Workshops & Presenter Profiles
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Keynote Topic: Leadership Under Fire – Lessons Learned From The School of Hard Knocks
“General (Retired) Hillier shares many of the leadership lessons he has absorbed from over 35 years of Military service, constant deployments, work with other nations , government leaders, Civilian and International agencies and , especially, from the privilege of commanding more than 100, 000 Canadian servicemen and women while supporting they and their families in the execution of Canada’s missions at home and around the world .”
General Rick Hillier, Former Chief of the Defence Staff for Canadian Forces
Throughout his career, General Hillier has had the privilege of commanding troops from the platoon to multi-national formation level withi
n Canada, Europe, Asia and the United States. Appointed as the first Canadian Deputy Commanding General of III Corps, US Army in Fort Hood, Texas, Commander of NATO’s Stabilization Force’s (SFOR) Multinational Division (Southwest) in Bosnia and then Commander of Canada’s Army, Hillier was selected as the Commander of the NATO -led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, Afghanistan, in October 2003. He assumed duties as the Chief of the Defence Staff in 2005.
As noted by Globe and Mail, “[General] Rick Hillier’s rise through the ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces can be linked to a gale force wind. Few individuals in our history have been as single-handedly accomplished at recrafting the nation’s image”. Since retirement from the Military in 2008, General Hillier has written several books, including the latest bestseller Leadership Matters, incorporating his unprecedented experience to help leaders in all arenas navigating through tough economic times and rethink about the roles and impacts of leaders from a fresh perspective. He has been a Strategic Advisor advising clients in a capacity to some of the country’s top companies such as Exxon Mobil, Telus, Rogers, TD Bank, Tim Hortons and many others.
Fireside Keynote Conversation: Relentless Transformation: 4 Lessons to Thrive in our A.I. Future in 2024 and Beyond
These lessons include what every leader and professional needs to know to design, grow, learn, and communicate in the age of AI, all while leading with values and making an impact during today’s world of predictable unpredictability. This is a practical, inspirational, and highly relevant talk, delivered with up-to-the-minute tech trends by one of the country’s top technology and innovation voices.
Amber MacArthur, Award-winning podcaster, author and television host 
Amber Mac is an award-winning podcaster, bestselling author, and media host on the topic of AI and emerging technology. In this virtual or in-person presentation, she will guide attendees through her four-part blueprint for not just surviving our fast future but thriving in it.
WORKSHOP SPEAKERS
Workshop Topic: Navigating Mentorship: Unlocking Positive Potential
Mentoring has become a cornerstone in aiding employees to define their objectives, enhance their engagement within their professional environment, and attain elevated levels of self-assurance, problem-solving aptitude, and efficiency.
The 2023 report unveiled by the foremost Talent Development Association globally, ATD, revealed that an impressive 92 percent of Fortune 500 companies incorporated mentorship initiatives for their workforce.
Tailoring mentoring programs to specific contexts is imperative, as these programs are not universally applicable. Various determinants influence the optimal design for a mentoring program in any given scenario.
The workshop will explore the benefits of mentoring in organizations, different mentorship models, key elements for success, tips for program design and insights garnered from various mentoring endeavors. Case examples of mentoring experiences will be shared, and participant engagement encouraged, during this interactive session.
Shelley Styles, Integrated Mentoring
Shelley, as the owner of Integrated Mentoring, brings with her a wealth of experience in mentorship, spanning over three decades. Her past role as the Director of Student Support Services at Algonquin College reflects her dedication to serving others, honed through various positions such as teaching, Academic Chair, Project Manager, and leadership roles in provincial and international initiatives.
Shelley’s rich tapestry of experiences have enriched her portfolio, with her venture into small business ownership further enhancing her insights.
Her academic journey includes earning a Social Service Work Diploma, bachelor’s degrees in psychology and education, followed by a Master of Education in the counseling stream. Shelley’s active involvement in the development and implementation of various mentorship models over the years serves as the bedrock of her mentoring philosophy.
Shelley has lived in rural Ottawa most of her life and resides with her husband on a small hobby farm. They have a family of five, who along with their growing families, are the centre of their world. She notes that the shenanigans of their pet donkeys provide them with entertainment and laughter daily.
Workshop Topic: Beyond the Grind: A High Performing Leader’s Guide to Finding Harmony in Business and Life
Rebecca Wilson, ICF certified coach, mindfulness teacher, and experienced senior leader
Over Rebecca Wilson’s 14 years advising and coaching high performing business leaders, she found that her clients’ professional drive often came at the expense of their wellbeing and contentment. She’s developed a special workshop for the Fall Business & Leadership Conference tailored to high achieving leaders who are tired of feeling tense and spread thin. In this session, Rebecca will share the secrets for how you can tap into greater ease and balance, without compromising your leadership effectiveness and business performance.
Rebecca is an ICF Certified Executive Coach and Mindfulness Teacher with deep experience in strategy and performance consulting and leadership development. She brought together her love of business, high performance coaching and wellness to create Arborvida – a boutique leadership and personal development firm. She coaches CEOs and executive teams as well as emerging leaders across sectors. Prior to founding Arborvida, Rebecca held the roles of Senior Director at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Consulting and Director of Strategy and Transformation at Perley Health.
Rebecca was born and raised in the Upper Ottawa Valley, and recently returned to the area after over a decade in Ottawa. She now lives in Beachburg with her husband, Tyler and their daughter, Ella.
Workshop Topic: Project Management Essentials-Getting Projects Done!
During this workshop you will learn about project initiation, planning, execution and project closures.
- Develop practical skills for project success.
- Learn effective communication and stakeholder engagement strategies.
- Identify and mitigate common project management pitfalls.
- Gain actionable insights for immediate application in professional roles
Becky Wright, Founder and CEO of Milestone Scheduling & Consulting Inc.
Workshop Topic: From Good to Great: Crafting High-Performance Teams
Good teams are common. Great teams are rare. Learn how to build a high-performing team that is faster, more productive and happier by exploring four critical pillars: Strengths, Trust, Clarity and the Secret Sauce. Regardless if your team is new, growing or established, don’t settle for ‘good’. Gain invaluable insights and practical techniques to make your team ‘great’.
Jeff Lucier, Founder of Catylyst Leadership Development
Entrepreneur, corporate executive, certified coach and Founder of Catylyst Leadership Development, Jeff Lucier has walked in many shoes throughout his career. From working in corporate Canada to his Master’s degree in Management Studies, he has maintained that exceptional leadership is a critical business advantage often overlook by companies. Passionate about developing and growing leaders, Jeff works across the industries, equipping leaders and teams with the skills and confidence needed to perform effectively and confidently.
Workshop Topic: Tapping into Talent: A different approach to addressing local labour market pressures
Join the Labour Market Group and Local Immigration Partnership of Lanark & Renfrew Counties for an insightful workshop to empower employers with the tools and resources they need for successful recruitment strategies. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the free services available, including the LMI Help Desk and Employer Navigator, which are tailored to support employers in navigating the labour market and enhancing their recruitment processes.
Participants will learn how to utilize labour market information (LMI) to make informed decisions, understand the benefits of partnering with the Employer Navigator for customized immigrant talent stream recruitment assistance, and discover a range of resources designed to attract and retain top talent. Whether you are a small business owner or part of a larger organization, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge and support necessary to optimize your hiring strategies and build a stronger workforce.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your recruitment strategies with free, expert support from The Labour Market Group and Local Immigration Partnership of Lanark & Renfrew Counties.
Allison Miller, The Labour Market Group of Renfrew and Lanark & Gabriella Salera, Local Immigration Partnership – Lanark and Renfrew
Allison Miller: Allison joined the Labour Market Group team in 2022 after transitioning to project management from business ownership. Allison uses her advocacy experience to draw attention to labour issues in our region. She believes identifying employers’ needs and pairing people with services will make Renfrew and Lanark Counties more prosperous and improve quality of life. You will see her across the region giving presentations on the labour market, networking with emp
loyers and dreaming up innovative workforce solutions.
Gabriella Salera: Gabriella is the Acting Manager of Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) – Lanark & Renfrew. She brings a wealth of diverse skills and experiences to the LIP team and our community. Her professional journey, from providing efficient project and administrative support in the construction industry to excelling as a team leader and demonstrating marketing prowess, data collection proficiency, and exceptional client communication, showcases her adaptability and versatility. Gabriella holds a distinguished academic background, including a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Project Management, both earned from ENEB. She also holds a Bachelor’s in Animal and Biological Sciences from Latrobe University. This educational foundation equips her with diverse knowledge and skills.
Workshop Topic: Social Cohesion through Employer-Supported Volunteerism
Volunteer Canada believes in the collective power of volunteerism to ignite passion, skills development, and employer pride in companies across Canada. With a mission to advance volunteerism to grow connection, community, and belonging, Volunteer Canada believes that workplaces are ideally suited to solve the reported volunteer shortages across the country. Of the 24 million Canadians that volunteer, 33% do so through employer supported volunteer programs. Companies with volunteer programs experience higher employee engagement and retention rates, not to mention a new study out of Oxford University’s Wellbeing Research Centre found that volunteering might be the only workplace wellness program that actually yields positive mental health outcomes. Renata Rusiniak from Volunteer Canada’s Corporate Community Engagement program will lead participants through an interactive, conversational workshop that supports the business case for and development of Employer Supported Volunteer Programs.
Renata Rusiniak, Director and Founder of Green Horseshoe Solutions
Renata Rusiniak is an employer brand builder fueled by a desire to foster connected corporate cultures and extra-engaged employees. With a blended background in human resources, marketing, communications, and environmental social governance, Renata is well-positioned to engage audiences with authentic storytelling about people, programs, and social impact. She has worked across multiple business sectors including cybersecurity (eSentire), finance (Manulife), technology devices (BlackBerry and L3-Wescam), and food (Cadbury-Schweppes) within Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Her 20 years of corporate experience has led Renata to her next career chapter as the Director and Founder of Green Horseshoe Solutions – enabling companies to build their employer branding through revitalizing engagement programs, forging community partnerships, instituting social purpose practices, and communicating impacts that matter. Renata holds an honours BA from the University of Waterloo and a Certificate of Community Involvement from Boston College Centre for Corporate Citizenship. She is a certified Corporate Social Responsibility Practitioner and believes that investing in people and the planet paves the way for profits.
Originally from Hamilton and currently residing in Guelph with her husband and two sons, Renata is active in her local community. She currently advises as part of the Strategy Committee for the Guelph Community Foundation, and mentors social enterprises at Innovation Guelph. Previously, Renata has served as a Board Director with the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce (including 2 terms as Chair of the Board), the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada, and Leadership Waterloo, mentored with Women in Communication and Technology (WCT), served as a member of the University of Waterloo Alumni Council and volunteered her time in the equine community with Equine Guelph. Renata is an avid skier, equestrian, and general advocate of all things outdoorsy.
Please note: Registration closes on Wednesday, October 23rd at noon EST.