Unlocking Human Potential:
Empowering Talent, Prioritizing Wellness, Strengthening Organizations
Creating stronger workplaces and being mindful of employee expectations demands that businesses be people-focused like never before. Simultaneously, preparing for emerging trends in workplaces requires disrupting traditional top-down models and turning towards a human-centric workforce ethos, while remaining fully aware of how this impacts the role of business and HR leaders.
Today the focus is on meaningfully unlocking human potential.
Attention Registered Attendees: The conference platform is now open. Please check your email for the access link. Sessions begin at 8:45 AM EST on Tuesday, July 26.
Difficulty logging in? Missing your event link? For technical support, please email: webinars@hrpa.ca
Location
Virtual
Event platform access will be communicated by email 48 hours prior to the event start.
CPD
18.5 CPD Hours
9.5 Hours live + 9 Hours on-demand
Price
Member, Non-Member and Student pricing available.
Details in the “Pricing” tab.
Early bird ends June 16, 2022.
Today the focus is on meaningfully unlocking human potential.
An empowered, diverse workforce amplifies workers’ voices, integrates radical flexibility and helps renew our understanding of the underlying social contract that is implied in employer-employee relationships. Prioritizing employees’ emotional wellness and psychological safety is essential to address the increasing mental health needs of a diverse workforce. In turn, this is impacted by factors such as the elder and childcare duties that workers fulfill at home.
This conference will arm HR professionals with new and critical skills, tools and strategies to address talent development and emotional wellness and develop their organizations’ people practices for a stronger future that benefits everyone. Speakers will delve into the evolution of talent and the impetus to accommodate workers’ varying life circumstances. Sessions will also address how HR professionals can lead the necessary initiatives that can create space for employee-led workshops and presentations and account for the caregiving responsibilities of workers.
Join the conversation, level up your programs, and strengthen your human potential.
EVENT THEMES
- Centering employees’ emotional wellness
- Embedding an ethos of psychological safety throughout your organization
- Enhancing talent development strategies
- Developing innovative recruitment and retention solutions
- Gaining the latest insights and information to support your business and prepare for the future
WHY ATTEND
- Learn from leading experts on today’s most pressing workplace issues
- Hear how to safeguard your organization from risk and help unlock human potential
- Collaborate with and learn from other HR professionals facing similar workplace challenges
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- HR specialists, HR leaders, 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
- HR professionals who are involved with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the workplace
- Talent recruitment and retention specialists in charge of attracting and upskilling employees
- Business leaders who are responsible for employee wellbeing, employee engagement, leadership, and policy development
Continuing Professional Development
The Summer Conference is collectively eligible for 18.5 CPD Hours: 9.5 Hours Live + 9 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 June 16, 2022 | Regular June 17, 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 June 16, 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 |
Agenda- Day 1
Please note that HRPA reserves the right to modify and update session titles, descriptions and speakers.
DAY 1: Tuesday, July 26
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Speaker(s): Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her), Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA; Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers); President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Enhancing Your Understanding of the 13 Factors of Psychological Safety
As frequently as we hear terms like psychological safety, do we know what it truly means? Kickstarting the conference, this conversation will equip HR professionals with timely, comprehensive knowledge about the multiple factors shaping the workplace. This session will compel you and your organization to embrace psychological health and safety and explore the business imperative to articulate the health, business and legal necessities for doing so. The focus will be on demonstrating due diligence and mitigating causes that lead to employees becoming psychologically injured or ill.
Speaker(s): Dr. Joti Samra, Work Environment, Emotional Intelligence & Mental Resilience Expert; CEO & Founder, MyWorkplaceHealth
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
CONCURRENT SESSIONS: Select 1 of 3
This series is not your typical wellness talk that you all too often hear about. This three-part emotional wellness series is embedded into the conference program and will be a journey of increased awareness examining stigmatized, and complex issues. Topics addressed will include:
- the impact of domestic violence in the workplace,
- the prevalence of stress and burnout amongst HR leaders and the varying challenges experienced by working caregivers, women and racialized employees, and
- forms of recognition of and responses to neurodiversity to ensure safety, inclusion and prevent harm.
Prepare to take a deeper dive into these complex issues to help support and strengthen your organization’s wellness strategies. Attend one or two parts covering specific topics relevant to your workplace, or the entire series to enhance your learning on all of these important issues.
Part 1: Domestic Violence: Level up Leadership Safety
While we all have a perception of what domestic violence is, it is a complex topic that can affect staff and our organizations in various ways. It’s become even more complex with WFH considerations and employer obligations to keep employees safe from violence and harassment.
This session covers:
- What DV is and how it can affect the workplace for perpetrators of abuse, targets of abuse, co-workers, and employers
- Considerations for employees working remotely to comply and mitigate risk
- How to approach someone you suspect may be experiencing abuse
- Risk escalation factors and the importance of reporting
- How to help keep targets of abuse, and others in the workplace safe
- Statistical data, policy consideration and the legal framework
Speaker(s): Ruthann Weeks, (She/Her), CRS, People and Culture Strategist, Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor
Founder, Harmony In The Workplace, Ltd.
Pay equity continues to be a constant challenge within the workforce. Current data highlights persisting inequalities in wages, where women from all walks of life are greatly impacted. This session will examine the strategic advantage of implementing a proactive stance on pay equity to close pay gaps andcreate an equitable and fair workplace.
Speaker(s): Kadie Ward, MBA, Commissioner and Chief Administrative Officer at Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
Diverse teams outperform non-diverse teams by 35%, yet one of the biggest factors hampering productivity is leaders being afraid to build diverse teams with people who may have opposing perspectives. In this interactive session, participants will discuss the impacts of discriminatory behaviour on marginalized groups and how inclusive leaders can champion allyship to promote a diverse workplace.
Speaker(s): Siobhan Calderbank, Senior Director of Talent Management, Speaker, Change Management and Leadership Professional, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategist and Advocate
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Strengthening Human Potential: The Current State of Employment
Tired of hearing about the Great Resignation? Are you ready for solutions to address the factors impacting today’s current state of employment? Well, let’s talk about it! It is time to get real in a candid discussion with our panel of subject-matter experts who will provide you with the necessary skills to influence positive change in the employment landscape.
Moderator: Diane Biesinger, CHRP, HR and Learning Specialist, HRPA
Speaker(s): Allison Venditti, CHRP, CHRL, Founder of Moms at Work and My Parental Leave; Tyler Fainstat, Executive Director, John Howard Society of Ottawa; Jared Simmons, Founder and Principal, OUTLAST Consulting LLC; Rosie Yeung, CPA, CA, CHRL, President and Founder of Changing Lenses
1:00 PM – 1:05 PM
Closing Remarks and Day 1 Wrap-up
Speaker(s): Lindsay Recknell (she/her); 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, July 27
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Speaker(s): Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her), Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA; Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers); President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
CONCURRENT SESSIONS: Select 1 of 3
This series is not your typical wellness talk that you all too often hear about. This three-part emotional wellness series is embedded into the conference program and will be a journey of increased awareness examining stigmatized, and complex issues. Topics addressed will include:
- the impact of domestic violence in the workplace,
- the prevalence of stress and burnout amongst HR leaders and the varying challenges experienced by working caregivers, women and racialized employees, and
- forms of recognition of and responses to neurodiversity to ensure safety, inclusion and prevent harm.
Prepare to take a deeper dive into these complex issues to help support and strengthen your organization’s wellness strategies. Attend one or two parts covering specific topics relevant to your workplace, or the entire series to enhance your learning on all of these important issues.
Part 2: Is Burnout Now Normal?
HR leaders are challenged with navigating the various stress and burnout factors affecting employees, while maintaining their own health. Let us address some of the unique challenges caregivers, women and marginalized employees face as the world of work has changed in recent years.
This session covers:
- How we can accommodate worker needs, while supporting their careers:
- What can women do to remain “present” in the workplace as they are less visible?
- How can caregivers juggle responsibilities at home, while maintaining quality at work?
- What can managers do to maintain fairness with their teams?
- Bias and microaggressions that affect women in the workplace
- Emotional labour, and compassion fatigue with mitigating strategies
Speaker(s): Ruthann Weeks, (She/Her), CRS, People and Culture Strategist, Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor
Founder, Harmony In The Workplace, Ltd.
As the world of work evolves, psychological safety has become ever more critical. At its core, psychological safety is about feeling comfortable bringing your whole, human self to work. For employers, it’s about empowerment and trusting teams to do the jobs they were hired to do.
One way to prioritize psychological safety is through a culture of recognition. A new Gallop report indicates that recognition drives impact by improving the employee experience. Recognition has the most impact when it is authentic – but only about a third of survey participants strongly agree that the workplace recognition they get meets this bar.
Recognition only works when you do it right. So how can organizations create an authentic, supportive environment that allows employees to engage, innovate and flourish while building trust with their leaders? Attend this session to learn how to infuse gratitude, recognition and appreciation into the employee life cycle, in order to create an inclusive and psychologically safe environment in your organization.
Speaker(s): Dr. Meisha-Ann Martin, Senior Director, People Analytics and Research, Workhuman
The evolution of today’s workforce requires leaders to improve and learn new leadership skills and practices to help all employees thrive. Now more than ever, traditional leadership styles and mindsets are fast becoming a thing of the past. Like the saying goes, “out with the old, and in with the new!”
Speaker(s): David Town, HBA, CHRL, ACC; Leadership Coach & Facilitator, Co-founder and Principal, Virtual Leadership Matters™ Inc.
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Keynote: Thrive, Don’t Just Survive – Mental Health Skills to Empower a Thriving Organization
Mental health starts with us – to be our best at work, we get to take care of ourselves first. In this talk, we are going to focus on you, the HR professional as a leader, on your own mental health, to give you the skills to implement and model out loud what you’ve learned, empowering the people you work with, so they too can take care of their mental health and contribute to thriving, productive and ultimately healthier workplaces and communities.
Speaker(s): Lindsay Recknell (she/her); President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
BREAKOUT SESSIONS: Select 1 of 6
According to Statistics Canada, the unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio in Canada is at a historical low in the first half of 2022. This creates difficulties for employees filling vacant positions, especially in the construction, manufacturing, retail, health care, accommodation and food services industries. Partly due to a shrinking pool of unemployed workers, employers have been facing significant hiring challenges. For instance, there were33.6 newly hired employees for every 100 vacancies in Q1, according to Labour Market Survey.
Come prepared to brainstorm and talk with other HR professionals about ideas, best practices and solutions on how to overcome challenges in recruitment, as informed by:
- The gig economy
- Global mobility
- Great re-evaluation
- Compensation capabilities
- Creative recruitment strategies
- Access to a diverse pool of talent
Moderator: Sara Bragg, VP Customer Success, Modulus Data
There is a revolution happening in talent management. HR leaders are focusing on strategies that prioritize the talent processes, programs and initiatives that are critical to organizational success. Even if your organization has all its talent and skills needs met (does it?), this won’t always be the case. In fact, most organizations anticipate a skills shortage within the next few years.
Come prepared to brainstorm and talk with other HR professionals about ideas, best practices and solutions on how to attract, retain, and nurture talent. Topics discussed will include:
- Great re-evaluation
- Critical talent retention strategies
- Talent capabilities identification and measurement
- Upskilling, reskilling and development measurement
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging needs
Moderator: Ernest Ogunleye, Owner & Principal Consultant, EON Performance Solutions
The Canadian Labour Source Survey states that more than a quarter of Canadian employees currently have the flexibility to choose their work location. Many employees love hybrid work models. But this new approach to work can have a profound impact on their sense of community and connection. Some organizations are looking to end remote work and want employees to return to the office. Hybrid and remote work represents a major shift in how companies function and has a major impact on their culture, as well as on their capability to attract and retain talent.
Come prepared to brainstorm and talk with other HR professionals about ideas, best practices and solutions on how to navigate challenges in organizational culture changes in the best way. We will be discussing:
- Efficient and effective meetings
- Refusal to return to work in an office
- Workplace rants on social media
- Gig economy challenges
- Sick leaves management
Moderator: Elise Marentette, Principal Consultant, HR+ By Design
Most companies took the leap toward making remote work a permanent feature of the workplace. By embracing this trend, organizations can increase employee productivity -but it is also important to consider the potential downsides of remote work.
As the world enters the third year of the pandemic, and little is normal about the way we live and work, employers across the globe now recognize that protecting and supporting employees’ mental health is vital to the future success of their business.
Come prepared to brainstorm and talk with other HR professionals about ideas, best practices and solutions on how to navigate challenges related to mental health & burnout in workplaces. This session will delve into:
- Burnout of caregivers
- Balancing support and accountability for difficult work and deliverables
- Pros and cons of the 4-day work week
- “Disconnect from work” policy challenges
- Mental health benefits
Moderator: Marcia Newell, Human Resources Manager, Grandview Children’s Centre
The business case for DEIB is stronger than ever. Companies realize dependencies between DEIB and the likelihood of financial outperformance. While overall representation in organizations is improving, progress is noticeably slow.
Average hourly wages have gone up more among women than men since 2018. Despite this, the gender pay gap for full-time and part-time employees is 0.89, which means women make 89 cents on every dollar men make. The gender pay gap for full-time employees is 0.90, which means women make 90 cents on every dollar men make. This discrepancy is even more strongly evident in the work experiences of women who are racialized, are Indigenous, have a disability, are immigrants or face marginalization along other axes of identity.
Come prepared to brainstorm and talk with other HR professionals about ideas, best practices and solutions on how to move the needle on the DEI strategy more efficiently in your organization. Issues tackled will include:
- Practical applications of pay equity principles
- DEIB – KPIs
- Measurement of impact
Moderator: Beatriz Millon, Human Resources Assistant, Total Rewards, Sinai Health – Mount Sinai Hospital
NOTE: This session is by invite only. To be extended an invitation for yourself or a colleague, please email: executiveevents@hrpa.ca.
The global geopolitical and economic landscape has changed dramatically over the last year. The lasting effects of the global pandemic, inflation, rising interest rates, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and the war in Ukraine has affected businesses worldwide.
CEOs and boards are paying close attention to key threats to growth ahead and are discussing the possibility of squeezing budgets, considering Bear Market and possible recession on the horizon. Unsurprisingly, attention to the strategic and advisory voice of HR executives has become even more intensified.
This exclusive executive session for HR Directors and above will examine where corporate ESG (environmental, social, governance) strategies intersect with people and culture strategies.
Moderator: Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her), Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Closing Remarks and Day 2 Wrap-up
Speaker(s): Lindsay Recknell (she/her); 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, July 28
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Speaker(s): Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her), Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA; Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers); President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
MASTERCLASSES: Select 1 of 3
Organizations are familiar with the need to protect employees’ physical health and safety in the workplace. This responsibility is defined in occupational health and safety regulations, legislation and business practice. There is no denying that mental health problems continue to have a powerful impact in the workplace. Protecting workers must also include attending to their psychological well-being. This session will provide you with the necessary information and tools to take action to protect the health and safety of your employees.
Speaker(s): Tegan Slot, R.Kin MSc PhD CRSP, Lead, Specialized Services, Public Services Health and Safety Association; Sherri Bastos, Director of Prevention, Operations, Engagement and Retention, Public Services Health and Safety Association
Today’s organizations are facing a shortage of skills that are vital to business growth. Business leaders recognize the need to re-evaluate business models. This includes examining and reconsidering job roles and descriptions, identifying the current skillset of employees, determining future skills required and paying attention to where gaps exist. This session will explore the importance of enhancing your talent and development strategies by providing upskilling and reskilling opportunities. It will also address the pressures that exist for employees to upskill and reskill to remain relevant in today’s competitive job market.
Speaker(s): Amrita Bhalla, Managing Director, A.B Consulting
You don’t need a background in counselling or therapy to gain a trauma-informed approach to workplace management. Trauma-informed means you are aware of the impact that toxic stress and trauma has on the brain and the body.
In this workshop, you will learn what a trauma response is, the language of trauma-informed communication and the strategies that can support you and those who may be experiencing a trauma-related response. These skills can be applied in the workplace setting in the context of conflict resolution, performance management, accommodation, return to work, hiring, leadership development and team building.
Becoming trauma-informed is a proactive risk mitigation strategy to better understand the impact of trauma on systems and individuals within your professional environment. This will also contribute to creating resilient and psychologically healthy and safe workplaces.
Speaker(s): Treena Reilkoff, QMed, PHSA, WFA, BSW, BA, Trauma Informed Conflict Management Specialist, TLR Solutions4Conflict
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
CONCURRENT SESSIONS: Select 1 of 3
This series is not your typical wellness talk that you all too often hear about. This three-part emotional wellness series is embedded into the conference program and will be a journey of increased awareness examining stigmatized, and complex issues. Topics addressed will include:
- the impact of domestic violence in the workplace,
- the prevalence of stress and burnout amongst HR leaders and the varying challenges experienced by working caregivers, women and racialized employees, and
- forms of recognition of and responses to neurodiversity to ensure safety, inclusion and prevent harm.
Prepare to take a deeper dive into these complex issues to help support and strengthen your organization’s wellness strategies. Attend one or two parts covering specific topics relevant to your workplace, or the entire series to enhance your learning on all of these important issues.
Part 3: Recognition and Response to Neurodiversity
HR leaders are responsible to create a diverse workforce, free from discrimination, and bullying and harassment. When it comes to employee challenges, it’s always better to get curious, ask questions and listen more than we talk.
This session covers:
- Recognizing some of the signs of the neurodiverse
- Responding in positive ways that avoid escalation
- Effective communication strategies to achieve an outcome
- Accommodating the differently abled and getting the work done
- Making meetings, and presentations inclusive and productive
- Healthy boundaries and self-advocacy tips for those on the spectrum
Speaker(s): Ruthann Weeks, (she/her), CRS, People and Culture Strategist, Founder, Harmony In The Workplace, Ltd.
This session offers insightful advice and considerations to take into account when accommodating employees who are experiencing mental health challenges. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of mental health issues, and how to proactively foster a more psychologically safe and healthy workplace culture.
Speaker(s): Kelly Bron Johnson, Founder, Completely Inclusive; Certified Workplace Psychological Health and Safety Advisor; Mental Health First Aider; IDEA Advisor
As the war for talent continues, hybrid work models have become the new normal. But creating a successful hybrid work culture involves much more than just establishing rules around hours and location. At its heart, hybrid work is about giving people the flexibility and freedom to work where, when and how they work best.
This session presents the research-based business case for creating an effective hybrid work culture. We will also share best practices from organizations that have found early success and consider the important role that people leaders play in enabling hybrid work.
Speaker(s): Alison Grenier, Senior Consultant, Head of Culture & Research, Great Place to Work® Canada
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
The People Empowered Workforce: How to Be Happy in the New World of Work
“The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.” — Socrates.
The transition to a post-pandemic workplace is here, and whether one’s work is in-person, virtual or hybrid, navigating the new world of work can be challenging. From the pandemic to the Great Resignation, one thing is for sure – people are re-evaluating their priorities when it comes to how, when and where they work, and the purpose behind their work. Business leaders must create a more meaningful employee experience that encourages employees to do their best work and bring their authentic selves to work.
Increasing happiness and fulfillment is key to personal and professional success, and these capabilities can be learned. The latest research underscores that happiness is crucial for enhancing motivation, performance and success. In fact, implementing happiness-building practices at work results in 125% less burnout, 66% fewer sick leaves, 44% higher retention and 37% greater sales. This session will outline a roadmap to happier work environments that increase energy, decrease burnout, and sustain positive change.
Speaker(s): Dr. Gillian Mandich, Founder, The International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research
1:00 PM – 1:05 PM
Closing Remarks and Day 3 Wrap-up
Speaker(s): Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her), Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA; Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers); President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
1:05 PM – 2:00 PM
OPTIONAL: Community Social
Engage in self-guided learning and reflect on the highlights of the conference in this informal session. This open forum aims to facilitate brainstorming solutions, discussing ideas and learning from the experiences of fellow HR professionals. If you have questions about the conference sessions, now’s your chance to get them answered as some of the speakers will also be in attendance. This space is designed to encourage free-flowing conversation and connections with colleagues.
Moderators: Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her), Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA; Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers); President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
Connect with our conference speakers
Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (She/her/hers)
Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA
Kris’ approach as an executive leader is to achieve results by creating outstanding workplaces where people and culture are strategic priorities. She is a passionate and skilled business executive with 15 years’ experience leading HR in hi-tech, high growth companies in automotive and financial services, where she served as a trusted people and culture strategist, advisor, and business partner to the C-Suite.
Kris started her career in hospitality where she held various leadership and management positions. For more than 20 years, Kris has served as a valued member of senior and executive leadership teams, where her skills in HR, leadership, strategy, and culture were honed and her passion for business and human resources were developed. She is periodically called upon by media, conferences, and academia to contribute her experience and perspectives as an HR and business leader.
Kris has achieved the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designations as awarded by the Human Resources Professionals Association in Ontario, Canada. As a lifelong learner, Kris is thrilled to bring professional development and learning opportunities to the HR community in her role as Vice-President, Human Resources and Learning at the HRPA.
Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers)
President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
Lindsay Recknell 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 the President & CEO of Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc, Lindsay Recknell 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 & 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 & 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.
Sherri Bastos
Director of Prevention, Operations, Engagement and Retention, Public Services Health and Safety Association
Sherri Bastos is the Director of Prevention, Operations, Engagement and Retention with the Public Services Health and Safety Association. She is a passionate and motivating health and safety professional, dedicated to enhancing worker health, safety, and injury prevention. Her 23+ years’ experience within both the private and non–profit health care public sector has focused on directing national OH&S teams and best in-class occupational health, safety, prevention, and claims management programs. She is proud of successfully achieving leading health and safety strategic goals by valuing team collaboration, fostering strong partnerships, and supporting innovative safety ideas and programs.
Amrita Bhalla
Managing Director, A.B Consulting
Amrita is an accomplished senior HR executive with over 20 years of experience. Her background includes executive HR roles in the luxury hospitality industry with the following brands: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts; Oberoi Hotels and Resorts; and Belmond Hotels (formerly known as Orient Express). Prior to starting her career in the hospitality industry, Amrita worked in HR consulting with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Amrita has lived and worked in Canada, Bermuda, United Kingdom, Thailand and India. Her geographic work experience also includes the U.S., Middle East and the Caribbean. In 2015, Amrita founded A.B. Consulting, specializing in HR advisory services for clients across a multitude of sectors, including hospitality and tourism. A.B Consulting specializes in the areas of performance management, talent engagement and retention, learning and development, strategic planning and service standards development. A.B Consulting’s service portfolio also has a strong focus on workforce development for the Caribbean region.
Amrita is a member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Board Member for the Caribbean Hospitality and Tourism Association Education Fund (CHTAEF) and a member of the People Development Committee for the CHTA. Amrita is also a mentor for Ignite Bermuda, an accelerator focused on developing local entrepreneurial talent.
She joined the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism at Ryerson University in 2015, teaching Human Resources Management and Organizational Behaviour. Amrita holds a Masters in Industrial Relations (MIR) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queens University.
Diane Biesinger
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.
Siobhan Calderbank, MA, CMP, PROSCI®, PMP, CTDP
Senior Director of Talent Management, LCBO; Speaker, Change Management and Leadership, Professional, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategist and Advocate
Siobhan is a dynamic keynote speaker, consultant, award winning author, DEI practitioner, expert in change management and leadership and a project management professional. She has been seen on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and CW, and featured on the billboard in Times Square, NYC. Siobhan is also a featured book contributor alongside Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, John Lewis, Deepak Chopra and others. She has presented to diverse groups at conferences, events, seminars and planning sessions, motivating individuals to work more collaboratively. As an international speaker, she has engaged audiences from over 70 countries.
At LCBO, Siobhan is an experienced Senior Director of Talent Management where she focuses on talent development, performance management, learning, change management and diversity and inclusion. She is also the Founder of Butterfly Ladies – a mentoring program committed to helping develop the careers of women and youth, especially visible minorities. In addition, she is a volunteer mentor for Avanti Women and the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council.
Siobhan has been recognized as a Learning Leader by the Institute for Performance and Learning and is the recipient of the Universal Women’s Network (UWN) 2019 Women of Inspiration Award for Diversity and Inclusiveness. She is also the UWN National Ambassador for Black Women. She has been voted amongst the Top 10 Inspirational Female Entrepreneurs of 2019 and Most Influential Female Entrepreneur 2021 by Women Entrepreneur. Siobhan was also featured as one of The 10 Most Influential Businesswomen to Follow in 2020 by Insights Success, and a Woman of Influence by the Change Management Institute. In addition, she has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada 2020 by CIBWE, as well as one of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women 2022. She has also been selected as the Top Director of the Year in Talent Management for 2021, Empowered Women of the Year 2021, and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award 2022 by IAO.
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 spent 10 years working in senior management positions with the organization Médecins Sans Frontières. Tyler holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Economics from the London School of Economics.
Alison Grenier
Senior Consultant, Head of Culture & Research, Great Place to Work® Canada
Alison is a senior consultant and Head of Culture & Research for 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 joining the Institute, 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.
Kelly Bron Johnson
Founder, Completely Inclusive; Certified Workplace Psychological Health and Safety Advisor; Mental Health First Aider; IDEA Advisor
Kelly Bron Johnson (she/they) is an Autistic and Hard-of-Hearing self-advocate, keynote speaker, author and founder of Completely Inclusive and the Autistic Entrepreneurs Network. As a mixed-heritage Black nonbinary person, Kelly Bron brings her intersectional identity into all her work and aims to break down the stigmas and systemic barriers that exist in society to make the path easier for others. Kelly Bron is also a Certified Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace Advisor and is currently completing a Professional Certificate in Restorative Justice from Vermont Law School.
Dr. Gillian Mandich, PhD
Founder, The International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research
Dr. Gillian Mandich is an award-winning, internationally recognized happiness researcher, speaker, educator and author. With a PhD from Western University in Health Science, her primary areas of research are happiness and health. Recently named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network, her work combines the latest research and practical wisdom withan engaging style to help people live happier, healthier lives.
Dr. Gillian is passionate about research. She is the founder of The International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research; Research Associate at The World Database of Happiness, based out of Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands; co-lead investigator of The Canadian Happiness At Work Study, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association; and has recently participated in industry research with L’Oréal, Interac, Co-operators and Pantene (Procter and Gamble).
As a prominent media personality, Dr. Gillian has appeared on The Social, Marilyn Denis, Breakfast Television, The Morning Show, Global, ABC News Philadelphia, WWL New Orleans and CBS Pittsburgh. She has been named one of Canada’s top health leaders four years in a row by OptiMYz Magazine. Shewas also the 2020 CanFitPro Canadian Presenter of the Year and has given two TEDx talks: “The Surprising Truth About Happiness” at TEDx Yorkville and “The Two Things You Need To Know To Be Happier Today” at TEDx Windsor.
Dr. Gillian lives in Toronto, Canada with her French Bulldog, Jocko. She sits on the board of The Sunshine Foundation of Canada, the Advisory Board at Examine.com, an independent organization that investigates the science behind nutrition and supplementation and is an invited member of The Staples Work from Anywhere Advisory Council, a collective of experts and thought leaders who provide Staples with insights and practical solutions for the new world of work.
Dr. Meisha-ann Martin
Industrial, Organizational Psychologist; Senior Director, People Analytics and Research, Workhuman
Dr. Meisha-ann Martin is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist and Senior Director, People Analytics and Research on our Workhuman iQ team. Prior to this role, Meisha-ann was the Head of Talent Management for ServiceMaster (former parent company of Terminix). Meisha-ann is also considered a People Analytics/Employee Experience expert as she has led these efforts in companies like Flex, JetBlue and Raymond James Financial for over a decade. Meisha-ann was a Workhuman customer during her time at JetBlue and led a team that established linkages between recognition, engagement, retention and customer satisfaction. Meisha-ann draws from all her prior career experiences in this role, helping Workhuman clients measure the impact of their recognition program and connect recognition efforts to other strategic HR imperatives.
Treena Reilkoff, QMed, PHSA, WFA, BSW, BA
Trauma Informed Conflict Management Specialist, TLR Solutions4Conflict
Treena is a Conflict Management & Resiliency Specialist, with experience in trauma-informed practices, inclusive promoting strategies and optimizing operational and professional resiliency in the workplace. She is recognized as an international trainer on the topics of resiliency and trauma-informed approaches. Treena brings more than 25 years’ experience with a diverse professional background, including working in the fields of mental health, behavioural analysis, corrections, military/veteran affairs, Alternative Dispute Resolution, case-management and social work. She brings her knowledge and expertise from an anti-oppressive, collaborative approach, to assist employers, organizations, unions, associations and governments to participate in recognizing and addressing conflict, mental health and risk mitigation from a psychologically safe management style.
Treena has a BSW, BA, Executive Certificate in Conflict Management, holds the designations of a Qualified Mediator (ADR Institute of Canada), Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor (CMHA), Workplace Assessment and Restoration Specialist, Diversity Facilitator, and Critical Incident Stress Management and Certified Resiliency Trainer. She is also a Director on the Board with the ADR Institute of Ontario.
Dr. Joti Samra, R. Psych.
Work Environment, Emotional Intelligence & Mental Resilience Expert ; CEO & Founder, MyWorkplaceHealth
Dr. Joti Samra, R. Psych. is a national thought leader on issues relating to psychological health, wellness and resilience. She is the CEO & Founder of MyWorkplaceHealth, a full-suite national workplace consulting firm and Dr. Joti Samra, R.Psych & Associates, an in-office and online (virtual) clinical counselling practice with offices located throughout BC.
Dr. Samra is a highly regarded expert in psychological health and safety (PH&S). Over the past two decades, she has been involved in numerous national initiatives that have contributed to policy change in Canada, and is a Founding & Ongoing Member of the CSA Technical Committee that developed the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace (CAN/CSA-Z1003-13/BNQ9700-803/2013). This Standard is the first of its kind in the world and is shaping policy development for workplace PH&S at the International Organization for Standardization level.
Dr. Samra is the lead Research Scientist who created Guarding Minds at Work: A Workplace Guide to Psychological Health & Safety, in which the psychosocial factor frame adopted by the Standard was developed. She is also the developer of the Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment, an assessment and action planning resource that aligns leaders’ skills with the requirements of the Standard. Dr. Samra and her team have extensive expertise in helping organizations implement initiatives related to workplace PH&S including implementation of the CSA Standard; providing leadership development, training and coaching services across a broad range of areas, including emotional intelligence, psychologically safe leadership and mental health awareness; and providing a breadth of services to enhance employee psychological health, wellness and resilience.
Dr. Samra has received a number of awards and accolades for her clinical and research work. She is proud to be the recipient of the Canadian Psychological Association’s New Researcher Award and the British Columbia Psychological Association’s Advancement of the Profession of Psychology Award. She is also the former President of the BC Psychological Association and past Chair of the BC Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards Committee.
Jared Simmons
Founder and Principal, OUTLAST Consulting LLC
Jared is Founder and Principal of OUTLAST Consulting LLC, an Atlanta-based consultancy that helps companies bring an innovation mindset to their toughest business problems. Prior to this, he was a Strategic Initiatives Director at the Coca-Cola Company, responsible for a pipeline of product innovation initiatives. Before joining Coca-Cola, he was part of the Product Development and Innovation practice at McKinsey and Company.
A chemical engineer by training, Jared’s career began in Research & Development at Procter & Gamble, where held roles in market research, supplier management and product development. He is a certified executive coach, moderator and practitioner of various personality assessment tools. When he is not serving clients, Jared is probably immersed in travel, music theory and performance, college football or community service.
Tegan Slot, R.Kin MSc PhD CRSP
Lead, Specialized Services, Public Services Health and Safety Association
Tegan Slot is the Lead, Specialized Services with Public Services Health and Safety Association. Much of Tegan’s early work in occupational health and safety focused on ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorder prevention in acute care and continuing care hospitals and she is now exploring the emerging and impactful area of psychological health and safety. Tegan has worked in the OHS field for over 14 years, is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional, Registered Kinesiologist, holds an MSc in Biomechanics, a PhD in Ergonomics and a certificate in Occupational Safety and Health.
David Town, HBA, CHRL, ACC
Leadership Coach & Facilitator, Co-founder and Principal, Virtual Leadership Matters™ Inc.
David is a facilitator and executive coach focused on helping build individual and organizational capability. He is well versed in leadership development, with a focus on performance-related communication, management skills and team dynamics. David has also studied the leadership skills required to maximize performance when leading employees who work remotely. He has established subject matter expertise in the art of virtual leadership and he excels in helping organizations achieve their objectives through effective management and development of human capital. David has worked with organizations in various sectors including retail, wholesale, professional services, financial services, insurance, engineering design/build, IT support, pharmaceuticals, transportation/rail services, home comfort services, construction, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, government and not-for-profit.
Prior to starting his own consulting practice, David held senior HR positions in several prominent Canadian retail organizations including Loblaw Companies, Shoppers Drug Mart and Big V Pharmacies. He also has many years of experience as a lecturer at the Ivey School of Business where he taught an introductory business course and at Seneca College where he taught Organizational Behaviour, HR Planning and Performance Management.
David is a graduate of the Ivey School of Business at Western University, with a degree in Honors Business Administration. He earned his Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation and his Certified Human Resources Professional Leader (CHRL) designation. In addition, David has earned the Associate Certified Coach accreditation from the International Coaching Federation. He is al certified administrator of the Leadership Effectiveness Analysis™ 360, the MERIT Profile Assessment© and has worked with the DiSC© assessment as well as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator®. David is also an active community volunteer, having held several volunteer leadership positions.
Allison Venditti, CHRP, CHRL
Founder of Moms at Work and My Parental Leave
Allison Venditti is the Founder of Moms at Work and My Parental Leave. She is an activist, HR professional, career coach and a thought leader in areas of women at work and parental leave. She was named one of Canada’s top 50 changemakers by the Globe and Mail and she regularly provides expert advice to companies, media and individual coaching clients.
Allison is a winter biker, Star Wars lover and collector of clever mugs. When not trying to destroy board game opponents she is spending time with her kids aged 10, 8 and 4. They do not like Star Wars….DNA tests are pending.
Katie Ward, MBA
Commissioner and Chief Administrative Officer, Pay Equity Commission; Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
In 2020, Kadie assumed leadership of the Pay Equity Commission of Ontario as Commissioner and CAO. Commissioner Ward is a seasoned executive whose career has been characterized by successful collaboration across public, private and not-for-profit organizations to design and deliver inclusive economic growth strategies. Before joining the Pay Equity Commission in 2020, Commissioner Ward worked on implementing aspects of the federal government’s “Feminist International Assistance Policy” where she increased women’s participation in international trade and the labour market as well as equitable participation of men and women in their local economy. Her expertise has taken her around the world working with legislators to establish programs and legislation that support women-led micro and small enterprises. She is a Queens’s Diamond Jubilee Medalist, recognized for her contributions to significant economic improvement in various Canadian cities. Commissioner Ward firmly believes that equity and inclusion are the foundation for sustainable economic prosperity.
Ruthann Weeks, (She/Her), CRS, People and Culture Strategist, Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor
Founder, Harmony In The Workplace Ltd.
Ruthann is a People and Culture Strategist and founder of Harmony In The Workplace. She is a change agent whose efforts have helped bring the importance of an abuse-free work environment to the forefront of public awareness. She is an author and gifted keynote speaker who delivers a powerful message about today’s workplace challenges.
Working as a Certified Resource Specialist in the human service sector, Ruthann went on to graduate as a Human Resource Manager. She is a Certified Psychological Safety Advisor who specializes in leadership development, people and culture, diversity and inclusion, workplace bullying, sexual harassment, domestic violence and mental health in the workplace.
Rosie Yeung, CPA, CA, CHRL
President and Founder of Changing Lenses
Rosie (she/her) is a Coach, Speaker and Educator for Justice, Equity, Decolonization and Inclusion (JEDI), helping people with privilege dismantle systemic inequity while supporting people without privilege survive it. She is a Certified HR Leader and Chartered Professional Accountant, with over 20 years of professional and lived experiences, as well as certification in coaching, inclusion, Indigenous history, human rights and more.
As a Chinese-Canadian, immigrant, cis-straight female with invisible disabilities, Rosie specializes in intersectional diversity and Asian-Canadian identity; and she loves coaching Asian and racialized women to succeed as their true selves.
Rosie also created and hosts the Changing Lenses Podcast, shifting our worldview on work and business by looking through a JEDI lens. Based in Toronto, Canada, she enjoys travel (except during global pandemics) and has served communities in Guatemala, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda. To de-stress, Rosie enjoys movies, popcorn and ice cream – often simultaneously!
You can connect with Rosie on LinkedIn, Instagram or on her website: www.changinglenses.ca.
Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (She/her/hers)
Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA
Kris’ approach as an executive leader is to achieve results by creating outstanding workplaces where people and culture are strategic priorities. She is a passionate and skilled business executive with 15 years’ experience leading HR in hi-tech, high growth companies in automotive and financial services, where she served as a trusted people and culture strategist, advisor, and business partner to the C-Suite.
Kris started her career in hospitality where she held various leadership and management positions. For more than 20 years, Kris has served as a valued member of senior and executive leadership teams, where her skills in HR, leadership, strategy, and culture were honed and her passion for business and human resources were developed. She is periodically called upon by media, conferences, and academia to contribute her experience and perspectives as an HR and business leader.
Kris has achieved the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designations as awarded by the Human Resources Professionals Association in Ontario, Canada. As a lifelong learner, Kris is thrilled to bring professional development and learning opportunities to the HR community in her role as Vice-President, Human Resources and Learning at the HRPA.
Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers)
President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
Lindsay Recknell 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 the President & CEO of Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc, Lindsay Recknell 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 & 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 & 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.
Sherri Bastos
Director of Prevention, Operations, Engagement and Retention, Public Services Health and Safety Association
Sherri Bastos is the Director of Prevention, Operations, Engagement and Retention with the Public Services Health and Safety Association. She is a passionate and motivating health and safety professional, dedicated to enhancing worker health, safety, and injury prevention. Her 23+ years’ experience within both the private and non–profit health care public sector has focused on directing national OH&S teams and best in-class occupational health, safety, prevention, and claims management programs. She is proud of successfully achieving leading health and safety strategic goals by valuing team collaboration, fostering strong partnerships, and supporting innovative safety ideas and programs.
Amrita Bhalla
Managing Director, A.B Consulting
Amrita is an accomplished senior HR executive with over 20 years of experience. Her background includes executive HR roles in the luxury hospitality industry with the following brands: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts; Oberoi Hotels and Resorts; and Belmond Hotels (formerly known as Orient Express). Prior to starting her career in the hospitality industry, Amrita worked in HR consulting with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Amrita has lived and worked in Canada, Bermuda, United Kingdom, Thailand and India. Her geographic work experience also includes the U.S., Middle East and the Caribbean. In 2015, Amrita founded A.B. Consulting, specializing in HR advisory services for clients across a multitude of sectors, including hospitality and tourism. A.B Consulting specializes in the areas of performance management, talent engagement and retention, learning and development, strategic planning and service standards development. A.B Consulting’s service portfolio also has a strong focus on workforce development for the Caribbean region.
Amrita is a member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Board Member for the Caribbean Hospitality and Tourism Association Education Fund (CHTAEF) and a member of the People Development Committee for the CHTA. Amrita is also a mentor for Ignite Bermuda, an accelerator focused on developing local entrepreneurial talent.
She joined the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism at Ryerson University in 2015, teaching Human Resources Management and Organizational Behaviour. Amrita holds a Masters in Industrial Relations (MIR) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queens University.
Diane Biesinger
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.
Siobhan Calderbank, MA, CMP, PROSCI®, PMP, CTDP
Senior Director of Talent Management, LCBO; Speaker, Change Management and Leadership, Professional, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategist and Advocate
Siobhan is a dynamic keynote speaker, consultant, award winning author, DEI practitioner, expert in change management and leadership and a project management professional. She has been seen on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and CW, and featured on the billboard in Times Square, NYC. Siobhan is also a featured book contributor alongside Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, John Lewis, Deepak Chopra and others. She has presented to diverse groups at conferences, events, seminars and planning sessions, motivating individuals to work more collaboratively. As an international speaker, she has engaged audiences from over 70 countries.
At LCBO, Siobhan is an experienced Senior Director of Talent Management where she focuses on talent development, performance management, learning, change management and diversity and inclusion. She is also the Founder of Butterfly Ladies – a mentoring program committed to helping develop the careers of women and youth, especially visible minorities. In addition, she is a volunteer mentor for Avanti Women and the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council.
Siobhan has been recognized as a Learning Leader by the Institute for Performance and Learning and is the recipient of the Universal Women’s Network (UWN) 2019 Women of Inspiration Award for Diversity and Inclusiveness. She is also the UWN National Ambassador for Black Women. She has been voted amongst the Top 10 Inspirational Female Entrepreneurs of 2019 and Most Influential Female Entrepreneur 2021 by Women Entrepreneur. Siobhan was also featured as one of The 10 Most Influential Businesswomen to Follow in 2020 by Insights Success, and a Woman of Influence by the Change Management Institute. In addition, she has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada 2020 by CIBWE, as well as one of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women 2022. She has also been selected as the Top Director of the Year in Talent Management for 2021, Empowered Women of the Year 2021, and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award 2022 by IAO.
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 spent 10 years working in senior management positions with the organization Médecins Sans Frontières. Tyler holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Economics from the London School of Economics.
Alison Grenier
Senior Consultant, Head of Culture & Research, Great Place to Work® Canada
Alison is a senior consultant and Head of Culture & Research for 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 joining the Institute, 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.
Kelly Bron Johnson
Founder, Completely Inclusive; Certified Workplace Psychological Health and Safety Advisor; Mental Health First Aider; IDEA Advisor
Kelly Bron Johnson (she/they) is an Autistic and Hard-of-Hearing self-advocate, keynote speaker, author and founder of Completely Inclusive and the Autistic Entrepreneurs Network. As a mixed-heritage Black nonbinary person, Kelly Bron brings her intersectional identity into all her work and aims to break down the stigmas and systemic barriers that exist in society to make the path easier for others. Kelly Bron is also a Certified Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace Advisor and is currently completing a Professional Certificate in Restorative Justice from Vermont Law School.
Dr. Gillian Mandich, PhD
Founder, The International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research
Dr. Gillian Mandich is an award-winning, internationally recognized happiness researcher, speaker, educator and author. With a PhD from Western University in Health Science, her primary areas of research are happiness and health. Recently named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network, her work combines the latest research and practical wisdom withan engaging style to help people live happier, healthier lives.
Dr. Gillian is passionate about research. She is the founder of The International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research; Research Associate at The World Database of Happiness, based out of Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands; co-lead investigator of The Canadian Happiness At Work Study, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association; and has recently participated in industry research with L’Oréal, Interac, Co-operators and Pantene (Procter and Gamble).
As a prominent media personality, Dr. Gillian has appeared on The Social, Marilyn Denis, Breakfast Television, The Morning Show, Global, ABC News Philadelphia, WWL New Orleans and CBS Pittsburgh. She has been named one of Canada’s top health leaders four years in a row by OptiMYz Magazine. Shewas also the 2020 CanFitPro Canadian Presenter of the Year and has given two TEDx talks: “The Surprising Truth About Happiness” at TEDx Yorkville and “The Two Things You Need To Know To Be Happier Today” at TEDx Windsor.
Dr. Gillian lives in Toronto, Canada with her French Bulldog, Jocko. She sits on the board of The Sunshine Foundation of Canada, the Advisory Board at Examine.com, an independent organization that investigates the science behind nutrition and supplementation and is an invited member of The Staples Work from Anywhere Advisory Council, a collective of experts and thought leaders who provide Staples with insights and practical solutions for the new world of work.
Dr. Meisha-ann Martin
Industrial, Organizational Psychologist; Senior Director, People Analytics and Research, Workhuman
Dr. Meisha-ann Martin is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist and Senior Director, People Analytics and Research on our Workhuman iQ team. Prior to this role, Meisha-ann was the Head of Talent Management for ServiceMaster (former parent company of Terminix). Meisha-ann is also considered a People Analytics/Employee Experience expert as she has led these efforts in companies like Flex, JetBlue and Raymond James Financial for over a decade. Meisha-ann was a Workhuman customer during her time at JetBlue and led a team that established linkages between recognition, engagement, retention and customer satisfaction. Meisha-ann draws from all her prior career experiences in this role, helping Workhuman clients measure the impact of their recognition program and connect recognition efforts to other strategic HR imperatives.
Treena Reilkoff, QMed, PHSA, WFA, BSW, BA
Trauma Informed Conflict Management Specialist, TLR Solutions4Conflict
Treena is a Conflict Management & Resiliency Specialist, with experience in trauma-informed practices, inclusive promoting strategies and optimizing operational and professional resiliency in the workplace. She is recognized as an international trainer on the topics of resiliency and trauma-informed approaches. Treena brings more than 25 years’ experience with a diverse professional background, including working in the fields of mental health, behavioural analysis, corrections, military/veteran affairs, Alternative Dispute Resolution, case-management and social work. She brings her knowledge and expertise from an anti-oppressive, collaborative approach, to assist employers, organizations, unions, associations and governments to participate in recognizing and addressing conflict, mental health and risk mitigation from a psychologically safe management style.
Treena has a BSW, BA, Executive Certificate in Conflict Management, holds the designations of a Qualified Mediator (ADR Institute of Canada), Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor (CMHA), Workplace Assessment and Restoration Specialist, Diversity Facilitator, and Critical Incident Stress Management and Certified Resiliency Trainer. She is also a Director on the Board with the ADR Institute of Ontario.
Dr. Joti Samra, R. Psych.
Work Environment, Emotional Intelligence & Mental Resilience Expert ; CEO & Founder, MyWorkplaceHealth
Dr. Joti Samra, R. Psych. is a national thought leader on issues relating to psychological health, wellness and resilience. She is the CEO & Founder of MyWorkplaceHealth, a full-suite national workplace consulting firm and Dr. Joti Samra, R.Psych & Associates, an in-office and online (virtual) clinical counselling practice with offices located throughout BC.
Dr. Samra is a highly regarded expert in psychological health and safety (PH&S). Over the past two decades, she has been involved in numerous national initiatives that have contributed to policy change in Canada, and is a Founding & Ongoing Member of the CSA Technical Committee that developed the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace (CAN/CSA-Z1003-13/BNQ9700-803/2013). This Standard is the first of its kind in the world and is shaping policy development for workplace PH&S at the International Organization for Standardization level.
Dr. Samra is the lead Research Scientist who created Guarding Minds at Work: A Workplace Guide to Psychological Health & Safety, in which the psychosocial factor frame adopted by the Standard was developed. She is also the developer of the Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment, an assessment and action planning resource that aligns leaders’ skills with the requirements of the Standard. Dr. Samra and her team have extensive expertise in helping organizations implement initiatives related to workplace PH&S including implementation of the CSA Standard; providing leadership development, training and coaching services across a broad range of areas, including emotional intelligence, psychologically safe leadership and mental health awareness; and providing a breadth of services to enhance employee psychological health, wellness and resilience.
Dr. Samra has received a number of awards and accolades for her clinical and research work. She is proud to be the recipient of the Canadian Psychological Association’s New Researcher Award and the British Columbia Psychological Association’s Advancement of the Profession of Psychology Award. She is also the former President of the BC Psychological Association and past Chair of the BC Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards Committee.
Jared Simmons
Founder and Principal, OUTLAST Consulting LLC
Jared is Founder and Principal of OUTLAST Consulting LLC, an Atlanta-based consultancy that helps companies bring an innovation mindset to their toughest business problems. Prior to this, he was a Strategic Initiatives Director at the Coca-Cola Company, responsible for a pipeline of product innovation initiatives. Before joining Coca-Cola, he was part of the Product Development and Innovation practice at McKinsey and Company.
A chemical engineer by training, Jared’s career began in Research & Development at Procter & Gamble, where held roles in market research, supplier management and product development. He is a certified executive coach, moderator and practitioner of various personality assessment tools. When he is not serving clients, Jared is probably immersed in travel, music theory and performance, college football or community service.
Tegan Slot, R.Kin MSc PhD CRSP
Lead, Specialized Services, Public Services Health and Safety Association
Tegan Slot is the Lead, Specialized Services with Public Services Health and Safety Association. Much of Tegan’s early work in occupational health and safety focused on ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorder prevention in acute care and continuing care hospitals and she is now exploring the emerging and impactful area of psychological health and safety. Tegan has worked in the OHS field for over 14 years, is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional, Registered Kinesiologist, holds an MSc in Biomechanics, a PhD in Ergonomics and a certificate in Occupational Safety and Health.
David Town, HBA, CHRL, ACC
Leadership Coach & Facilitator, Co-founder and Principal, Virtual Leadership Matters™ Inc.
David is a facilitator and executive coach focused on helping build individual and organizational capability. He is well versed in leadership development, with a focus on performance-related communication, management skills and team dynamics. David has also studied the leadership skills required to maximize performance when leading employees who work remotely. He has established subject matter expertise in the art of virtual leadership and he excels in helping organizations achieve their objectives through effective management and development of human capital. David has worked with organizations in various sectors including retail, wholesale, professional services, financial services, insurance, engineering design/build, IT support, pharmaceuticals, transportation/rail services, home comfort services, construction, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, government and not-for-profit.
Prior to starting his own consulting practice, David held senior HR positions in several prominent Canadian retail organizations including Loblaw Companies, Shoppers Drug Mart and Big V Pharmacies. He also has many years of experience as a lecturer at the Ivey School of Business where he taught an introductory business course and at Seneca College where he taught Organizational Behaviour, HR Planning and Performance Management.
David is a graduate of the Ivey School of Business at Western University, with a degree in Honors Business Administration. He earned his Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation and his Certified Human Resources Professional Leader (CHRL) designation. In addition, David has earned the Associate Certified Coach accreditation from the International Coaching Federation. He is al certified administrator of the Leadership Effectiveness Analysis™ 360, the MERIT Profile Assessment© and has worked with the DiSC© assessment as well as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator®. David is also an active community volunteer, having held several volunteer leadership positions.
Allison Venditti, CHRP, CHRL
Founder of Moms at Work and My Parental Leave
Allison Venditti is the Founder of Moms at Work and My Parental Leave. She is an activist, HR professional, career coach and a thought leader in areas of women at work and parental leave. She was named one of Canada’s top 50 changemakers by the Globe and Mail and she regularly provides expert advice to companies, media and individual coaching clients.
Allison is a winter biker, Star Wars lover and collector of clever mugs. When not trying to destroy board game opponents she is spending time with her kids aged 10, 8 and 4. They do not like Star Wars….DNA tests are pending.
Katie Ward, MBA
Commissioner and Chief Administrative Officer, Pay Equity Commission; Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
In 2020, Kadie assumed leadership of the Pay Equity Commission of Ontario as Commissioner and CAO. Commissioner Ward is a seasoned executive whose career has been characterized by successful collaboration across public, private and not-for-profit organizations to design and deliver inclusive economic growth strategies. Before joining the Pay Equity Commission in 2020, Commissioner Ward worked on implementing aspects of the federal government’s “Feminist International Assistance Policy” where she increased women’s participation in international trade and the labour market as well as equitable participation of men and women in their local economy. Her expertise has taken her around the world working with legislators to establish programs and legislation that support women-led micro and small enterprises. She is a Queens’s Diamond Jubilee Medalist, recognized for her contributions to significant economic improvement in various Canadian cities. Commissioner Ward firmly believes that equity and inclusion are the foundation for sustainable economic prosperity.
Ruthann Weeks, (She/Her), CRS, People and Culture Strategist, Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor
Founder, Harmony In The Workplace Ltd.
Ruthann is a People and Culture Strategist and founder of Harmony In The Workplace. She is a change agent whose efforts have helped bring the importance of an abuse-free work environment to the forefront of public awareness. She is an author and gifted keynote speaker who delivers a powerful message about today’s workplace challenges.
Working as a Certified Resource Specialist in the human service sector, Ruthann went on to graduate as a Human Resource Manager. She is a Certified Psychological Safety Advisor who specializes in leadership development, people and culture, diversity and inclusion, workplace bullying, sexual harassment, domestic violence and mental health in the workplace.
Rosie Yeung, CPA, CA, CHRL
President and Founder of Changing Lenses
Rosie (she/her) is a Coach, Speaker and Educator for Justice, Equity, Decolonization and Inclusion (JEDI), helping people with privilege dismantle systemic inequity while supporting people without privilege survive it. She is a Certified HR Leader and Chartered Professional Accountant, with over 20 years of professional and lived experiences, as well as certification in coaching, inclusion, Indigenous history, human rights and more.
As a Chinese-Canadian, immigrant, cis-straight female with invisible disabilities, Rosie specializes in intersectional diversity and Asian-Canadian identity; and she loves coaching Asian and racialized women to succeed as their true selves.
Rosie also created and hosts the Changing Lenses Podcast, shifting our worldview on work and business by looking through a JEDI lens. Based in Toronto, Canada, she enjoys travel (except during global pandemics) and has served communities in Guatemala, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda. To de-stress, Rosie enjoys movies, popcorn and ice cream – often simultaneously!
You can connect with Rosie on LinkedIn, Instagram or on her website: www.changinglenses.ca.
Today the focus is on meaningfully unlocking human potential.
An empowered, diverse workforce amplifies workers’ voices, integrates radical flexibility and helps renew our understanding of the underlying social contract that is implied in employer-employee relationships. Prioritizing employees’ emotional wellness and psychological safety is essential to address the increasing mental health needs of a diverse workforce. In turn, this is impacted by factors such as the elder and childcare duties that workers fulfill at home.
This conference will arm HR professionals with new and critical skills, tools and strategies to address talent development and emotional wellness and develop their organizations’ people practices for a stronger future that benefits everyone. Speakers will delve into the evolution of talent and the impetus to accommodate workers’ varying life circumstances. Sessions will also address how HR professionals can lead the necessary initiatives that can create space for employee-led workshops and presentations and account for the caregiving responsibilities of workers.
Join the conversation, level up your programs, and strengthen your human potential.
EVENT THEMES
- Centering employees’ emotional wellness
- Embedding an ethos of psychological safety throughout your organization
- Enhancing talent development strategies
- Developing innovative recruitment and retention solutions
- Gaining the latest insights and information to support your business and prepare for the future
WHY ATTEND
- Learn from leading experts on today’s most pressing workplace issues
- Hear how to safeguard your organization from risk and help unlock human potential
- Collaborate with and learn from other HR professionals facing similar workplace challenges
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- HR specialists, HR leaders, 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
- HR professionals who are involved with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the workplace
- Talent recruitment and retention specialists in charge of attracting and upskilling employees
- Business leaders who are responsible for employee wellbeing, employee engagement, leadership, and policy development
Continuing Professional Development
The Summer Conference is collectively eligible for 18.5 CPD Hours: 9.5 Hours Live + 9 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 June 16, 2022 | Regular June 17, 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 June 16, 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 |
Agenda- Day 1
Please note that HRPA reserves the right to modify and update session titles, descriptions and speakers.
DAY 1: Tuesday, July 26
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Speaker(s): Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her), Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA; Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers); President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Enhancing Your Understanding of the 13 Factors of Psychological Safety
As frequently as we hear terms like psychological safety, do we know what it truly means? Kickstarting the conference, this conversation will equip HR professionals with timely, comprehensive knowledge about the multiple factors shaping the workplace. This session will compel you and your organization to embrace psychological health and safety and explore the business imperative to articulate the health, business and legal necessities for doing so. The focus will be on demonstrating due diligence and mitigating causes that lead to employees becoming psychologically injured or ill.
Speaker(s): Dr. Joti Samra, Work Environment, Emotional Intelligence & Mental Resilience Expert; CEO & Founder, MyWorkplaceHealth
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
CONCURRENT SESSIONS: Select 1 of 3
This series is not your typical wellness talk that you all too often hear about. This three-part emotional wellness series is embedded into the conference program and will be a journey of increased awareness examining stigmatized, and complex issues. Topics addressed will include:
- the impact of domestic violence in the workplace,
- the prevalence of stress and burnout amongst HR leaders and the varying challenges experienced by working caregivers, women and racialized employees, and
- forms of recognition of and responses to neurodiversity to ensure safety, inclusion and prevent harm.
Prepare to take a deeper dive into these complex issues to help support and strengthen your organization’s wellness strategies. Attend one or two parts covering specific topics relevant to your workplace, or the entire series to enhance your learning on all of these important issues.
Part 1: Domestic Violence: Level up Leadership Safety
While we all have a perception of what domestic violence is, it is a complex topic that can affect staff and our organizations in various ways. It’s become even more complex with WFH considerations and employer obligations to keep employees safe from violence and harassment.
This session covers:
- What DV is and how it can affect the workplace for perpetrators of abuse, targets of abuse, co-workers, and employers
- Considerations for employees working remotely to comply and mitigate risk
- How to approach someone you suspect may be experiencing abuse
- Risk escalation factors and the importance of reporting
- How to help keep targets of abuse, and others in the workplace safe
- Statistical data, policy consideration and the legal framework
Speaker(s): Ruthann Weeks, (She/Her), CRS, People and Culture Strategist, Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor
Founder, Harmony In The Workplace, Ltd.
Pay equity continues to be a constant challenge within the workforce. Current data highlights persisting inequalities in wages, where women from all walks of life are greatly impacted. This session will examine the strategic advantage of implementing a proactive stance on pay equity to close pay gaps andcreate an equitable and fair workplace.
Speaker(s): Kadie Ward, MBA, Commissioner and Chief Administrative Officer at Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
Diverse teams outperform non-diverse teams by 35%, yet one of the biggest factors hampering productivity is leaders being afraid to build diverse teams with people who may have opposing perspectives. In this interactive session, participants will discuss the impacts of discriminatory behaviour on marginalized groups and how inclusive leaders can champion allyship to promote a diverse workplace.
Speaker(s): Siobhan Calderbank, Senior Director of Talent Management, Speaker, Change Management and Leadership Professional, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategist and Advocate
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Strengthening Human Potential: The Current State of Employment
Tired of hearing about the Great Resignation? Are you ready for solutions to address the factors impacting today’s current state of employment? Well, let’s talk about it! It is time to get real in a candid discussion with our panel of subject-matter experts who will provide you with the necessary skills to influence positive change in the employment landscape.
Moderator: Diane Biesinger, CHRP, HR and Learning Specialist, HRPA
Speaker(s): Allison Venditti, CHRP, CHRL, Founder of Moms at Work and My Parental Leave; Tyler Fainstat, Executive Director, John Howard Society of Ottawa; Jared Simmons, Founder and Principal, OUTLAST Consulting LLC; Rosie Yeung, CPA, CA, CHRL, President and Founder of Changing Lenses
1:00 PM – 1:05 PM
Closing Remarks and Day 1 Wrap-up
Speaker(s): Lindsay Recknell (she/her); 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, July 27
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Speaker(s): Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her), Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA; Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers); President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
CONCURRENT SESSIONS: Select 1 of 3
This series is not your typical wellness talk that you all too often hear about. This three-part emotional wellness series is embedded into the conference program and will be a journey of increased awareness examining stigmatized, and complex issues. Topics addressed will include:
- the impact of domestic violence in the workplace,
- the prevalence of stress and burnout amongst HR leaders and the varying challenges experienced by working caregivers, women and racialized employees, and
- forms of recognition of and responses to neurodiversity to ensure safety, inclusion and prevent harm.
Prepare to take a deeper dive into these complex issues to help support and strengthen your organization’s wellness strategies. Attend one or two parts covering specific topics relevant to your workplace, or the entire series to enhance your learning on all of these important issues.
Part 2: Is Burnout Now Normal?
HR leaders are challenged with navigating the various stress and burnout factors affecting employees, while maintaining their own health. Let us address some of the unique challenges caregivers, women and marginalized employees face as the world of work has changed in recent years.
This session covers:
- How we can accommodate worker needs, while supporting their careers:
- What can women do to remain “present” in the workplace as they are less visible?
- How can caregivers juggle responsibilities at home, while maintaining quality at work?
- What can managers do to maintain fairness with their teams?
- Bias and microaggressions that affect women in the workplace
- Emotional labour, and compassion fatigue with mitigating strategies
Speaker(s): Ruthann Weeks, (She/Her), CRS, People and Culture Strategist, Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor
Founder, Harmony In The Workplace, Ltd.
As the world of work evolves, psychological safety has become ever more critical. At its core, psychological safety is about feeling comfortable bringing your whole, human self to work. For employers, it’s about empowerment and trusting teams to do the jobs they were hired to do.
One way to prioritize psychological safety is through a culture of recognition. A new Gallop report indicates that recognition drives impact by improving the employee experience. Recognition has the most impact when it is authentic – but only about a third of survey participants strongly agree that the workplace recognition they get meets this bar.
Recognition only works when you do it right. So how can organizations create an authentic, supportive environment that allows employees to engage, innovate and flourish while building trust with their leaders? Attend this session to learn how to infuse gratitude, recognition and appreciation into the employee life cycle, in order to create an inclusive and psychologically safe environment in your organization.
Speaker(s): Dr. Meisha-Ann Martin, Senior Director, People Analytics and Research, Workhuman
The evolution of today’s workforce requires leaders to improve and learn new leadership skills and practices to help all employees thrive. Now more than ever, traditional leadership styles and mindsets are fast becoming a thing of the past. Like the saying goes, “out with the old, and in with the new!”
Speaker(s): David Town, HBA, CHRL, ACC; Leadership Coach & Facilitator, Co-founder and Principal, Virtual Leadership Matters™ Inc.
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Keynote: Thrive, Don’t Just Survive – Mental Health Skills to Empower a Thriving Organization
Mental health starts with us – to be our best at work, we get to take care of ourselves first. In this talk, we are going to focus on you, the HR professional as a leader, on your own mental health, to give you the skills to implement and model out loud what you’ve learned, empowering the people you work with, so they too can take care of their mental health and contribute to thriving, productive and ultimately healthier workplaces and communities.
Speaker(s): Lindsay Recknell (she/her); President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
BREAKOUT SESSIONS: Select 1 of 6
According to Statistics Canada, the unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio in Canada is at a historical low in the first half of 2022. This creates difficulties for employees filling vacant positions, especially in the construction, manufacturing, retail, health care, accommodation and food services industries. Partly due to a shrinking pool of unemployed workers, employers have been facing significant hiring challenges. For instance, there were33.6 newly hired employees for every 100 vacancies in Q1, according to Labour Market Survey.
Come prepared to brainstorm and talk with other HR professionals about ideas, best practices and solutions on how to overcome challenges in recruitment, as informed by:
- The gig economy
- Global mobility
- Great re-evaluation
- Compensation capabilities
- Creative recruitment strategies
- Access to a diverse pool of talent
Moderator: Sara Bragg, VP Customer Success, Modulus Data
There is a revolution happening in talent management. HR leaders are focusing on strategies that prioritize the talent processes, programs and initiatives that are critical to organizational success. Even if your organization has all its talent and skills needs met (does it?), this won’t always be the case. In fact, most organizations anticipate a skills shortage within the next few years.
Come prepared to brainstorm and talk with other HR professionals about ideas, best practices and solutions on how to attract, retain, and nurture talent. Topics discussed will include:
- Great re-evaluation
- Critical talent retention strategies
- Talent capabilities identification and measurement
- Upskilling, reskilling and development measurement
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging needs
Moderator: Ernest Ogunleye, Owner & Principal Consultant, EON Performance Solutions
The Canadian Labour Source Survey states that more than a quarter of Canadian employees currently have the flexibility to choose their work location. Many employees love hybrid work models. But this new approach to work can have a profound impact on their sense of community and connection. Some organizations are looking to end remote work and want employees to return to the office. Hybrid and remote work represents a major shift in how companies function and has a major impact on their culture, as well as on their capability to attract and retain talent.
Come prepared to brainstorm and talk with other HR professionals about ideas, best practices and solutions on how to navigate challenges in organizational culture changes in the best way. We will be discussing:
- Efficient and effective meetings
- Refusal to return to work in an office
- Workplace rants on social media
- Gig economy challenges
- Sick leaves management
Moderator: Elise Marentette, Principal Consultant, HR+ By Design
Most companies took the leap toward making remote work a permanent feature of the workplace. By embracing this trend, organizations can increase employee productivity -but it is also important to consider the potential downsides of remote work.
As the world enters the third year of the pandemic, and little is normal about the way we live and work, employers across the globe now recognize that protecting and supporting employees’ mental health is vital to the future success of their business.
Come prepared to brainstorm and talk with other HR professionals about ideas, best practices and solutions on how to navigate challenges related to mental health & burnout in workplaces. This session will delve into:
- Burnout of caregivers
- Balancing support and accountability for difficult work and deliverables
- Pros and cons of the 4-day work week
- “Disconnect from work” policy challenges
- Mental health benefits
Moderator: Marcia Newell, Human Resources Manager, Grandview Children’s Centre
The business case for DEIB is stronger than ever. Companies realize dependencies between DEIB and the likelihood of financial outperformance. While overall representation in organizations is improving, progress is noticeably slow.
Average hourly wages have gone up more among women than men since 2018. Despite this, the gender pay gap for full-time and part-time employees is 0.89, which means women make 89 cents on every dollar men make. The gender pay gap for full-time employees is 0.90, which means women make 90 cents on every dollar men make. This discrepancy is even more strongly evident in the work experiences of women who are racialized, are Indigenous, have a disability, are immigrants or face marginalization along other axes of identity.
Come prepared to brainstorm and talk with other HR professionals about ideas, best practices and solutions on how to move the needle on the DEI strategy more efficiently in your organization. Issues tackled will include:
- Practical applications of pay equity principles
- DEIB – KPIs
- Measurement of impact
Moderator: Beatriz Millon, Human Resources Assistant, Total Rewards, Sinai Health – Mount Sinai Hospital
NOTE: This session is by invite only. To be extended an invitation for yourself or a colleague, please email: executiveevents@hrpa.ca.
The global geopolitical and economic landscape has changed dramatically over the last year. The lasting effects of the global pandemic, inflation, rising interest rates, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and the war in Ukraine has affected businesses worldwide.
CEOs and boards are paying close attention to key threats to growth ahead and are discussing the possibility of squeezing budgets, considering Bear Market and possible recession on the horizon. Unsurprisingly, attention to the strategic and advisory voice of HR executives has become even more intensified.
This exclusive executive session for HR Directors and above will examine where corporate ESG (environmental, social, governance) strategies intersect with people and culture strategies.
Moderator: Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her), Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Closing Remarks and Day 2 Wrap-up
Speaker(s): Lindsay Recknell (she/her); 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, July 28
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Speaker(s): Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her), Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA; Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers); President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
MASTERCLASSES: Select 1 of 3
Organizations are familiar with the need to protect employees’ physical health and safety in the workplace. This responsibility is defined in occupational health and safety regulations, legislation and business practice. There is no denying that mental health problems continue to have a powerful impact in the workplace. Protecting workers must also include attending to their psychological well-being. This session will provide you with the necessary information and tools to take action to protect the health and safety of your employees.
Speaker(s): Tegan Slot, R.Kin MSc PhD CRSP, Lead, Specialized Services, Public Services Health and Safety Association; Sherri Bastos, Director of Prevention, Operations, Engagement and Retention, Public Services Health and Safety Association
Today’s organizations are facing a shortage of skills that are vital to business growth. Business leaders recognize the need to re-evaluate business models. This includes examining and reconsidering job roles and descriptions, identifying the current skillset of employees, determining future skills required and paying attention to where gaps exist. This session will explore the importance of enhancing your talent and development strategies by providing upskilling and reskilling opportunities. It will also address the pressures that exist for employees to upskill and reskill to remain relevant in today’s competitive job market.
Speaker(s): Amrita Bhalla, Managing Director, A.B Consulting
You don’t need a background in counselling or therapy to gain a trauma-informed approach to workplace management. Trauma-informed means you are aware of the impact that toxic stress and trauma has on the brain and the body.
In this workshop, you will learn what a trauma response is, the language of trauma-informed communication and the strategies that can support you and those who may be experiencing a trauma-related response. These skills can be applied in the workplace setting in the context of conflict resolution, performance management, accommodation, return to work, hiring, leadership development and team building.
Becoming trauma-informed is a proactive risk mitigation strategy to better understand the impact of trauma on systems and individuals within your professional environment. This will also contribute to creating resilient and psychologically healthy and safe workplaces.
Speaker(s): Treena Reilkoff, QMed, PHSA, WFA, BSW, BA, Trauma Informed Conflict Management Specialist, TLR Solutions4Conflict
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
CONCURRENT SESSIONS: Select 1 of 3
This series is not your typical wellness talk that you all too often hear about. This three-part emotional wellness series is embedded into the conference program and will be a journey of increased awareness examining stigmatized, and complex issues. Topics addressed will include:
- the impact of domestic violence in the workplace,
- the prevalence of stress and burnout amongst HR leaders and the varying challenges experienced by working caregivers, women and racialized employees, and
- forms of recognition of and responses to neurodiversity to ensure safety, inclusion and prevent harm.
Prepare to take a deeper dive into these complex issues to help support and strengthen your organization’s wellness strategies. Attend one or two parts covering specific topics relevant to your workplace, or the entire series to enhance your learning on all of these important issues.
Part 3: Recognition and Response to Neurodiversity
HR leaders are responsible to create a diverse workforce, free from discrimination, and bullying and harassment. When it comes to employee challenges, it’s always better to get curious, ask questions and listen more than we talk.
This session covers:
- Recognizing some of the signs of the neurodiverse
- Responding in positive ways that avoid escalation
- Effective communication strategies to achieve an outcome
- Accommodating the differently abled and getting the work done
- Making meetings, and presentations inclusive and productive
- Healthy boundaries and self-advocacy tips for those on the spectrum
Speaker(s): Ruthann Weeks, (she/her), CRS, People and Culture Strategist, Founder, Harmony In The Workplace, Ltd.
This session offers insightful advice and considerations to take into account when accommodating employees who are experiencing mental health challenges. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of mental health issues, and how to proactively foster a more psychologically safe and healthy workplace culture.
Speaker(s): Kelly Bron Johnson, Founder, Completely Inclusive; Certified Workplace Psychological Health and Safety Advisor; Mental Health First Aider; IDEA Advisor
As the war for talent continues, hybrid work models have become the new normal. But creating a successful hybrid work culture involves much more than just establishing rules around hours and location. At its heart, hybrid work is about giving people the flexibility and freedom to work where, when and how they work best.
This session presents the research-based business case for creating an effective hybrid work culture. We will also share best practices from organizations that have found early success and consider the important role that people leaders play in enabling hybrid work.
Speaker(s): Alison Grenier, Senior Consultant, Head of Culture & Research, Great Place to Work® Canada
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
The People Empowered Workforce: How to Be Happy in the New World of Work
“The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.” — Socrates.
The transition to a post-pandemic workplace is here, and whether one’s work is in-person, virtual or hybrid, navigating the new world of work can be challenging. From the pandemic to the Great Resignation, one thing is for sure – people are re-evaluating their priorities when it comes to how, when and where they work, and the purpose behind their work. Business leaders must create a more meaningful employee experience that encourages employees to do their best work and bring their authentic selves to work.
Increasing happiness and fulfillment is key to personal and professional success, and these capabilities can be learned. The latest research underscores that happiness is crucial for enhancing motivation, performance and success. In fact, implementing happiness-building practices at work results in 125% less burnout, 66% fewer sick leaves, 44% higher retention and 37% greater sales. This session will outline a roadmap to happier work environments that increase energy, decrease burnout, and sustain positive change.
Speaker(s): Dr. Gillian Mandich, Founder, The International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research
1:00 PM – 1:05 PM
Closing Remarks and Day 3 Wrap-up
Speaker(s): Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her), Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA; Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers); President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
1:05 PM – 2:00 PM
OPTIONAL: Community Social
Engage in self-guided learning and reflect on the highlights of the conference in this informal session. This open forum aims to facilitate brainstorming solutions, discussing ideas and learning from the experiences of fellow HR professionals. If you have questions about the conference sessions, now’s your chance to get them answered as some of the speakers will also be in attendance. This space is designed to encourage free-flowing conversation and connections with colleagues.
Moderators: Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (she/her), Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA; Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers); President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
Connect with our conference speakers
Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (She/her/hers)
Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA
Kris’ approach as an executive leader is to achieve results by creating outstanding workplaces where people and culture are strategic priorities. She is a passionate and skilled business executive with 15 years’ experience leading HR in hi-tech, high growth companies in automotive and financial services, where she served as a trusted people and culture strategist, advisor, and business partner to the C-Suite.
Kris started her career in hospitality where she held various leadership and management positions. For more than 20 years, Kris has served as a valued member of senior and executive leadership teams, where her skills in HR, leadership, strategy, and culture were honed and her passion for business and human resources were developed. She is periodically called upon by media, conferences, and academia to contribute her experience and perspectives as an HR and business leader.
Kris has achieved the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designations as awarded by the Human Resources Professionals Association in Ontario, Canada. As a lifelong learner, Kris is thrilled to bring professional development and learning opportunities to the HR community in her role as Vice-President, Human Resources and Learning at the HRPA.
Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers)
President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
Lindsay Recknell 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 the President & CEO of Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc, Lindsay Recknell 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 & 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 & 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.
Sherri Bastos
Director of Prevention, Operations, Engagement and Retention, Public Services Health and Safety Association
Sherri Bastos is the Director of Prevention, Operations, Engagement and Retention with the Public Services Health and Safety Association. She is a passionate and motivating health and safety professional, dedicated to enhancing worker health, safety, and injury prevention. Her 23+ years’ experience within both the private and non–profit health care public sector has focused on directing national OH&S teams and best in-class occupational health, safety, prevention, and claims management programs. She is proud of successfully achieving leading health and safety strategic goals by valuing team collaboration, fostering strong partnerships, and supporting innovative safety ideas and programs.
Amrita Bhalla
Managing Director, A.B Consulting
Amrita is an accomplished senior HR executive with over 20 years of experience. Her background includes executive HR roles in the luxury hospitality industry with the following brands: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts; Oberoi Hotels and Resorts; and Belmond Hotels (formerly known as Orient Express). Prior to starting her career in the hospitality industry, Amrita worked in HR consulting with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Amrita has lived and worked in Canada, Bermuda, United Kingdom, Thailand and India. Her geographic work experience also includes the U.S., Middle East and the Caribbean. In 2015, Amrita founded A.B. Consulting, specializing in HR advisory services for clients across a multitude of sectors, including hospitality and tourism. A.B Consulting specializes in the areas of performance management, talent engagement and retention, learning and development, strategic planning and service standards development. A.B Consulting’s service portfolio also has a strong focus on workforce development for the Caribbean region.
Amrita is a member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Board Member for the Caribbean Hospitality and Tourism Association Education Fund (CHTAEF) and a member of the People Development Committee for the CHTA. Amrita is also a mentor for Ignite Bermuda, an accelerator focused on developing local entrepreneurial talent.
She joined the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism at Ryerson University in 2015, teaching Human Resources Management and Organizational Behaviour. Amrita holds a Masters in Industrial Relations (MIR) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queens University.
Diane Biesinger
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.
Siobhan Calderbank, MA, CMP, PROSCI®, PMP, CTDP
Senior Director of Talent Management, LCBO; Speaker, Change Management and Leadership, Professional, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategist and Advocate
Siobhan is a dynamic keynote speaker, consultant, award winning author, DEI practitioner, expert in change management and leadership and a project management professional. She has been seen on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and CW, and featured on the billboard in Times Square, NYC. Siobhan is also a featured book contributor alongside Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, John Lewis, Deepak Chopra and others. She has presented to diverse groups at conferences, events, seminars and planning sessions, motivating individuals to work more collaboratively. As an international speaker, she has engaged audiences from over 70 countries.
At LCBO, Siobhan is an experienced Senior Director of Talent Management where she focuses on talent development, performance management, learning, change management and diversity and inclusion. She is also the Founder of Butterfly Ladies – a mentoring program committed to helping develop the careers of women and youth, especially visible minorities. In addition, she is a volunteer mentor for Avanti Women and the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council.
Siobhan has been recognized as a Learning Leader by the Institute for Performance and Learning and is the recipient of the Universal Women’s Network (UWN) 2019 Women of Inspiration Award for Diversity and Inclusiveness. She is also the UWN National Ambassador for Black Women. She has been voted amongst the Top 10 Inspirational Female Entrepreneurs of 2019 and Most Influential Female Entrepreneur 2021 by Women Entrepreneur. Siobhan was also featured as one of The 10 Most Influential Businesswomen to Follow in 2020 by Insights Success, and a Woman of Influence by the Change Management Institute. In addition, she has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada 2020 by CIBWE, as well as one of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women 2022. She has also been selected as the Top Director of the Year in Talent Management for 2021, Empowered Women of the Year 2021, and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award 2022 by IAO.
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 spent 10 years working in senior management positions with the organization Médecins Sans Frontières. Tyler holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Economics from the London School of Economics.
Alison Grenier
Senior Consultant, Head of Culture & Research, Great Place to Work® Canada
Alison is a senior consultant and Head of Culture & Research for 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 joining the Institute, 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.
Kelly Bron Johnson
Founder, Completely Inclusive; Certified Workplace Psychological Health and Safety Advisor; Mental Health First Aider; IDEA Advisor
Kelly Bron Johnson (she/they) is an Autistic and Hard-of-Hearing self-advocate, keynote speaker, author and founder of Completely Inclusive and the Autistic Entrepreneurs Network. As a mixed-heritage Black nonbinary person, Kelly Bron brings her intersectional identity into all her work and aims to break down the stigmas and systemic barriers that exist in society to make the path easier for others. Kelly Bron is also a Certified Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace Advisor and is currently completing a Professional Certificate in Restorative Justice from Vermont Law School.
Dr. Gillian Mandich, PhD
Founder, The International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research
Dr. Gillian Mandich is an award-winning, internationally recognized happiness researcher, speaker, educator and author. With a PhD from Western University in Health Science, her primary areas of research are happiness and health. Recently named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network, her work combines the latest research and practical wisdom withan engaging style to help people live happier, healthier lives.
Dr. Gillian is passionate about research. She is the founder of The International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research; Research Associate at The World Database of Happiness, based out of Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands; co-lead investigator of The Canadian Happiness At Work Study, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association; and has recently participated in industry research with L’Oréal, Interac, Co-operators and Pantene (Procter and Gamble).
As a prominent media personality, Dr. Gillian has appeared on The Social, Marilyn Denis, Breakfast Television, The Morning Show, Global, ABC News Philadelphia, WWL New Orleans and CBS Pittsburgh. She has been named one of Canada’s top health leaders four years in a row by OptiMYz Magazine. Shewas also the 2020 CanFitPro Canadian Presenter of the Year and has given two TEDx talks: “The Surprising Truth About Happiness” at TEDx Yorkville and “The Two Things You Need To Know To Be Happier Today” at TEDx Windsor.
Dr. Gillian lives in Toronto, Canada with her French Bulldog, Jocko. She sits on the board of The Sunshine Foundation of Canada, the Advisory Board at Examine.com, an independent organization that investigates the science behind nutrition and supplementation and is an invited member of The Staples Work from Anywhere Advisory Council, a collective of experts and thought leaders who provide Staples with insights and practical solutions for the new world of work.
Dr. Meisha-ann Martin
Industrial, Organizational Psychologist; Senior Director, People Analytics and Research, Workhuman
Dr. Meisha-ann Martin is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist and Senior Director, People Analytics and Research on our Workhuman iQ team. Prior to this role, Meisha-ann was the Head of Talent Management for ServiceMaster (former parent company of Terminix). Meisha-ann is also considered a People Analytics/Employee Experience expert as she has led these efforts in companies like Flex, JetBlue and Raymond James Financial for over a decade. Meisha-ann was a Workhuman customer during her time at JetBlue and led a team that established linkages between recognition, engagement, retention and customer satisfaction. Meisha-ann draws from all her prior career experiences in this role, helping Workhuman clients measure the impact of their recognition program and connect recognition efforts to other strategic HR imperatives.
Treena Reilkoff, QMed, PHSA, WFA, BSW, BA
Trauma Informed Conflict Management Specialist, TLR Solutions4Conflict
Treena is a Conflict Management & Resiliency Specialist, with experience in trauma-informed practices, inclusive promoting strategies and optimizing operational and professional resiliency in the workplace. She is recognized as an international trainer on the topics of resiliency and trauma-informed approaches. Treena brings more than 25 years’ experience with a diverse professional background, including working in the fields of mental health, behavioural analysis, corrections, military/veteran affairs, Alternative Dispute Resolution, case-management and social work. She brings her knowledge and expertise from an anti-oppressive, collaborative approach, to assist employers, organizations, unions, associations and governments to participate in recognizing and addressing conflict, mental health and risk mitigation from a psychologically safe management style.
Treena has a BSW, BA, Executive Certificate in Conflict Management, holds the designations of a Qualified Mediator (ADR Institute of Canada), Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor (CMHA), Workplace Assessment and Restoration Specialist, Diversity Facilitator, and Critical Incident Stress Management and Certified Resiliency Trainer. She is also a Director on the Board with the ADR Institute of Ontario.
Dr. Joti Samra, R. Psych.
Work Environment, Emotional Intelligence & Mental Resilience Expert ; CEO & Founder, MyWorkplaceHealth
Dr. Joti Samra, R. Psych. is a national thought leader on issues relating to psychological health, wellness and resilience. She is the CEO & Founder of MyWorkplaceHealth, a full-suite national workplace consulting firm and Dr. Joti Samra, R.Psych & Associates, an in-office and online (virtual) clinical counselling practice with offices located throughout BC.
Dr. Samra is a highly regarded expert in psychological health and safety (PH&S). Over the past two decades, she has been involved in numerous national initiatives that have contributed to policy change in Canada, and is a Founding & Ongoing Member of the CSA Technical Committee that developed the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace (CAN/CSA-Z1003-13/BNQ9700-803/2013). This Standard is the first of its kind in the world and is shaping policy development for workplace PH&S at the International Organization for Standardization level.
Dr. Samra is the lead Research Scientist who created Guarding Minds at Work: A Workplace Guide to Psychological Health & Safety, in which the psychosocial factor frame adopted by the Standard was developed. She is also the developer of the Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment, an assessment and action planning resource that aligns leaders’ skills with the requirements of the Standard. Dr. Samra and her team have extensive expertise in helping organizations implement initiatives related to workplace PH&S including implementation of the CSA Standard; providing leadership development, training and coaching services across a broad range of areas, including emotional intelligence, psychologically safe leadership and mental health awareness; and providing a breadth of services to enhance employee psychological health, wellness and resilience.
Dr. Samra has received a number of awards and accolades for her clinical and research work. She is proud to be the recipient of the Canadian Psychological Association’s New Researcher Award and the British Columbia Psychological Association’s Advancement of the Profession of Psychology Award. She is also the former President of the BC Psychological Association and past Chair of the BC Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards Committee.
Jared Simmons
Founder and Principal, OUTLAST Consulting LLC
Jared is Founder and Principal of OUTLAST Consulting LLC, an Atlanta-based consultancy that helps companies bring an innovation mindset to their toughest business problems. Prior to this, he was a Strategic Initiatives Director at the Coca-Cola Company, responsible for a pipeline of product innovation initiatives. Before joining Coca-Cola, he was part of the Product Development and Innovation practice at McKinsey and Company.
A chemical engineer by training, Jared’s career began in Research & Development at Procter & Gamble, where held roles in market research, supplier management and product development. He is a certified executive coach, moderator and practitioner of various personality assessment tools. When he is not serving clients, Jared is probably immersed in travel, music theory and performance, college football or community service.
Tegan Slot, R.Kin MSc PhD CRSP
Lead, Specialized Services, Public Services Health and Safety Association
Tegan Slot is the Lead, Specialized Services with Public Services Health and Safety Association. Much of Tegan’s early work in occupational health and safety focused on ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorder prevention in acute care and continuing care hospitals and she is now exploring the emerging and impactful area of psychological health and safety. Tegan has worked in the OHS field for over 14 years, is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional, Registered Kinesiologist, holds an MSc in Biomechanics, a PhD in Ergonomics and a certificate in Occupational Safety and Health.
David Town, HBA, CHRL, ACC
Leadership Coach & Facilitator, Co-founder and Principal, Virtual Leadership Matters™ Inc.
David is a facilitator and executive coach focused on helping build individual and organizational capability. He is well versed in leadership development, with a focus on performance-related communication, management skills and team dynamics. David has also studied the leadership skills required to maximize performance when leading employees who work remotely. He has established subject matter expertise in the art of virtual leadership and he excels in helping organizations achieve their objectives through effective management and development of human capital. David has worked with organizations in various sectors including retail, wholesale, professional services, financial services, insurance, engineering design/build, IT support, pharmaceuticals, transportation/rail services, home comfort services, construction, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, government and not-for-profit.
Prior to starting his own consulting practice, David held senior HR positions in several prominent Canadian retail organizations including Loblaw Companies, Shoppers Drug Mart and Big V Pharmacies. He also has many years of experience as a lecturer at the Ivey School of Business where he taught an introductory business course and at Seneca College where he taught Organizational Behaviour, HR Planning and Performance Management.
David is a graduate of the Ivey School of Business at Western University, with a degree in Honors Business Administration. He earned his Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation and his Certified Human Resources Professional Leader (CHRL) designation. In addition, David has earned the Associate Certified Coach accreditation from the International Coaching Federation. He is al certified administrator of the Leadership Effectiveness Analysis™ 360, the MERIT Profile Assessment© and has worked with the DiSC© assessment as well as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator®. David is also an active community volunteer, having held several volunteer leadership positions.
Allison Venditti, CHRP, CHRL
Founder of Moms at Work and My Parental Leave
Allison Venditti is the Founder of Moms at Work and My Parental Leave. She is an activist, HR professional, career coach and a thought leader in areas of women at work and parental leave. She was named one of Canada’s top 50 changemakers by the Globe and Mail and she regularly provides expert advice to companies, media and individual coaching clients.
Allison is a winter biker, Star Wars lover and collector of clever mugs. When not trying to destroy board game opponents she is spending time with her kids aged 10, 8 and 4. They do not like Star Wars….DNA tests are pending.
Katie Ward, MBA
Commissioner and Chief Administrative Officer, Pay Equity Commission; Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
In 2020, Kadie assumed leadership of the Pay Equity Commission of Ontario as Commissioner and CAO. Commissioner Ward is a seasoned executive whose career has been characterized by successful collaboration across public, private and not-for-profit organizations to design and deliver inclusive economic growth strategies. Before joining the Pay Equity Commission in 2020, Commissioner Ward worked on implementing aspects of the federal government’s “Feminist International Assistance Policy” where she increased women’s participation in international trade and the labour market as well as equitable participation of men and women in their local economy. Her expertise has taken her around the world working with legislators to establish programs and legislation that support women-led micro and small enterprises. She is a Queens’s Diamond Jubilee Medalist, recognized for her contributions to significant economic improvement in various Canadian cities. Commissioner Ward firmly believes that equity and inclusion are the foundation for sustainable economic prosperity.
Ruthann Weeks, (She/Her), CRS, People and Culture Strategist, Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor
Founder, Harmony In The Workplace Ltd.
Ruthann is a People and Culture Strategist and founder of Harmony In The Workplace. She is a change agent whose efforts have helped bring the importance of an abuse-free work environment to the forefront of public awareness. She is an author and gifted keynote speaker who delivers a powerful message about today’s workplace challenges.
Working as a Certified Resource Specialist in the human service sector, Ruthann went on to graduate as a Human Resource Manager. She is a Certified Psychological Safety Advisor who specializes in leadership development, people and culture, diversity and inclusion, workplace bullying, sexual harassment, domestic violence and mental health in the workplace.
Rosie Yeung, CPA, CA, CHRL
President and Founder of Changing Lenses
Rosie (she/her) is a Coach, Speaker and Educator for Justice, Equity, Decolonization and Inclusion (JEDI), helping people with privilege dismantle systemic inequity while supporting people without privilege survive it. She is a Certified HR Leader and Chartered Professional Accountant, with over 20 years of professional and lived experiences, as well as certification in coaching, inclusion, Indigenous history, human rights and more.
As a Chinese-Canadian, immigrant, cis-straight female with invisible disabilities, Rosie specializes in intersectional diversity and Asian-Canadian identity; and she loves coaching Asian and racialized women to succeed as their true selves.
Rosie also created and hosts the Changing Lenses Podcast, shifting our worldview on work and business by looking through a JEDI lens. Based in Toronto, Canada, she enjoys travel (except during global pandemics) and has served communities in Guatemala, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda. To de-stress, Rosie enjoys movies, popcorn and ice cream – often simultaneously!
You can connect with Rosie on LinkedIn, Instagram or on her website: www.changinglenses.ca.
Kris Tierney, CHRP, CHRL, (She/her/hers)
Vice President, Human Resources and Learning, HRPA
Kris’ approach as an executive leader is to achieve results by creating outstanding workplaces where people and culture are strategic priorities. She is a passionate and skilled business executive with 15 years’ experience leading HR in hi-tech, high growth companies in automotive and financial services, where she served as a trusted people and culture strategist, advisor, and business partner to the C-Suite.
Kris started her career in hospitality where she held various leadership and management positions. For more than 20 years, Kris has served as a valued member of senior and executive leadership teams, where her skills in HR, leadership, strategy, and culture were honed and her passion for business and human resources were developed. She is periodically called upon by media, conferences, and academia to contribute her experience and perspectives as an HR and business leader.
Kris has achieved the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designations as awarded by the Human Resources Professionals Association in Ontario, Canada. As a lifelong learner, Kris is thrilled to bring professional development and learning opportunities to the HR community in her role as Vice-President, Human Resources and Learning at the HRPA.
Lindsay Recknell (She/her/hers)
President & CEO, Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc.
Lindsay Recknell 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 the President & CEO of Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc, Lindsay Recknell 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 & 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 & 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.
Sherri Bastos
Director of Prevention, Operations, Engagement and Retention, Public Services Health and Safety Association
Sherri Bastos is the Director of Prevention, Operations, Engagement and Retention with the Public Services Health and Safety Association. She is a passionate and motivating health and safety professional, dedicated to enhancing worker health, safety, and injury prevention. Her 23+ years’ experience within both the private and non–profit health care public sector has focused on directing national OH&S teams and best in-class occupational health, safety, prevention, and claims management programs. She is proud of successfully achieving leading health and safety strategic goals by valuing team collaboration, fostering strong partnerships, and supporting innovative safety ideas and programs.
Amrita Bhalla
Managing Director, A.B Consulting
Amrita is an accomplished senior HR executive with over 20 years of experience. Her background includes executive HR roles in the luxury hospitality industry with the following brands: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts; Oberoi Hotels and Resorts; and Belmond Hotels (formerly known as Orient Express). Prior to starting her career in the hospitality industry, Amrita worked in HR consulting with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Amrita has lived and worked in Canada, Bermuda, United Kingdom, Thailand and India. Her geographic work experience also includes the U.S., Middle East and the Caribbean. In 2015, Amrita founded A.B. Consulting, specializing in HR advisory services for clients across a multitude of sectors, including hospitality and tourism. A.B Consulting specializes in the areas of performance management, talent engagement and retention, learning and development, strategic planning and service standards development. A.B Consulting’s service portfolio also has a strong focus on workforce development for the Caribbean region.
Amrita is a member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Board Member for the Caribbean Hospitality and Tourism Association Education Fund (CHTAEF) and a member of the People Development Committee for the CHTA. Amrita is also a mentor for Ignite Bermuda, an accelerator focused on developing local entrepreneurial talent.
She joined the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism at Ryerson University in 2015, teaching Human Resources Management and Organizational Behaviour. Amrita holds a Masters in Industrial Relations (MIR) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queens University.
Diane Biesinger
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.
Siobhan Calderbank, MA, CMP, PROSCI®, PMP, CTDP
Senior Director of Talent Management, LCBO; Speaker, Change Management and Leadership, Professional, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategist and Advocate
Siobhan is a dynamic keynote speaker, consultant, award winning author, DEI practitioner, expert in change management and leadership and a project management professional. She has been seen on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and CW, and featured on the billboard in Times Square, NYC. Siobhan is also a featured book contributor alongside Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, John Lewis, Deepak Chopra and others. She has presented to diverse groups at conferences, events, seminars and planning sessions, motivating individuals to work more collaboratively. As an international speaker, she has engaged audiences from over 70 countries.
At LCBO, Siobhan is an experienced Senior Director of Talent Management where she focuses on talent development, performance management, learning, change management and diversity and inclusion. She is also the Founder of Butterfly Ladies – a mentoring program committed to helping develop the careers of women and youth, especially visible minorities. In addition, she is a volunteer mentor for Avanti Women and the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council.
Siobhan has been recognized as a Learning Leader by the Institute for Performance and Learning and is the recipient of the Universal Women’s Network (UWN) 2019 Women of Inspiration Award for Diversity and Inclusiveness. She is also the UWN National Ambassador for Black Women. She has been voted amongst the Top 10 Inspirational Female Entrepreneurs of 2019 and Most Influential Female Entrepreneur 2021 by Women Entrepreneur. Siobhan was also featured as one of The 10 Most Influential Businesswomen to Follow in 2020 by Insights Success, and a Woman of Influence by the Change Management Institute. In addition, she has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada 2020 by CIBWE, as well as one of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women 2022. She has also been selected as the Top Director of the Year in Talent Management for 2021, Empowered Women of the Year 2021, and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award 2022 by IAO.
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 spent 10 years working in senior management positions with the organization Médecins Sans Frontières. Tyler holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Economics from the London School of Economics.
Alison Grenier
Senior Consultant, Head of Culture & Research, Great Place to Work® Canada
Alison is a senior consultant and Head of Culture & Research for 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 joining the Institute, 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.
Kelly Bron Johnson
Founder, Completely Inclusive; Certified Workplace Psychological Health and Safety Advisor; Mental Health First Aider; IDEA Advisor
Kelly Bron Johnson (she/they) is an Autistic and Hard-of-Hearing self-advocate, keynote speaker, author and founder of Completely Inclusive and the Autistic Entrepreneurs Network. As a mixed-heritage Black nonbinary person, Kelly Bron brings her intersectional identity into all her work and aims to break down the stigmas and systemic barriers that exist in society to make the path easier for others. Kelly Bron is also a Certified Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace Advisor and is currently completing a Professional Certificate in Restorative Justice from Vermont Law School.
Dr. Gillian Mandich, PhD
Founder, The International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research
Dr. Gillian Mandich is an award-winning, internationally recognized happiness researcher, speaker, educator and author. With a PhD from Western University in Health Science, her primary areas of research are happiness and health. Recently named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network, her work combines the latest research and practical wisdom withan engaging style to help people live happier, healthier lives.
Dr. Gillian is passionate about research. She is the founder of The International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research; Research Associate at The World Database of Happiness, based out of Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands; co-lead investigator of The Canadian Happiness At Work Study, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association; and has recently participated in industry research with L’Oréal, Interac, Co-operators and Pantene (Procter and Gamble).
As a prominent media personality, Dr. Gillian has appeared on The Social, Marilyn Denis, Breakfast Television, The Morning Show, Global, ABC News Philadelphia, WWL New Orleans and CBS Pittsburgh. She has been named one of Canada’s top health leaders four years in a row by OptiMYz Magazine. Shewas also the 2020 CanFitPro Canadian Presenter of the Year and has given two TEDx talks: “The Surprising Truth About Happiness” at TEDx Yorkville and “The Two Things You Need To Know To Be Happier Today” at TEDx Windsor.
Dr. Gillian lives in Toronto, Canada with her French Bulldog, Jocko. She sits on the board of The Sunshine Foundation of Canada, the Advisory Board at Examine.com, an independent organization that investigates the science behind nutrition and supplementation and is an invited member of The Staples Work from Anywhere Advisory Council, a collective of experts and thought leaders who provide Staples with insights and practical solutions for the new world of work.
Dr. Meisha-ann Martin
Industrial, Organizational Psychologist; Senior Director, People Analytics and Research, Workhuman
Dr. Meisha-ann Martin is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist and Senior Director, People Analytics and Research on our Workhuman iQ team. Prior to this role, Meisha-ann was the Head of Talent Management for ServiceMaster (former parent company of Terminix). Meisha-ann is also considered a People Analytics/Employee Experience expert as she has led these efforts in companies like Flex, JetBlue and Raymond James Financial for over a decade. Meisha-ann was a Workhuman customer during her time at JetBlue and led a team that established linkages between recognition, engagement, retention and customer satisfaction. Meisha-ann draws from all her prior career experiences in this role, helping Workhuman clients measure the impact of their recognition program and connect recognition efforts to other strategic HR imperatives.
Treena Reilkoff, QMed, PHSA, WFA, BSW, BA
Trauma Informed Conflict Management Specialist, TLR Solutions4Conflict
Treena is a Conflict Management & Resiliency Specialist, with experience in trauma-informed practices, inclusive promoting strategies and optimizing operational and professional resiliency in the workplace. She is recognized as an international trainer on the topics of resiliency and trauma-informed approaches. Treena brings more than 25 years’ experience with a diverse professional background, including working in the fields of mental health, behavioural analysis, corrections, military/veteran affairs, Alternative Dispute Resolution, case-management and social work. She brings her knowledge and expertise from an anti-oppressive, collaborative approach, to assist employers, organizations, unions, associations and governments to participate in recognizing and addressing conflict, mental health and risk mitigation from a psychologically safe management style.
Treena has a BSW, BA, Executive Certificate in Conflict Management, holds the designations of a Qualified Mediator (ADR Institute of Canada), Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor (CMHA), Workplace Assessment and Restoration Specialist, Diversity Facilitator, and Critical Incident Stress Management and Certified Resiliency Trainer. She is also a Director on the Board with the ADR Institute of Ontario.
Dr. Joti Samra, R. Psych.
Work Environment, Emotional Intelligence & Mental Resilience Expert ; CEO & Founder, MyWorkplaceHealth
Dr. Joti Samra, R. Psych. is a national thought leader on issues relating to psychological health, wellness and resilience. She is the CEO & Founder of MyWorkplaceHealth, a full-suite national workplace consulting firm and Dr. Joti Samra, R.Psych & Associates, an in-office and online (virtual) clinical counselling practice with offices located throughout BC.
Dr. Samra is a highly regarded expert in psychological health and safety (PH&S). Over the past two decades, she has been involved in numerous national initiatives that have contributed to policy change in Canada, and is a Founding & Ongoing Member of the CSA Technical Committee that developed the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace (CAN/CSA-Z1003-13/BNQ9700-803/2013). This Standard is the first of its kind in the world and is shaping policy development for workplace PH&S at the International Organization for Standardization level.
Dr. Samra is the lead Research Scientist who created Guarding Minds at Work: A Workplace Guide to Psychological Health & Safety, in which the psychosocial factor frame adopted by the Standard was developed. She is also the developer of the Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment, an assessment and action planning resource that aligns leaders’ skills with the requirements of the Standard. Dr. Samra and her team have extensive expertise in helping organizations implement initiatives related to workplace PH&S including implementation of the CSA Standard; providing leadership development, training and coaching services across a broad range of areas, including emotional intelligence, psychologically safe leadership and mental health awareness; and providing a breadth of services to enhance employee psychological health, wellness and resilience.
Dr. Samra has received a number of awards and accolades for her clinical and research work. She is proud to be the recipient of the Canadian Psychological Association’s New Researcher Award and the British Columbia Psychological Association’s Advancement of the Profession of Psychology Award. She is also the former President of the BC Psychological Association and past Chair of the BC Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards Committee.
Jared Simmons
Founder and Principal, OUTLAST Consulting LLC
Jared is Founder and Principal of OUTLAST Consulting LLC, an Atlanta-based consultancy that helps companies bring an innovation mindset to their toughest business problems. Prior to this, he was a Strategic Initiatives Director at the Coca-Cola Company, responsible for a pipeline of product innovation initiatives. Before joining Coca-Cola, he was part of the Product Development and Innovation practice at McKinsey and Company.
A chemical engineer by training, Jared’s career began in Research & Development at Procter & Gamble, where held roles in market research, supplier management and product development. He is a certified executive coach, moderator and practitioner of various personality assessment tools. When he is not serving clients, Jared is probably immersed in travel, music theory and performance, college football or community service.
Tegan Slot, R.Kin MSc PhD CRSP
Lead, Specialized Services, Public Services Health and Safety Association
Tegan Slot is the Lead, Specialized Services with Public Services Health and Safety Association. Much of Tegan’s early work in occupational health and safety focused on ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorder prevention in acute care and continuing care hospitals and she is now exploring the emerging and impactful area of psychological health and safety. Tegan has worked in the OHS field for over 14 years, is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional, Registered Kinesiologist, holds an MSc in Biomechanics, a PhD in Ergonomics and a certificate in Occupational Safety and Health.
David Town, HBA, CHRL, ACC
Leadership Coach & Facilitator, Co-founder and Principal, Virtual Leadership Matters™ Inc.
David is a facilitator and executive coach focused on helping build individual and organizational capability. He is well versed in leadership development, with a focus on performance-related communication, management skills and team dynamics. David has also studied the leadership skills required to maximize performance when leading employees who work remotely. He has established subject matter expertise in the art of virtual leadership and he excels in helping organizations achieve their objectives through effective management and development of human capital. David has worked with organizations in various sectors including retail, wholesale, professional services, financial services, insurance, engineering design/build, IT support, pharmaceuticals, transportation/rail services, home comfort services, construction, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, government and not-for-profit.
Prior to starting his own consulting practice, David held senior HR positions in several prominent Canadian retail organizations including Loblaw Companies, Shoppers Drug Mart and Big V Pharmacies. He also has many years of experience as a lecturer at the Ivey School of Business where he taught an introductory business course and at Seneca College where he taught Organizational Behaviour, HR Planning and Performance Management.
David is a graduate of the Ivey School of Business at Western University, with a degree in Honors Business Administration. He earned his Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation and his Certified Human Resources Professional Leader (CHRL) designation. In addition, David has earned the Associate Certified Coach accreditation from the International Coaching Federation. He is al certified administrator of the Leadership Effectiveness Analysis™ 360, the MERIT Profile Assessment© and has worked with the DiSC© assessment as well as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator®. David is also an active community volunteer, having held several volunteer leadership positions.
Allison Venditti, CHRP, CHRL
Founder of Moms at Work and My Parental Leave
Allison Venditti is the Founder of Moms at Work and My Parental Leave. She is an activist, HR professional, career coach and a thought leader in areas of women at work and parental leave. She was named one of Canada’s top 50 changemakers by the Globe and Mail and she regularly provides expert advice to companies, media and individual coaching clients.
Allison is a winter biker, Star Wars lover and collector of clever mugs. When not trying to destroy board game opponents she is spending time with her kids aged 10, 8 and 4. They do not like Star Wars….DNA tests are pending.
Katie Ward, MBA
Commissioner and Chief Administrative Officer, Pay Equity Commission; Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
In 2020, Kadie assumed leadership of the Pay Equity Commission of Ontario as Commissioner and CAO. Commissioner Ward is a seasoned executive whose career has been characterized by successful collaboration across public, private and not-for-profit organizations to design and deliver inclusive economic growth strategies. Before joining the Pay Equity Commission in 2020, Commissioner Ward worked on implementing aspects of the federal government’s “Feminist International Assistance Policy” where she increased women’s participation in international trade and the labour market as well as equitable participation of men and women in their local economy. Her expertise has taken her around the world working with legislators to establish programs and legislation that support women-led micro and small enterprises. She is a Queens’s Diamond Jubilee Medalist, recognized for her contributions to significant economic improvement in various Canadian cities. Commissioner Ward firmly believes that equity and inclusion are the foundation for sustainable economic prosperity.
Ruthann Weeks, (She/Her), CRS, People and Culture Strategist, Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor
Founder, Harmony In The Workplace Ltd.
Ruthann is a People and Culture Strategist and founder of Harmony In The Workplace. She is a change agent whose efforts have helped bring the importance of an abuse-free work environment to the forefront of public awareness. She is an author and gifted keynote speaker who delivers a powerful message about today’s workplace challenges.
Working as a Certified Resource Specialist in the human service sector, Ruthann went on to graduate as a Human Resource Manager. She is a Certified Psychological Safety Advisor who specializes in leadership development, people and culture, diversity and inclusion, workplace bullying, sexual harassment, domestic violence and mental health in the workplace.
Rosie Yeung, CPA, CA, CHRL
President and Founder of Changing Lenses
Rosie (she/her) is a Coach, Speaker and Educator for Justice, Equity, Decolonization and Inclusion (JEDI), helping people with privilege dismantle systemic inequity while supporting people without privilege survive it. She is a Certified HR Leader and Chartered Professional Accountant, with over 20 years of professional and lived experiences, as well as certification in coaching, inclusion, Indigenous history, human rights and more.
As a Chinese-Canadian, immigrant, cis-straight female with invisible disabilities, Rosie specializes in intersectional diversity and Asian-Canadian identity; and she loves coaching Asian and racialized women to succeed as their true selves.
Rosie also created and hosts the Changing Lenses Podcast, shifting our worldview on work and business by looking through a JEDI lens. Based in Toronto, Canada, she enjoys travel (except during global pandemics) and has served communities in Guatemala, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda. To de-stress, Rosie enjoys movies, popcorn and ice cream – often simultaneously!
You can connect with Rosie on LinkedIn, Instagram or on her website: www.changinglenses.ca.
Contact Adam Hart, Business Development Lead, to learn more about partnership or sponsorship opportunities.
Tel: 416.923.2324 ext. 353
Email: ahart@hrpa.ca
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