Program

Registration

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

Introduction from the Chair 

April Howe, Founder and CEO, Crayon Strategies

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

• How do leadership shape resilient, high-performing teams?
• How can HR embed agility into daily practices?

John Flewelling, President & CEO, CBCL

Kathryn English, VP – HR, Sysco 

Ruth Fahy, VP – Football, Halifax Tides

Layla Khalil, VP, People & Culture, East Coast Credit Union 

Laura Godsoe, AVP Recruitment & Talent Management, Dalhousie University 

Facilitated by Andrew McCartney, Director, Account Management, GreenShield 

Shaping Effective Leadership & Succession Through Quantifiable Development

If leadership development were held to the same standard as finance or risk, would it pass—or be sent back for lack of evidence? This session shows how to measure leadership with the same rigor we apply to risk, performance, and value creation.  What effective leadership really means How to prove development is driving performance and succession readiness  

Tina Smith, National Manager of Employee Relations, Wawanesa  

Morning Coffee and Networking Break

Time to refuel and continue networking!

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 decisions? 

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

• Turning pressure into performance in high-stakes environments 
• How are high-risk sectors managing stress?

Jennifer Campbell, CHRO, Atlantic Pilotage Authority 

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

Brittany Stein, Regional Dir., HS & Wellbeing, Horizon Health Network

Kristen Shaw, HRD, OSCO Construction

Facilitated by Melanie Bower,  Workplace Health Promotion Coordinator, NS Health

Health and Wellness Break  

Stretch, Relax, Recharge 

Melanie Bower,  Workplace Health Promotion Coordinator , Nova Scotia Health

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, City of Shippagan, NB  

Lunch

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 

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?

Cyndy Allen, Director – Total Reward, Emera 

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

Britt Wilson, CHRO & Executive Director, City of Halifax

Facilitated by Theresa Rose, BD Manager, Greenshield Health

Health and Wellness Break  

Stretch, Relax, Recharge 

Melanie Bower,  Workplace Health Promotion Coordinator , Nova Scotia Health

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, Vice President - People & Culture, Graybar Canada 

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

Facilitated by Steve Ashton, Founder, Kelvin Gore Consulting

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