HRPA Meeting Details

As the speed of change continues to challenge even the most successful organizations to look for new ways to survive in the age of disruption, a new business need has emerged. Human Resources Professionals must now master the new “Art of Resiliency” and leverage it as a core enabler to achieve their organization’s goals.  This year’s conference will provide participants with the capabilities they need to motivate their senior teams to invest in resiliency training, policies and practices as a key business strategy to adapt in changing times.  

Join us on Tuesday, November 21st, 2017 for the HRPA West Toronto Chapter Member Conference Mastering the New Art of Resiliency.

Agenda

Keynote Presentation - RESILIENCY:  The new Nonnegotiable

One in four Canadian Workers describe their day‐to‐day lives as “highly stressful”.  The total demands on time & energy associated with multiple roles are often too great for individuals to cope let alone thrive in their jobs.  Resiliency has become the new nonnegotiable for workplaces to survive in today’s changing times.  Resiliency enables individuals and organizations to recover or bounce back from misfortune and changes.  It requires persistence in the face of the challenges that change demands. But what is it? Can we train it.  How does an individual master it?  What about an organization? Can organization become stronger, faster, better if employees learn how to be more resilient?  What about your leadership team.  What if your leadership team were masters in building resiliency.  Would it impact the bottom line?  A recent article in Harvard Business Review suggested we: 

Join us for insights on why resiliency is the new nonnegotiable for every organization that wants to thrive in today’s changing times.   

Learning objectives:

• Define resiliency and engage your leadership team in its importance to your organization’s success.
  
• Engage employees in accepting  “resiliency as a competency and a key organizational asset” to  help them cope with disappointments and stress, overcome obstacles, recover from or adjust to change or misfortune, and deal with the normal stresses and challenges of life.  
  
• Reduce burnout in your organization by training for resiliency and cultivating mindfulness 
  

Presenter: 

Dr. Louise Hartley, The Psychology Foundation of Canada

Dr. Louise Hartley is registered psychologist who received her doctorate in clinical psychology from York University. Her 27 years of experience in many different settings – education, children’s mental health and hospitals have given her a broad base of knowledge in helping people cope with numerous types of problems. She has developed expertise in the field of organizational development that includes both individual and team interventions designed to build healthy work environments. Dr. Hartley provides executive coaching services to help companies retain and develop their staff. 

Dr. Louise Hartley Bio >>

RESILIENCY:  Case Studies and Best Practices:  
A Panel Discussion

Join us to learn from our expert panel members who are leading the way to leverage the art of resiliency to make their workplaces stronger and more adaptable in dynamic markets.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore best practices in Resiliency at work
  
• Understand how to make Resiliency a key strategy enabler
  
• Discuss Resiliency Metrics
  
• Overcome barriers to Resiliency in the workplace  
  

Nancy Nazer, SVP OD & Learning Rogers Communications Canada

Nancy joined Rogers in July 2014 as Senior Vice President, Organization Development and Learning. She brings over 20 years experience in the areas of organizational and leadership development in large organizations, across multiple industries. In her role, Nancy leads 300 learning professionals all focused on driving organizational performance through proven talent and development strategies. Nancy's work has been recognized by the Conference Board of Canada, the Corporate Leadership Council, and the Brandon Hall Learning Awards.

Karen Scott, CHRO, sgsco

Karen Scott, CHRO, sgsco is based in Toronto. As the Chief Human Resource Officer, Karen is responsible for caretaking the over 3400 employees globally within all of sgsco member companies. Karen has over 20 years of experience leading HR in various organizations in Canada and the US where she had the responsibility for talent management, organizational design, communications, learning, talent acquisition, employee relations, human capital systems implementations, and benefits and compensation management.

Karen joined sgsco in March of 2016 and was previously with Acosta (formerly Mosaic) for 13 years where she held several roles including Director of Talent Acquisition where she pioneered Mosaic's Taleo implementation, established industry best practices for experiential marketing and campus recruitment. She then moved into the role of VP HR focused on the Canadian operation, and was responsible for implementing talent management and the HR Business Partner philosophy. In 2012, Karen took on the role of interim CHRO during the organization’s acquisition by Acosta.  

Karen is often called upon to speak at industry seminars where she shares best practices in the areas of leveraging HR software (Taleo, HireVue), talent acquisition and talent management to efficiently manage large, disparate workforces. 

Karen received her Bachelor degree of Administrative and Commercial Studies focusing on Human Relations and Social Organizations from the University of Western Ontario.

Marcia Mendes-D'Abreu, Teachers'  

Marcia and her staff are responsible for human resources for Teachers', including recruitment, compensation and benefits, learning and development, labour relations and premises.

Ms. Mendes-d'Abreu has more than 20 years of experience in human resources management and strategy in the retail, apparel, pharmaceutical and high-tech sectors. She joined Teachers' in 2008 from the Canadian Tire Corporation, where she was Vice-President, Human Resources, Corporate and Diversified Businesses.

Ms. Mendes-d'Abreu earned an M.Sc. from Pepperdine University and a BA from McGill University.

Marcia Mendes-D'Abreu Bio >>

Dr. Marilyn Laiken, Program Director, Schulich Executive Education Centre, York University

Dr. Marilyn Laiken is Program Director, Centre of Excellence in Organization Development and Change and Centre of Excellence in Adult Training and Development, Schulich Executive Education Centre, York University

Marilyn is also past Chair of the OISE, University of Toronto Department of Adult Education & Counselling Psychology, Professor Emeritus of Adult Education in Workplace Learning and Change, and Director of the Masters Certificate Programs in Organization Development and Adult Training and Development sponsored by Schulich Executive Education Centre. She is Principal of Laiken Associates, a Toronto consulting firm that, since 1975, has served hundreds of clients in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Marilyn combines an interest in adult education and organizational change through her research, teaching and field development, and speaks internationally and has published widely in these areas. Her book, The Anatomy of High Performing Teams: A Leader’s Handbook has been used by teams and team leaders since 1991. Her latest book, Adult Educator’s Resource Manual is forthcoming. 

Dr. Marilyn Laiken's Biography and Info >>

Managing the Polarities of Organizational Learning to Enable Workplace Resiliency (PDF) >>

Dina Barrazza, The Talent Consortium, Facilitator 

Dina Barazza is the President and Chief Learning Officer of The Talent Consortium, a consulting practice specializing in human resources. 

The Talent Consortium utilizes the collective minds and talents of experts with industry know-how to provide customized and sustainable performance-based solutions. As head of this practice, Mrs. Barazza brings a network of resources and innovative solutions to empower people, process and performance in startup organizations, corporations and not for profit businesses. She draws on more than 25 years of experience in organizational effectiveness, learning & leadership, education, sales and marketing, project management and human resources to achieve successful business results. 

As a professional speaker and business consultant in the women space, she has developed a reputation for her trailblazing thought leadership in women empowerment. She has created innovative strategies and programs to support workforce and diversity & inclusion mandates to ensure women’s development is impacted with purpose. Mrs. Barazza is the Founder