HRPA Meeting Details

Debbie Ovsenny is a visionary HR leader with a wealth of expertise in HR service delivery, total rewards, talent acquisition, HR technology & analytics, and health and wellness programming. She is dedicated to creating environments where individuals can thrive both personally and professionally, championing policies and practices that prioritize employee well-being. In her role as Vice President of Human Resources Operations at Metrolinx, Debbie leads three high-performing teams: The HR Shared Services & Technology team, the Health & Wellness team and the Talent Acquisition team. She has been instrumental in spearheading initiatives that enhance the employee experience, including psychological health and safety and the groundbreaking implementation of a menopause policy, the first of its kind in the Canadian public sector. Debbie's unwavering commitment to driving positive change in organizational cultures is evident throughout her illustrious career of over 30 years in Human Resources. She has successfully advocated for policies that foster inclusive environments and prioritize employee well-being. Her innovative approaches and ability to leverage the latest research have consistently resulted in impactful solutions that resonate with employees at all levels. Through her strategic leadership, Debbie continues to elevate organizational success by aligning HR strategies with business objectives and enhancing the overall employee experience. As a dynamic speaker, Debbie enjoys sharing her insights and experiences, inspiring others to adopt forward-thinking HR practices. Her passion for fostering thriving workplaces and her dedication to employee well-being make her a respected and influential voice in the HR community.

Jayshree Joshi is the Senior Manager, Leadership Development and is an accomplished HR and organizational development leader with deep expertise in leadership development and executive readiness strategies. With over 20 years of experience in complex, unionized environments, she has designed and delivered enterprise-wide programs that build employee and leadership capability, strengthen engagement, and foster inclusive cultures to drive sustainable change. While she’s actively working on building and transforming the leadership systems, capabilities, and practices at Metrolinx, her experience includes implementing innovation through HR technology, transitioning engagement surveys to AI-driven platforms, and launching a mentorship app prioritizing internationally trained professionals and equity-deserving groups with knowledge experts to build capability. Not only is she a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) and holds certifications in Change Management (PROSCI) and Gallup CliftonStrengths Coaching, but she has also been repeatedly nominated for leadership awards for her ability to drive performance through highly engaged teams.