Executive Event Partner
Executive Event, November 27
Design Exchange, The Gallery Room
Total CPD: 2.5 hours
HRPA is looking to amaze and delight our members with this Fall Executive Event focusing on artificial intelligence, technology and the future of work.
On November 27, select C-suite and executive HR leaders are invited to a new executive stream of the Fall Conference. This in-person event (with optional virtual attendance) will reconnect peers as we discuss the latest executive-level trends at the intersection of HR and technology.
This executive event day is by invitation only. To receive your invitation, complete this form. Further details can be found on the “Executive Event” menu tab below.
Also, consider checking out the Fall Conference program happening November 28.
Access the 2023 Executive Event: Bridging the Digital Divide – Program & Sponsor Guide
Event Details
Date: Monday, November 27
Duration: 8:30 AM – 12:15 PM (Welcome breakfast and reception at 7:30 AM)
In person location: Design Exchange (The Gallery Room), 234 Bay St., Toronto
Virtual participation: Live stream via ON24 (8:30 AM – 12:15 PM ET)
Price: Complimentary, by invitation only.
Join HRPA’s vibrant and growing network of C-suite and executive HR leaders at the new executive stream of Fall Conference. Attendees of this exclusive event will have the chance to reconnect with peers as we discuss the latest trends at the intersection of HR and technology. The spotlight will be on critical topics such as navigating the impact of generative AI on HR, cybersecurity and more to equip you for 2024. Plus, you’ll get early access to learning about HRPA’s future vision!
In Person Registration: Limited to 100 in-person attendees, by invitation only.
Virtual Registration: Unlimited attendees, by invitation only.
Bridging the Divide: Executive Event Agenda
November 27
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM | Guest Arrival and Breakfast
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Welcome, Land Acknowledgement and HRPA Vision 2027
Speaker(s): Sarain Fox, Event Host; Jodi Kovitz, HBA, LL.B., Hon. LL.D., CEO and Acting Registrar, HRPA
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Keynote: Generative AI: Shaping the Future of Creativity and Innovation
Join us for an in-depth look at Generative AI’s transformative potential. This session will explore its applications, capabilities, and ethical considerations, unveiling how it’s reshaping industries. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting in AI, this session offers insights into this rapidly evolving field and its future opportunities.
Speaker(s): Kathryn Hume, Vice President, Digital Channels Technology, RBC
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM | Hot Talk: Unlocking Success: Your Talent AI Blueprint for 2024
This compelling talk is a blueprint for leveraging AI in your talent management strategy that provides innovative solutions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of HR operations. This blueprint not only focuses on the potential benefits of AI in talent but also acknowledges and actively works to mitigate the risks and biases associated with its implementation to ensure fair and equitable business practices are prioritized.
Speaker(s): Sanjana Basu, AI Investor, Radical Ventures
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM | Hot Talk: A Conversation on Winning Strategies for Engagement and Retention in 2024
Join us for a dynamic conversation on the art of strategic engagement and retention as we step into the year 2024. In this engaging session, we will explore the latest trends, innovative techniques, and winning strategies that organizations are employing to captivate and retain their talent. Discover how emerging technologies, data-driven approaches, and forward-thinking leadership are shaping the future of strategic engagement.
Speaker(s): Radhika Kakkar, COO, Wealthsimple
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM | In Discussion with… Cyber Risk Navigation: Strategies for 2024 and Beyond
Join us for an engaging and informative discussion as we navigate the evolving landscape of cyber risk management in 2024. Experts in the field will delve into the latest cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and attack trends that organizations are likely to face in 2024. Gain practical insights into effective cybersecurity strategies, risk mitigation techniques, and the role of emerging technologies in safeguarding digital assets.
Speaker(s): Claudette McGowan, Founder & CEO, Protexxa; Jay Rosenzweig, CEO, Rosenzweig & Company
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM | Roundtable Facilitated Discussion: Cyber Risk
Connect, share, and learn from your table of peers during this interactive table conversation.
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM | Networking Break
11:15 AM – 11:45 AM | PANEL: Executive Insights: Elevating the HR Conversation with Executive People Leaders
This thought-provoking panel discussion, “Elevating Leadership Insights,” brings together seasoned executive leaders, industry experts, and technology thought leaders to explore the intersection between HR and cutting-edge AI technology, illuminating the path forward for the future of work in Ontario and Canada. This session is a must-attend for HR professionals, business leaders, and anyone passionate about the transformative potential of AI in the workplace.
Moderator: Jyoti Grewal, Head of Human Resources and Administration, Lohmann Breeders Canada Ltd.
Speaker(s): Soula Courlas, CHRP, CIM (She, Her/Hers), Partner, Organization and Workforce Transformation – Financial Services, National Lead, Organization Design & Effectiveness, PwC Canada Steve Knox, Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition, Ceridian; Sandra Pasquini, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Sobeys/Empire Company Limited.
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Sparking Change: Fireside Keynote on HR Tech Evolution
A keynote discussion on the latest trends, disruptive innovations, and the transformative impact of HR tech in the workplace. Join us for an enlightening conversation that will equip you with the knowledge and tools to drive positive change within your organization. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the future of HR technology with our thought leaders!”
Speaker(s): Amber Mac, President, AmberMac Media Inc.; Jodi Kovitz, HBA, LL.B, Hon. LL.D., CEO and Acting Registrar, HRPA
12:00 PM – 12:15 PM | Closing Remarks and Event Wrap Up
Speaker(s): Jodi Kovitz, HBA, LL.B., Hon. LL.D., CEO and Acting Registrar, HRPA
Sarain Fox
HRPA Executive Event, Host
Sarain is Anishinaabe from Batchawana First Nation, just outside of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario. She is passionate about empowering Indigenous communities and amplifying their voices. She is a multifaceted artist and activist who comes from a long line of storytellers and oral record keepers of the family. They have passed down ancient teachings and have raised her to be proud of her Indigenous roots. As a result, Sarain has become a powerful voice for the Indigenous community.
She is a dancer, choreographer, stylist, brand ambassador, television host and content producer. Sarain has combined these various mediums to create a compelling social platform to celebrate the immense knowledge and talent of Indigenous people, designers and brands.
Sarain’s screen highlights include the award-winning series, RISE, Cut-off and APTN’s Future History. Her ability to dive into challenging social and cultural topics has gained Sarain a diverse and engaged audience. She reaches folks across North America, and beyond, who share her vision for creating meaningful dialogue about Indigenous resilience and resistance.
In fashion, Sarain has leant her voice to international brands such as Sephora, Canada Goose, Nike N7 and Manitobah Mukluks. She sees each partnership as an opportunity to highlight her culture, share the stage with up-and-coming Indigenous talent and change the world for her people.
Sarain has trained at shighly acclaimed faculties such as Quinte Ballet School, The Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and has starred in music videos and on stage with several artists from across the world. Sarain was also the choreographer and lead in a Theatre New Brunswick production and has premiered her solo work at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. She also works extensively with Xara Choral Theatre and overall, uses various mediums and social platforms to prove that Indigenous representation matters…and is desired!
Jodi Kovitz (she/her), HBA, LL.B
Chief Executive Officer and Acting Registrar, HRPA
Jodi is an experienced, visionary CEO leader and a transformative global brand builder. She is a growth strategist and a passionate connector of people.
Jodi was the founder and CEO of #movethedial, which focused on the growth and equitable participation of all women in tech. Leveraging Jodi’s vision, wealth of experience, pioneering spirit and passion, the movement impacted over 60,000 people at events throughout Canada, the US, the UK and Israel. Jodi also previously led growth at Vetster, a telemedicine platform, and was the CEO at Peerscale, a technology membership association.
Jodi is passionate about the intersection of equity, innovation, and the future of work. Featured in Forbes Women, Jodi was recognized as an Adweek Brandstar in Toronto in 2018, One of Canada’s 25 Women of Influence in 2018, and one of WXN’s Canada’s 100 most powerful women in 2017 and 2019.
Jodi holds an HBA from Ivey Business School at Western University and an LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. Jodi also authored Go Out of Your Way, a book about the power of people, relationships and building genuine connections, endorsed by Sheryl Sandberg.
Sanjana Basu
Investor, Radical Ventures
Sanjana believes strongly in the deeply disruptive power of AI to create massive value across sectors. She focuses on technically differentiated teams building applied AI businesses across verticals. She has led some of the firm’s healthcare AI and materials AI investments and has also led Radical’s work in the areas of AI’s intersection with the future of work, ed-tech and biology. Moreover, she has been involved with Radical’s investments in Lisa Health, PocketHealth, Signal 1, Synex, and Ubenwa.
Before joining Radical, Sanjana invested in various deep tech and consumer tech businesses at the Venture arm of the Global Indian Conglomerate, the Tata Group. Before that, she was an Investment Banker at Barclays in Mumbai.
Born and raised in Mumbai, India, she completed her MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and her undergraduate in Economics & International Relations from Tufts University in Boston, US.
Soula Courlas, CHRP, CIM (She, Her/Hers), CHRP, CIM
Partner, Organization and Workforce Transformation – Financial Services, National Lead, Organization Design & Effectiveness, PwC Canada
Soula has 25+ years of experience leading complex transformations, organizational design, talent experience, and business readiness initiatives driven by post-M&A integration, technology and major organizational changes serving clients across banking, national P&C insurers, telecom and healthcare.
Soula’s blend of corporate and consulting experience has enabled her to advise senior leaders and C-suite clients to navigate the people and program dynamics of transformation. Soula has led workstreams related to enterprise/functional organization designs to achieve growth and operational efficiency; digital transformation to launch consumer products; post-M&A organizational/culture integration across Canada and Europe; co-creation/launch of an upskilling program through an unprecedented collaboration between a Telco and its union; and most recently, serving as PwC Canada’s interim Chief People Officer architecting and launching a refreshed employee value proposition initiative reaching over 8,000 employees nationally.
Soula is passionate about organizational health and well-being, coaching, and talent development to enable people to flourish at work and in times of major change. Soula is a certified executive coach with a passion for positive psychology based organizational wellbeing bringing these disciplines to support transformational change.
Jyoti Grewal
Head of Human Resources and Administration, Lohmann Breeders Canada Ltd.
Jyoti is an experienced HR professional with a strong background in HR management, talent acquisition, employee relations and strategic planning. With over 15 years of experience in various HR roles, she has successfully contributed to the growth and success of organizations across different industries such as manufacturing, banking, healthcare and staffing.
Her educational background includes a Post Graduate Certificate in HR from Mohawk College and a Bachelors of Commerce from McMaster University.
In her current role, Jyoti is responsible for designing and overseeing the implementation of effective HR programs and policies across multiple locations in Canada. She has demonstrated expertise in legal compliance, recruitment, training, performance management, compensation planning and employee relations. In close collaboration closely with the CEO and senior executives, she plays a crucial role in building and transforming the business, serving as a trusted advisor and providing strategic guidance to management.
Jyoti has also recently been elected to the Hamilton Chapter HRPA Board of Directors as Secretary-Treasurer. She is passionate about helping HRPA make an impact in the Hamilton HR community, and work towards creating an environment where all HR professionals can learn, connect and grow.
Kathryn Hume
Vice President, Digital Channels Technology, RBC
Kathryn is the Vice President of Digital Channels Technology at the Royal Bank of Canada. She has led multiple technology teams at RBC, including the personal investments development team and the Borealis AI machine learning team. Prior to joining RBC, Kathryn held leadership positions at Integrate.ai and Fast Forward Labs, where she helped over 50 Fortune 500 organizations develop and implement AI programs. She is a widely respected author and educator on technology and innovation, with work appearing at TED, HBR, the Globe and Mail, Harvard, MIT, the University of Toronto and more.
She holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from Stanford University and speaks seven languages.
Radhika Kakkar
Chief Operating Officer, Wealthsimple
Radhika Kakkar is the Chief Operating Officer at Wealthsimple, an innovative financial services firm operating in Canada. Radhika is an experienced technology leader with deep expertise designing and rapidly scaling revenue and operations organizations from the ground up. Prior to joining Wealthsimple, Radhika was an executive leader at Snap Inc. for nearly seven years, responsible for the development and growth of the operational, safety/integrity and revenue teams in support of Snap’s innovative platforms. She also spent 13 years at the global consulting firm Accenture’s Toronto and San Francisco offices. As a Managing Director, she helped to build Accenture’s Web Scale practice and offerings, and led the client relationship and services for a global social media company. Radhika holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University in Canada.
Steve Knox
Vice President, Global Talent Attraction, Ceridian
In his current role, Steve is responsible for the enterprise talent acquisition (TA) strategy and delivery for all roles across the organization from early talent to executive hires. Leading a diverse global team from Montreal to Manila to Mauritius, the TA team partners directly with the business to proactively source for the future talent needs of Ceridian.
Prior to Ceridian, Steve spent 12 years with GE where he started as the Head of TA for Canada, then took on additional responsibilities in 2001 leading talent acquisition for GE’s emerging markets including Asia, Africa and the Middle East. His last role with GE was as Global Head of TA leading a team of 700+ TA professionals across 40+ countries. Here, he was responsible for recruitment technology, talent analytics, talent sourcing and research as well as recruitment marketing and branding. He most recently joined Ceridian from the TD Bank Group as their VP of Talent Acquisition.
Steve has been dedicated to the recruitment function for the last 25 years and is a frequent guest speaker at conferences and seminars in the talent attraction space. His true passion in life is travelling across the globe with his wife Christine and boys Gavin and James. His favourite travel destinations include Tokyo, Dubai, Hawaii, California and the islands of the Bahamas.
Amber Mac
President, AmberMac Media Inc.
AmberMac Media Inc. is a content marketing agency that produces award-winning digital media for the world’s top technology, telecom, retail and professional services firms. Amber has more than 20 years of experience working with tech and media companies, including four years at leading start-ups in San Francisco during the 1990s dot-com boom. Today, Amber is a well-known Toronto-based entrepreneur, the bestselling author of two technology books, the host and producer of three award-winning podcasts, and one of DMZ’s 30 inspirational women making a difference in tech.
Claudette McGowan
Founder & CEO, Protexxa
Claudette is a global information technology leader with more than 20 years of success leading digital transformations, optimizing infrastructure and designing new approaches that improve service and cybersecurity experiences. She has worked in the technology industry for several organizations such as Deloitte, Metropolitan Police Services, North York General Hospital, Bank of Montreal and TD Bank. At BMO, Claudette served as the Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Technology Employee Experience, and at TD she was the Global Executive Officer for Protect Fusion & Cyber Experience. Claudette is an active member of the Canadian innovation ecosystem, including in her current role at a Canadian-based cybersecurity software and services company. She is also the founder of the Black Arts & Innovation Expo, and chair of the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism, a group of senior business leaders committed to breaking down systemic barriers within the innovation economy. McGowan recently co-led the launch of Phoenix Fire & The Firehood, a multi-million-dollar women-focused angel fund and network for women in technology.
Her commitment to community is also evidenced by her multiple board seats for leading organizations such as Air Canada, MaRS Discovery District, SickKids Hospital Foundation, Black North, CILAR, Elevate Technology Festival, University of New Brunswick Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, and the U.S. Consul General of Toronto U.S.-Canada Innovation Council. Claudette holds a BA from Lakehead University, an MBA from Athabasca University, Hon Doctor of Laws from Carleton University, and is currently in the Computer Science PhD program at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Lisa Odjig
Odawa, Ojibway nation
Lisa, a remarkable talent, stands as a 7-time Indigenous Hoop Dance Champion and a two-time World Champion Hoop Dancer.
Lisa’s mesmerizing performances have been showcased at distinguished events, including the 2023 NHL Indigenous Heritage Celebration Game, where her hoop dance paid homage to Indigenous heritage. The NBA Toronto Raptors halftime show, as well as the CFL Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger Cats halftime shows, have all witnessed the enchanting rhythm and grace of Lisa’s performances.
Beyond North America, her talent has transcended borders, taking the form of Hoop dance to stages across the globe. Lisa’s captivating presence has left an indelible mark on audiences in Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, spreading the beauty and significance of Indigenous culture to diverse corners of the world.
Sandra Pasquini
Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Sobeys/Empire Company Limited.
Sandra leads the HR Business Partner team nationally, driving engagement and the employee experience across all of Empire’s banners. In addition, she is accountable for talent acquisition, labour relations, integrated health management and HR shared services for the company. Prior to joining Empire in 2022, Sandra was Senior VP of HR at Rogers Communications. There she led HR for Rogers Wireless, Residential and Customer Experience divisions as well as spearheading national talent acquisition. Sandra holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from York University. She also has her CHRP designation, and she is an ACC certified executive coach who is passionate about driving change and building high performing teams.
Jay Rosenzweig
CEO, Rosenzweig & Company
Jay is an internationally renowned social impact entrepreneur, humanitarian, trained lawyer and leadership strategist. The founder of Rosenzweig & Company, he is an expert in designing, building and attracting world class teams. He consults with public and private companies, including large global corporations, emerging growth to mid-sized businesses, professional services firms, and private equity and venture capital firms. He also invests in and advises several leading-edge tech companies across North America and beyond.
Rosenzweig has been immersed in global human rights causes for well over two decades and has been internationally recognized for the Annual Rosenzweig Report on equality, which he has published for the past 18 years. This Annual Report has received endorsements and contributions from a wide range of leaders such as Justin Trudeau, Alyssa Milano, Sheryl Sandberg, Mark Cuban, Deepak Chopra, Van Jones and Zainab Salbi, as well as from CEOs and Board Chairs of major corporations, and several other artists, humanitarians, politicians and business leaders.
He is the Chair of the Board of Irwin Cotler’s Raoul Wallenberg Centre For Human Rights. In addition, he sits on several other purpose driven boards that support causes ranging from healthcare and youth empowerment to refugee protection and anti-gun violence. Rosenzweig is an outspoken advocate against Antisemitism, racism and all forms of hate and discrimination. He invests in businesses whose mission is to foster a world that gives equal opportunities for all, including greater access to education, capital and mobility.
Rosenzweig’s work has been featured in several publications, including Forbes, The New York Times, Fast Company, The Guardian, Business Insider, Elle, Mashable, BNN Bloomberg, Cheddar, Bold TV, Digital Trends, Business Rockstars, Globe & Mail, National Post, Toronto Star, Huffington Post, and Thrive Global.
He earned three degrees at McGill University: Philosophy, Civil Law, and Common Law. Additionally, he has completed the Harvard Law School Negotiation Program, taught by expert negotiator Roger Fisher, author of Getting To Yes.
Rosenzweig is an Executive Producer of Sean Penn’s film Superpower about Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. He is also an avid songwriter, having collaborated with a number of well-known recording artists.
Sarain Fox
HRPA Executive Event, Host
Sarain is Anishinaabe from Batchawana First Nation, just outside of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario. She is passionate about empowering Indigenous communities and amplifying their voices. She is a multifaceted artist and activist who comes from a long line of storytellers and oral record keepers of the family. They have passed down ancient teachings and have raised her to be proud of her Indigenous roots. As a result, Sarain has become a powerful voice for the Indigenous community.
She is a dancer, choreographer, stylist, brand ambassador, television host and content producer. Sarain has combined these various mediums to create a compelling social platform to celebrate the immense knowledge and talent of Indigenous people, designers and brands.
Sarain’s screen highlights include the award-winning series, RISE, Cut-off and APTN’s Future History. Her ability to dive into challenging social and cultural topics has gained Sarain a diverse and engaged audience. She reaches folks across North America, and beyond, who share her vision for creating meaningful dialogue about Indigenous resilience and resistance.
In fashion, Sarain has leant her voice to international brands such as Sephora, Canada Goose, Nike N7 and Manitobah Mukluks. She sees each partnership as an opportunity to highlight her culture, share the stage with up-and-coming Indigenous talent and change the world for her people.
Sarain has trained at shighly acclaimed faculties such as Quinte Ballet School, The Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and has starred in music videos and on stage with several artists from across the world. Sarain was also the choreographer and lead in a Theatre New Brunswick production and has premiered her solo work at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. She also works extensively with Xara Choral Theatre and overall, uses various mediums and social platforms to prove that Indigenous representation matters…and is desired!
Jodi Kovitz (she/her), HBA, LL.B
Chief Executive Officer and Acting Registrar, HRPA
Jodi is an experienced, visionary CEO leader and a transformative global brand builder. She is a growth strategist and a passionate connector of people.
Jodi was the founder and CEO of #movethedial, which focused on the growth and equitable participation of all women in tech. Leveraging Jodi’s vision, wealth of experience, pioneering spirit and passion, the movement impacted over 60,000 people at events throughout Canada, the US, the UK and Israel. Jodi also previously led growth at Vetster, a telemedicine platform, and was the CEO at Peerscale, a technology membership association.
Jodi is passionate about the intersection of equity, innovation, and the future of work. Featured in Forbes Women, Jodi was recognized as an Adweek Brandstar in Toronto in 2018, One of Canada’s 25 Women of Influence in 2018, and one of WXN’s Canada’s 100 most powerful women in 2017 and 2019.
Jodi holds an HBA from Ivey Business School at Western University and an LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. Jodi also authored Go Out of Your Way, a book about the power of people, relationships and building genuine connections, endorsed by Sheryl Sandberg.
Sanjana Basu
Investor, Radical Ventures
Sanjana believes strongly in the deeply disruptive power of AI to create massive value across sectors. She focuses on technically differentiated teams building applied AI businesses across verticals. She has led some of the firm’s healthcare AI and materials AI investments and has also led Radical’s work in the areas of AI’s intersection with the future of work, ed-tech and biology. Moreover, she has been involved with Radical’s investments in Lisa Health, PocketHealth, Signal 1, Synex, and Ubenwa.
Before joining Radical, Sanjana invested in various deep tech and consumer tech businesses at the Venture arm of the Global Indian Conglomerate, the Tata Group. Before that, she was an Investment Banker at Barclays in Mumbai.
Born and raised in Mumbai, India, she completed her MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and her undergraduate in Economics & International Relations from Tufts University in Boston, US.
Soula Courlas, CHRP, CIM (She, Her/Hers), CHRP, CIM
Partner, Organization and Workforce Transformation – Financial Services, National Lead, Organization Design & Effectiveness, PwC Canada
Soula has 25+ years of experience leading complex transformations, organizational design, talent experience, and business readiness initiatives driven by post-M&A integration, technology and major organizational changes serving clients across banking, national P&C insurers, telecom and healthcare.
Soula’s blend of corporate and consulting experience has enabled her to advise senior leaders and C-suite clients to navigate the people and program dynamics of transformation. Soula has led workstreams related to enterprise/functional organization designs to achieve growth and operational efficiency; digital transformation to launch consumer products; post-M&A organizational/culture integration across Canada and Europe; co-creation/launch of an upskilling program through an unprecedented collaboration between a Telco and its union; and most recently, serving as PwC Canada’s interim Chief People Officer architecting and launching a refreshed employee value proposition initiative reaching over 8,000 employees nationally.
Soula is passionate about organizational health and well-being, coaching, and talent development to enable people to flourish at work and in times of major change. Soula is a certified executive coach with a passion for positive psychology based organizational wellbeing bringing these disciplines to support transformational change.
Jyoti Grewal
Head of Human Resources and Administration, Lohmann Breeders Canada Ltd.
Jyoti is an experienced HR professional with a strong background in HR management, talent acquisition, employee relations and strategic planning. With over 15 years of experience in various HR roles, she has successfully contributed to the growth and success of organizations across different industries such as manufacturing, banking, healthcare and staffing.
Her educational background includes a Post Graduate Certificate in HR from Mohawk College and a Bachelors of Commerce from McMaster University.
In her current role, Jyoti is responsible for designing and overseeing the implementation of effective HR programs and policies across multiple locations in Canada. She has demonstrated expertise in legal compliance, recruitment, training, performance management, compensation planning and employee relations. In close collaboration closely with the CEO and senior executives, she plays a crucial role in building and transforming the business, serving as a trusted advisor and providing strategic guidance to management.
Jyoti has also recently been elected to the Hamilton Chapter HRPA Board of Directors as Secretary-Treasurer. She is passionate about helping HRPA make an impact in the Hamilton HR community, and work towards creating an environment where all HR professionals can learn, connect and grow.
Kathryn Hume
Vice President, Digital Channels Technology, RBC
Kathryn is the Vice President of Digital Channels Technology at the Royal Bank of Canada. She has led multiple technology teams at RBC, including the personal investments development team and the Borealis AI machine learning team. Prior to joining RBC, Kathryn held leadership positions at Integrate.ai and Fast Forward Labs, where she helped over 50 Fortune 500 organizations develop and implement AI programs. She is a widely respected author and educator on technology and innovation, with work appearing at TED, HBR, the Globe and Mail, Harvard, MIT, the University of Toronto and more.
She holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from Stanford University and speaks seven languages.
Radhika Kakkar
Chief Operating Officer, Wealthsimple
Radhika Kakkar is the Chief Operating Officer at Wealthsimple, an innovative financial services firm operating in Canada. Radhika is an experienced technology leader with deep expertise designing and rapidly scaling revenue and operations organizations from the ground up. Prior to joining Wealthsimple, Radhika was an executive leader at Snap Inc. for nearly seven years, responsible for the development and growth of the operational, safety/integrity and revenue teams in support of Snap’s innovative platforms. She also spent 13 years at the global consulting firm Accenture’s Toronto and San Francisco offices. As a Managing Director, she helped to build Accenture’s Web Scale practice and offerings, and led the client relationship and services for a global social media company. Radhika holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University in Canada.
Steve Knox
Vice President, Global Talent Attraction, Ceridian
In his current role, Steve is responsible for the enterprise talent acquisition (TA) strategy and delivery for all roles across the organization from early talent to executive hires. Leading a diverse global team from Montreal to Manila to Mauritius, the TA team partners directly with the business to proactively source for the future talent needs of Ceridian.
Prior to Ceridian, Steve spent 12 years with GE where he started as the Head of TA for Canada, then took on additional responsibilities in 2001 leading talent acquisition for GE’s emerging markets including Asia, Africa and the Middle East. His last role with GE was as Global Head of TA leading a team of 700+ TA professionals across 40+ countries. Here, he was responsible for recruitment technology, talent analytics, talent sourcing and research as well as recruitment marketing and branding. He most recently joined Ceridian from the TD Bank Group as their VP of Talent Acquisition.
Steve has been dedicated to the recruitment function for the last 25 years and is a frequent guest speaker at conferences and seminars in the talent attraction space. His true passion in life is travelling across the globe with his wife Christine and boys Gavin and James. His favourite travel destinations include Tokyo, Dubai, Hawaii, California and the islands of the Bahamas.
Amber Mac
President, AmberMac Media Inc.
AmberMac Media Inc. is a content marketing agency that produces award-winning digital media for the world’s top technology, telecom, retail and professional services firms. Amber has more than 20 years of experience working with tech and media companies, including four years at leading start-ups in San Francisco during the 1990s dot-com boom. Today, Amber is a well-known Toronto-based entrepreneur, the bestselling author of two technology books, the host and producer of three award-winning podcasts, and one of DMZ’s 30 inspirational women making a difference in tech.
Claudette McGowan
Founder & CEO, Protexxa
Claudette is a global information technology leader with more than 20 years of success leading digital transformations, optimizing infrastructure and designing new approaches that improve service and cybersecurity experiences. She has worked in the technology industry for several organizations such as Deloitte, Metropolitan Police Services, North York General Hospital, Bank of Montreal and TD Bank. At BMO, Claudette served as the Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Technology Employee Experience, and at TD she was the Global Executive Officer for Protect Fusion & Cyber Experience. Claudette is an active member of the Canadian innovation ecosystem, including in her current role at a Canadian-based cybersecurity software and services company. She is also the founder of the Black Arts & Innovation Expo, and chair of the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism, a group of senior business leaders committed to breaking down systemic barriers within the innovation economy. McGowan recently co-led the launch of Phoenix Fire & The Firehood, a multi-million-dollar women-focused angel fund and network for women in technology.
Her commitment to community is also evidenced by her multiple board seats for leading organizations such as Air Canada, MaRS Discovery District, SickKids Hospital Foundation, Black North, CILAR, Elevate Technology Festival, University of New Brunswick Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, and the U.S. Consul General of Toronto U.S.-Canada Innovation Council. Claudette holds a BA from Lakehead University, an MBA from Athabasca University, Hon Doctor of Laws from Carleton University, and is currently in the Computer Science PhD program at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Lisa Odjig
Odawa, Ojibway nation
Lisa, a remarkable talent, stands as a 7-time Indigenous Hoop Dance Champion and a two-time World Champion Hoop Dancer.
Lisa’s mesmerizing performances have been showcased at distinguished events, including the 2023 NHL Indigenous Heritage Celebration Game, where her hoop dance paid homage to Indigenous heritage. The NBA Toronto Raptors halftime show, as well as the CFL Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger Cats halftime shows, have all witnessed the enchanting rhythm and grace of Lisa’s performances.
Beyond North America, her talent has transcended borders, taking the form of Hoop dance to stages across the globe. Lisa’s captivating presence has left an indelible mark on audiences in Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, spreading the beauty and significance of Indigenous culture to diverse corners of the world.
Sandra Pasquini
Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Sobeys/Empire Company Limited.
Sandra leads the HR Business Partner team nationally, driving engagement and the employee experience across all of Empire’s banners. In addition, she is accountable for talent acquisition, labour relations, integrated health management and HR shared services for the company. Prior to joining Empire in 2022, Sandra was Senior VP of HR at Rogers Communications. There she led HR for Rogers Wireless, Residential and Customer Experience divisions as well as spearheading national talent acquisition. Sandra holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from York University. She also has her CHRP designation, and she is an ACC certified executive coach who is passionate about driving change and building high performing teams.
Jay Rosenzweig
CEO, Rosenzweig & Company
Jay is an internationally renowned social impact entrepreneur, humanitarian, trained lawyer and leadership strategist. The founder of Rosenzweig & Company, he is an expert in designing, building and attracting world class teams. He consults with public and private companies, including large global corporations, emerging growth to mid-sized businesses, professional services firms, and private equity and venture capital firms. He also invests in and advises several leading-edge tech companies across North America and beyond.
Rosenzweig has been immersed in global human rights causes for well over two decades and has been internationally recognized for the Annual Rosenzweig Report on equality, which he has published for the past 18 years. This Annual Report has received endorsements and contributions from a wide range of leaders such as Justin Trudeau, Alyssa Milano, Sheryl Sandberg, Mark Cuban, Deepak Chopra, Van Jones and Zainab Salbi, as well as from CEOs and Board Chairs of major corporations, and several other artists, humanitarians, politicians and business leaders.
He is the Chair of the Board of Irwin Cotler’s Raoul Wallenberg Centre For Human Rights. In addition, he sits on several other purpose driven boards that support causes ranging from healthcare and youth empowerment to refugee protection and anti-gun violence. Rosenzweig is an outspoken advocate against Antisemitism, racism and all forms of hate and discrimination. He invests in businesses whose mission is to foster a world that gives equal opportunities for all, including greater access to education, capital and mobility.
Rosenzweig’s work has been featured in several publications, including Forbes, The New York Times, Fast Company, The Guardian, Business Insider, Elle, Mashable, BNN Bloomberg, Cheddar, Bold TV, Digital Trends, Business Rockstars, Globe & Mail, National Post, Toronto Star, Huffington Post, and Thrive Global.
He earned three degrees at McGill University: Philosophy, Civil Law, and Common Law. Additionally, he has completed the Harvard Law School Negotiation Program, taught by expert negotiator Roger Fisher, author of Getting To Yes.
Rosenzweig is an Executive Producer of Sean Penn’s film Superpower about Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. He is also an avid songwriter, having collaborated with a number of well-known recording artists.
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At Ceridian, we create innovative technology that organizations around the world use to attract, develop, manage, and pay their people. Our award-winning Dayforce solution helps our customers manage compliance, make better decisions, build great teams, and drive engagement with their employees. Ceridian has solutions for organizations of all sizes. Ceridian. Makes Work Life Better™
Corporate meal perks to feed your team and fuel your business.
Skip For Business (by Skip) is on a mission to become the preferred corporate meal perks solution for Canadian businesses. Flexible and easy to manage, it’s a new way to drive employee productivity, wellness and recruitment — without eating through your time or budget. With access to 47K+ restaurants nationally, Skip’s platform services millions of Canadians each year by saving them time to do the things they love through convenient delivery. Get started with Skip For Business today!
Osler is a leading law firm with a singular focus – your business. From Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Ottawa, Vancouver and New York, we advise our Canadian, U.S. and international clients on an array of domestic and cross-border legal issues. Our collaborative “one firm” approach draws on the expertise of over 500 lawyers to provide responsive, proactive and practical legal solutions driven by your business needs. For over 160 years, we’ve built a reputation for solving problems, removing obstacles, and providing the answers you need, when you need them. It’s law that works.
A full-service business and litigation law firm based in downtown Toronto, Torkin Manes lawyers counsel individuals, public and private companies, and buyers and sellers of independent businesses. Our clients range from owner-operators and founders to investment funds and high net worth individuals. We advise our clients on day-to-day legal matters, as well as during the most transformative transactions and critical disputes of their businesses and lives. Our ranking as the #1 Ontario regional law firm by Canadian Lawyer is a testament to our outstanding legal counsel and client service excellence.
Founded in 2013, BetterUp® is the human transformation company driving peak performance in individuals and organizations through unparalleled access to coaching, content, community, and AI. BetterUp is the inventor of virtual coaching and the largest mental health and coaching startup in the world, with the world’s largest network of over 4,000 Coaches offering support in 64 languages across over 70 countries. Trusted by more than 600 organizations including NASA, Google, Chipotle, Salesforce, Hilton, and other leading Fortune 1,000 companies, BetterUp delivers on key impact areas – transformational leadership, resilience and readiness, and manager effectiveness – all with the vision to inspire people everywhere to live with greater clarity, purpose, and passion. BetterUp’s Science Board is composed of leading researchers and luminaries in the fields of positive psychology and human performance including Martin Seligman, Shawn Achor, Quinetta Roberson, and Adam Grant who also serves as the Chairman of the BetterUp Center for Purpose & Performance.
Event Details
Date: Monday, November 27
Duration: 8:30 AM – 12:15 PM (Welcome breakfast and reception at 7:30 AM)
In person location: Design Exchange (The Gallery Room), 234 Bay St., Toronto
Virtual participation: Live stream via ON24 (8:30 AM – 12:15 PM ET)
Price: Complimentary, by invitation only.
Join HRPA’s vibrant and growing network of C-suite and executive HR leaders at the new executive stream of Fall Conference. Attendees of this exclusive event will have the chance to reconnect with peers as we discuss the latest trends at the intersection of HR and technology. The spotlight will be on critical topics such as navigating the impact of generative AI on HR, cybersecurity and more to equip you for 2024. Plus, you’ll get early access to learning about HRPA’s future vision!
In Person Registration: Limited to 100 in-person attendees, by invitation only.
Virtual Registration: Unlimited attendees, by invitation only.
Bridging the Divide: Executive Event Agenda
November 27
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM | Guest Arrival and Breakfast
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Welcome, Land Acknowledgement and HRPA Vision 2027
Speaker(s): Sarain Fox, Event Host; Jodi Kovitz, HBA, LL.B., Hon. LL.D., CEO and Acting Registrar, HRPA
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Keynote: Generative AI: Shaping the Future of Creativity and Innovation
Join us for an in-depth look at Generative AI’s transformative potential. This session will explore its applications, capabilities, and ethical considerations, unveiling how it’s reshaping industries. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting in AI, this session offers insights into this rapidly evolving field and its future opportunities.
Speaker(s): Kathryn Hume, Vice President, Digital Channels Technology, RBC
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM | Hot Talk: Unlocking Success: Your Talent AI Blueprint for 2024
This compelling talk is a blueprint for leveraging AI in your talent management strategy that provides innovative solutions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of HR operations. This blueprint not only focuses on the potential benefits of AI in talent but also acknowledges and actively works to mitigate the risks and biases associated with its implementation to ensure fair and equitable business practices are prioritized.
Speaker(s): Sanjana Basu, AI Investor, Radical Ventures
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM | Hot Talk: A Conversation on Winning Strategies for Engagement and Retention in 2024
Join us for a dynamic conversation on the art of strategic engagement and retention as we step into the year 2024. In this engaging session, we will explore the latest trends, innovative techniques, and winning strategies that organizations are employing to captivate and retain their talent. Discover how emerging technologies, data-driven approaches, and forward-thinking leadership are shaping the future of strategic engagement.
Speaker(s): Radhika Kakkar, COO, Wealthsimple
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM | In Discussion with… Cyber Risk Navigation: Strategies for 2024 and Beyond
Join us for an engaging and informative discussion as we navigate the evolving landscape of cyber risk management in 2024. Experts in the field will delve into the latest cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and attack trends that organizations are likely to face in 2024. Gain practical insights into effective cybersecurity strategies, risk mitigation techniques, and the role of emerging technologies in safeguarding digital assets.
Speaker(s): Claudette McGowan, Founder & CEO, Protexxa; Jay Rosenzweig, CEO, Rosenzweig & Company
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM | Roundtable Facilitated Discussion: Cyber Risk
Connect, share, and learn from your table of peers during this interactive table conversation.
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM | Networking Break
11:15 AM – 11:45 AM | PANEL: Executive Insights: Elevating the HR Conversation with Executive People Leaders
This thought-provoking panel discussion, “Elevating Leadership Insights,” brings together seasoned executive leaders, industry experts, and technology thought leaders to explore the intersection between HR and cutting-edge AI technology, illuminating the path forward for the future of work in Ontario and Canada. This session is a must-attend for HR professionals, business leaders, and anyone passionate about the transformative potential of AI in the workplace.
Moderator: Jyoti Grewal, Head of Human Resources and Administration, Lohmann Breeders Canada Ltd.
Speaker(s): Soula Courlas, CHRP, CIM (She, Her/Hers), Partner, Organization and Workforce Transformation – Financial Services, National Lead, Organization Design & Effectiveness, PwC Canada Steve Knox, Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition, Ceridian; Sandra Pasquini, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Sobeys/Empire Company Limited.
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Sparking Change: Fireside Keynote on HR Tech Evolution
A keynote discussion on the latest trends, disruptive innovations, and the transformative impact of HR tech in the workplace. Join us for an enlightening conversation that will equip you with the knowledge and tools to drive positive change within your organization. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the future of HR technology with our thought leaders!”
Speaker(s): Amber Mac, President, AmberMac Media Inc.; Jodi Kovitz, HBA, LL.B, Hon. LL.D., CEO and Acting Registrar, HRPA
12:00 PM – 12:15 PM | Closing Remarks and Event Wrap Up
Speaker(s): Jodi Kovitz, HBA, LL.B., Hon. LL.D., CEO and Acting Registrar, HRPA
Sarain Fox
HRPA Executive Event, Host
Sarain is Anishinaabe from Batchawana First Nation, just outside of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario. She is passionate about empowering Indigenous communities and amplifying their voices. She is a multifaceted artist and activist who comes from a long line of storytellers and oral record keepers of the family. They have passed down ancient teachings and have raised her to be proud of her Indigenous roots. As a result, Sarain has become a powerful voice for the Indigenous community.
She is a dancer, choreographer, stylist, brand ambassador, television host and content producer. Sarain has combined these various mediums to create a compelling social platform to celebrate the immense knowledge and talent of Indigenous people, designers and brands.
Sarain’s screen highlights include the award-winning series, RISE, Cut-off and APTN’s Future History. Her ability to dive into challenging social and cultural topics has gained Sarain a diverse and engaged audience. She reaches folks across North America, and beyond, who share her vision for creating meaningful dialogue about Indigenous resilience and resistance.
In fashion, Sarain has leant her voice to international brands such as Sephora, Canada Goose, Nike N7 and Manitobah Mukluks. She sees each partnership as an opportunity to highlight her culture, share the stage with up-and-coming Indigenous talent and change the world for her people.
Sarain has trained at shighly acclaimed faculties such as Quinte Ballet School, The Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and has starred in music videos and on stage with several artists from across the world. Sarain was also the choreographer and lead in a Theatre New Brunswick production and has premiered her solo work at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. She also works extensively with Xara Choral Theatre and overall, uses various mediums and social platforms to prove that Indigenous representation matters…and is desired!
Jodi Kovitz (she/her), HBA, LL.B
Chief Executive Officer and Acting Registrar, HRPA
Jodi is an experienced, visionary CEO leader and a transformative global brand builder. She is a growth strategist and a passionate connector of people.
Jodi was the founder and CEO of #movethedial, which focused on the growth and equitable participation of all women in tech. Leveraging Jodi’s vision, wealth of experience, pioneering spirit and passion, the movement impacted over 60,000 people at events throughout Canada, the US, the UK and Israel. Jodi also previously led growth at Vetster, a telemedicine platform, and was the CEO at Peerscale, a technology membership association.
Jodi is passionate about the intersection of equity, innovation, and the future of work. Featured in Forbes Women, Jodi was recognized as an Adweek Brandstar in Toronto in 2018, One of Canada’s 25 Women of Influence in 2018, and one of WXN’s Canada’s 100 most powerful women in 2017 and 2019.
Jodi holds an HBA from Ivey Business School at Western University and an LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. Jodi also authored Go Out of Your Way, a book about the power of people, relationships and building genuine connections, endorsed by Sheryl Sandberg.
Sanjana Basu
Investor, Radical Ventures
Sanjana believes strongly in the deeply disruptive power of AI to create massive value across sectors. She focuses on technically differentiated teams building applied AI businesses across verticals. She has led some of the firm’s healthcare AI and materials AI investments and has also led Radical’s work in the areas of AI’s intersection with the future of work, ed-tech and biology. Moreover, she has been involved with Radical’s investments in Lisa Health, PocketHealth, Signal 1, Synex, and Ubenwa.
Before joining Radical, Sanjana invested in various deep tech and consumer tech businesses at the Venture arm of the Global Indian Conglomerate, the Tata Group. Before that, she was an Investment Banker at Barclays in Mumbai.
Born and raised in Mumbai, India, she completed her MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and her undergraduate in Economics & International Relations from Tufts University in Boston, US.
Soula Courlas, CHRP, CIM (She, Her/Hers), CHRP, CIM
Partner, Organization and Workforce Transformation – Financial Services, National Lead, Organization Design & Effectiveness, PwC Canada
Soula has 25+ years of experience leading complex transformations, organizational design, talent experience, and business readiness initiatives driven by post-M&A integration, technology and major organizational changes serving clients across banking, national P&C insurers, telecom and healthcare.
Soula’s blend of corporate and consulting experience has enabled her to advise senior leaders and C-suite clients to navigate the people and program dynamics of transformation. Soula has led workstreams related to enterprise/functional organization designs to achieve growth and operational efficiency; digital transformation to launch consumer products; post-M&A organizational/culture integration across Canada and Europe; co-creation/launch of an upskilling program through an unprecedented collaboration between a Telco and its union; and most recently, serving as PwC Canada’s interim Chief People Officer architecting and launching a refreshed employee value proposition initiative reaching over 8,000 employees nationally.
Soula is passionate about organizational health and well-being, coaching, and talent development to enable people to flourish at work and in times of major change. Soula is a certified executive coach with a passion for positive psychology based organizational wellbeing bringing these disciplines to support transformational change.
Jyoti Grewal
Head of Human Resources and Administration, Lohmann Breeders Canada Ltd.
Jyoti is an experienced HR professional with a strong background in HR management, talent acquisition, employee relations and strategic planning. With over 15 years of experience in various HR roles, she has successfully contributed to the growth and success of organizations across different industries such as manufacturing, banking, healthcare and staffing.
Her educational background includes a Post Graduate Certificate in HR from Mohawk College and a Bachelors of Commerce from McMaster University.
In her current role, Jyoti is responsible for designing and overseeing the implementation of effective HR programs and policies across multiple locations in Canada. She has demonstrated expertise in legal compliance, recruitment, training, performance management, compensation planning and employee relations. In close collaboration closely with the CEO and senior executives, she plays a crucial role in building and transforming the business, serving as a trusted advisor and providing strategic guidance to management.
Jyoti has also recently been elected to the Hamilton Chapter HRPA Board of Directors as Secretary-Treasurer. She is passionate about helping HRPA make an impact in the Hamilton HR community, and work towards creating an environment where all HR professionals can learn, connect and grow.
Kathryn Hume
Vice President, Digital Channels Technology, RBC
Kathryn is the Vice President of Digital Channels Technology at the Royal Bank of Canada. She has led multiple technology teams at RBC, including the personal investments development team and the Borealis AI machine learning team. Prior to joining RBC, Kathryn held leadership positions at Integrate.ai and Fast Forward Labs, where she helped over 50 Fortune 500 organizations develop and implement AI programs. She is a widely respected author and educator on technology and innovation, with work appearing at TED, HBR, the Globe and Mail, Harvard, MIT, the University of Toronto and more.
She holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from Stanford University and speaks seven languages.
Radhika Kakkar
Chief Operating Officer, Wealthsimple
Radhika Kakkar is the Chief Operating Officer at Wealthsimple, an innovative financial services firm operating in Canada. Radhika is an experienced technology leader with deep expertise designing and rapidly scaling revenue and operations organizations from the ground up. Prior to joining Wealthsimple, Radhika was an executive leader at Snap Inc. for nearly seven years, responsible for the development and growth of the operational, safety/integrity and revenue teams in support of Snap’s innovative platforms. She also spent 13 years at the global consulting firm Accenture’s Toronto and San Francisco offices. As a Managing Director, she helped to build Accenture’s Web Scale practice and offerings, and led the client relationship and services for a global social media company. Radhika holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University in Canada.
Steve Knox
Vice President, Global Talent Attraction, Ceridian
In his current role, Steve is responsible for the enterprise talent acquisition (TA) strategy and delivery for all roles across the organization from early talent to executive hires. Leading a diverse global team from Montreal to Manila to Mauritius, the TA team partners directly with the business to proactively source for the future talent needs of Ceridian.
Prior to Ceridian, Steve spent 12 years with GE where he started as the Head of TA for Canada, then took on additional responsibilities in 2001 leading talent acquisition for GE’s emerging markets including Asia, Africa and the Middle East. His last role with GE was as Global Head of TA leading a team of 700+ TA professionals across 40+ countries. Here, he was responsible for recruitment technology, talent analytics, talent sourcing and research as well as recruitment marketing and branding. He most recently joined Ceridian from the TD Bank Group as their VP of Talent Acquisition.
Steve has been dedicated to the recruitment function for the last 25 years and is a frequent guest speaker at conferences and seminars in the talent attraction space. His true passion in life is travelling across the globe with his wife Christine and boys Gavin and James. His favourite travel destinations include Tokyo, Dubai, Hawaii, California and the islands of the Bahamas.
Amber Mac
President, AmberMac Media Inc.
AmberMac Media Inc. is a content marketing agency that produces award-winning digital media for the world’s top technology, telecom, retail and professional services firms. Amber has more than 20 years of experience working with tech and media companies, including four years at leading start-ups in San Francisco during the 1990s dot-com boom. Today, Amber is a well-known Toronto-based entrepreneur, the bestselling author of two technology books, the host and producer of three award-winning podcasts, and one of DMZ’s 30 inspirational women making a difference in tech.
Claudette McGowan
Founder & CEO, Protexxa
Claudette is a global information technology leader with more than 20 years of success leading digital transformations, optimizing infrastructure and designing new approaches that improve service and cybersecurity experiences. She has worked in the technology industry for several organizations such as Deloitte, Metropolitan Police Services, North York General Hospital, Bank of Montreal and TD Bank. At BMO, Claudette served as the Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Technology Employee Experience, and at TD she was the Global Executive Officer for Protect Fusion & Cyber Experience. Claudette is an active member of the Canadian innovation ecosystem, including in her current role at a Canadian-based cybersecurity software and services company. She is also the founder of the Black Arts & Innovation Expo, and chair of the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism, a group of senior business leaders committed to breaking down systemic barriers within the innovation economy. McGowan recently co-led the launch of Phoenix Fire & The Firehood, a multi-million-dollar women-focused angel fund and network for women in technology.
Her commitment to community is also evidenced by her multiple board seats for leading organizations such as Air Canada, MaRS Discovery District, SickKids Hospital Foundation, Black North, CILAR, Elevate Technology Festival, University of New Brunswick Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, and the U.S. Consul General of Toronto U.S.-Canada Innovation Council. Claudette holds a BA from Lakehead University, an MBA from Athabasca University, Hon Doctor of Laws from Carleton University, and is currently in the Computer Science PhD program at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Lisa Odjig
Odawa, Ojibway nation
Lisa, a remarkable talent, stands as a 7-time Indigenous Hoop Dance Champion and a two-time World Champion Hoop Dancer.
Lisa’s mesmerizing performances have been showcased at distinguished events, including the 2023 NHL Indigenous Heritage Celebration Game, where her hoop dance paid homage to Indigenous heritage. The NBA Toronto Raptors halftime show, as well as the CFL Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger Cats halftime shows, have all witnessed the enchanting rhythm and grace of Lisa’s performances.
Beyond North America, her talent has transcended borders, taking the form of Hoop dance to stages across the globe. Lisa’s captivating presence has left an indelible mark on audiences in Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, spreading the beauty and significance of Indigenous culture to diverse corners of the world.
Sandra Pasquini
Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Sobeys/Empire Company Limited.
Sandra leads the HR Business Partner team nationally, driving engagement and the employee experience across all of Empire’s banners. In addition, she is accountable for talent acquisition, labour relations, integrated health management and HR shared services for the company. Prior to joining Empire in 2022, Sandra was Senior VP of HR at Rogers Communications. There she led HR for Rogers Wireless, Residential and Customer Experience divisions as well as spearheading national talent acquisition. Sandra holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from York University. She also has her CHRP designation, and she is an ACC certified executive coach who is passionate about driving change and building high performing teams.
Jay Rosenzweig
CEO, Rosenzweig & Company
Jay is an internationally renowned social impact entrepreneur, humanitarian, trained lawyer and leadership strategist. The founder of Rosenzweig & Company, he is an expert in designing, building and attracting world class teams. He consults with public and private companies, including large global corporations, emerging growth to mid-sized businesses, professional services firms, and private equity and venture capital firms. He also invests in and advises several leading-edge tech companies across North America and beyond.
Rosenzweig has been immersed in global human rights causes for well over two decades and has been internationally recognized for the Annual Rosenzweig Report on equality, which he has published for the past 18 years. This Annual Report has received endorsements and contributions from a wide range of leaders such as Justin Trudeau, Alyssa Milano, Sheryl Sandberg, Mark Cuban, Deepak Chopra, Van Jones and Zainab Salbi, as well as from CEOs and Board Chairs of major corporations, and several other artists, humanitarians, politicians and business leaders.
He is the Chair of the Board of Irwin Cotler’s Raoul Wallenberg Centre For Human Rights. In addition, he sits on several other purpose driven boards that support causes ranging from healthcare and youth empowerment to refugee protection and anti-gun violence. Rosenzweig is an outspoken advocate against Antisemitism, racism and all forms of hate and discrimination. He invests in businesses whose mission is to foster a world that gives equal opportunities for all, including greater access to education, capital and mobility.
Rosenzweig’s work has been featured in several publications, including Forbes, The New York Times, Fast Company, The Guardian, Business Insider, Elle, Mashable, BNN Bloomberg, Cheddar, Bold TV, Digital Trends, Business Rockstars, Globe & Mail, National Post, Toronto Star, Huffington Post, and Thrive Global.
He earned three degrees at McGill University: Philosophy, Civil Law, and Common Law. Additionally, he has completed the Harvard Law School Negotiation Program, taught by expert negotiator Roger Fisher, author of Getting To Yes.
Rosenzweig is an Executive Producer of Sean Penn’s film Superpower about Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. He is also an avid songwriter, having collaborated with a number of well-known recording artists.
Sarain Fox
HRPA Executive Event, Host
Sarain is Anishinaabe from Batchawana First Nation, just outside of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario. She is passionate about empowering Indigenous communities and amplifying their voices. She is a multifaceted artist and activist who comes from a long line of storytellers and oral record keepers of the family. They have passed down ancient teachings and have raised her to be proud of her Indigenous roots. As a result, Sarain has become a powerful voice for the Indigenous community.
She is a dancer, choreographer, stylist, brand ambassador, television host and content producer. Sarain has combined these various mediums to create a compelling social platform to celebrate the immense knowledge and talent of Indigenous people, designers and brands.
Sarain’s screen highlights include the award-winning series, RISE, Cut-off and APTN’s Future History. Her ability to dive into challenging social and cultural topics has gained Sarain a diverse and engaged audience. She reaches folks across North America, and beyond, who share her vision for creating meaningful dialogue about Indigenous resilience and resistance.
In fashion, Sarain has leant her voice to international brands such as Sephora, Canada Goose, Nike N7 and Manitobah Mukluks. She sees each partnership as an opportunity to highlight her culture, share the stage with up-and-coming Indigenous talent and change the world for her people.
Sarain has trained at shighly acclaimed faculties such as Quinte Ballet School, The Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and has starred in music videos and on stage with several artists from across the world. Sarain was also the choreographer and lead in a Theatre New Brunswick production and has premiered her solo work at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. She also works extensively with Xara Choral Theatre and overall, uses various mediums and social platforms to prove that Indigenous representation matters…and is desired!
Jodi Kovitz (she/her), HBA, LL.B
Chief Executive Officer and Acting Registrar, HRPA
Jodi is an experienced, visionary CEO leader and a transformative global brand builder. She is a growth strategist and a passionate connector of people.
Jodi was the founder and CEO of #movethedial, which focused on the growth and equitable participation of all women in tech. Leveraging Jodi’s vision, wealth of experience, pioneering spirit and passion, the movement impacted over 60,000 people at events throughout Canada, the US, the UK and Israel. Jodi also previously led growth at Vetster, a telemedicine platform, and was the CEO at Peerscale, a technology membership association.
Jodi is passionate about the intersection of equity, innovation, and the future of work. Featured in Forbes Women, Jodi was recognized as an Adweek Brandstar in Toronto in 2018, One of Canada’s 25 Women of Influence in 2018, and one of WXN’s Canada’s 100 most powerful women in 2017 and 2019.
Jodi holds an HBA from Ivey Business School at Western University and an LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. Jodi also authored Go Out of Your Way, a book about the power of people, relationships and building genuine connections, endorsed by Sheryl Sandberg.
Sanjana Basu
Investor, Radical Ventures
Sanjana believes strongly in the deeply disruptive power of AI to create massive value across sectors. She focuses on technically differentiated teams building applied AI businesses across verticals. She has led some of the firm’s healthcare AI and materials AI investments and has also led Radical’s work in the areas of AI’s intersection with the future of work, ed-tech and biology. Moreover, she has been involved with Radical’s investments in Lisa Health, PocketHealth, Signal 1, Synex, and Ubenwa.
Before joining Radical, Sanjana invested in various deep tech and consumer tech businesses at the Venture arm of the Global Indian Conglomerate, the Tata Group. Before that, she was an Investment Banker at Barclays in Mumbai.
Born and raised in Mumbai, India, she completed her MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and her undergraduate in Economics & International Relations from Tufts University in Boston, US.
Soula Courlas, CHRP, CIM (She, Her/Hers), CHRP, CIM
Partner, Organization and Workforce Transformation – Financial Services, National Lead, Organization Design & Effectiveness, PwC Canada
Soula has 25+ years of experience leading complex transformations, organizational design, talent experience, and business readiness initiatives driven by post-M&A integration, technology and major organizational changes serving clients across banking, national P&C insurers, telecom and healthcare.
Soula’s blend of corporate and consulting experience has enabled her to advise senior leaders and C-suite clients to navigate the people and program dynamics of transformation. Soula has led workstreams related to enterprise/functional organization designs to achieve growth and operational efficiency; digital transformation to launch consumer products; post-M&A organizational/culture integration across Canada and Europe; co-creation/launch of an upskilling program through an unprecedented collaboration between a Telco and its union; and most recently, serving as PwC Canada’s interim Chief People Officer architecting and launching a refreshed employee value proposition initiative reaching over 8,000 employees nationally.
Soula is passionate about organizational health and well-being, coaching, and talent development to enable people to flourish at work and in times of major change. Soula is a certified executive coach with a passion for positive psychology based organizational wellbeing bringing these disciplines to support transformational change.
Jyoti Grewal
Head of Human Resources and Administration, Lohmann Breeders Canada Ltd.
Jyoti is an experienced HR professional with a strong background in HR management, talent acquisition, employee relations and strategic planning. With over 15 years of experience in various HR roles, she has successfully contributed to the growth and success of organizations across different industries such as manufacturing, banking, healthcare and staffing.
Her educational background includes a Post Graduate Certificate in HR from Mohawk College and a Bachelors of Commerce from McMaster University.
In her current role, Jyoti is responsible for designing and overseeing the implementation of effective HR programs and policies across multiple locations in Canada. She has demonstrated expertise in legal compliance, recruitment, training, performance management, compensation planning and employee relations. In close collaboration closely with the CEO and senior executives, she plays a crucial role in building and transforming the business, serving as a trusted advisor and providing strategic guidance to management.
Jyoti has also recently been elected to the Hamilton Chapter HRPA Board of Directors as Secretary-Treasurer. She is passionate about helping HRPA make an impact in the Hamilton HR community, and work towards creating an environment where all HR professionals can learn, connect and grow.
Kathryn Hume
Vice President, Digital Channels Technology, RBC
Kathryn is the Vice President of Digital Channels Technology at the Royal Bank of Canada. She has led multiple technology teams at RBC, including the personal investments development team and the Borealis AI machine learning team. Prior to joining RBC, Kathryn held leadership positions at Integrate.ai and Fast Forward Labs, where she helped over 50 Fortune 500 organizations develop and implement AI programs. She is a widely respected author and educator on technology and innovation, with work appearing at TED, HBR, the Globe and Mail, Harvard, MIT, the University of Toronto and more.
She holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from Stanford University and speaks seven languages.
Radhika Kakkar
Chief Operating Officer, Wealthsimple
Radhika Kakkar is the Chief Operating Officer at Wealthsimple, an innovative financial services firm operating in Canada. Radhika is an experienced technology leader with deep expertise designing and rapidly scaling revenue and operations organizations from the ground up. Prior to joining Wealthsimple, Radhika was an executive leader at Snap Inc. for nearly seven years, responsible for the development and growth of the operational, safety/integrity and revenue teams in support of Snap’s innovative platforms. She also spent 13 years at the global consulting firm Accenture’s Toronto and San Francisco offices. As a Managing Director, she helped to build Accenture’s Web Scale practice and offerings, and led the client relationship and services for a global social media company. Radhika holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University in Canada.
Steve Knox
Vice President, Global Talent Attraction, Ceridian
In his current role, Steve is responsible for the enterprise talent acquisition (TA) strategy and delivery for all roles across the organization from early talent to executive hires. Leading a diverse global team from Montreal to Manila to Mauritius, the TA team partners directly with the business to proactively source for the future talent needs of Ceridian.
Prior to Ceridian, Steve spent 12 years with GE where he started as the Head of TA for Canada, then took on additional responsibilities in 2001 leading talent acquisition for GE’s emerging markets including Asia, Africa and the Middle East. His last role with GE was as Global Head of TA leading a team of 700+ TA professionals across 40+ countries. Here, he was responsible for recruitment technology, talent analytics, talent sourcing and research as well as recruitment marketing and branding. He most recently joined Ceridian from the TD Bank Group as their VP of Talent Acquisition.
Steve has been dedicated to the recruitment function for the last 25 years and is a frequent guest speaker at conferences and seminars in the talent attraction space. His true passion in life is travelling across the globe with his wife Christine and boys Gavin and James. His favourite travel destinations include Tokyo, Dubai, Hawaii, California and the islands of the Bahamas.
Amber Mac
President, AmberMac Media Inc.
AmberMac Media Inc. is a content marketing agency that produces award-winning digital media for the world’s top technology, telecom, retail and professional services firms. Amber has more than 20 years of experience working with tech and media companies, including four years at leading start-ups in San Francisco during the 1990s dot-com boom. Today, Amber is a well-known Toronto-based entrepreneur, the bestselling author of two technology books, the host and producer of three award-winning podcasts, and one of DMZ’s 30 inspirational women making a difference in tech.
Claudette McGowan
Founder & CEO, Protexxa
Claudette is a global information technology leader with more than 20 years of success leading digital transformations, optimizing infrastructure and designing new approaches that improve service and cybersecurity experiences. She has worked in the technology industry for several organizations such as Deloitte, Metropolitan Police Services, North York General Hospital, Bank of Montreal and TD Bank. At BMO, Claudette served as the Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Technology Employee Experience, and at TD she was the Global Executive Officer for Protect Fusion & Cyber Experience. Claudette is an active member of the Canadian innovation ecosystem, including in her current role at a Canadian-based cybersecurity software and services company. She is also the founder of the Black Arts & Innovation Expo, and chair of the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism, a group of senior business leaders committed to breaking down systemic barriers within the innovation economy. McGowan recently co-led the launch of Phoenix Fire & The Firehood, a multi-million-dollar women-focused angel fund and network for women in technology.
Her commitment to community is also evidenced by her multiple board seats for leading organizations such as Air Canada, MaRS Discovery District, SickKids Hospital Foundation, Black North, CILAR, Elevate Technology Festival, University of New Brunswick Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, and the U.S. Consul General of Toronto U.S.-Canada Innovation Council. Claudette holds a BA from Lakehead University, an MBA from Athabasca University, Hon Doctor of Laws from Carleton University, and is currently in the Computer Science PhD program at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Lisa Odjig
Odawa, Ojibway nation
Lisa, a remarkable talent, stands as a 7-time Indigenous Hoop Dance Champion and a two-time World Champion Hoop Dancer.
Lisa’s mesmerizing performances have been showcased at distinguished events, including the 2023 NHL Indigenous Heritage Celebration Game, where her hoop dance paid homage to Indigenous heritage. The NBA Toronto Raptors halftime show, as well as the CFL Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger Cats halftime shows, have all witnessed the enchanting rhythm and grace of Lisa’s performances.
Beyond North America, her talent has transcended borders, taking the form of Hoop dance to stages across the globe. Lisa’s captivating presence has left an indelible mark on audiences in Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, spreading the beauty and significance of Indigenous culture to diverse corners of the world.
Sandra Pasquini
Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Sobeys/Empire Company Limited.
Sandra leads the HR Business Partner team nationally, driving engagement and the employee experience across all of Empire’s banners. In addition, she is accountable for talent acquisition, labour relations, integrated health management and HR shared services for the company. Prior to joining Empire in 2022, Sandra was Senior VP of HR at Rogers Communications. There she led HR for Rogers Wireless, Residential and Customer Experience divisions as well as spearheading national talent acquisition. Sandra holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from York University. She also has her CHRP designation, and she is an ACC certified executive coach who is passionate about driving change and building high performing teams.
Jay Rosenzweig
CEO, Rosenzweig & Company
Jay is an internationally renowned social impact entrepreneur, humanitarian, trained lawyer and leadership strategist. The founder of Rosenzweig & Company, he is an expert in designing, building and attracting world class teams. He consults with public and private companies, including large global corporations, emerging growth to mid-sized businesses, professional services firms, and private equity and venture capital firms. He also invests in and advises several leading-edge tech companies across North America and beyond.
Rosenzweig has been immersed in global human rights causes for well over two decades and has been internationally recognized for the Annual Rosenzweig Report on equality, which he has published for the past 18 years. This Annual Report has received endorsements and contributions from a wide range of leaders such as Justin Trudeau, Alyssa Milano, Sheryl Sandberg, Mark Cuban, Deepak Chopra, Van Jones and Zainab Salbi, as well as from CEOs and Board Chairs of major corporations, and several other artists, humanitarians, politicians and business leaders.
He is the Chair of the Board of Irwin Cotler’s Raoul Wallenberg Centre For Human Rights. In addition, he sits on several other purpose driven boards that support causes ranging from healthcare and youth empowerment to refugee protection and anti-gun violence. Rosenzweig is an outspoken advocate against Antisemitism, racism and all forms of hate and discrimination. He invests in businesses whose mission is to foster a world that gives equal opportunities for all, including greater access to education, capital and mobility.
Rosenzweig’s work has been featured in several publications, including Forbes, The New York Times, Fast Company, The Guardian, Business Insider, Elle, Mashable, BNN Bloomberg, Cheddar, Bold TV, Digital Trends, Business Rockstars, Globe & Mail, National Post, Toronto Star, Huffington Post, and Thrive Global.
He earned three degrees at McGill University: Philosophy, Civil Law, and Common Law. Additionally, he has completed the Harvard Law School Negotiation Program, taught by expert negotiator Roger Fisher, author of Getting To Yes.
Rosenzweig is an Executive Producer of Sean Penn’s film Superpower about Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. He is also an avid songwriter, having collaborated with a number of well-known recording artists.
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