Nura Askar is a senior Human Resources and Learning & Development leader with extensive experience in talent management, leadership development, organizational transformation, and employee growth. She currently serves as National Director, Learning & Development for Intact’s Claims business, leading learning strategy and transformation for a large national workforce. Prior to joining Intact, she served as Vice President, Human Resources of Canada at Cogeco and as Global Director, Learning & Development at Hatch. Passionate about connecting people, technology, and business strategy, Nura leads transformative learning initiatives that unlock performance, help people thrive, and enable organizations to achieve lasting impact.
Loren Blandon is a behavioral scientist, People & HR executive, and one of the leading voices on the future of work. With 18+ years of global leadership across tech, healthcare, FMCG, and creative industries, Loren has led award-winning workforce transformation efforts at scale. Known for her distinct lens that blends technology, culture, and human behavior, Loren is a sought-after speaker and podcast guest, followed by thousands across social media. She advises organizations globally and sits on advisory boards shaping the future of AI, leadership, and work design.
Manuelita Cherizard is a passionate advocate for human development and growth. This personal mission is driven by a deep knowledge of how to align talent with organizational objectives, as well as keen personal insight. She has learned first-hand how appropriate support can impact professional achievement. Throughout her varied career, she has made mentoring and development a top priority.
Manuelita has the ability to drive change and build relationships with her expertise extending to board committees, where she contributes insights to HR, governance, and nominations. Manuelita is a solutions-oriented leader dedicated to enhancing organizational success through thoughtful HR practices.
Manuelita has guided human resources efforts in private, public, not for-profit, and crown corporations having both unionized and non-unionized employees. She is currently the Chief Human Resources Officer at the Royal Ontario Museum, one of Canada’s pre-eminent cultural institutions. She has also led HR at Groupe Média TFO, the CBC's English Services, and held roles of increasing responsibility in Human Resources at various financial services institutions.
A life-long learner, Manuelita earned her MBA at Concordia University in Montreal, after obtaining a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). She is fluent in French and English, and has a working knowledge of Spanish.
Manuelita’s commitment to helping others to develop their potential has led her to volunteer her time as an active and committed board member for organizations dedicated to helping under-employed and marginalized individuals improve their lives.
Katie Duarte is on a mission to improve feedback at work by challenging traditional approaches. With a masters degree in Organizational Psychology and a research background in feedback dynamics, she brings insights to help organizations make impactful improvements to feedback by considering the parts that both the giver and the receiver play. Taking a systems approach to her work, Katie also holds two professional designations: one in training and development, and one in organization development, acknowledging that truly effective feedback requires a cooperative effort between the environment (processes, policies, and procedures), the feedback giver, and the feedback receiver.
Christina is a Learning and Talent Development leader who has developed and implemented impactful learning programs across a wide variety of industries over the last 25 years – including security services, banking, insurance, government, regulatory bodies and non-profit organizations. She credits curiosity, learning agility and a lifelong learner mindset to her ability to adapt and grow within rapidly changing environments. Outside of her corporate work, she can be found exploring Toronto’s comedy clubs, on hiking trails with her dog Freya, and downhill skiing in the winter. She will share her perspective on how to keep up with today’s rapid changes related to crucial skills that organizations and employees need to succeed.
Paulette S. Haynes is the Founder and Managing Officer of Haynes Law Firm, a Toronto-based boutique law firm that provides professional, personable, and highquality legal services to both employee and employee clients in a wide array of employment law matters.
Paulette has appeared before all level of courts in Ontario, the Federal Court of Canada, the Tax Court of Canada and various administrative tribunals. She has presented at numerous industry conferences and seminars. She is the author of Human Resources Guide to Non-Standard Employment (Second Edition) published by Thomson Reuters Canada. For many years, Paulette taught the Employment and Labour Law course at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) and is an Adjunct Legal Studies Professor at Seneca Polytechnic.
Paulette is a roster mediator on the Community Mediation Centre’s Civil Panel, the National Bar Association’s Certified Mediator Panel, and she serves as a Court Neutral (Mediator- General Civil) for the 8th Judicial District in New York. She is a general panel arbitrator at Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and an adjudicator at the Administrative Panel Tribunal (APT).
Paulette graduated with distinction from the University of Ottawa where she received a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Political Science. She obtained her Bachelor of Laws Degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1994.
Paulette has served on the board of the Organization of Women in International Trade and is a former member of the Canadian Association of Women Executives & Entrepreneurs and the Women’s Law Association of Ontario, to name a few. She is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the National Bar Association.
Daniel is a human resources strategy expert with over 25 years of international consulting experience across all continents. He specializes in total rewards, talent strategy, and organizational and workforce transformation.
As a thought leader in geopolitics, artificial intelligence, and HR transformation, he analyzes how global dynamics are reshaping workforce strategy. Daniel has also co-authored many publications on people sustainability, skills-based organizations and other key topics.
A strategic talent and community builder, Anu Joshi is Director of Talent at FutureSight Ventures, which co-founds and funds B2B AI ventures. At the core of her role, she builds FutureSight's network of CEOs, CTOs and repeat entrepreneurs who join as co-founders of the new ventures. She also leads talent strategy across the portfolio, partnering with founders and partners to help new ventures build strong teams from day one.
Prior to FutureSight, Anu led talent acquisition at high-growth technology companies such as VTS and Nest Wealth. At VTS, she headed Technology, Product and Design hiring across North America during a period of rapid growth and led the company's inclusion and diversity hiring initiatives. She has also held talent leadership roles at Accenture, Radiant Digital and Finwizard Technology, building hiring functions, leading recruiting teams, and supporting workforce planning in Canada, the United States, India and Europe. Her work has spanned industries such as Venture Capital, FinTech, PropTech, AR/VR, HealthCare, Consulting and Financial Services. Anu holds an MBA in Human Resources Management with a gold medal for academic excellence.
Nupur Khandelwal is a dynamic speaker, thought leader, DEI Practitioner and an experienced Human Resources professional. Nupur is a recognized learning leader and possesses over 15 years of experience in organizational development, people management, training and development. She helps people and organizations deliver human-centric programs. At the LCBO, Nupur is the Senior Director of Talent Management and DEI where she leads enterprise-wide learning, DEI, talent and performance initiatives to enhance the employee experience. Nupur is the co-founder of SheRocks! – a social enterprise committed to empowering women through confidence building programs. She is especially passionate about enhancing the experiences of newcomers to Canada, youth and women from vulnerable communities. As a certified trainer with the Heartfulness Program for Schools, Nupur delivers wellness sessions to students and educators grounded in heart-based relaxation, positivity and developing growth mindset. Nupur has been praised for her authenticity, effective communication style and impactful programs. She has delivered leadership programs for individual contributors, leaders new to their role and executives. She has served as a board member with Human Resources Professionals of Ontario – Toronto Chapter and actively volunteers as a mentor with the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC). Nupur is a Diversity Council member for the Women’s Executive Network and is a member with the DEI Board. With a Bachelors of Human Resources Management degree, Nupur holds the Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation from the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario. She has completed her Master’s of Education degree with focus on Adult Education and Community Development from University of Toronto.
Cindy Khimji is Executive Director, Human Resources at OntarioMD (OMD), where she provides strategic leadership for the organization’s people, culture, and organizational effectiveness agenda. Since joining OMD in 2015, Cindy has played a key role in shaping a high-performing, inclusive, and values-driven workplace that supports organizational growth, innovation, and evolving business priorities.
As a trusted advisor to senior leadership, Cindy leads all aspects of human resources, including workforce strategy and planning, organizational design, talent acquisition, leadership and employee development, performance management, total rewards, employee engagement, and workplace culture. She is recognized for her ability to translate organizational priorities into practical, forward-thinking people strategies that build organizational capability, strengthen culture, drive performance, and enhance the employee experience.
With more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, Cindy brings extensive expertise in aligning people and organizational strategies with broader business objectives. Her approach combines deep human resources expertise with a strong understanding of business strategy, enabling her to balance the needs of employees with the evolving priorities of the organization and position HR as a strategic partner in achieving long-term success.
Cindy holds an MBAfrom the Schulich School of Business, which complements her HR leadership experience and brings a broad business and strategic perspective to her role. Her leadership approach is grounded in the belief that strong organizations are built through capable leaders, engaged employees, thoughtful people practices, and a culture where individuals are empowered to contribute and perform at their best.
Erin Kuzz is a seasoned employment lawyer and workplace strategist renowned for her expertise in navigating the complexities of labour and employment law and fostering productive and compliance-oriented work environments. With more than two decades of experience, Erin has established herself as a trusted advisor to organizations of all sizes, providing tailored legal solutions and strategic guidance to address a wide range of employment-related challenges.
Erin's commitment to professional excellence and her contributions to the fields of labour employment law have garnered recognition from her peers and industry organizations alike, including as one of Canada's leading employment and labour lawyers by Lexpert®, Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers®, Chambers Global®, Who’s Who Legal® (Global Elite Thought Leader & Most Highly Regarded), and Best Lawyers®. She is also a Fellow of the prestigious College of Labor and Employment Lawyers®. Erin sits as a member, representing employers, of the Labour-Management Advisory Committee, advising Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
Sherrard Kuzz LLP’s dedicated team of legal professionals is committed to delivering exceptional counsel and advocacy to employers across various industries. The firm's client-centric approach, and unwavering dedication to achieving favourable outcomes, have earned it, and Erin, a reputation for excellence and integrity within the legal community.
Margot Lackenbauer is Chief Human Resources Officer at BDO Canada, where she leads the firm’s national people strategy for nearly 5,000 partners and staff. With more than 20 years of HR leadership experience across multiple industries, Margot brings a practical, business-focused approach to aligning people strategy with organizational priorities.
Throughout her career, Margot has led significant business and talent transformations, helping organizations build the leadership and workforce capabilities needed to support growth and evolving business needs. She is particularly interested in how AI is reshaping work and the implications for people, organizations and the role of HR. Margot also serves on the Board of Directors of The Stop Community Food Centre, a Toronto-based organization that uses food as a catalyst to build community, advance equity and create pathways to belonging.
Katya Laviolette is Chief People Officer at 1Password and currently serves as a Board Director and Commmittee Chair with both Sanimax and Solotech. She also serves on the Human Resources Committee of the McGill University Board of Governors and previously served for many years on the Board of Pour 3 Points.
Over a 30+ year career, Katya has held senior executive and people leadership roles at SSENSE, TC Transcontinental, CBC/Radio-Canada, Rio Tinto, Bombardier and CN. She brings a distinctly Canadian and global perspective to building high-performing organizations, leading culture change, and navigating complex environments involving boards, investors, founders, families and global teams. Her expertise includes executive and board governance, succession, rewards, M&A and organizational effectiveness. Bilingual in English and French, Katya is also active in mentoring women leaders and supporting the next generation of Canadian talent.
Lola Obomighie is a healthcare executive and Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE) with the HRPA. With over 20 years of international leadership experience across healthcare, higher education, and the public and not-for-profit sectors in England and Canada, she currently serves as Vice President, People, Culture & Organizational Effectiveness at Northumberland Hills Hospital.
A strategic and values-driven leader, Lola is recognized for advancing workforce transformation, organizational effectiveness, equity, diversity and inclusion, and people-centred cultures that support engagement, well-being, and sustainable performance. She is passionate about HR metrics, evidence-informed decision-making, and cultivating inclusive workplace cultures that align people strategies with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability. She is also known for her collaborative leadership style and systems-thinking approach.
Lola holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics and Statistics, an MSc in Human Resources Management, and has completed the Rotman Global Executive MBA in Healthcare and the Life Sciences (GEMBA-HLS). She is also a Certified Health Executive (CHE), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), and Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), UK.
Executive Advisor, Author, & Sr. Director of Technology
Lowes
About Dr. Kalifa Oliver
Dr. Kalifa Oliver is a global HR industry expert and award winning Employee Experience (EX) strategist, distinguished scholar, author and a luminary in the intersection of academia, business, and innovation. Focused on creating brilliant employee experiences based on data analytics, people-centered design, and customer experience philosophy. Her groundbreaking research, talks, and published works have not only expanded the boundaries of knowledge but also inspires a new generation of leaders. Dr. Oliver’s unique ability to articulate complex ideas and tell stories with clarity and enthusiasm transcends traditional academic confines, making her a sought-after voice in both expert circles and with broader corporate leadership and executive audiences.
Dr. Oliver is the author of I Think I Love My Job: Secrets to Designing a People-Centered Employer Value Proposition (That You Can Actually Boast About) a must read book for professionals and executives connected to the HR space.
Glenda Oldenburg is a Senior Director in WTW’s Work & Rewards practice in Toronto, bringing more than 25 years of experience across consulting and senior corporate HR roles. She helps organizations design strategic, practical and people-focused rewards programs, with expertise in compensation design, job architecture, pay transparency and integrated total rewards.
Kim Oliver is a Managing Director and Toronto Work & Rewards Practice Leader at WTW, with more than 20 years of consulting experience advising senior leaders and Boards on total rewards strategy, compensation, incentive design and governance. She works with organizations across a range of industries to translate complex rewards issues into practical, data-informed advice that supports business goals and the employee experience.
Simone Ostrowski is a Partner at Whitten & Lublin and practices exclusively in employment and labour law. She advises and represents both employers and employees in unionized and non-unionized workplace matters.
Simone’s practice includes wrongful and constructive dismissal claims, employment agreements, executive compensation, workplace investigations, human rights and harassment matters, occupational health and safety issues, accommodations, workplace policies and compliance, grievance arbitrations, unfair labour practice allegations, and other labour relations disputes.
A graduate of Queen’s University Faculty of Law (2013), Simone is an experienced litigator known for her thoughtful advocacy, practical advice, and strategic approach to resolving workplace disputes. She has a particular interest in human rights law and has spoken on panels addressing human rights issues in the workplace. She has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario, as well as at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Tribunal.
Award winning, transformational leader, and culture-building executive with experience supporting executive teams and leaders in navigating complexity, strengthening performance, and enhancing leadership effectiveness. She works at the intersection of business performance, leadership, and boardroom dynamics; helping organizations align strategy, people, and execution.
With a background as a senior enterprise leader, Janine brings practical insight into executive decision-making, transformation, and stakeholder management. She is a trusted partner to leaders operating in global, highly regulated environments and is particularly effective in supporting leaders through periods of transformation, organizational change, and increased complexity and growth.
As an executive coach and facilitator, Janine works with senior leaders and leadership teams to strengthen self-awareness, decision-making, and leadership presence. She creates focused, high-trust environments where clients can challenge assumptions, think strategically, and translate insight into action.
Clients (domestic and international) value Janine for her clarity, sound judgment, and ability to quickly focus on what matters most, enabling leaders with alignment, confidence, and impact.
Ric Phillips, MBA is an executive communication coach & corporate trainer helping leaders and teams communicate with simplicity, empathy and confidence. He shares his “3 Vs of Communication” holistic system to align verbal, vocal and visual communications.
Ric is an author, a Global Guru Top 30 Communication Professional since 2022, and a frequent conference speaker, including TEDx. His background includes sociology, psychology, NLP, body language analysis, teaching ESL and training entrepreneurs globally. Though located in Toronto he has conducted training from NYC to Paris, Moscow to Tel Aviv, Oxford to Yerevan and more.
Director Leadership Learning and Development-Global
DECIEM
About Mary Prioriello
Mary Prioriello isa Global L&D Leader and key note speaker with over two decades of experience transforming learning strategy across high-scale industries, including Telecom, Mining, Finance, Retail, and Education. Built on a foundation of deep listening and cross-industry insight. Mary is driven by curiosity and measurable outcomes, bridging the gap between human potential and organizational growth.
An experienced business executive, HR professional, and leader with 25+ years’ experience in business development, operations, human resource management, and executive coaching. Lee-Ann has a broad and diverse background in Retail, Telecommunications, Print Media, Broadcast, Post-Production, Health Services, and Travel industries with experience working in both large corporations and small entrepreneurial businesses.
Lee-Ann is a proven facilitator, process engineer, and strategic planner recognized for her award-winning training and development Marketing, Health & Safety, and Operations Development programs. Lee-Ann’s passion for creating amazing workplaces is anchored in her belief that when companies care about and invest in their people, they thrive and achieve great things together. Her energy, creativity and solution-based problem solving are inspirational, contagious and foundational to success.
On a personal note, Lee-Ann was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada where she raised her 3 now adult children with her husband and partner of over 30 years.
Jessica Rodrigues is the National Director, Client Services at iA Financial Group. Based in Toronto, she leads the national service strategy for Group Benefits and Group Retirement Services across Canada.
With 17 years of experience at iA, Jessica is passionate about helping employers deliver benefits and retirement programs that reflect the evolving needs of their workforce. Throughout her career, she has focused on enhancing the client experience and helping organizations strengthen their benefits and retirement programs.
Jessica works closely with employers, advisors, and consultants across the industry to develop strategies and solutions that enhance group programs, strengthen employee engagement, and support overall financial wellbeing.
As financial pressures continue to affect Canadians at every stage of life, she provides valuable insights on how employers can leverage benefits, retirement programs, and education to help employees build financial confidence and improve retirement readiness. Through a relationship-focused approach, she is committed to helping organizations create positive outcomes for both employees and their businesses
Over the course of her career, Tammy has worked in various HR leadership roles with known industry leaders like TELUS, Grand & Toy, OfficeMax, OpenText. She currently leads an HR function as an CHRO at Edgewood Health Network Inc. Tammy holds board positions at several non-for-profit community organizations and is currently serving as a President of one of Ontario’s oldest Figure Skating Club, WFSC and as a chair of the HRPA Central East Chapter. Tammy is a graduate of University of Toronto with honors, currently holds SHRM, CHRP and CHRL, CHRE designations. She holds an active certification by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing in Adult Mental Health First Aid USA and has recently completed a Labour Law program at York University – Osgoode Hall Law School and specialization program with Harvard Business School.
She holds an MBA from Schulich School of Business where she teaches graduate-level courses in Change Management. She has also led complex, multi-million dollar transformations at TD, RBC and Ontario Teachers Pension Plan. Across those initiatives, she saw capable leaders entrusted with large-scale change but not equipped to deliver it well. The result was change that cost more, took longer and wore teams down. It is that observation that led her to launch Changely, a change leadership academy focused on helping leaders build the confidence and capability to deliver organizational change.
Employment, Labour & Human Rights Lawyer, Workplace Investigator, Founder
Progressive Barristers
About Shibil Siddiqi
Shibil Siddiqi is an experienced employment and human rights lawyer and workplace investigator. He advises employers, employees, and non-profit organizations on complex workplace issues, including discrimination and accommodation, harassment, policy development, and workplace conflict.
Shibil represents clients before courts and labour and human rights tribunals and conducts independent investigations into sensitive workplace complaints. He is a frequent speaker at professional development conferences and serves on the Law Society of Ontario’s Equity Advisory Group.
Shibil holds an LL.B. from the University of Warwick and an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law from the University of Toronto.
As a seasoned strategic people and talent advisor passionate about driving and delivering change, Krista Skalde joined Inovia Capital in April 2021, responsible for the design and implementation of talent management, organizational effectiveness solutions, and market-aligned HR practices to drive business performance, both internally within Inovia and with Inovia’s Portfolio Companies. Prior to Inovia, Krista was with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, leading human capital due diligence in portfolio company acquisitions, and value creation deliverables. She has held different roles in organizational and leadership development, as well as working as an independent consultant, in different geographies around the world. Her work has spanned industries such as Investment Management, Corporate Hospitality, Insurance, Banking/Finance, Technology, Transport, Automotive/Aeronautical, and Pharmaceutical.
Karen Ta is passionate about helping people who feel invisible become visible so they can unlock opportunities and achieve their full potential. Since joining PwC in 2005, her career has taken her from tax to learning and development, where she found her passion for nurturing talent, developing future leaders, and creating meaningful learning experiences. She has worked across Canada and globally, partnering with leaders and teams to help people grow, adapt, and succeed in a rapidly changing world. Karen brings a unique skillset: active listening as an Associate Certified Coach, critical thinking as a Chartered Professional Accountant, and creative problem solving as a Certified Training and Development Professional.
Daniel Wong is Chair of the Employment & Labour Practice Group at WeirFoulds LLP. A trusted advisor to employers, Daniel is known for delivering practical, strategic, and business-focused counsel on complex workplace issues. His practice spans all aspects of employment and labour relations, including executive compensation, hiring and terminations, workplace investigations, human rights matters, employment standards compliance, employee privacy, and workplace policy development. Daniel regularly represents employers before courts, tribunals, and labour arbitrators in matters involving wrongful dismissal claims, occupational health and safety investigations, workers’ compensation appeals, and unionized workplace disputes. Drawing on experience in private practice and as in-house Employment Counsel and Privacy Manager for a national restaurant chain, Daniel brings a unique understanding of the operational and legal challenges facing employers.
Casey Woods is an adaptable HR leader and talent strategist with a career spanning early-stage startups to world-renowned global tech giants. Beginning in the startup ecosystem, Casey managed the end-to-end employee lifecycle at Joist before scaling up as the Talent Acquisition Lead at Tulip, where she built the recruitment strategy and led the team through 100% headcount growth during their Series B stage.
Casey has dramatically expanded her footprint by moving to globally recognized brands, driving strategic talent management for Amazon's Worldwide Operations before transitioning to partner with Amazon Ads during a pivotal moment of AI creation. Today, Casey finds her ideal balance at Lyft. Serving as both the Head of HR for the Toronto region and the HR Partner to Executive Vice Presidents across Marketing, Business, and Ads, she bridges operational scale with strategic executive partnership to shape organizational health and culture.
Martine Lamoureux is a seasoned Human Resources executive with more than 20 years of experience leading people strategies in the retail industry. Currently leading Human Resources, Payroll, and Internal Communications at Ardene, she oversees the full employee experience, helping shape the strategies, systems, and cultures that enable both people and businesses to thrive. Prior to Ardene, Martine built her career with H&M, where she held progressive HR leadership roles supporting large and dynamic retail teams. Her expertise spans talent strategy, leadership development, culture, employee experience, communications, and organizational transformation. Passionate about the future of work, Martine believes the most important business decisions are ultimately people decisions. Her perspective is shaped by two decades of experience leading through growth, transformation, technological change, and shifting workforce expectations.
Margot leads Human Resources at CANNEX, where she drives the people strategy to support long-term growth and business continuity. She brings experience in shaping and scaling company culture, employee development, and talent strategies within technology organizations.
Previously, she was VP of People & Operations at Perpetua, a global SaaS company, where she supported international expansion across seven countries and helped guide the organization through two major acquisitions. She began her career in advertising, specializing in media planning and strategy, and later served as a Camp Director for one of Ontario’s leading summer camps, experiences that shaped her eventual transition into People leadership.
Margot is a certified Executive and Leadership Coach and holds a BA from the University of Western Ontario. She serves on the Board of Directors of JVS Toronto and is a mentor for The Rosie Mentorship Project.
Diondra Filicetti is the founder of Driven By... Co., a Mississauga-based learning and development company, and a communication expert, two-time TEDx speaker, and Amazon #1 bestselling author of Engagement Economics. She turns the psychology of engagement and communication into measurable results, giving leaders practical tools to communicate with clarity, change how their people show up, and keep them engaged for the long run. A 2024 Mississauga Board of Trade Excellence Award recipient, Diondra has worked with organizations including the Sheridan College, Dynacare, and Peel District School Board.
Agatha Suszek is a lawyer at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. She advises public and private sector employers on a broad range of employment, labour, and human rights matters. She is a trusted advisor on day-to-day workplace issues, including employee relations, terminations, executive compensation, employment agreements, investigations, accommodation, workplace harassment, disciplinary matters, and privacy, among others. She also provides strategic counsel on governance, regulatory, and risk management matters, and has represented employers before courts, tribunals, labour boards, and arbitration.
Dario Kosarac is Managing Director, Head of Talent Operations & Rewards at CPP Investments. His responsibilities include compensation, benefits and pension, global mobility, payroll, HR technology, shared services, and equity, diversity and inclusion.
Since joining CPP Investments in 2015, Dario has held progressively broader leadership roles across rewards, talent analytics, HR business partnering and HR operations. He has helped build and evolve the organization’s global rewards capabilities and has advised senior leaders on talent strategy, organizational priorities and significant workforce decisions.
Prior to joining CPP Investments, Dario spent six years with Sun Life Financial in progressively senior Total Rewards roles, including leading Total Rewards for several Asian markets while based in Hong Kong. Earlier in his career, he was a compensation consultant with Willis Towers Watson in Philadelphia and Toronto, advising large North American and multinational organizations on compensation, job architecture and organizational effectiveness.
Dario holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from York University and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He hold the Certified Compensation Professional designation.
Edith Pencil, CHRL, CTMP is the Head of Employee Services at Performance Auto Group, where she leads the human resources function and people strategy for over 2,200 employees across 44 locations in Ontario. With 25 years of retail automotive experience, including over 12 years in HR leadership, Edith brings a practical, business-focused perspective to people strategy, talent management and organizational culture.
An award-winning automotive leader and sought-after speaker and moderator, Edith contributes to conversations on leadership, inclusion, talent and career development, and the evolving employee experience. She is a co-founder and Board Director of Accelerate Auto, Executive Sponsor of PAG’s Women Who Drive Performance network, and recipient of the inaugural Motor Vehicle Retailers of Ontario Women Driven Leadership Award.
Catia Goncalves is a forward-thinking talent acquisition executive with experience across some of Canada’s most recognized retail, financial services, and healthcare organizations. As Director of Talent Acquisition at Walmart Canada, she is helping transform how talent is attracted, assessed, and selected through technology, workforce insights, and inclusive hiring practices. Catia is passionate about building trusted talent strategies that create meaningful experiences for candidates, associates, and leaders.
Marc Belaiche (pronounced “BA-LAY-SH”) is the President of TorontoJobs.ca and Co-Founder of Guhuza, an innovative AI-driven staffing platform that is revolutionizing how companies hire and job seekers find their next great role.
Guhuza streamlines the recruitment process with live interview technology all built right into the platform, making it a comprehensive solution for hiring needs.
With 30 years of experience in the staffing industry, Marc is a recognized thought leader in talent acquisition. He is also the author of “Tales from the Recruiter – A Recruiter’s Perspective on How To Get That Perfect Job”, providing valuable insights for job seekers navigating the modern recruitment landscape.
Marc is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and has served on the Board of the Halton-Peel CPA Ontario Association. He was also a long-time member of the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), where he contributed to the advancement of HR practices and recruitment standards.
A seasoned speaker and media personality, Marc has delivered numerous presentations and appeared on radio and television, sharing his expertise on recruitment, online advertising, and e-commerce. His extensive experience in these fields positions him as a trusted authority on the future of staffing.
Tania DeSa is the CEO of Desa Global Leadership, a global leadership training and HR consulting firm that helps organizations build managers who deliver — reducing attrition, accelerating execution, and creating teams where people perform because they feel seen, heard, and valued every day.
Armed with an MBA, TEDx talk, and experience across 87+ countries, Tania has partnered with organizations including Google, Walmart, Intel, Samsung, Cigna, BMO, Capital One, American Express, and Yale. Known for her high-energy, interactive style, Tania equips audiences with practical tools they can apply immediately to strengthen trust, connection, ownership, and performance at work.
