HRPA Meeting Details

Rafiah Qazi is currently a technology and finance HR Business Partner at the Home Depot Canada and leads HR strategy for a technology organization that’s 1,000 associates strong - spanning cross-border. She has been an HR leader since 2010 and has worked in various provinces and multi-site/regional roles throughout her career. She studied psychology and English as an undergrad student and only went back to get her certificate in HR as a postgrad student after landing her first role in HR. She is a CHRL with HRPA since 2015 and has received her Master’s in HR Management from York University in 2018. She is most passionate about data-driven, strategic HR planning along with talent attraction; retention and sustainable engagement. In her free time, she loves to cook international cuisines and spends her time with her 3-year old son.

Lotte Struwing is an experienced business leader with significant expertise in senior level Human Resources, business ownership, and career strategy and brings a contagious passion for each one. Lotte is the President of Lasting Solutions HR Consulting & Coaching has been proudly serving clients since 2008. Lasting Solutions works with clients that have an “Employer of Choice” mindset, whether it is for HR, career transition, or leadership development. Lotte has a lifelong learning mindset and holds her CHRL, 3 designations through WorldatWork CCP, CBP, and GRP, and is a Certified Career and Resume Strategist. In 2018, Lotte humbly won the Career Innovator Award through Career Directors International. In her personal time, Lotte’s passion is her garden in the summer and the new winter hobby is snowshoeing. All year long, her passion is her family and friends who are family! Lotte’s mission is to make a difference in someone’s day, every day!

Gordana Terkalas is Senior Vice President, Human Resources, leading people initiatives at Aecon, including the corporation’s Diversity & Inclusion Council, is a member of the Ethics & Compliance Committee, and leads the Organizational Change Management Community of Practice. Ms. Terkalas is a versatile HR leader, who has grown her career in fast-paced, entrepreneurial organizations calling for significant agility and progressive thinking. Ms. Terkalas has practiced HR in various industries including consulting engineering, technology and healthcare. Throughout her career, she has garnered extensive experience in both operations and corporate services across all facets of the HR function – from organization design, talent acquisition and total rewards to employee development, talent and succession management. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Ryerson University, as well as a CHRL Designation and is a member of the Association of Change Management Professionals.

I received a Human Resources and Industrial Relations Degree from the University of Toronto, a Human Resources Management Graduate Certificate from Georgian College, a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Human Resources Leadership from the University of Fredericton, and possess the Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation via the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA). At Algonquin College, I’ve been Program Coordinator of two Centre for Continuing and Online Learning (CCOL) programs in HR, while concurrently teaching various HR courses for different programs within the School of Business. I also have many years of customer service, hospitality, and HR experience in vastly different industries, among them: restaurant, retail, manufacturing, engineering, professional services, federal government and higher education. My work experience has led me to work on various projects such as organizational design and classification, staffing, change management, training and development, HR policy and development, and occupational health and safety, among others.