George Avraam
Partner, Employment & Compensation Law, Baker & McKenzie LLP
Speaking at: Apr 24, 12:00 pm
Topic: Cannabis Legalization in Canada: How to consider its impact on your workplace
The legalization of cannabis in Canada will inevitably impact the workplace and how it is managed. How should employers adapt to the challenges that the legalization brings? This session by George Avraam will cover what the cannabis legislation specifically says, what employers need to be aware of in its implementation, how to deal with related challenges and more.
A Partner at Baker & McKenzie LLP, George was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1999 and has since practiced as a trial and appellate litigator. His trial and appellate litigation practice focuses on labour and employment law, administrative and public law, education law, class actions and more.
Justine Lindner
Associate, Labour & Employment Law, McCarthy Tétrault
Speaking at: Apr 24, 12:00 pm
Topic: Please Mind the (Wage) Gap: Stepping Safely Through Developments in Pay Equity and Transparency Laws
As governments across Canada take steps to address wage gaps, workplace compensation practices face increased scrutiny. This presentation is a discussion of recent developments in pay equity, transparency and anti-discrimination law, related liabilities and risks for employers, as well as best practices to assist employers with answering these challenges.
Justine is an associate in the Labour & Employment Law Group with McCarthy Tétrault. Representing clients in matters including employment standards, wrongful dismissals, human rights, privacy, and more, she also provides advice to clients regarding day-to-day workplace law issues, policies and procedures.
Tracy Shea-Porter
Improv coach, Yes, Unlimited
Speaking at: Apr 24, 9:30 am and 2:30 pm
Topic: Improv Workshop - How improv comedy philosophies can benefit your workplace
Improv comedy teaches many of the skills needed for successful leadership succession and employee learning. We are thrilled to bring back Yes, Unlimited for a risk-free demonstration of improv comedy. Join the workshop to learn some applicable business skills, and actually participate in the activities if you feel comfortable!
An entrepreneur, and improviser, Tracy delivers improv comedy workshops to support team building, confidence, and on-the-fly thinking for Google, CHANEL, Shopify and more.
Ralph MacLeod
Improv coach, Yes, Unlimited
Speaking at: Apr 24, 9:30 am and 2:30 pm
Topic: Improv Workshop - How improv comedy philosophies can benefit your workplace
Joining Ralph in our improv workshop for the second year in a row. Join the workshop to learn some applicable business skills, and actually participate in the activities if you feel comfortable!
Ralph has worked as a professional comedian and improv teacher for over 25 years. As an educator, Ralph is widely regarded as one of the country's leading experts in the field of improv. He not only trains next generations of comedians but has brought improv techniques to dozens of businesses including Bell, Xerox, The University of Toronto, The National Advertiser Benevolent Society and more.
Greg Pryor
Senior Vice President, People & Performance Evangelist, Workday
Speaking at: Apr 24, 9:30 am and 2:30 pm
Topic: Tech in HR - How to create a plan for HR technology in your role
There are many questions that professionals ask themselves when it comes to technology in the workforce: What are the tech options available to me? How do I even get started with educating myself on the options? This workshop by Greg Pryor of Workday will teach attendees how to create a plan for tech. This will involve helping attendees understand the tech needs of their own organization, the tech solutions available in HR, and the steps to take in integrating tech into their own HR role.
An SVP in the people and performance function at Workday, Greg applies Workday’s technology to optimize the company’s internal talent management programs, including leadership and manager effectiveness, learning management, career engagement and performance enablement.
Bianca Boyd
Vice President, Corporate Practice, Edelman Canada
Speaking at: Apr 25, 10:45 am
Topic: How to Win the War for Talent with Brilliant PR
This year Canada experienced a 40 year low in the unemployment rate. It’s expected of employers from around the world to present themselves to the candidate market place with a transparent lens on what they offer as an employer. Bianca will dive in to how to use the marketing communications toolbox to win over talent.
As a Senior Account Director with Edelman’s Client Strategy team, Bianca plays an integration role for some of Edelman Canada’s largest and most complex files across both private and public sectors, ensuring we have the right skills to meet our client’s complex challenges of today’s media environment. With more than a decade of marketing communications experience, Bianca has worked with some of Canada’s most prestigious companies to transform the way they proactively tell stories.
Sylvia Stultz
Director, Recruitment, Edelman Canada
Speaking at: Apr 25, 10:45 am
Topic: How to Win the War for Talent with Brilliant PR
This year Canada experienced a 40 year low in the unemployment rate. It’s expected of employers from around the world to present themselves to the candidate market place with a transparent lens on what they offer as an employer. Sylvia will discuss the current trends in the candidate market place and obstacles you will face as an employer.
Sylvia leads the national talent agenda for Edelman Canada and plays a role on global projects. She has spent the past 12 years recruiting across Canada, building employer brands, representing organizations through speaking engagements, coaching hiring managers and building best in class recruitment teams to lead the complex environment of engaging talent.
Jeremy Daveau
General Manager, Mars Wrigley Confectionery Canada
Speaking at: Apr 25, 2:00 pm
Topic: Principles of Success - How Mars Nurtures a Culture Where People and Business Thrive
Jeremy is a 20 plus year Associate of Mars, incorporated, one of the world’s leading FMCG companies. During his tenure, he has held leadership roles in six international markets, across many Mars business segments and in the disciplines of marketing, customer strategy and general management. With proven capability in establishing long term strategies to drive growth, Jeremy is passionate about developing talent for the long-term success of the organization. He is an avid long distance runner and lives in Toronto with his wife and three children.
John R. Mattox, II, Ph.D.
Principal Consultant at Explorance, Metrics That Matter
Speaking at: Apr 25, 1:15 pm
Topic: Build Your Culture Through Learning & Measurement
Well-focused intention and a willingness to experiment help build a great culture, but a critical component is the ability to measure, monitor and manage the factors that influence it, especially employee development. Come listen to best practices for measuring learning programs so you can better manage your current culture.
John helps clients develop measurement strategies to assess the impact of training on business measures. He led measurement teams at Arthur Andersen, PwC and KPMG. In 2010 he joined Metrics That Matter and has written two books on analytics. He lives in Franklin, TN with his wife and three children.
Heike Neumann
Vice President, Head of Human Resources, SAP Canada
Speaking at: Apr 25, 3:15 pm
Topic: The new role of HR – architects of Digital Transformation
The digital world connects people like never before. Research shows that 78% of today’s employees want to live and work digital. Heike will speak about how digitization has changed not only the technological landscape but the people and culture behind the technology. This presents unique opportunities for HR to become leaders of digital transformation and to get to the heart of the business. She will share experiences from SAP’s own transformation journey of becoming “digital HR” and give an outlook on what’s on the rise for the HR function.
Heike joined SAP in 2009 and most recently was Vice President for Executive Rewards and Global Equity, where she successfully introduced SAP’s new equity landscape. She brings 20+ years of experience in HR management, having worked for global players in the high-tech and pharma industries, as well as running her own startup for five years. She recently relocated to Vancouver, Canada, taking over the role as Head of Human Resources for SAP Canada.
Stephen R. Shea
Managing Partner, Talent, EY Canada
Speaking at: Apr 25, 9:30 am
Topic: Can a conversation take your career to new heights?
Stephen Shea will speak about how EY transformed performance management using LEAD, a new model for career, development and performance. LEAD uses technology and innovative digital platforms and encourages real-time feedback across EY’ so that people gain the insights they need to develop, grow their individual careers and prepare for the future of work.
Stephen is responsible for leading all facets of the firm’s people strategy for both partners and staff. Throughout his career he has excelled as a client service partner in both the Assurance and the Advisory practice of the firm and was the GCSP on several of the firm’s largest clients. He has provided leadership through counselling, mentoring and sponsorship to people within the firm at all levels.
Stefani Raggio
Vice President, HR Operations, Hilton North America
Speaking at: Apr 25, 11:30 am
Topic: Creating a Great Place to Work for all and by all
In this session, Stefani will explore Hilton’s culture philosophy of building a Great Place to Work for all and by all and share the story of how Hilton became #1 on Fortune’s Best Place to Work For® list.
Stefani oversees the HR Operations function for Hilton’s North America and manages full-service and luxury hotels, which encompasses Great Place to Work For All™ initiatives serving approximately 58,000 team members. She is experienced in multi-national labour and employee relations, total rewards design and delivery, HRIS, payroll, financial and risk management, diversity and inclusion initiative development, talent management and compliance.
Eric Desautels
Human Resources Director, Nespresso Canada
Speaking at: Apr 25, 9:10 am
Topic: Future of workplace
For knowledge workers, work as we know is changing. Two fundamental forces drive these changes: major advances in technology and increasing diversity in the workforce. Because technology has made it possible to be connected anytime, anywhere, it would be easy to assume that face-to-face interactions are becoming unnecessary. However, perhaps now more than ever, the value of face-to-face interactions for offices is increasingly evident.
With more than 20 years of experience in human resources management, Eric Desautels joined Nespresso from Pratt & Whitney Canada, where he held the position of HR Director since 2015. Having held various HR roles in various companies Eric is recognized, among other things, for his change management, his influence leadership and his team spirit.
Alison Grenier
Head of Culture and Research, Great Place to Work® Canada
Speaking at: Apr 24, 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm
Topic: Building a culture of trust
The world’s best workplaces have demonstrated that a strong culture of trust is a powerful competitive advantage, driving innovation, customer satisfaction and profits. While there is no one right way to build a great place to work, GPTW’s research and experience over the past 30 years have identified the most critical management drivers of culture change. This workshop applies GPTW’s proven framework and best practices to help equip your leaders to foster high trust relationships as the foundation for truly great workplaces.
As Head of Research & Culture, Alison is responsible for GPTW’s research initiatives and staying on top of emerging trends among the Best Workplaces in Canada. Alison is skilled in high-level analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data, providing organizations with specific and actionable feedback to improve their workplace culture.