Registration

Time to register, grab a coffee and croissant and start making new friends! 

Chair's Welcome Introduction

Welcome remarks by the chair 

Lydia Di Francesco, CEO and Workplace Wellness Specialist &

Businesswoman of the Year 2023

Fit + Healthy 365

Future-Proofing Leadership - Smart Moves to Grow and Keep Your Best People  

• Why does backing your top talent matter more than ever in today’s fast-moving market?
• What are today’s leaders really looking for? 

Steve Ashton, VP – People & Org. Development, IWK  

Terra Penrose, CHRO, Stelia Aerospace  

Don MacLean, Chief, Halifax Regional Police 

Robert Armstrong, Regional Dir. – HR Atlantic Region, Public Services & Procurement Canada 

Moderated by Jody Bayers, Director of HR Advisory, Royer Thompson

Relax and Unwind  

In just ten minutes, you’ll be guided through a calming mindfulness practice designed to help you recharge and refocus. This session will include gentle breathing exercises and a short meditation, allowing you to let go of stress and cultivate a sense of calm. Join Lydia Di Francesco to refresh your mind and enhance your conference experience!

Attracting and Retaining Foreign Workers in Atlantic Canada

• Strategies to attract and retain foreign workers 

Daniel Ohaegbu, Co-Founder, WorkSource Alliance 

Elizabeth Obeng Nkrumah, Health Services Lead, Nova Scotia Health

Kristen Shaw, HR Director, OSCO

Moderated by Olive Ozoemena, Director of Language and Labour Market Programs, ISANS  

 Morning Coffee and Networking Break

Stop. Pause. Start followed by Coffee and Refreshments Break   

Implementing a Holistic Approach to Employee Wellbeing 

• What is today’s workforce looking for in terms of benefits, flexible working and culture? 
• Adopting a wellness and benefits blueprint to attract talent  

Ryan Embrett,  SVP – People & Culture, NSLC  

Anna Marenick, VP – People & Culture and Belonging,  NS Health

Kelley Hiltz-Cameron, Director of People & Culture, Shannex  

Brittany Stein, Regional Director, Wellbeing & Safety at Horizon, Horizon Health  

Moderated by Theresa Rose, BDM, GreenShield

 Rapid Fire Session: Addressing Key Workplace Challenges

Join us for a dynamic rapid-fire session, where each topic will be covered in three slides and five minutes of focused discussion.    What is it?   How to Spot It   How to Combat It

Championing Workplace Menopause

Melanie Bower, Founder, FLOURISH

Combating Burnout

Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley, Founder & CEO, DLBA  

Tackling  Toxic Workplace Positivity

Gregory Anderson, Owner, Workplace Psychological Research

Networking Lunch Break

Embedding Accountability into Your DE&I Outcomes 

• What measures exist to hold leadership accountable for DEI outcomes?
• What impact does DEIB have on recruitment and retention? Is this quantifiable? 
• Unconscious bias – what is it and how does it fit into the puzzle? 

Amanda Seaman, Human Resources Leader - Tax, BDO Canada 

Susan Malana, Executive Director - HR Advisory, Sterling Brokers 

Tracey Jones-Grant, MD of D&I, Halifax Regional Municipality 

Moderated by April Howe, CEO, Crayon Strategies

Recognizing and Overcoming Systemic Racism in the Workplace  

Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard, Senator, Senate of Canada  

Relax and Unwind  

In just ten minutes, you’ll be guided through a calming mindfulness practice designed to help you recharge and refocus. This session will include gentle breathing exercises and a short meditation, allowing you to let go of stress and cultivate a sense of calm. Join Lydia Di Francesco to refresh your mind and enhance your conference experience!

Humanizing Artificial Intelligence for a More Efficient and Innovative Workplace 

Discover how AI and automation can alleviate work overload by optimizing HR processes, allowing your team to focus on strategic initiatives

Stephanie Kelley,  Assistant Professor Scotiabank Professor in Innovations in Business Technology, Saint Mary's University

Afternoon Refreshments Break

Please join ONE session from the following:

1. Building Resilience & Adaptability in Teams
2. Building Future Leaders: Aligning Talent Attraction, Retention and Development
3. Supporting Employee Mental Health 
4. Engaging Leadership to Promote Employee Health & Wellbeing
5. Strategies for Building Lasting Inclusion
6. Benefits, Perks and other Rewards During Times of Uncertainty
7. Financial Wellbeing as a Foundational Piece of Organizational Performance  
8. AI and HR – Strategies for Increasing Operational Efficiency

Building a People-First Culture to Drive Engagement and Retention 

• What does a people-centric workplace culture look like and why is it more important than ever before? 
• Identifying warning signs of attrition 

Colleen McCarville, VP of Human Resources, Killam REIT   

Chris Hattie, AVP - People & Culture, Mount Saint Vincent University 

Lynette Mitchell, Director, Pay Programs & Employee Experience, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Moderated by John Brown, Senior Account Executive, CareerBeacon  

Chair’s closing remarks 

Top take-aways from the day!

Lydia Di Francesco, CEO & Employee Wellness Specialist, Fit+ Healthy 360 

 Cocktail Reception  

 *Please note this session is available for human resources professionals from employers only