Shreya is an Associate Director at EY Canada, where she leads both the Leadership Development and Learning Deployment & Operations functions for over 8,500 employees nationwide. With more than 15 years of experience across EY India and Canada in both client-serving and talent development roles, Shreya is passionate about helping people achieve their professional goals. An organized and results driven strategist, experienced project manager and an inclusive team player, she thrives on collaborating with others to design learning and development solutions tailored to their unique business needs. Her keen interest in emerging technologies, AI, and innovation enable her to deliver meaningful insights and drive business impact. Based in Toronto, Shreya enjoys spending time outdoors—often found hiking or on trail walks with her husband and their dog.

I am a Director of Member Experience at CPA Ontario with over 12 years of experience in internal and client-facing learning and development roles. I started my career as a facilitator, teaching complex accounting modules for professional qualifications, moved into instructional design and later started managing the  learning and development function for between 300-1500 employees at professional services organizations like PwC, BCG and Grant Thornton. Learning is my career and my hobby and I strive to share how to navigate L&D strategy and design in complex, high-profile organizations. 

With over 15 years in Learning & Development, Shuky(Sukran) has worked across diverse industries to design, deliver, and optimize training programs that drive performance. Her personal journey into well-being—mindfulness, physical wellness, and emotional balance—has shaped her approach to teaching. Shuky now focuses on helping well-being professionals refine their delivery and create learning experiences that inspire lasting change. Shuky believes that learning is not just about transferring knowledge; it's about creating an environment where learners feel inspired, supported, and capable of achieving real, lasting change. By integrating well-being practices into L&D programs, Shuky helps professionals design programs that not only engage but empower learners to thrive. She combines her personal journey with her expertise to guide others in creating meaningful, impactful learning experiences that foster resilience and growth.

Kate is a facilitator and learning designer with 15+ years of experience facilitating impactful workshops, guiding strategic conversations, and creating practical, results-oriented learning programs. At the core of her approach is a focus on surfacing meaningful insights that empower teams and individuals to transform their work in strategic and practical ways. As a facilitator, Kate thoughtfully designs and guides group processes to foster meaningful collaboration, creative exploration, and actionable measures of success. In her current roles she supports leaders and their teams to leverage the power of Generative AI in their workflows. Kate holds certificates in Learning Design from the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, Life Coaching from the Centre for Applied Neuroscience, and Applied Positive Psychology from the Flourishing Center. She is also a Clifton Strengths Educator and integrates Appreciative Inquiry and Design Thinking methodologies into her practice.

Vanessa Bragg is a ICF Certified Professional Coach and a HR Consultant. Her career spans across diverse leadership roles, notably HR and L&D where she has designed and implemented leadership programs, numerous organizational development initiatives and competency frameworks from emerging to executive leadership. Vanessa can navigate organizational challenges, providing holistic support that aligns individual leadership and team development with overarching business objectives. With a knack for seamless facilitation, she guides discussions, nurturing an environment conducive to growth and sustainable outcomes. Whether coaching leaders, presenting or consulting, her aim is consistent: empowering potential and fostering change.

Hannah brings her 25 years of experience helping learning professionals create and implement formal training programs for leaders and their teams to build a learning culture. She bridges the gap between formal training and learning embedded in the DNA of teams. Her latest book, Into the Hands of Leaders: Employee Growth through Learning, is focused on the importance of employee and team development and the critical role leaders have in creating a team culture of learning. Hannah has received two learning design awards from the Institute for Performance and Learning (I4PL). 2021 – Redesign for Online: Process, template and support 2019 – Risk Management elearning and facilitated program with my client, Shad CanadaShe was also the Director of Sales Training for North America at Foresters Financial in Toronto for several years. Hannah holds an M. Ed., BA.SC. and CTDP.

Stephanie Burgetz (she/her) has been training and  facilitating group learning events for over twenty-five (25) years, and coaching leaders and their teams for more than ten (10). Stephanie's areas of expertise and interest are in emotionally sensitive goal-centric coaching, learning, and leadership development. 

Stephanie has a Masters in Education, is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coach Federation (ICF), and is a Certified Training & Development Professional (CTDP) from the Institute for Performance and Learning (I4PL).  She also holds many other certifications. 

After working for a number of different health care organizations she recently took the leap into entrepreneurship, and is the owner of Quill and Canvas Consulting. 

Fun facts: Stephanie is a graphic recorder and facilitator, completed her meditation teacher training in February 2020 (talk about timing!) and is authorized to officiate marriage in the Province of Ontario.

Josh is the Chief Creative & Learning Officer for Sponge Group and is responsible for delivering Sponge’s promise of Unforgettable Learning to both its customers and its own people. He leads Sponge’s learning function, our in-house consultancy known as The Practice, and The Studio - Sponge's creative team of designers and developers. 

A recognized leader in the L&D space with a comprehensive global client portfolio, Josh brings to Sponge a global view of the marketplace, a keen eye towards quality, and a strong strategic lens for better connecting L&D to organizational impact. His decade-long leadership journey spans roles in digital learning strategy, solutions design, business development, and creative leadership.  
  
Josh frequently speaks at HR/L&D events and teaches at the University of Toronto. Josh is based in Toronto. 

Michelle Chambers is an award-winning organization development consultant, leadership and team coach with over 30 years of experience transforming organizations through people. As the Chief People, Culture & Strategy Officer with Teams Matter/Chambers & Associates, her work measurably contributes to organizational performance. Michelle has worked with global leaders and top employers like RBC, TELUS, Pfizer, and Johnson Controls, helping teams drive performance, culture, and engagement. She brings deep expertise in systems thinking, change leadership, and organizational learning—and holds multiple credentials, including CTDP, PCC, and CHRL. Michelle is a published author, frequent media contributor, and recognized speaker at conferences including I4PL, HRPA, Coaching.com, ICF, ODN and the Conference Board of Canada. She was awarded the ICF Prism Award for and was a finalist for the Global Change Leader Award. Passionate about learning and change, Michelle equips leaders and teams to unlock potential and achieve sustainable results.

Cora Chen is AVP of Training & Development at IGM Financial, supporting Mackenzie Investments. In her current role, she leads learning and development initiatives across multiple business functions for Mackenzie Investments, with one of the key focuses on sales distribution. Her team designs and delivers programs that span onboarding, career development, coaching, and leadership growth.

Cora brings extensive experience in the financial services industry, having held leadership roles in both wealth and asset management. Her career includes leading Inside Sales teams, serving as advisor, Investment & Retirement Planner, and working as Regional Sales Manager at two major Canadian banks, as well as at the two portfolio companies under IGM. She is a multi-time recipient of top achiever and leadership awards.

Cora is a CFA charterholder and holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management, along with a Master of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto.

Jeff Cole is a Solution Architect at Blanchard®. He is a creative talent leader with a strong execution mindset to design, develop, and deliver talent management and development programs aligned with an organization’s priorities and culture. Elevating and empowering those with whom he works builds trust among teams and unleashes true talent innovation.

His broad and diverse body of experience feeds his passion for developing innovative talent management experiences around competency development, organizational behavior and multi-generational leadership development.  Over the past 20 years, Jeff has dedicated significant efforts and research toward the integration of diversity, inclusion and belonging practices into leadership development strategies.

Jeff earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond and a master’s degree in leadership and adult education from the Université du Québec à Montréal in Canada.  Jeff is fluent in English, French and is proficient in Spanish.

Shawna Cole is a Learning & Organization Development strategist with 15 years of experience helping organizations connect talent, culture, and leadership to drive real, human-centered impact. Known for her practical, engaging approach, Shawna designs learning experiences that embed essential skills, emotional intelligence, and communication into the daily flow of work - especially for remote, hybrid, and global teams. Whether she's coaching through complexity or designing digital learning that sticks, she brings passion for helping individuals and organizations thrive in today's ever-changing world of work. 

Greta Dearing, CIP, is the Director of Learning at NFP, an Aon company, with more than 20 years of experience in learning and development and process improvement. She is passionate about lifelong learning and creating personal connections. Greta is an innovator, dedicated to helping people realize their potential through process improvement and talent management, and is a current CTDP candidate. Her enthusiasm for continuous growth is fueled by travel, seeking out diverse experiences, and embracing new opportunities.  Greta makes her home in small-town Northern Ontario and revels in being immersed in the rugged beauty of the Canadian Shield.

Nitin Deckha (he/him) holds a PhD in Anthropology from Rice University and is a Certified Training Development Professional (CTDP). He designs and facilitates learning programs on leadership development, intercultural competence, and the future of work for local, national, and international audiences. With 15+ years of experience in postsecondary education and professional training, Nitin has taught at the University of Toronto, McMaster University, University of Guelph-Humber, and Hochschule Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences. A versatile educator, Nitin equips leaders with the skills to collaborate, navigate complexity, and drive change. He is based in Toronto, Canada.

Professional Career
David has more than 30 years experience as a facilitator, consultant, and trainer working with
individuals and organizations helping bring their best while supporting them through change. David has
facilitated and coached at all levels across many sectors building leadership and agility. After an
entrepreneurial start to his career David discovered his passion for L&D, dedicating his life to helping
others grow.
Working both as an internal and external trainer/consultant, as well as being on the faculty at Schulich
School of Business, Executive Education, David is highly skilled at bringing out the necessary changes in
mindset and behaviour to achieve peak performance. With experience in public and private sectors
across multiple industries; including financial, retail, healthcare, tech, construction, manufacturing,
military, energy, not for profit, and environmental, David brings a broad perspective and wealth of
knowledge to his engagements. By merging the disciplines of adult education, project management,
agile, change management, OD and resilience, David’s approach helps build leaders and organizations
who are ready to face challenges that have yet to be defined. Leveraging this holistic approach David
brings his whole self to every engagement, uncovering the experience of the team, creating a true
learning organization.
David is a Certified Training and Development Professional and member of the Institute for Performance
and Learning as well as a Personal Resilience Practitioner with Resilience Alliance.

Positions
VP & Partner, Leadership Pipeline Institute Canada                 2023-present
Faculty, Schulich School of Business, Executive Education     2016-present
Founder & CEO, Dragonsong                                                   1991-present
Howspace, North American Region                                           2000-2003
Director Client Solutions, Juice Inc.                                           2019-2021
Director Client Solutions, TidalShift Inc.                                    2010-2019

Education & Qualifications
Masters Certificate in Adult Training & Development
Certified Training & Development Professional
Change Management Registered Practitioner
Project Management Professional
Personal Resilience Practitioner
Flight Instructor, Glider

Languages
English

Kerry-Ann Douglas-Powell (she/her) spends her days as a Director, Workplace Culture, at OCAD University. Before joining OCAD in October 2022, she was the Manager of Organizational Transformation within the Anti-Racism Directorate (ARD) for the Province of Ontario. 

Kerry-Ann has almost two decades of experience in human resources, change management, learning and development, and equity within the private and public sectors. She has been a long-time member and volunteer with the I4PL, including serving as the co-chair of Membership Engagement (2015) and the Networking Committee Co-Chair (2016-19) for the Toronto Chapter.

As an HR professional, organizational educator, and change leader, she thrives on designing innovative learning solutions that allow people and organizations to navigate the chaos.

Kerry-Ann is a graduate of the Humber Colleges Teacher/Trainer of Adults Certificate Program and Toronto Metropolitan University’s Human Resources Management Program. She is currently working on attaining her Bachelor of Commerce part-time from TMU.

In her spare time, you will find her mentoring and coaching current and future leaders, cheering on the Toronto Raptors, the Jays, and Maple Leafs, reading romance novels, and spending way too much time in the wee hours of the morning getting sucked into the wormhole we call social media.

Jared Drepaul is a distinguished HR technology strategist with nearly 20 years of experience dedicated to shaping the future of work. His career is marked by a proven ability to lead workforce transformation initiatives by strategically implementing emerging learning technologies at some of Canada's most prominent institutions.

Jared Drepaul has a unique, cross-industry perspective gained from pivotal roles at TMX Group, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA), LCBO, CPA Canada, University Health Network (UHN), and RBC. His diverse background in capital markets, healthcare, regulation, and finance provides deep insights into leveraging educational technology to solve complex business challenges, enhance employee capabilities, and drive organizational growth.

Specializing in the intersection of strategy and digital innovation, Jared Drepaul is a leader in building skills-based organizations and fostering cultures of continuous development.

Katie Duarte is the Founder of Action Potential Solutions, a company dedicated to helping organizations improve their effectiveness and success by optimizing feedback. With a master's degree in Organizational Psychology and a research background in feedback dynamics, she brings insights to help organizations make impactful improvements to feedback. Taking a systems approach to her work, Katie also holds two professional designations: one in training and development (CTDP), and one in organization development (ODCP), acknowledging that truly effective feedback requires a cooperative effort between the environment (policies and procedures), the feedback giver, and the feedback receiver.

Fola Fadero is a seasoned Learning and Development professional with 20 years of experience driving leadership growth and performance. She currently supports leadership development initiatives at Amazon Logistics, delivering scalable, high-impact programs across complex operational environments.

Fola holds a Master of Education in Adult Learning and Community Development from the University of Toronto, and has led learning initiatives on six continents, bringing a global perspective to workforce development. As an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP), she is deeply committed to continuous learning and professional excellence.

Fola also mentors newcomers to Ontario, reflecting her belief that learning has the power to transform both people and organizations. She brings a global, inclusive, and practitioner-focused perspective to the future of learning and workforce development.

Founder & Principal, Byte Transformation Worxs Inc. | ACMP Board Director | Global Member, Executive Change Leadership Council.

Emeline is a future-focused change leader, blending operational expertise with strategic foresight guiding enterprise transformations across diverse sectors. As founder of Byte Transformation Worxs Inc., Emeline leads a boutique advisory firm reserved for tackling complex, high-stakes projects on behalf of executive teams and search firms. Her approach transforms complexity into clarity by connecting emerging methodologies to real organizational needs, equipping leaders to future-proof their organizations.

With over a decade of experience, Emeline brings a rare blend of operational realism and strategic foresight. She has expertly delivered solutions to C-suite leaders and repeatedly demonstrated an ability to design for scale, influence executive decision-making, and translate business needs into integrated platforms. Her expertise and fluency inform her approach to learning transformation while aligning cross-functional teams and building adaptive capacity across divisions grounded in systems thinking and human-centered design that helps organizations build ecosystems that accelerate capability and adoption.

Emeline advocates for change and transformation that’s both tech-enabled and human-centered, championing the integration of agility and maturity in change management: recognizing that while the pace of change grows ever faster, people are not machines. For Emeline, lasting organizational success depends on embedding learning into the culture - shaping adaptive systems and leveraging change as a capability.

Emeline’s credibility is reinforced by her role as Board Director for the Association of Change Management Professionals (Ontario Chapter) and as a Global Member of the Executive Change Leadership Council. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in Management Information Systems from the University of Alberta School of Business and multiple accreditations in leading organizational change. She is currently pursuing advanced studies with the ACMP.

In this plenary, expect clarity and candor from a change leader who sees learning and performance, and change as essential allies -driving strategic behavior and unlocking the full potential of people as organizations prepare for the future of work embedding adaptability, continuous design, and executive alignment into the heart of performance enablement.

Jason is a Director in KPMG Canada's People and Change practice, specializing in workforce enablement, talent development and organizational learning. With 20 years of experience designing, developing, and managing learning systems and products across industries, he has performed lead business and advisory roles related to organizational learning for international clients in business, government and not-for-profit.

Jason brings a passion for upskilling people, improving operational performance, and supporting organizational change. He employs work analyses, outcome-appropriate instructional strategies, traditional and digital learning delivery, as well organizational and workplace design to help foster teams that quickly build knowledge and skills, take required actions, and adapt to changing market drivers.  Jason knows learning is a critical performance capability, and when done right results in high-performing organizations that are more resilient and desirable work destinations.

Garima Gupta is the Founder & CEO of Artha Learning Inc., an award-winning learning design firm. With 20+ years in L&D, education, and tech, she is a recognized leader in creatively integrating AI into learning. Garima holds an MEd in Adult Education and CTDP designation, serves on multiple advisory boards, and regularly speaks at global conferences on AI in L&D, instructional design, and impactful digital learning.

Gifty Gyimah is a Strategist with Owning My and a Program Facilitator at Durham College, where she transforms educational operations through strategic AI integration. She implements AI-based assessments, automated placement tracking, and data-driven scheduling systems that help faculty and administrators streamline daily workflows.
 

Melanie Hill is COO at Actionable.co, where she equips Consultants, Facilitators, and Learning Professionals to drive real change in the workplace. Personally delivering and consulting on dozens of programs across just about every industry and scope, Melanie brings empirical evidence and stories to illustrate how Actionable measures ROI on corporate learning initiatives, and the systems to ensure every program creates lasting impact.

With over 30 years of industry experience, Neil Hunter is currently a Partner and the Chief Learning Officer for Deloitte Canada and Deloitte Chile.

As a former CHRO, Neil brings a deep understanding of best practices in talent, putting work at the center of the end-to-end talent processes in various industries, and how they are converging in the skills landscape.

He is the Dean of Deloitte University North and sits on the Deloitte Global Learning Executive.

Well versed in leadership development and succession planning, he is sought after for future proofing people strategies in support of evolving business strategies.

All in service of creating workplaces where people can thrive and create sustainable value.

Claudette Hutchinson is a globally recognized learning and development strategist, AI adoption expert, and CEO of Owning My. With over 20 years of experience designing high-impact training and upskilling programs, she has empowered 30,000+ professionals across North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe to lead and learn confidently, especially in the age of AI. Her work spans entrepreneurship, insurance, finance, healthcare, construction, AI, and STREAM (Science, Tech, Robotics, Engineering, Arts, Math), helping organizations integrate automation and innovation into their learning ecosystems. Claudette has delivered AI, blockchain, and systems design training to global institutions, including banks, startups, regulatory bodies, and for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Certified in instructional design, talent development, and business coaching, Claudette is known for turning complex ideas into clear, actionable strategies. At the I4PL, she'll lead AI's Supply 4U2 Multiply, an interactive session designed to show professionals how to multiply productivity, streamline systems, and lead digital transformation.

Sammy Jakubowicz brings over two decades of diverse experience to the L&D field, with experience leading training initiatives for industry sectors spanning retail to IT, telecommunications, manufacturing, and the legal profession. A passionate advocate for effective learning, Sammy holds a PhD in Philosophy and a CTDP designation. With a proven track record of designing and delivering effective training programs, Sammy is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations reach their full potential. He brings a unique perspective to learning, blending academic rigor with practical application to create engaging and results-driven experiences.

Ben Jemirade is a leadership development strategist with more than 20 years of experience across finance, technology, energy, healthcare, and government. As Senior Leadership Development Lead at Citco, he partners with executives globally to enhance corporate culture, improve performance, and develop leadership pipelines for the future.

Ben excels at creating leadership frameworks that harness collective wisdom to drive proactive change. His work integrates essential capabilities—resilience, distributed leadership, agility, influence, and collaboration—into organizational practices, ensuring leaders thrive amid complexity.

Ben has delivered impactful sessions across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. Known for his unique blend of strategic insight, global experience, and tangible impact, he assists executives in unlocking talent, aligning culture with strategy, and achieving measurable returns on leadership investment. He holds an MSc in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and is certified in Life Coaching through Erickson Coaching, along with other professional accreditations.

Katherine Johnston builds on her experience in 50+ countries as a leader, consultant, ICF coach & author in global contexts. Known for her practical approach, an engaging manner, building high trust environments, and providing tangible results. She thrives on partnering with L&D professionals to create leadership programs, talent strategies & competency frameworks. She facilitates in an inclusive manner and finds great joy in seeing individuals flourish in their roles. Katherine has an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management (now part of ASU). She is the co-author of 2 books about leadership and a third to be published in 2025.

Tisha Parker Kemp is a talent development executive and adult education professional with 30 years' experience in the end-to-end management of training programs, including 20+ years in the online learning space. Her audiences are typically professionals, executives, and business owners. She inspires people to learn new skills using proven strategies and current and emerging evidence-based methodologies for teaching/learning. 
 

Arman is a senior instructional designer in the Operations Administration division at Canadian North Airlines, where he leads the design and development of innovative and effective learning and performance enhancement solutions, including AI-powered L&D initiatives. He has more than 20 years of experience creating engaging, learner-centric, and accessible courses using a wide range of tools and technologies, and has crafted learning strategies across various sectors. His e-learning work has earned several awards for development, design, and delivery. Arman holds a PhD in Genetics from McGill University and a master’s degree in Instructional Technology from Concordia University.

Joanna Kirke is a multi award winning certified executive coach, expert facilitator, and President of Kirke Leadership Inc. With over 20 years of experience, she transforms leadership, culture, and business performance across SMEs and global enterprises. Known for unlocking potential at every level, Joanna helps organizations build leadership bench strength, improve collaboration, and drive customer-centric innovation. Her approach blends emotional intelligence, business strategy, and human-centered design, making her especially effective with companies navigating growth or change. She's designed and delivered leadership programs for organizations such as Bell Canada, Scotiabank, BMO, Shoppers Drug Mart, CAE, Biogen, Ratesdotca, CI Investments, Teck, and Rotman School of Management. With a background in HR in tech and financial services, she simplifies complexity and fosters emotionally agile, high-performing leaders. A global citizen who's worked in over 35 countries, Joanna is passionate about inclusive leadership and gives back through pro-bono coaching and women's health advocacy.

Linda assumed the role of Dean in December 2024, capping nearly two decades of dedicated service to the Toronto Metropolitan University community. Throughout her tenure, she has been a driving force in advancing innovative, career-relevant, and accessible programming for continuous learners. Her leadership has been instrumental in forging successful partnerships with employers, industry leaders, government bodies, and community organizations.
In her various leadership capacities at The Chang School, Linda has overseen the complete lifecycle of certificate program development, delivery, and assessment. Notably, as Assistant Dean, Programs, she played a pivotal role in shaping and implementing bold and forward-thinking strategies to meet the evolving needs of today’s continuous learners. This included the strategic introduction of competency-based microcredentials, postgraduate certificates, and the School’s inaugural full-time international certificate program. Linda also served on the Advisory Group for TMU’s 2025-2030 Academic Plan.
Linda holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Arts from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University. She also earned the Professional Continuing and Online (PCO) Leader Certification from UPCEA, further underscoring her commitment to leadership in continuing education.

Giselle specializes in crafting strategies to engage and enhance employee performance. She's worked with 18 top Fortune 500 companies, impacting over 65,000 individuals globally through keynotes and workshops. With 25+ years of experience, she focuses on creating learning experiences that drive engagement and performance, and has build content and solutions in in leadership, sales & service, high performing teams, early career talent development, and sustainment & reinforcement.

Giselle is a renowned L&D expert, co-author of two books, and contributes to national publications and media outlets like CBC and CTV News. She holds a Master's degree in communication studies and actively supports the I4PL as Board Chair .

Susie Lee is a transformative leader in workforce innovation, serving as Advisor and Chief Learning Officer at Degreed. With over 25 years of global experience across human capital technology, financial services, and loyalty marketing, Susie brings deep strategic expertise in reimagining how organizations develop, engage, and future-proof their talent.
At Degreed, she plays a pivotal role in guiding enterprise clients through workforce transformation, while also leading the company’s Client Advisory Board. Through this executive community, Susie amplifies Degreed’s thought leadership brand, fosters innovation, and connects forward-thinking leaders to accelerate shared learning and best practices across industries.
Previously, Susie was Senior Vice President at Bank of America, where she led Global Learning Product Management and Technologies. She was instrumental in launching Degreed’s platform enterprise-wide—impacting 300,000 employees and revolutionizing the bank’s learning ecosystem.
Susie holds a Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s University and postgraduate certifications from the Schulich School of Business at York University. Based in Canada, she brings a global perspective shaped by extensive leadership across North America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Tara is a results driven HR executive with robust global leadership and strategic transformation experience. Her career spans over 20 years in regulated industries in banking, accounting and airline. She optimizes talent and learning investments and operational excellence via people centric design, integrating data, prioritising DEI and developing employee journeys to drive overall commercial results. 

Tara holds an MBA from Dalhousie University (Halifax, Canada) and is Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers. She loves to share and connect with others and takes the opportunity to speak in learning communities where she has been a regular speaker at ATD, Middle East and guest speaker for Harriet Watt University (Edinburgh, Scotland). Her love of learning continues with her connection with schools and obtaining certificates from places like Wharton (Boston, USA) and Schulich School of Business  (Toronto, Canada). Tara has held Board positions with London Business School (UK) and Emirates Aviation University (Dubai, UAE). Outside of her career, Tara is creative and is a maker and writer. Tara lives with her young daughter, husband and fur babies, enjoying city life in Toronto and country / lake life in Port Stanley, Ontario.

As a forward-thinking learning leader with over 20 years of experience, Adam Leroux specializes in transforming learning functions into strategic business partners. His career spans across technical, telecom and financial organizations, integrating leadership development, performance enablement and learning modernization to deliver measurable impact.

As the Associate Vice President for Enterprise Learning & Development at TD Bank, Adam and his team are responsible for the learning strategies that build capability at all levels needed to deliver on TD's imperatives. These include emerging areas like Artificial Intelligence and in the ongoing quest to deepen customer relationships.

Adam has led teams responsible for major learning programs in multiple large organizations with global reach, earning recognition for the positive impacts on revenue, productivity and employee engagement. Earning awards from respected human resource and learning associations, including recent Brandon Hall Group Excellence awards in areas of design, development and transformative learning.

He holds a Master of Education (M. Ed.) with a specialization in organizational leadership. He considers that mix of institutional acumen and professional experience as the combination that has helped him influence and evolve continuous learning norms at the bank. Aligning with his true passion of unlocking peoples full potential and organizations alike.”

Jason Lewis is Sr. Partner at Shift Facilitation Inc. As a facilitator, speaker, coach, and consultant he brings a unique perspective to facilitation skills training through his expertise in improv theatre, innovation, and change management.

He is known for challenging leadership teams around the world to level-up their strategic and creative capacity. Jason has been crisscrossing North America and Europe working with leaders for the better part of 15+ years. Along the way he has been certified in Design Thinking at IDEO and mastered the human-centered collaboration toolkit. Through this work, Jason has had the honour of designing and hosting global summits for his clients that serve their 150+ top-tier leaders.

An accomplished speaker at industry conferences, Jason knows how to engage a crowd. His natural strengths are amplified by the depth of his experience on stage as founder of The Kinkonauts theatre company in Calgary, Alberta.

With over 25 years of experience spanning entrepreneurship, financial services, human resources, and higher education, Sischa Maharaj is a bold futurist and trusted advisor at the intersection of technology, talent, and transformation. As a Senior Consultant with Devant, Sischa partners with post-secondary institutions and employers across Canada to scale workforce skills, employability, and organizational agility through the strategic use of AI, adaptive learning, and digital innovation.

Sischa’s work bridges innovation and impact—helping leaders and learning professionals' harness next-wave technologies such as AI agents, immersive media, and data-driven learning platforms to enhance career development, leadership growth, and workforce performance. She has collaborated with hundreds of employers across diverse sectors to design and deliver programs that elevate leadership capability, reskill teams, and accelerate talent mobility.

Passionate about inclusive workforce development, Sischa has championed initiatives supporting early talent, women, Indigenous professionals, immigrants, executives, and people with disabilities. Her mission is to build future-ready organizations by connecting emerging learning technologies with measurable business and community outcomes.

Currently, Sischa leads national efforts to mobilize the workforce city by city—driving large-scale projects that link education, employment, and innovation. She believes that the next frontier in training and development lies in using AI-powered tools to personalize learning, coach performance in real time, and reimagine how organizations grow talent for a rapidly changing world.

Justin comes from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada where he works as a Learning Technology Trainer with Saskatchewan Polytechnic. He has his Master's degree in Educational Technology and Design from the University of Saskatchewan where he began forming his idea of using video games as learning tools. Justin developed and is now running a Game-Based Learning lab where he facilitates lessons on essential skills using popular video games!

I am a certified training and development professional (CTDP) with experience in enhancing the performance of individuals and organizations. I hold a Masters of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering, and certificates in Big Data Analytics and Managing Organizational Change.

Corrie Melanson (she/they) is a queer, white, neurodivergent settler based in Kji'puktuk (Halifax), NS. They combine more than 25 years' facilitation experience with visual tools to facilitate breakthrough conversations that spark engaged action and learning. Corrie uses proven principles of adult education, universal design, and culturally responsive practices to build inclusion, and create engagement, possibility, and collective action.

Alpesh Mistry is the Director of Learning & Development for RBC’s Internal Audit (CAE Group), where he leads global strategies to enhance workforce capabilities and drive measurable performance through innovative learning solutions. With expertise in agile learning design, digital platforms, and microlearning, Alpesh focuses on aligning learning initiatives with business goals and fostering future readiness. He previously supported strategic learning initiatives for RBC leaders and served as a learning advisor for Personal & Commercial Banking. Before RBC, Alpesh developed Design Thinking programs at the Rotman School of Management, consulting for global clients like Nestlé and the Singapore Government. He holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Design (BDes.) from OCAD University.

Cat Mulvihill is a skilled speaker and trainer who helps people identify and overcome barriers to change using her framework, The Momentum Formula. Her work blends an understanding of human behaviour with practical strategies to help create consistent, sustainable, and aligned habits. She has 20 years of experience leading workshops and programs, including a background as a licensed Immunity to Change facilitator. Prior to developing the Momentum Formula, Cat taught virtual presenting and facilitation skills. Her tutorials on YouTube have garnered 2 million views and helped thousands of educators and entrepreneurs. Cat has a BSc in Physiology and Psychology, an MEd in Workplace & Adult Learning, and an MBA in Human Resources and Organizational Behaviour.

Juan Naranjo is a visionary in corporate learning innovation, leading a team that’s redefining workplace education through Next-Gen Learning. By merging learning science with advanced technology, Juan has driven transformative initiatives including Rogers’ learning AI strategy, immersive 360° VR training for retail robbery prevention and field technicians drilling skills, and a podcasting platform designed to boost learning engagement.

These achievements stem from Juan’s strategic leadership in building an innovation ecosystem that accelerates ideation and execution across the enterprise. With a background in economics, management, and adult education, he has developed pioneering methods to assess the ROI of L&D initiatives; bridging business impact with educational value.

Since 1997, Juan has been at the forefront of digital learning, contributing to landmark projects such as one of the world’s first virtual universities and Latin America’s earliest corporate digital training programs. His insights in the panel Adapting to an Evolving Economy: Insights from the Interplay Between Higher Education & Industry will inspire and energize learning professionals ready to push boundaries and drive meaningful change.

Alana Nassiah is a Learning and Development professional with a decade of experience across industries including premium grocery retail, commercial airline, insurance, and technology research in both the United States and Canada. With expertise spanning learning strategy, workforce development, and employee engagement, she has designed and facilitated programs for learners at every stage of their careers, from students just entering the workforce to CIOs with decades of leadership experience. Alana is passionate about creating practical learning experiences that connect directly to divisional and organizational priorities, building programs that prepare employees to perform with confidence and impact, and supporting a culture where people can thrive and grow.

Cheong Ng is a Knowledge Management Specialist at the Region of Waterloo who describes himself as an eternal learner, engineer, yoga student, and collaborator. With over 15 years of public sector experience and a background in mechanical engineering, Cheong brings a systems-thinking mindset to everything he does, whether solving technical challenges or designing people-centered knowledge solutions.   In his current role, Cheong focuses on helping teams capture, share, and apply knowledge to improve performance, strengthen collaboration, and build organizational resilience. In his work with the Facilities and Fleet Management (FFM) division, he has been instrumental in implementing a specialized onboarding and knowledge management program for staff that complements enterprise-wide orientation with targeted, on-the-ground support.   Cheong holds a degree from Kettering University and brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and people-centered design to his work. Whether collaborating across departments or rolling out a new process, he's always looking for better.

Ilona Ovas is an experienced talent management professional with Master’s Degree in Education and BA in Economics, two professional designations in HR and Learning & Development from Canada, certifications in change management, psychometric assessments and technical writing, and 20+ years of experience across multiple industries in two countries.

She helped such world-class organizations like EY, KPMG, BDO, Oxford Properties, Kinross Gold and BMO to build their talent pipelines. She has led teams, assessed, developed and coached high-performing talent and built Learning & Development strategies and programs that worked. 

Ilona has worked through transformations and large change initiatives in her career, turned L&D teams around and built them from scratch.

Ilona’s strengths lie in the areas of talent development, leadership assessment, coaching, performance and learning consulting and strategic thinking as well as other areas of Learning & Development. She is a natural sense-maker and de-fogger who sees the ‘big picture’. She challenges the status quo.

Cristina Panaitescu-Rapan is a highly respected leader in Learning and Development at Scotiabank, bringing over 32 years of diverse experience across the organization. Her career has spanned roles such as Branch Manager, Auditor, and—over the past decade—a driving force in the Learning & Development space. Cristina currently leads the team responsible for designing, developing, and sustaining onboarding and training programs for all new-to-role employees in Canadian branches.

Her strategic leadership has been instrumental in transformative initiatives, including Branch Transformation, where her innovative thinking and client- and employee-centric approach have delivered measurable impact. Cristina is a passionate advocate for lifelong learning and is widely recognized for her ability to inspire high-performing teams, foster growth, and empower individuals to achieve their goals.

Dr. Amanda Piche is an Instructional Designer at Manulife on the Sales Enablement Learning and Development team. Before joining the world of insurance, she was an Instructional Designer in Edtech and a post-secondary educator. Having picked up improv as a hobby a few years ago, she's excited to now share how it can be incorporated as part of larger training programs.

Moe Poirier is Founding Partner at Shift Facilitation Inc. He is a facilitator, speaker, author, and instructional designer who specializes in train-the-trainer. Moe is a facilitation skills training expert and is best known for his work upskilling training teams around the world to level-up their impact on the people and organizations they serve.​

Before Shift was born in 2015, Moe spent the better part of 20+ years as a contract facilitator delivering leadership, coaching, and team performance programs. Along the way he was a partner in two boutique consultancies that focused exclusively on leadership development. Through this work, Moe has had the honour of serving clients from around the world, as far away as Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.​

A frequent speaker at industry conferences, Moe has presented at the I4PL's annual conference; and ATD's International Conference & Expo, Core4, and other global in-person and virtual training events.

^{Dr. Caroline Power, affectionately known as ‘Dr. Caroline’, is an industry-leading Workplace Learning thought-leader with over 20 years of global experience. She brings deep expertise in Employee and Leadership Development, Talent Management, Workplace Wellness, Organizational Behaviour, and Operational Risk Management.}

^{Dr. Caroline is the Founder and CEO of CDNHR Group of Companies, a professional training and development company which spans 14 cities across Canada and operates through three divisions: Canadian HR Academy, Sensitivity Training Canada, and Worldwide Workplace Learning.}

^{Architect of the Team Building, Talent Acquisition, and Culture MedTech Leadership curriculum for Ontario-based and globally postured Scientist-Founders, she led its inaugural delivery in 2025.}

^{In 2024, Dr. Caroline created a lifetime, endowed, scholarship at the University of Toronto. And, in 2022, she created a 5-year scholarship at Wilfrid Laurier University.}

^{She spent her early career in leadership roles at General Electric (GE) Capital beginning in the company’s Canadian commercial equipment financing operation and later transferring to corporate headquarters, in Connecticut, for the Risk Management Leadership program. After GE, Dr. Caroline held executive positions at Ernst & Young and the Business Development Bank of Canada. Her last industry role was Senior Vice President of Human Resources in the Canadian banking sector.}

^{Dr. Caroline has been named to Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 by WXN. She was also awarded Wilfrid Laurier University’s Top 30 Under 30 Award in the Professional Development and Lifelong-Learning category. Universal Women’s Network has recognized her for the inspiring force that she is by bestowing upon her their Inspire Award. She has also been named to the 100 Accomplished Black Women in Canada list as well as having been announced as an RBC Hero for International Women’s Day by RBC Royal Bank of Canada.}

^{Dr. Caroline holds a Master of Education (MEd) degree in Adult Education from the University of Toronto, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Corporate Finance from Wilfrid Laurier University, a Bachelor of Administrative Studies (BBA) degree in Human Resources Management from York University, Western University’s Richard Ivey School of Business post-graduate Executive Development diploma, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Organizational Behaviour.}

She is a former post-secondary Academic Chair in Ontario and in Nova Scotia and has been an adjunct professor since 2006.

^{Since 2004, Dr. Caroline has sat on Boards of Directors.  Her experience as a Board Governor spans multiple sectors, including healthcare, financial services, and social services at the local, provincial, and national levels.}

Sean Rea is the Director, Performance and Learning Solutions at Friesen, Kaye and Associates. His extensive experience in both the private and public-sector spans more than 20 years in Performance Improvement, Learning and Development, and Leadership.Sean is a Training and Organizational Consultant for senior executives and HR directors throughout North America, Asia and Europe. He has worked with such clients as: Allied Learning Solutions, ArcelorMittal Dofasco, Amex, Canada Border Services Agency, Canada Revenue Agency, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Lehman Brothers, Lenovo, NetSuite, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Standard Charter Bank and Sunlife.He has presented at industry events including: International Society for Performance Improvement, and Training Magazine's Leadership Summit. Sean has a Master's degree in Sport and Performance Psychology. He is a member of: The Institute for Performance and Learning, and ISPI. Sean is a Certified Training and Development Professional, Certified Performance Technologist, and Certified Technical Trainer.

Patricia Regier is a learner-centered, engaging facilitator and innovative instructional designer with over 20 years of experience in adult education and digital learning. As the founder of Regier Education Inc., she specializes in creating inclusive, accessible, and impactful asynchronous learning experiences that integrate Universal Design for Learning (UDL), AI, and adaptive learning strategies. Patricia designs accessible, neurodiversity-informed learning experiences, with cross-sector experience in workplace learning. She holds a Master of Education in Adult Education and multiple certifications in agile instructional design, accessibility, and learning effectiveness. Patricia is the author of The Online Shift: 101 Pro Tips for Facilitators, Workplace Trainers & Speakers and the creator of a YouTube channel with over 945,892 views, where she shares insights on inclusive design, technology integration, and virtual facilitation. Her mission is to design learning that connects, empowers, and drives performance—turning content into meaningful, engaging learning experiences that aren't boring.

Farhad Mordechai Sabeti - Mordy has 15+ years of experience across corporate learning, secondary education, and the non-profit sector. His formal training is a mix of educational leadership and business management, with an MEd in tech-enabled learning from York University and an MBA with a focus on organizational development from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Mordy is also Rotman-certified executive coach, and an avid learner of all things digital.   
 

At KPMG Canada, Mordy serves as Director, Digital Learning, responsible for the National Learning and Development Centre of Excellence. Mordy cares about creating space for the experiences, engagements, and systems that help people develop the skills and insights that they need to do their best at work. As a professional, he is working hard to cope with a bad case of early adopter syndrome and a beginner mindset that just won’t quit.

Richard Schafer is an experienced project and program management professional who brings a strong focus on collaboration, facilitation, and partnership. With a track record of aligning diverse stakeholders around shared goals, Richard excels at turning complex challenges into integrated, practical solutions. He is passionate about idea generation and believes that the best results come from co-creating with others, whether it’s with internal teams or external partners. His work is grounded in building trust, exploring multifaceted approaches, and driving outcomes that meet real needs.

Maryam is the Director of Learning and Performance at Studio7 Communications, a leading training and performance agency based in Quebec. She has devoted her career to advocating for employee performance improvement, rather than just creating training modules that are not rooted in knowledge, skills, or attitude gaps. With a robust foundation in education and technology, she combines her expertise of two decades to align learning strategies with performance and business objectives to help clients achieve higher ROI. Committed to continuous professional development, she actively participates in conferences and webinars, staying abreast of the latest advancements in instructional design and performance consulting. 

Solly Solaiman, M.Eng., PMP is a seasoned professional with over 27 years of experience in training, project management, and engineering. Currently serving as a Senior Training Technologist at Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Solly is known for his results-driven approach, quality focus, passion for training and performance enhancement utilizing his experience and effective collaborations with stakeholders. His strategic, systematic, and creative thinking has led to significant contributions in various roles, including Sr. Training Technologist, Licensing Section Manager, and Project Management Training Section Manager. Solly holds a Master's degree in Engineering from Carleton University and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). He has been recognized with multiple awards, including the "Power of You" for excellence in teaching and mentoring. Solly is also an accomplished guest speaker and has starred in CBC TV's "Anything But Average." His expertise in developing and delivering high-impact training programs has benefited over 1500 clients.

Fiona Sookhai, CPA, CA, PhD is a talent management leader based in Toronto. She is known for helping leaders navigate complex transformation by aligning business strategy, culture and talent to drive sustainable growth. With a background that bridges finance, scientific research, change management, and human development, Fiona brings a unique blend of analytical rigor, innovation, and human insight to her work. She is passionate about developing empathetic, resilient, and high-performing leaders who can thrive and lead others through change.

Derek Spooner, M.A., is a skilled non-profit and association executive with an extensive background in organizational leadership, governance, project and event management, fund development, arts and cultural administration, operations, communications, programming, and advocacy.

Prior to joining Managing Matters, Derek served for 7 years as the Executive Director at Scarborough Arts, one of Toronto's six Local Arts Service Organizations (LASOs) bringing arts and cultural programs, services and advocacy to communities outside the downtown core. Derek has built dynamic, profitable fundraising teams throughout his career, including $21.8M in fulfilled gifts between 2011 – 2025 for various organizations/sectors including arts and culture, music, music therapy, theatres, film festivals, community arts initiatives, public art, international development organizations, aquariums and science centres, hospitals and healthcare centres, and real estate associations, among others.  

With a passion for learning and personal growth, Derek is passionate about continuing education, career mentorship, and fostering cohesive and productive team dynamics. Derek remains involved in arts and cultural initiatives and continues to advocate for artists and creative projects across the GTA. 

Karen Ta has a passion for helping those who feel invisible to become visible, so they can break through doors and ceilings.  While she is best known for her role in leading a Women in Leadership program at PwC Canada, she is looking to expand her reach and coach people of colour who face similar workplace challenges.  She brings a unique skillset with her active listening skills as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC), critical thinking skills as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), and creative problem-solving skills as a Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP).  Karen is also proud to announce that she is a published author; contributing to the book "Dynamic Women: Leadership Secrets".

Daniel Thomas is Director of Leadership Development at CPP Investments, where he leads the enterprise strategy and portfolio of programs designed to build leaders at every level. He focuses on translating strategy into scalable, evidence-based learning experiences that strengthen leadership capability and drive measurable impact across the organization.

Daniel is dedicated to developing practical and sustainable systems for leadership growth, enabling leaders to navigate complexities, accelerate their readiness, and lead with clarity and confidence. His approach integrates research-based insights with a deep understanding of how people learn, change, and perform in high-stakes environments.

He holds a Master of Education in Adult Learning and Global Change from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from York University.

Heather Tomlinson has multiple years of experience in the nuclear power industry as an operator and manager.

With over 20 years of experience working with organizations to design and deliver learning & development strategies, Janine has a proven expertise in consulting, relationship management, talent management and learning and development.
She is a strategic thinker and collaborative problem-solver, balancing business needs with enterprise direction. Janine effectively manages competing priorities across multiple stakeholders and ensures the right groups are involved in planning, research, and solution development. Her goal is to create solutions that drive business results.
Janine currently serves as Director, Talent Development at CIBC, providing strategic leadership and consultation to business leaders in the following Strategic Business Units: Capital Markets, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management.
Key Successes:
Led the team in designing and delivering a learning solution to support the implementation of the CIBC Goal Planner tool for 2,200 Financial Advisors. This initiative reported an ROI of over $4 billion in assets raised from outside CIBC and earned two Brandon Hall Group HCM Excellence Awards:
Gold: Best Unique or Innovative Learning and Development Program
Silver: Best Learning Program Supporting a Change Transformation Business Strategy
Drove revenue and business performance by increasing close ratios for new clients and expanding business with existing clients through a unique training solution for Capital Markets. This program won the Brandon Hall Silver Medal for Best Unique Learning and Development Program.
Demonstrated commitment to CIBC by volunteering at charity events, including serving as “Field of Play Crew” for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games and as an executive member of the CIBC Run for the Cure (Mississauga location).
Janine holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, is an accredited Performance Consultant, and a Certified Change Management Practitioner.

With over 25 years of experience with Eagle's Flight, Sue has a proven track record in collaborating with organizations to develop strategy and support tactical efforts in creating high performing, innovative and engaged cultures. Sue is the executive owner of several ongoing culture transformations with large North American and global companies.  Her vast senior leadership experience has established her as a trusted parnter and OD expert for numerous Fortune 500 companies.  She is a skilled facilitator and has personally led highly interactive and engaging sessions ranging in size from 10 to 1000 participants.   Sue's passion for mentoring and coaching is an integral component of both her work and personal life.  She is a mentor in the Rhyze Ventures program for Women Entrepreneurs and an advisor for the Grove, Youth Wellness Clubs Ontario helping created the EDI Reconcilliation Framework.  Sue enjoys a very active lifestyle and loves to compete.

Danielle Wallace and her team at Beyond the Sky: Custom Learning specialize in truly effective learning solutions. As the chief learning strategist, Danielle brings strategic marketing principles she learned from her previous leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo into the world of learning and development. Danielle is a sought-after speaker at global conferences, and her thought leadership is frequently featured in industry magazines and publications. Her podcast "You in 2042: The Future of Work," is available on all podcast platforms. Additionally, her AI+L&D Community of Practice can be found at www.beyondthesky.ca.

Senior Manager, Learning Solutions - KPMG in Canada

A trusted learning advisor and strategic business partner, Nathan has extensive experience driving organizational transformation of culture and employee development, innovating, and delivering impact across ecosystems and against business priorities.

As a Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP), chartered in management and human capital development, Nathan applies a business lens to people performance solutions.  He is the architect of a market-leading, tech-focused, rapid upskilling micro-credential program at the postgraduate level, co-created in partnership between one of Canada’s leading professional services firms and the country’s top-ranked university for innovation.  He continues to be a trailblazer in work-integrated learning at the intersection of industry and higher education.

Appointed as a Fellow of the International Society for Design and Development in Education (ISDDE) in recognition of distinguished contributions to the art and science of educational design and development, Nathan's current research interest focuses on the exploration of mediators (such as structures, standards, and processes) of human capital development in private sector organizations.

Dr. David Weiss is President of Weiss International Ltd., a firm specializing in Innovation, Leadership, and HR Consulting. David was honoured as the first "fellow" of I4PL (when it was CSTD) and he is a lifetime "Fellow" of HRPA. David has written seven books, including the bestselling books: Innovative Intelligence, The Leadership Gap, and Leadership-Driven HR and has written 60 articles that are available as free downloads at www.weissinternational.ca . David is a Ph.D. Organizational Psychologist, a Certified PCC Coach with the International Coaching Federation, and Affiliate Faculty at Schulich and St. Mary's University. Previously, he was the Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer of Knightsbridge, an Affiliate Professor at the Rotman , and a Senior Research Fellow at Queen's University. Follow David's daily LinkedIn posts at https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidweiss along with his over 165,000 followers, and read a comprehensive article about David’s professional life and innovative concepts on Wikipedia at www.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Solomon_Weiss.

Tricia Williams, PhD, is Director of Research, Evaluation & Knowledge Mobilization at the Future Skills Centre, where she leads a portfolio of applied research and innovation projects focused on building a more inclusive and adaptable workforce in Canada. With over two decades of experience spanning academia, government, and the non-profit sector, she has developed deep expertise in skills development, labour market policy, and the future of work.

Her work bridges research and practice, shaping policy and program design to better align education and training with the evolving needs of workers and employers. She has published widely on workforce innovation, equity in employment, and the role of technology in reshaping work.

Tricia holds a Bachelor’s degree and two Master’s degrees in Sociology and Development Economics, as well as a PhD in Sociology and Anthropology. She is a sought-after advisor and speaker on skills and workforce development, bringing a practical, evidence-based perspective to conversations about economic change and social impact.

"We have a tremendous opportunity to create a more inclusive future that benefits diverse groups and people across Canada. I’m excited to join the Future Skills Centre and its partners in addressing the critical challenge before us. Through strategic inquiry into our ecosystem’s needs and priorities, robust evidence and concerted learning and dialogue, I believe we can create a more inclusive and prosperous economy that reflects our boldest hopes and visions of Canada."

Tricia is available for interviews with members of the media. She is an expert in:

• Future of work
• Skills development
• Employment & labour markets
• International development
• Research and knowledge mobilization
• Public policy
• Program evaluation
• Economic development 

She is a Global HR Executive & CHRO, with over 30 years of experience in corporate and organizational human resources strategy, board, and business strategy. Ingrid has pursued excellence in human resources, board, and leadership strategy through the CHRP and CHRL designation, and through programs at Queens University and the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. Ingrid also currently serves as Vice Chair of the Appeals Regulatory Committee, Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) and as a member on the HRPA Speaker Bureau. She also holds several IDEA certifications in areas such as leading for equity and inclusion, anti-racism and accessibility inclusion and holds the Inclusive and Ethical Leadership certification. She serves on non-for-profit, community and advisory boards and committees, including as Project Lead, The LINC Bust Project;  Board Member and Vice Chair, Humber River Health; Board Member and Vice Chair, AIDS Committee of Toronto; Community Member, Region of Peel, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism Committee (DEAR); Board Member, Governance and Audit at the Canadian Association of Black Insurance Professionals (CABIP); Founding Advisory Committee Member, System-3 Inc., Advisor, Governance and Human Resources Committee, Black Opportunity Fund (BOF),  C-Suite Mentor and HR Advisor, Black Mentorship Inc., and has previously served as Board Chair and Vice Chair on other non-for-profit boards. Ingrid is a recipient of the Top 25 DEI Person of the Year Award, 2021, The Canadian Multicultural Group and LINKEDIN DIRECTORY OF 1000+ WOMEN WHO INSPIRE THROUGH THEIR WORK, July 2022, TOP 100 HR Professionals, National Diversity Awards 2023, Black Mentorship Inc. Female Mentor of the Year 2024, Women Leaders in Insurance in Canada, Elite Women, 2024, Finalist, 2024 Women Changing the World Awards, co-author Flourish: A Workbook for Social Innovators and Winner, 2024 Women Changing the World Americas Awards in the category of Woman in Corporate & Public Sector.

Dr. Andrew Woods is the founder of Ask Us Consulting. He has delivered soft skills workshops to organizations and individuals in 22 countries on four continents.

Andrew has served as an Adjunct Professor at the Asian campus of EMLYON Business School in Shanghai, China, a globally recognized and triple-accredited business school. He currently teaches on the MBA program at University Canada West, where he continues to inspire and motivate future business leaders with soft-skills training, insights and experience. 

A trained chef, Andrew lives in Vancouver, Canada. He has travelled throughout the world and has a love of food, travel and culture.