Program

Registration

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

Leading HR Through Change: Strategies for Resilient, Adaptive, High-Impact Teams

• How do leadership mindsets shape resilient, high-performing teams?
• How can HR embed agility into daily practices to navigate uncertainty?
• What strategies help build psychological safety within HR teams to drive trust and innovation?
• How can continuous learning strengthen adaptability?

Laura Godsoe, AVP Recruitment & Talent Management, Dalhousie University 

Kathryn English, VP – HR, Sysco 

Senior Representative, Emera 

Embedding Quantifiable Learning, Development and Succession Planning Strategies 

• The key forces shaping today’s learning ecosystems
• Understanding what your employees truly value to craft personalized learning journeys
• Strategies for fostering an inclusive, equitable learning culture
• Enabling employees to build the skills they - AND your organization - need for the future
• Now – let’s add it all up, how do we quantify the success? 

Rachelle Gagnon, Vice President – People and Culture, Champlain Seafood 

Health and Wellness Break  

Stretch, Relax, Recharge 

The Human–AI Partnership: Leveraging Technology to Empower Not Replace

• How can AI augment human capabilities in HR, from recruitment to talent management, without replacing critical human judgment?
• What ethical and practical considerations should HR leaders keep in mind when integrating AI into the workplace?
• How can organizations reskill and upskill employees to thrive alongside AI tools?
• How does AI help create more inclusive, efficient, and data-driven decisions while preserving human connection?

Morning Coffee and Networking Break

Time to refuel and continue networking!

Safe, Strong, and Accountable: Leadership Lessons From High-Stakes Workplaces

• Turning pressure into performance in high-stakes environments 
• Why are psychological injuries rising? 
• How are high-risk sectors managing stress & fatigue?
• Building cultures where people speak up 

Jennifer Campbell, CHRO, Atlantic Pilotage Authority 

Scott Nauss, Sr Ex. Director, Safety Branch, LSI, Government of Nova Scotia 

Kristen Shaw, Director - HR, OSCO Construction

Recipient of Newcomer Employment Champion Award 2024

Unlocking Potential: Lessons from a Newcomer’s Journey to Leadership

• What transformed the newcomer experience into a path toward leadership?
• How can workplaces and communities create the sense of belonging that allows newcomers not just to integrate, but to thrive and lead?
• What barriers did I face (seen and unseen), and what practical steps can  leaders take to remove these barriers for today’s newcomers?

Kassim Doumbia, Mayor, Shippagan, NB  

Choose 2 burning issues that are keeping you awake at night and join 2  employer-only roundtable to discuss practical solutions & strategies for overcoming challenges & capitalizing on opportunities:

1. Building Future Leaders: Aligning Talent Attraction, Retention and Development
2. Building Resilience Multigenerational and Hybrid Workplaces
3. AI and HR – Tools and Strategies for Increasing Efficiency 
4. Building Psychologically Safe Workplaces
5. Different Minds, Better Teams: Building Neuroinclusive Workplaces

Afternoon Refreshments Break 

Rethinking Total Rewards Offerings to Reflect the Evolving Priorities of Today’s Workforce

• How can benefits can be modernized and tailored to diverse employee groups?
• Overcoming. potential hurdles 
• Case study examples 

Benefits That Matter: Unlocking What Employees Really Value

• What do employees value beyond salary and how are these insights uncovered?
• How can HR design benefits and rewards programs that genuinely boost engagement and loyalty?
• What strategies links compensation  to measurable performance outcomes?

Cyndy Allen, Director – Total Reward, Emera 

Brianne Bampton, Director, Compensation, Total Rewards & Workforce Services, Shannex 

Britt Wilson, CHRO & Executive Director, City of Halifax 

Health and Wellness Break  

Stretch, Relax, Recharge 

Navigating the Mosaic: Leading in a Fragmented, Flexible and Multigenerational Workplace 

• How can leaders build a shared identity across hybrid, remote and in-office? 
• What role does DEIB play in a multifaceted, multigenerational workplaces?

Roshanak Sadeghi-Zadeh, VP – People Culture & Belonging, Halifax Airport

Roberta Hood, Regional Vice President - People and Culture, Graybar Canada 

Candice McIntyre,  HRBP, HR Operations, Retail Atlantic, Sobeys  

Chair’s closing remarks 

Top take-aways from the day!

Cocktail Reception   

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