the manufacturing, not-for-profit and service sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in Workplace Learning and Change, and lives in beautiful British Columbia with her husband and four children. 

James, Alyssa
Alyssa James

Mental Health Specialist, Dialogue

Alyssa has her master’s degree in social work from the University of British Columbia. Alyssa works as a Mental Health Therapist at Dialogue providing Solution Focused Brief Therapy to members in areas such as anxiety, depression, grief, and relationships. She has experience working in community and residential mental health settings, including in-home counselling for seniors, addiction treatment centers, and concurrent disorder counselling for health agencies.

Kalambay, Mamy
Mamy Kalambay (MACP)

Mental Health Content Specialist, Dialogue

Mamy creates and presents engaging content (i.e., webinars, articles, scripts, capsules) related to mental health issues. Mamy also has valuable experience as a psychotherapist, assisting individuals facing various challenges related to their mental health such as depression, anxiety, stress related to work/personal life or traumatic events. 

Khan, Saba
Saba J. Khan

Principal Lawyer, Saba Khan Law 

Saba is the founder and Principal Lawyer at Saba Khan Law. She practices in the areas of employment and human rights law, assisting both employer and employee clients with a key focus on efficiency and client service. In her practice, she assists clients on a wide range of areas including drafting and reviewing employment agreements, navigating terminations, negotiating severance packages, human rights matters, workplace harassment and conducting workplace investigations, constructive dismissals, and drafting workplace policies. In her personal time, Saba enjoys training in kickboxing, skiing and expanding her culinary repertoire.   

Kugathas, Nevetha
Nevetha Kugathas

Co-op Student, Research Assistant of the Work-Learn Institute, University of Waterloo

Along with her team, Nevetha conducts research on the role of co-op and work-integrated learning and the development of talent. She is currently completing her third year in psychology with a research-intensive specialization and a minor in cognitive science. She hopes to pursue research on children’s neurodevelopmental milestones and aspires to working closely with children on the autism spectrum.    

Lussier Hoskyn, Sarah
Sarah Lussier Hoskyn

MA Econ, BPHA; Health & Wellness Researcher; Founder, Rooted Sky Solutions

Sarah’s mission is to empower individuals, workplaces and health systems to transform their health and wellbeing by uncovering new possibilities rooted in research. She can help you find and measure innovative solutions for your unique health and wellbeing challenges. She helps workplaces by performing assessments and root cause analyses, as well as researching solutions and conducting evaluations.  

She is an economist with 15+ years of experience in the healthcare policy field, mostly in pharma. Her research has influenced many policy decisions, and has been featured in peer-reviewed journals, professional magazines, industry blogs, as well as her own newsletter, Dreams and Roots. She is also a public speaker, a musician and a personal trainer. She has an M.A. in Economics from the University of Waterloo and a B.A. in Economics and Management from McGill and has completed her Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate (BPHA) designation from Connex Health in 2021. She is currently undergoing her Certified Personal Training through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.  

Sarah is intuitive, resourceful and knowledgeable about data sources and collection methods. She is curious about digging to find the root cause, and creative at communicating findings to generate meaningful insights and ensure proper understanding.  

Visit her LinkedIn page at www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlussierhoskyn/ or contact her at: sarahlussier@gmail.com  

Massarelli, Martine
Martine Massarelli

Director, Employee Experience, Dialogue

Martine thrives when finding new solutions for an engaging and stimulating workplace. With a well-rounded HR background ranging from employee relations and HR analytics, to communications and recruitment, along with experience in the healthcare and technology sectors, Martine thrives by seeing others grow and by sharing her passion for a strong employee experience with others. 

Jacob Morgan Headshot
Jacob Morgan

International Best-selling Author, Keynote Speaker, Professionally Trained Futurist; Founder, FutureOfWorkUniversity.com 

Amongst other accolades, Jacob is the international best-selling author of 4 books and the founder of FutureOfWorkUniversity.com an online education and training platform which offers courses on leadership, the future of work and the employee experience. He is also the host of Leading The Future of Work, one of the world’s most popular leadership podcasts. His work has been endorsed by the CEOs of Unilever, Cisco, Mastercard, Nestle, Best Buy, SAP, KPMG, T-Mobile, Audi, Kaiser Permanente and many others. Jacob has also contributed to and been cited in publications such as Cosmopolitan, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, CNN, Glamour, the MIT Sloan Management Review, USA Today and The Harvard Business Review. He is currently working on a new book exploring leadership and vulnerability, to be released mid 2023. You can learn more about Jacob and get access to his content by visiting TheFutureOrganization.com. 

Mullen, Chris
Dr. Chris Mullen

Director, The Workforce Institute

Dr. Chris Mullen, PhD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is the executive director of The Workforce Institute at UKG, the leading workplace think tank focused on the frontline employee experience.  In this role, he leads the institute’s education and research initiatives, which focus on empowering organizations with meaningful strategies to improve employee engagement by delivering a modern work experience. Dr. Mullen’s 15-year career as an HR practitioner and leader has shaped his Ph.D. work in work-life negotiation.  

Neilans, Mary
Mary Neilans

Accessibility and Aging Well Consultant; Founder, AIM for Inclusion

Mary has worked on numerous accessibility projects as a consultant, business analyst, and accessibility documentation and training specialist. She has managed and completed projects both through her own organization—AIM for Inclusion—as well as through collaboration with other organizations, including AccessAbility Advantage, Enabling Access, and Human Space.

With over 20 years of consulting experience in a wide range of sectors, Mary now focuses on raising awareness of accessibility barriers and requirements in the workplace. She assists organizations in meeting or exceeding provincial and federal accessibility legislation compliance standards, identifying and removing barriers, and creating a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Mary develops and delivers customized presentations and workshops that provide informative and interactive opportunities for management, employees, board members, volunteers and community members. Topics cover various aspects of accessibility awareness and aging well, with the goal of eliminating ableism and ageism in the workplace and the broader community.

Mary has a Sociology degree from the University of Toronto, a certificate in Principles and Practices in Accessibility from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), and additional certification and training related to project management, research, documentation and adult education. She is an active member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies, and a Certified Professional Consultant on Aging.

Payne, Brandy
Brandy Payne (she/her/hers)

Workplace Mental Health Strategist, Thriving Workplaces

Brandy helps leaders and their teams extinguish burnout, bolster well-being, and build a workplace where everyone’s mental health can thrive. She helps leaders and managers lead in a way that fosters a healthy workplace culture, while reducing or eliminating the underlying (and often unintentional) factors that undermine mental wellness at work.  

She has worked with corporations, non-profit/social-profit agencies and government departments of various sizes and is focused on meeting her clients where they are with tailor-made advice, strategies and solutions.   

Brandy is a CMHA-Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor, and former Associate Minister of Health in Alberta (responsible for Mental Health & Substance Use). She draws on a combination of scientific evidence, best practices and lived experience to help individuals and organizations. 

Robin, Marc Dr.
Dr. Marc Robin

Medical Director, Dialogue

Dr. Marc Robin has over 20 years of experience as a family physician providing person-centered care. As Medical Director of Dialogue, he leads a multidisciplinary team that develops a virtual approach to collaborative care in primary care and mental health. He is passionate about empowering members to adopt evidence-based lifestyle changes that lead to better wellness and disease prevention.

Roeske, Andrew
Andrew Roeske

Certified Financial Planner, JHS Ottawa Board Member

Andrew is an individual with lived experience in addiction and of the Canadian justice system. He is currently the Office Manager of Turn Key Wealth Management. He also serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the John Howard Society of Ottawa and is co-Chair of the Fresh Start Coalition, which is comprised of over 90 organizations across the country that advocate for criminal record reform. 

Rozon, Jennifer
Jennifer Rozon

President, McLean & Company & Official Member at Forbes Human Resources Council

Jennifer manages the overall vision and strategy for research, product development, business development and customer experience at McLean & Company. She is passionate about elevating HR departments and executing innovative ideas through inspired team members. Jennifer is an analytical leader who drives bottom-line results while staying people focused and embracing change as an opportunity to drive breakthrough performance.  

She firmly believes that creating an exceptional employee experience will in turn create a better member experience. Since joining the organization in 2006, Jennifer has held positions in research, business development, corporate strategy and product development. She pioneered some of the first blueprints and diagnostic products, including the development of the Employee Engagement Program. Prior to joining McLean & Company, Jennifer held roles at Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, BlackBerry and Wal-Mart. She received her Honors in Business Administration from the Ivey Business School at Western University. 

Salawu Anazodo, Dr. Kemi
Dr. Kemi S. Anazodo

Professor, Human Resources Management, University of Windsor

Kemi S. Anazodo, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. Dr. Anazodo’s research focuses on giving voice to marginalized and stigmatized persons navigating the employment process. Through this work, Dr. Anazodo integrates mixed methodologies to explore social phenomena such as identity, equity and stigma, and examine how individuals navigate the complexity of their experiences in employment. His research captures experiences of integrating and reintegrating justice-involved persons into employment.  Dr. Anazodo is currently leading a SSHRC funded project titled A Second Chance in Sight: Employer Perspectives of Employment for Individuals with a Criminal History, which involves capturing the perspectives of Canadian HR professionals and organizational leaders towards hiring justiceinvolved persons.  

Stam, Valerie
Valerie Stam, PhD, (she/her/elle)

Operations Director, City for All Women Initiative (CAWI)

After working for three and a half years as Executive Director, Valerie now focuses on building and growing the internal operations at CAWI. She is particularly interested in creating systems and cultures that embody strong intersectional feminist values. Valerie is an experienced facilitator and loves connecting people and building community.  

Valerie has more than 20 years of experience in local and international development. She has worked in West Africa, South Asia, Europe and Canada on gender equality, peacebuilding, anti-racism and anti-poverty initiatives. She has a PhD in sociology from Carlton University where she used participatory theatre to research race and belonging with second-generation youth. In her free time, Valerie can be found gardening, playing her cello, kayaking and reading. 

Jennifer Valentyne - Circle
Jennifer Valentyne

Television Personality

The face of morning television’s “Live Eye” segment for 23 years, Jennifer Valentyne was also the host of Global News Morning Toronto as well as The Bachelor and The Bachelorette Canada’s first live after show on the W Network. Her journey to being one of the most recognizable faces on television started when she was attending Centennial College for Radio and Television Broadcasting while working as the Key590 radio station Cash Car Girl. She then took an internship at MuchMusic, and after graduation, obtained a full-time position as a graphics operator in hopes of becoming a VJ. Moses Znaimer, founder of CityTV, had other plans, and brought her to morning television in the memorable role of the singing weather girl, and the rest is history. 

Over the course of her career, Valentyne has interviewed celebrities such as Sir Richard Branson, Billy Crystal, Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum and Harrison Ford, but her passion has always been people in the community. She has the exceptional gift of unearthing their fascinating stories and sharing them in a meaningful way. 

Additionally, Valentyne was a founding member of the comedy troupe “On the Off Ramp” and studied improv at The Second City. She has been writing songs and singing jazz since she was a teenager and went on tour after releasing two CDs. She was also previously a co-host of Q107 with John Derringer. 

Valentyne is deeply fulfilled by giving back to the community with volunteer initiatives and is actively involved with Camp Oochigeas, The Children’s Breakfast Club, Dreams Take Flight, Habitat for Humanity, Women Build, Pride Build and World Vision. 

Venditti, Allison
Allison Venditti

CHRP, CHRL; Founder, Moms at Work + My Parental Leave 

Allison Venditti is a career coach and an HR and return-to-work expert with over 15 years of experience creating programs, policies and best practices that improve workplace culture and increase employee retention.  

 After becoming a mother and surviving a life-altering brain injury, Allison decided to leverage her expertise as a corporate recruiter for industries ranging from healthcare to banking. To do so, she started a career coaching business to help women, and especially mothers, build meaningful careers and develop leadership skills to become change makers in their organizations. She has since grown Moms at Work to Canada’s largest professional network for working mothers, providing resources, community and support to over 13,000 women.  

 Allison is passionate about breaking down the barriers women face in succeeding in their careers and in motherhood, she is a sought-after speaker and regular commentator for national news outlets on return-to-work, pay transparency and working parenthood.  

In 2021, Allison organized a roundtable discussion with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to discuss ways the government can better support working families during the pandemic. Her input is regularly sought on policy changes impacting women and families. When not at work, Allison can be found sitting on her front porch in her favourite Star Wars T-shirt, planning her next advocacy initiative or biking around downtown Toronto with her three boys – yes, even in wintertime. 

Laura-Williams-circle
Laura Williams

Managing Partner, Williams HR Law LLP President and CEO, Williams HR Consulting Inc.

Laura has extensive experience providing strategic advice and legal representation to organizations on a wide range of labour and employment law matters. She is a seasoned workplace investigator with specific expertise in conducting investigations and organizational reviews related to equity, diversity, inclusion and systemic discrimination issues.  

A recognized thought leader, Laura has been featured in various publications, including Canadian Lawyer, Lawyers Weekly, Law Times, HR Professional Magazine, Canadian HR Reporter, Canadian Employment Law Today and Canadian Labour Law Today. In addition, she has appeared in various national broadcast and print media including CTV News, Global News, BNN, CBC Radio, the Globe and Mail, National Post, Canadian Business Magazine and Chatelaine.  

Moreover, Laura is a member of various professional organizations and community service associations. She has been appointed as an advisor on the University of Western Ontario’s newly formed Equity Council and to the Adidas United Against Racism Accountability Council. She also has many years of service on various Boards of Directors, including most recently for Canadian Society of Association Executives and is the Chair of the 360Kids Board of Directors. 

Laura’s work has been widely recognized, including with the Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Toronto, being listed on the annual W100 in 2016, which ranks the top 100 female entrepreneurs in Canada, and being listed as one of the Top 100 Black Females to Watch in 2020 from Canadian International Black Women Event. She has recently launched a podcast for business leaders and HR professionals called, We Thrive Forward – Conversations with Laura Williams, which is available on all major platforms. 

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Wilson, Ingrid
Ingrid Wilson

CHRL, CMS, Senior HR Executive & CHRO|CDEI Strategist and Advocate; Board Member and Advisor

Ingrid brings with her 30 years of global experience in corporate human resources, board and business strategy. She is a recipient of the Top 25 DEI Person of the Year Award, 2021, The Canadian Multicultural Group and LinkedIn Directory of 1000+Women Who Inspire Through Their Work, July 2022. She serves on several community and advisory member boards, including as a Board Director, Governance and Audit at the Canadian Association of Black Insurance Professionals.  

Ingrid has organizational experience with private and public companies, in regulatory environments, with global expertise working for organizations with diverse operations. She has a deep knowledge and understanding of diversity, inclusion and equity through lived experiences and working with vulnerable and marginalized communities. She develops and implements strategies through inclusive talent management strategies, leadership development and culture assessments. She also leads focus groups, speaking circles, interactive awareness programs and webinars, and accessibility strategies focused on eliminating systemic racism as well as physical and technological barriers in order to foster an inclusive, equitable and respectful work environment. 

 

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