2024 Program

Our program is jam-packed with insightful sessions presented by experts in the Tech HR industry to help you identify the best tactics, policies and strategies employed by other people ops leaders.

Looking to earn CPD credits towards your CPHR accreditation? Tech Talent North is a pre-approved CPD partner allowing you to earn 6 certified education hours towards your CPHR designation.

CHRP, CHRL and CHRE members of HRPA may self-report hours for CPD.

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Events

March 02, 2022 , 2022

07:30 AM – 08:30 AM

Early Bird Wellness Workshop – RSVP Required

This two-part event will start with peer-led, face-to-face dialogues over breakfast where YOUR mental first aid is the focus.  Share experiences and gain practical tools to reset together with fellow people and culture leaders who can relate to the uniquely challenging road you have travelled.   Part two dives into a tactical presentation evaluating and caring for the ever changing physical and mental wellness and expectations of you and your teams.    7:30 – 8:10 Breakfast & Peer Connections. A time to assess ‘How are YOU doing? As leaders it is critical that you take care of your own mental and physical health. Unpack some of the challenges you have been through with other delegates and participate in an optional mental health check-in to assess your own stress and well being.  Stepping back to assess your own wellness may be the best way to help others in both your private and professional life.  8:10 – 8:30 Tackling Employee Wellness Head On – Building Organizational Health in a Changing Workforce  As workforce expectations shift, employers need to adapt to provide holistic support for the wellbeing of their employees to build a more resilient workforce.  This session will explore the new definition of employee wellness and challenge HR leaders to re-think their workforce support to build organizational health for an unpredictable future. Attendees will learn:

  • How the definition of employee wellness has changed
  • Considerations for building organizational health and fostering a culture of wellbeing
  • The role of leadership in supporting employee health & wellness
  • Where to invest resources to improve the quality of life and work for employees
60 Minutes Breakout Room 1

Lidia Pawlikowski

she/her
Associate Vice President, Health Consulting

HUB International

08:45 AM – 09:00 AM

Welcome Remarks

15 Minutes Main Room
Chair

Laurie Murdoch

she/her
VP, People & Organization

Sony Picture Entertainment (Imageworks)

Stephanie Hollingshead

CEO

TAP Network

09:00 AM – 09:40 AM

OPENING KEYNOTE: Motivation Drivers for Tech Talent

Amidst the great resignation, massive change fatigue and pandemic related weariness, it has become crucial for HR professionals to create a motivating workplace culture. In this session, you will learn:

  • Why you might be motiving your tech talent the wrong way
  • How your unconscious bias towards motivation might need a shift
  • 5 specific strategies that you can implement to create a highly engaged and motivated tech culture

 

40 Minutes Main Room

Vanessa Judelman

she/her
President

Mosaic People Development

09:45 AM – 10:15 AM

Networking Coffee

30 Minutes Foyer

10:15 AM – 11:05 AM

SESSION 1B: Cultivating Remote Work Competencies in Remote & Hybrid Teams

“But… can they work well remotely?”  The stakes are high. You’ve worked hard to attract great, qualified candidates and yet versions of this question linger. What are the competencies of effective remote workers and how do you assess and develop them in remote and hybrid organizations?  In this interactive session, participants will learn about the competencies and capabilities identified for successful remote workers and explore the implications for HR & PeopleOps professionals in promoting high-performing hybrid organizations.

50 Minutes Breakout Room 2

Candace Giesbrecht

she/her
Director, Remote Performance Academy

Teamit

SESSION 1C: Moving Beyond a Seat at the Table: Gaining Confidence, Power, Influence and Credibility as a C-Suite Leader

The HR function is moving beyond compliance and employee lifecycle management to business leadership that adds measurable business value.  Along with a seat at the leadership table comes expectations; CEOs look for data, metrics, business acumen and quantifiable results from HR leaders in addition to other departments such as finance, engineering and marketing.
The ability to understand and navigate the language and priorities important to business leaders means that HR will be better able to create successful initiatives aligned to and positively impact, business goals based on the human capital and talent development initiatives of a business.
Learn tactical tips on getting the attention and respect of your CEO and other key stakeholders in a move to the front end of strategic business decision-making.
Key take-aways:
1.       Improving your communication style and credibility as a senior leader by eliminating HR jargon, embracing business language that speaks and learning tips from the boardroom table
2.       Increase HR’s influence and engagement with the CEO, BOD and other key stakeholders
3.       Data and metrics that matter most to the C-suite and how to approach less quantifiable people topics
4.       What the CEO wants to see and hear in updates and meetings, especially when making your case for funds or resources

50 Minutes Breakout Room 3

Debby Carreau

she/her
CEO & Founder

Inspired HR Ltd

SESSION 1A: The New Pandemic: Mental Health in the Workplace

Creating a psychologically safe and supportive workplace is not merely a culture and retention strategy, it should be a top initiative from a business, legal and health perspective – and the right of all employees.

Disability claims related to mental health issues and loss of productivity due to PTSD, depression or anxiety have risen substantially in Canada since the pandemic.  Over half of Canadian workers say emotional, mental and physical fatigue is the top issue that is affecting them negatively. However, 37 per cent feel unsafe to talk about mental health at work, according to a report from Sun Life. Healthy organizations with proactive mental health strategies tend to experience lower staff turnover, fewer workplace injuries, less absenteeism and reduced employee burnout.

This session will explore tactical ways to support mental health in the workplace and create a sustainable culture where employees feel comfortable approaching HR with their mental health challenges.

50 Minutes Breakout Room 1

Chris Munroe

he/him
Partner, Labour and Employment Lawyer

Roper Greyell

Pam Lee

she/her
Director

Human Resources, Blackbird Interactive

Kristin Bower

she/her
EDI Consultant and Partner

Debbie Pearmain

she/her
Principal

One Stop HR

Janet Young

she/her
Director, Well-being & Health Services, People & Culture

TELUS

11:15 AM – 12:05 PM

SESSION 2A: Dig In: The New Work Order on Retention

In the “Great Resignation” headlines, the primary focus is on the employees leaving their companies in record-breaking numbers. But what about the supervisors, team-mates and mentors they leave behind?  What work needs to be done on the retention front and promote feelings of connection to leaders and organizations.  In addition to changes in policies and benefits, a winning retention strategy comes down to leadership.

50 Minutes Breakout Room 1
Moderator

Helen Sheridan

Chief Human Resources Officer

STEMCELL Technologies

Arlin Dueck

he/him
Executive Director, Talent

Harvest Builders

Doug van Spronsen

he/him
CEO & Co-founder

Versett

Teresa R. Kobayashi-Tabo

she/her
Senior Director, People Partners

Hootsuite

SESSION 2B: Building Cultures of Belonging From the Inside Out

As leaders, we know how important it is to BE the change as we navigate and lead change within our teams and organizations. Within the context of our rapidly changing and increasingly divided teams, organizations and world, this can be particularly challenging. When we realize all change starts from the inside, our approach becomes so much simpler creating more impact with less effort.
In this session, Jessie Sutherland will share insights and practical strategies to: * Build a culture of belonging from the inside out – starting with yourself, as a leader facilitating change. * Focus your efforts so you can address your priority people and culture challenges more effectively and with greater ease. * Navigate the challenges that get in the way of increasing belonging in the workplace * Attendees will learn about Jessie’s proven award-winning Belonging Matters framework and receive her Culture of Belonging Temperature Check which has led many of her clients to focus their efforts and receive innovation awards for the impact of their social change efforts, that create greater impact with less effort.

50 Minutes Breakout Room 2

Jessie Sutherland

she/her
Director

Intercultural Strategies

*Program & schedule subject to change*

*The views expressed by the speakers in their presentations are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of their respective companies or organizations.