Program

Thursday October 30, 2025

Bayview Yards, Ottawa, ON

8.10 – 9.00

Registration and Networking

9.00 – 9.10

Introduction from the Chair

Welcome remarks by the chair and an introduction to the day.

Heidi Hauver, Former Chief People Officer and Leadership and Culture Mentor

9.10 – 9.35 Fireside Chat:

Aligning Leadership and Corporate Vision to Become an Employer of Choice

What role does HR play in aligning leadership strategy with corporate goals? Hear how an award-winning, top, Ottawa-based, employer has adopted a bold, people-first approach to empower leaders, drive growth and become an employer of choice and how can HR arm top performers with the tools, coaching, and clarity they need to lead with impact?

Michael Johnson, President & CEO, Multiview

9.35 – 10.15 Engagement Panel

Resilient Teams, Agile HR: practical strategies to help your HR teams thrive

How can HR teams embed agility into their daily practices to better navigate uncertainty?
What steps can we take to create psychological safety to foster resilience ?
How can continuous learning and cross-functional development strengthen the adaptability of HR professionals?

Keira Torkko, Chief People Officer, Assent

Ann Clancy, Chief Talent Officer, CHEO

Kiran Hanspal, ADM, HR, Public Services and Procurement Canada

9.35 – 10.15 Expert Session

Pay Equity & Transparency: A New Era in Compensation

Why wage transparency matters in 2025 and how it’s shifting organizational culture
Tools and technologies to audit pay equity effectively
Legal considerations for wage disclosure and compliance in the public and private sectors
Communicating pay structures with empathy and clarity

10.15 – 10.40

Morning Coffee and Networking Break

Time to refuel and continue networking!

10.40– 11.05 Gold Partner Insights

Benefits, Perks and other Rewards that Matter

What employees want now: financial health, flexibility, and empathy
Evolving benefit plans to reflect life-stage and workforce diversity
Assessing common concerns being raised with HR leaders - squeezing finances, budgeting/saving in uncertain times, more workplace communication – and finding solutions to address these concerns

11.05 – 11.15

Recharge break and guided meditation

11.15 – 12.00 Talent Strategy Panel

From Crisis to Capability: Solving the Talent Challenge

Navigating hybrid work fatigue and retention issues
Upskilling, reskilling, and internal mobility strategies
Immigration and inclusive hiring
Cross-sector partnerships for emerging talent pipelines

Kin Choi, VP of HR, Algonquin College

Pamela LeMaistre, CHRO, City of Ottawa

Marshia Akbar, Director, BMO Newcomer Workforce Integration Lab

Lisa Nowostawski, Director of HR, Welch LLP

12.00 – 1.00

Networking Lunch Break

It is time for lunch - and you have earned it.

1.00 – 1.40 Workplace Belonging Panel

From Policy to Culture: Putting the ‘Belonging’ into DE&I

Going beyond DEI: what belonging means for retention
Designing employee networks and peer communities
How storytelling drives belonging and inclusion
Leadership accountability: who owns belonging?
What gets measured gets improved

Awad Ibrahim, Vice-Provost, ED&I Excellence, University of Ottawa

Candace Labelle, Senior Director – Talent Programs, Calian

Neha D’Souza, Chief Operating Officer, Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall

1.40– 2.05 Expert Insights

Human-Centered AI in HR: Unlocking the Opportunity

AI in recruiting, L&D, and internal mobility
Managing risk and bias in AI adoption
Policy, transparency, and trust

2.05 – 2.30

Afternoon Refreshment and Networking Break

Time to refuel and continue the networking!

2.30 – 3.15 Peer-to-Peer Roundtables

Choose ONE issue and join an employer-only roundtable to discuss strategies for overcoming challenges and capitalizing on opportunities*

Building Future Leaders: Aligning Talent Attraction, Retention and Development
AI for a More Resilient Workplace
Strategies for Supporting Employee Mental Health and Wellbeing
Upskilling and Reskilling to Future-Proof Your Workforce
Reward and Benefits to Attract & Retain Top Talent
Managing Workplace Menopause
Conflict Resolution – strategies and procedures

3.15– 3.55 Fireside Chat

Holistic Wellness Practices that Works in Multi-Generational Workplaces

What is ‘holistic Wellbeing’ and how can best address all pillars of employee health?
Strategies for shaping policies that address different demographics and priorities
Designing inclusive benefits that reflect new wellness priorities
Gen Z’s expectations: purpose, mental health, and work-life integration

Donna Burnett Vachon, Director, Change and OD, Hydro Ottawa

Elizabeth Rhodenizer, Chief Health & Wellbeing Officer, APEX

3.55 – 4.20 Closing Rapid Fire Take-Away Session

Enticing GenZ into the Workplace with a Forward-Thinking, People-First, Company Culture

5 short sessions, 5-minute presentations; hear what the trailblazers are doing to stand out in the crowd to win the hearts and minds of GenZ!!

Nathalie Guthrie, Director of HR, CENGN

Caroline Bastien, Strategic Workforce Strategy & Culture, Export Development Canada

4.20 – 4.30

Chair’s Closing Remarks

Top take-aways from the day!

Heidi Hauver, Former Chief People Officer and Leadership and Culture Mentor

* Note: These are employer-only discussion groups and providers will not be permitted to register or attend these sessions

Program subject to change *Provisional Date