HRPA Meeting Details

Dave Ulrich is the Rensis Likert Professor of Business at the Ross School, University of Michigan and a partner at the RBL Group, a consulting firm focused on helping organizations and leaders deliver value. He studies how organizations build capabilities of leadership, talent, and culture through leveraging human resources. He has helped generate award-winning databases that assess alignment between external business conditions, strategies, organization capabilities, HR practices, HR competencies, and customer and investor results.

Called "the father of modern hurman resources" by HR Magazine and the "most influential HR thinker of the decade", he has published over 200 articles and book chapters and over 30 books, including the soon-to-be-published new book "Victory through Organization - Why the War of Talent is Failing Your Company and What You Can Do about it" copy of which will be provided to all attendees

Dr. Mary Young leads The Conference Board’s program of research on digital transformation’s human capital impacts, human capital analytics, and strategic workforce planning.

She is the author of more than 25 research publications from The Conference Board, and her research on human resource issues has been cited in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, Time, Business Week, and National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition.”

She received her doctorate in organizational behavior from Boston University’s Graduate School of Management. She earned a M.Ed. in organizational development at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a B.A. in English from Case Western Reserve University.

Warren Everson is Senior Vice-President, Policy, with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, a post he has held since September 2010. His responsibilities include the identification of priority issues and development of related policies. Mr. Everson manages a multi-sectoral team of researchers and lobbyists, and coordinates the work of 11 policy committees.

He joined the Chamber from StrategyCorp, a government relations consultancy based in Ottawa and Toronto. He was previously a Director of government relations at Bell Canada.

Before joining Bell Canada, Mr. Everson was the Vice President for Policy and Strategic Planning for the Air Transport Association of Canada during a turbulent period, which included the attacks of 9/11 and the outbreak of SARS in Canada.

Through the 1990s, Mr. Everson was President of Saramac Consulting Services, where his practice focused on privatization and public service management. In 1992 he was the Executive Director for the National Transportation Act Review Commission and also served as a Commissioner for the Transportation Safety Board Review.

During his decade-long career in government, Mr. Everson served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Transport and the Solicitor General, and was on the staffs of five other ministers, including the Minister for International Trade during the negotiation of the Canada/US Free Trade Agreement.

Karen Hall is the Chief Human Resources Officer – Wealth & Asset Management and Canadian Personal & Commercial Banking at BMO Financial Group. In her current role, she has a high degree of interaction and collaboration with other members of the c-suite, but particularly the CEO and CFO.

Karen is accountable for leading the team delivering Human Resources strategies and programs in BMO’s Wealth & Asset Management and Canadian Personal & Commercial Banking businesses. Karen joined BMO in 2005 as Senior Human Resource Business Partner. Since then she has held progressively more senior human resources roles across the organization. She was appointed Chief Human Resources Officer, Wealth Management in 2008, and was promoted to her current position in April 2014. Prior to joining BMO Karen worked at CocaCola Bottling and Ernst & Young as an HR generalist and management consultant. Karen has a BA (Honours) from the University of Victoria and an MBA from the University of Calgary.

Warren joined OMERS in 2010 and was appointed to the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) on September 1, 2014. In this role, Warren is responsible for people, processes and technology across the enterprise which includes the functional teams of Pension Services, Legal Services, Communications & Public Affairs, Technology, Project Management and Human Resources. He emphasizes the creation of value across the OMERS enterprise to achieve an innovative, ambitious business strategy.

His experiences spans both HR and operations. Warren joined OMERS as Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer with over 25 years of Human Resources experience in financial services. Prior to joining OMERS, Warren held several related roles including the position of Senior Vice President, Corporate Human Resources at TD Bank Group where he was responsible for Pensions & Benefit Plans, Employee Engagement, Executive Compensation, HR Mergers and Acquisitions, Employee Relations, Labour Relations and Employee Compensation. He also held the position of Managing Director and Global Head, Human Resources for TD Securities (SVP, TD Bank), a leading investment bank operating globally, headquartered in Toronto.

Warren serves as the Chair, Bruce Trail Conservancy and sits on the Advisory Panel on Resolution for the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). He is a Certified Director (ICD.D), Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE), Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP), and Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers (FICB) and holds both a Bachelor of Administration and an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Ottawa.

Sharon is Head, Insurance Investments Strategy at Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS). With almost $80 billion in assets, OMERS is one of Canada's largest pension funds. In this role, Sharon is responsible for setting and executing the strategic plan with respect to OMERS insurance investments – and liasing and strategizing with colleagues across functions.

Sharon has 25 years of progressive experience and is uniquely positioned with experience in both the Life & Health and Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance industries. Most recently, Sharon served as President, Aviva Insurance Company of Canada, Canada’s 2nd largest P&C insurer.

From 2005 to 2014, Sharon served as President & CEO (initially CFO) of Swiss Re Canada; one of the world’s largest reinsurers. Sharon led the development of flood insurance in Canada; and made inroads on catastrophe bonds, and longevity risk transfer.

From 2001 to 2005, Sharon served as CFO with Liberty International Underwriters Canada. During her tenure in the life insurance industry (1994-2001), Sharon played a key role in the demutualization and IPO of Canada Life Financial (now owned by Great West Life).

In 2000, Sharon along with co-founders, launched Kanetix, Canada’s first on-line insurance marketplace for consumers.

Sharon is a Chartered Accountant/Chartered Professional Accountant. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto and earned her CA designation in 1992. Sharon also holds an FLMI (Fellow, Life Management Institute) designation.

Sharon has extensive experience serving in the insurance industry as Director of the Board for Green Shield Canada (2016-present), the Insurance Bureau of Canada (2012-2016); Canadian Life & Health Insurance Association (2012-2014); Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (2010-2016); and Reinsurance Research Council (2010-2014).

In 2013, Sharon was named by WXN one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women; and one of the Top 50 Women in the insurance industry globally by Reactions magazine. Sharon has actively volunteered for Junior Achievement of Canada and has held Treasurer and President and Chair of the Board positions for various non-profit organizations.

As Chief Operating Officer (in-coming CEO), Stephen is responsible for leading Morneau Shepell’s business operations and functions, a role he assumed in 2016 and to which he brings 25+ years of senior executive and global HR management experience in the high tech, consumer packaged goods and retail sectors. He has translated his HR background to operations-side strategy and leverages both in collaborating with other members of the c-suite.

Previously, Stephen was Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Company’s business unit that delivers health and productivity solutions to 20 million employees and their families in 64 countries worldwide. Under Stephen’s leadership since 2010, the business unit significantly increased revenues, margins and its international market presence while delivering solutions that have won prestigious industry awards for innovation. Stephen first joined Morneau Shepell and its senior executive team in 2008 to lead the transformation of its global HR function to support the company’s growth strategy.

In his career and across several industries, Stephen has led global HR teams in large-scale growth initiatives and strategic transitions for public companies that include joint ventures, business turnarounds and corporate starts-up in North America, including Mexico, and in major international markets such as the UK, China, Japan and India. Stephen also served on the HR Committee for the 2015 PanAm Games, the Canadian Board of Directors for NCR and the Pension Board for Europe for a large technology company. He is a frequent speaker and thought leader on issues facing organizations today.

Stephen is a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association (CHRE) and holds an Honours Business Administration degree from the Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario, and is a recent graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management Program.

Alan Torrie is President and Chief Executive Officer of Morneau Shepell. Mr. Torrie’s responsibilities include the development and execution of the company’s overall strategic direction, and leading the organization to achieve both its short-term and long-term business results, and working with all organizational functions in order to delivery that strategy.

Mr. Torrie joined the Company in 2005 as a Trustee of the then Morneau Sobeco Income Fund, and Chair of the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee. He became President in 2008, Chief Executive Officer in 2009, and has served as a Director on the Board of the Company since the conversion to a corporation in 2011. When he was named President in 2008, Mr. Torrie brought with him more than 25 years of experience as a senior executive leader in the health and life science industry including President and Chief Executive Officer of MDS Diagnostics and Executive Vice President of MDS Inc., Chief Operating Officer of Retirement Residences REIT (Revera) and Executive in Residence with Clairvest Private Equity.

Earlier in his career, he was also the Chief Executive Officer of Joseph Brant Hospital. Mr. Torrie has served on numerous community boards including past Chair of AMREF Canada (African Medical Research and Education Foundation) and past Chair of Trillium Health Partners. Mr. Torrie is currently a Director and Chair of the Finance Committee of Appleby College and a Director of Extendicare Inc.

Rahul Bhardwaj is President and CEO of the Institute of Corporate Directors. He is an accomplished executive and director with a long and successful track record in the business, community and not-for-profit sectors. Most recently, he served for nine years as President and CEO of the Toronto Foundation.

Mr. Bhardwaj began his career as a corporate lawyer at Meighen, Demers, Barristers & Solicitors, now part of Norton Rose Fulbright, and subsequently served as a Vice-President for Toronto's 2008 Olympic Bid. He currently serves as a Director of Metrolinx, Rideau Hall Foundation and Community Foundations of Canada (Past Chair).

He has also previously served as Chair of the 2012 Ontario Games, Co-Chair of TO2015 IGNITE (Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games), Chair of the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, a Director of George Brown College (Vice Chair) and Director of Upper Canada College and Stratford Festival, among others.

In 2012, Mr. Bhardwaj’s commitment to city building was recognized as he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He has been named one of “The 50 Most Influential” people in the city by Toronto Life magazine and was recently named to the Leader Council at the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership at the Ivey Business School, the Quadrangle Society at Massey College and The Ultimate List of Social CEOs on Twitter. His vision for Toronto and Canada has made him a popular presenter and speaker locally, nationally and internationally, particularly on issues relating to leadership and governance.

A seasoned board executive, Bonnie DuPont serves on the boards of Bird Construction, a TSX listed construction company established in 1920, and NavCanada, the world’s first fully privatized civil air navigation service provider. In 2013, she was named the Chair of the Board of Governors of the University of Calgary, where she had served as a board member for 10 years. With both Bird Construction and NavCanada, she serves as the Chair of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee. She sits on the Audit Committee at Bird Construction and on the Governance Committee with both organizations. At Bird Construction, she also has accountability for the Safety Committee.

From 2006 to 2012, she served as a director of the Bank of Canada, where she chaired the Human Resources and Compensation Committee and served on the Executive Committee. Previous board positions include Chair of CustomerWorks and directorships at Alliance Pipelines, AltaGas and Viterra Inc., UTS Energy and SilverBirch Energy.

Ms. DuPont was the first woman elected to the board of the Calgary Petroleum Club, an organization that for many years did not allow women as members. She became their first female President. She also served on the campaign cabinet for the Banff Center Capital Campaign and has served as a committee chair with the United Way of Calgary. She has recently accepted an appointment to the board of the Calgary Opera Society.

Prior to becoming a full-time director, she held several senior executive positions, including group vice-president of corporate resources at Enbridge Inc. for 13 years. She was named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women each year from 2002 until 2006 and in 2007 was inducted into the Top 100 Hall of Fame. She has been widely recognized for her leadership in the Human Resources area, including being awarded several honorary degrees, and the Peter Lougheed Award for Leadership presented by the Public Policy Forum. She was awarded a Fellowship in the Institute of Corporate Directors in 2015.

Daniella Dimitrov has an extensive list of board experience, including serving on several different board committees. She currently is or has been a director for Aldridge Minerals, Excellon Resources, Alloycorp Mining, Orvana Minerals, Baffinland Iron (Vice-Chair) and Commonwealth Silver (Chair) and has chaired or been a member of various committees of such boards. She has also been a director of the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments and is currently the Chair of CIM’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee.

Ms. Dimitrov has over 20 years of leadership experience in building, leading and operating businesses in mining and financial services including in roles as CEO, CFO and COO. She served as President and CEO and previously as CFO of Orvana Minerals and as Executive Vice Chair of Baffinland Iron which ended with the acquisition of the company for $600M. She also served as COO of Dundee Securities and SVP, Strategic Initiatives with Raymond James.

She has a Global EMBA from Kellogg School of Management and Schulich School of Business and a law degree from Windsor University. Ms Dimitrov was chosen as one of the top 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining for 2016, is a Canada Board Diversity Council - 2016 Diversity 50 Candidate and speaks frequently on topics including talent management, diversity and inclusion and capital management.

Nora Aufreiter is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Nova Scotia, The Kroger Company, Cadillac Fairview Corporation and Neiman Marcus Group where she is Chair of the Digital and Technology Committee. Across her boards, Nora is a member of Audit, Compensation, and Corporate Governance Committees.

Not limited to only one sector, Nora also serves on several non-profit boards. She is a member of the Board of Directors at St. Michael's Hospital where she is also Chair of the Research and Education Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Opera Company. She is also a member of the Dean's Advisory Board for the Ivey Business School.

Ms. Aufreiter was a Director of McKinsey & Company where she worked for 27 years until she retired in June 2014. Ms. Aufreiter was Managing Partner of the Toronto office of McKinsey's Canadian Practice from 2008 until 2012. She then led the Firm's Consumer Digital and Omnichannel Service Lines until her retirement. Ms. Aufreiter also previously led the North American Retail Practice, the North American Branding and Marketing Organization Service Lines. Throughout her career she worked extensively in Canada, the United States and internationally serving her clients in consumer-facing industries in retail, consumer, financial services, and energy.

Before joining McKinsey, Ms. Aufreiter spent three years in financial services working in corporate finance and investment banking. She has an HBA in business administration from Ivey Business School at Western University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Nicole has held many board roles spanning the public and not for profit sector. She currently serves on the boards of Ontario Power Generation and the national not for profit Pathways to Education. She also serves on the Human Resources committee of both organizations. She is a former provincial appointee to the board of the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto where she was part of the executive committee and co-chaired the development committee.

From multi-nationals to not-for-profits, Nicole brings a 35-year track record of delivering results in Human Resources, Branding, Marketing and Communications. She was the first global Chief Branding and Communications Officer for Manulife, a highly complex, regulated global financial services company based in Toronto with 35,000 employees in Asia, the United States and Canada.

Throughout her successful 14-year career with Manulife, Nicole was a trusted advisor to senior executives and the Board of Directors. She led the creation of Manulife’s first global brand strategy focused on managing reputational risk and rebuilding overall brand presence following the financial crisis of 2008-2012. Additionally, she spearheaded the integration of numerous acquisitions including the co-branding efforts following Manulife’s merger with U.S.-based John Hancock. Nicole also has specific expertise in corporate social responsibility and issue and crisis management and communications.

Previously, Nicole led Human Resources and Communications for Manulife’s Canadian Division. She brings deep Human Resources expertise, particularly in talent management, including CEO succession planning and performance management and aligning executive compensation with performance.

In the early 1990’s, she was the Executive Director of the Sudbury United Way, followed by her role as the Assistant to the President at Laurentian University and prior to joining Manulife, she was a Director at BCE Media/Bell Canada.

Nicole has a proven track record of leading change in highly complex regulated environments, including restructuring, organizational design and cultural transformation. She is a broad thinker and brings a multi-disciplined and innovative approach to decision making. Nicole has an ICD-D designation from Rotman and an MBA from Laurentian University. She is originally from Sudbury and is fluently bilingual in French and English.