Central HYBRID Leading Through Transformation: The Evolving Role of HR Leaders


Date and Time:

Starts: 09/24/2026 5:30 PM

Ends: 09/24/2026 8:00 PM

Registration Closes:09/15/2026 5:30 PM

Event Type: Professional Development

1.5 CPD Hour(s)

Location:
The Eglinton Grand 400 Eglinton Avenue West Toronto,

Price:

HRPA Members: FREE (included in membership dues)

Non-Members:
IN-PERSON:
$115 + tax

Non-Members:
VIRTUAL:
$35 + tax

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Availability

Additional Information

THIS EVENT WILL NOT BE RECORDED. REMINDER! Our cancellation policy has changed. Click here for more information.

Event Sponsor


The role of HR leaders is changing quickly. Beyond leading people strategies, today’s HR executives are helping shape business decisions, guide organizational change, and prepare their workforces for an increasingly complex future. Join Melissa Glassco, Head of Human Resources, Canadian Advisory at KPMG Canada, Jason Ramgoolam, Vice President, People Experience at Gore Mutual Insurance Company, and Nadia Cerisano, Global Vice President, Total Rewards at HelloFresh for a conversation about what this shift means in practice. Drawing on their own leadership experiences, they will discuss how HR leaders are responding to advances in AI, evolving workforce expectations, and growing demands from executive teams. Attendees will hear practical examples, lessons learned, and perspectives on how HR can strengthen its influence, build credibility across the business, and lead through change. Whether you are an established HR executive or preparing for a larger leadership role, this session will offer valuable insights into the future of HR leadership.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • The session is designed for experienced HR professionals who are navigating the increasing complexity of leadership in today's business environment. As organizations face ongoing transformation driven by artificial intelligence, evolving workforce expectations, economic uncertainty, and shifting executive priorities, the expectations placed on senior HR leaders continue to expand. HR is no longer being asked solely to enable business strategy - it is increasingly expected to help shape it. Through a candid discussion with senior HR executives from leading organizations, participants will gain practical insights into what distinguishes influential HR leaders at the executive table and how they build credibility, drive organizational outcomes, and lead through ambiguity. 
  • The conversation will explore the realities of leading transformation, balancing business pressures with people impact, navigating difficult leadership decisions, and ensuring HR remains a strategic advisor rather than an operational function. Drawing from real-world experiences from senior HR executives, attendees will gain insights into leadership capabilities, business acumen, and strategic mindset required to succeed in C-suite roles. 
  • The discussion will examine how organizations are approaching workforce transformation, navigating the people implications of AI and automation, managing executive stakeholders, and preparing for the future of HR leadership. Aligned with the HRPA Professional Competency Framework, this session supports the development of competencies related to strategy, organizational effectiveness, leadership relationship management, communication, critical thinking, and change leadership. 
  • It is particularly relevant for senior HR professionals seeking to strengthen their executive influence, expand their enterprise perspective, enhance their effectiveness as a strategic business partners, and prepare for the evolving demands of CHRO and executive leadership roles.

AGENDA

5:30 PM Registration and Dinner (In-Person Only)

6:30 PM Presentation (In-person and Virtual)

Virtual attendees can log in 15 minutes early and will remain in the lobby until the presentation begins.

8:00 PM Concludes

Registration Difficulties or Questions: Please reach out to Tammy Williams, Specialist, Member Engagement

Speaker bio(s)
Melissa Glassco, CHRP, CHRL, Head of Functional HR, Canadian Advisory

Canada Melissa Glassco is the Head of Human Resources, Canadian Advisory at KPMG Canada, where she partners with the Canadian Managing Partner and Advisory Leadership Team to shape and execute national people and talent strategies for one of the firm's largest and fastest-evolving business units. In this role, she advises senior leaders on enterprise talent strategy, workforce modernization, leadership succession, organizational effectiveness, employee experience, and future workforce needs. Melissa is a strategic HR and talent executive with more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience across professional services, healthcare, and global technology organizations. Prior to returning to KPMG, she served as Head of Talent Management, Canada & Corporate Services at McKesson, and previously held senior Canadian and global leadership roles at CGI, including Global Head of Talent Management, where she supported a workforce of more than 90,000 employees across nine strategic business units. Known for her strategic mindset, executive presence, and evidence-based approach to transforming talent practices, Melissa brings deep expertise in talent management, HR transformation, leadership development, change leadership, strategic workforce planning, and future-of-work strategy. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Toronto Metropolitan University, a Certificate in Organizational Development from Queen's University, and certifications including CHRL, ICP-AHR, Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, and Project Management.


Jason Ramgoolam, VP HR

Jason Ramgoolam joined Gore Mutual in 2020 and plays a key role in the development and delivery of their people strategy. He has over a decade of leadership experience across a number of human resources disciplines including cultural integration, change management, HR technology strategy, talent management and project execution. Prior to coming to Gore Mutual, Jason held leadership roles at Wealthsimple, Element Fleet Management and GE.


Nadia Cerisano, CHRP, CHRL, Global Vice President, Total Rewards

Nadia is a transformative global HR executive with over 25 years of experience building reward strategies that move businesses forward and make people feel valued. She currently serves as Global Vice President, Total Rewards at HelloFresh, deploying a new global Total Rewards strategy that enables business outcomes while remaining employee and market relevant. Prior to HelloFresh, Nadia served as Vice President, Total Rewards and Global Mobility at Walmart Canada, where she led the company's most ambitious total rewards transformation in its history — a $300M investment across all associate segments. She modernized how associates experienced their rewards through digital and AI-powered platforms, served as a trusted advisor to the senior executive team on major business decisions, and built a high-performing team that sustained top engagement scores and 100% retention of key talent. Before Walmart, Nadia held senior VP roles at Moneris and Xerox, where she globalized incentive and sales compensation functions and launched HR technology transformations including full Workday implementations. Throughout her career she has been consistently sought out as a trusted advisor to senior executive teams and boards on compensation strategy, organizational design, and workforce investment decisions. A committed contributor to the HR profession, Nadia has served the GTA Rewards Association for over two decades — as President, Past President, and now Advisory Board Member — and has engaged with WorldatWork at the executive level to shape global strategy for local networks. As well, she has been a member of the HRPA since 1995. Based in Toronto, Nadia is married and the proud mom of two, Nicholas and Amanda.


Leah Kraft, CHRP, CHRL, Director, Human Resources

Leah Kraft is HR Director at CGI, where she partners with senior leaders to align people strategy with organizational priorities—spanning talent transformation, change leadership, employee experience, and skills strategy. A trusted advisor to executive teams navigating complex transformation, she brings 15 years of progressive HR leadership experience across professional services and global enterprise, including prior roles at General Electric. Known for turning ambitious people strategies into tangible results, Leah holds a CHRL designation, ICP-AHR, and is a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner.