Mr. Ariganello is currently the President and CEO of the Chartered Professionals of Human Resources CPHR BC & Yukon, and CEO of CPHR Canada. 

Prior to this, he was the President and CEO of CGA (Certified General Accountant’s) Canada. Mr. Ariganello was a key leader in the merger of the 3 accounting bodies into CPA. 

Prior to CGA Canada, Mr. Ariganello was also the President of Avon Canada, the world’s largest direct seller. 

An Order of Canada recipient, and holding the ICD director designation, Mr. Ariganello serves as Chair of the Board of Re:Sound, a Canadian music licensing company, that obtains fair compensation for artists and record labels. He is also a board director of Spinal Cord Injury B.C., and is also an audit, and governance committee member. Mr. Ariganello also sits on the World Federation of People Management Association as President, and has served as Chair of the Audit Council for Local Government supporting the Auditor General for Local Government for the province of B.C. In addition, Mr. Ariganello completed his term on the board of the BC Real Estate Association as a director and member of the audit committee. 

While at Avon, Mr. Ariganello was chair of the Direct Sellers Association of Canada and a member of the board of the Canadian Cosmetic Toiletries and Fragrance Association; and Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association of Canada. Additionally, he served on Canada’s National Council of Financial Executives. He also sat on the advisory panel to the Comptroller General of Canada. 

Mr. Ariganello has significant experience in people management having led large organizations, like Avon ( + 1000 personnel), with full operations responsibility, pursuing re-structuring plans, mergers, and ensuring the human capital aspect of all these exercises was always front and center, a priority. 

Mr. Ariganello also consults on good governance practices, particularly with not for profit boards, and on a wide array of operational issues. 

Mr. Ariganello s a graduate of McGill University and holds the following designations: Fellow CPA (Canada), Fellow CGA, Fellow CCA (UK), CPA (Delaware), FCPHR, SHRM (SCP) and ICD.D. 

Jodi Kovitz is the CEO of the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), representing over 24,000 HR professionals across Ontario. Since joining in 2023, she has led a transformative agenda focused on growth, innovation, and member value—resulting in the association’s highest membership in a decade, a significant revenue increase, and a revitalized organizational culture.

She is the founder of #movethedial, a global movement advancing the participation of women in tech, which engaged over 60,000 people worldwide. Her previous leadership roles include driving growth at Vetster, serving as CEO of Peerscale, leading business development strategy for Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP’s national litigation practice as Director of Client & Business Development, and practicing law at Torkin Manes LLP.

In 2018, Ms. Kovitz co-founded #Tech4SickKids, mobilizing Canada’s tech sector to raise millions in support of SickKids Foundation’s AI and innovation initiatives—contributing to its historic $1.7 billion campaign. She also served on the No Limits Campaign Cabinet.

Ms. Kovitz previously served two terms on the Board of Directors of Toronto Global, helping to guide the organization’s efforts to attract international investment to the Toronto region.

She has been recognized as one of Canada’s 25 Women of Influence, a two-time WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women honouree, and Communicator of the Year by the International Association of Business Communicators. She has also been featured in Forbes Women.

She holds an HBA from Ivey, an LLB from Osgoode, and an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Calgary. She is the author of Go Out of Your Way, a book on fostering genuine connections in business, and is currently enrolled in the CEO Program at Columbia Business School Executive Education.

Michèle Boudria is a celebrated Canadian business leader whose career with McDonald’s has spanned more than 40 years, culminating in her role as President & CEO of McDonald’s Canada. As the first woman to hold this position, Michèle led the organization with a people-first approach, overseeing operations across more than 1,450 restaurants nationwide and championing McDonald’s purpose of feeding and fostering communities.  

Beginning her journey behind the front counter in Aylmer, Quebec, Michèle rose through the ranks to hold regional, national, and global leadership roles, including the Worldwide Operations team. Throughout her career in Canada, Michèle played a key role in shaping the McCafé brand while driving sustained growth as McCafé Officer and strengthening partnerships with franchisees as West Regional Vice President.   

Prior to leading the Canadian business, Michèle served as Managing Director of McDonald’s Netherlands, where she bolstered the brand’s market position through a focus on operational excellence and strategic organizational alignment.  

Michèle’s leadership was marked by a deep commitment to inclusion, serving in various leadership roles across McDonald’s Women’s Leadership Networks, both in Canada and the U.S.  

Michèle is recognized for her mentorship, advocacy, and dedication to creating inclusive workplaces. She remains passionate about empowering future leaders and contributing to meaningful change in her communities. 

Gianluca Cairo is Vice President, Operations and Strategy at Dayforce, where he supports global go-to-market strategy for the public sector. He brings 20 years of executive leadership experience spanning software, operations, revenue growth and strategic planning. Previously, he served as Chief of Staff to the Ministers of Innovation and Public Services in the Government of Canada, where he guided policy and large-scale transformation initiatives. Earlier in his career, Gianluca was Group Lead of Global Operations at ARGUS Software, driving international growth and operational efficiency. His expertise lies at the intersection of business strategy, technology, and public sector innovation

Stephanie Case, MSM (BA(H), JD, LLM) is an international human rights lawyer, elite ultrarunner, and founder of Free to Run, an organization that advances women’s and girls’ leadership in areas of conflict. With a career devoted to advocating for human rights and gender equality, Stephanie has worked on the front lines of humanitarian crises around the globe, including in Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Gaza. In 2020, Stephanie was awarded the prestigious Governor General of Canada’s Meritorious Service Medal, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, for her work.

As an ultrarunner, Stephanie has taken on  some of the world’s most punishing races, drawing parallels between the endurance needed in running and her experiences navigating crises in war zones. Stephanie has won competitions ranging from week long self-supported races across desert landscapes to 450 km non-stop races across the Alps. Through her advocacy and storytelling, she highlights the resilience of  women and communities overcoming immense obstacles. In 2022, Stephanie featured in an  award-winning documentary, “Free to Run”, which chronicles her work breaking barriers for  women through sport, and the incredible and heartbreaking journeys of two Afghan runners as  they experience the takeover of their country by the Taliban. Stephanie is currently working on her next film that follows the deeply personal experiences of  women athletes aspiring to be mothers, shedding light on the shame and stigma surrounding  infertility and exploring the positive role that running can play in dealing with the challenges. 

She recently won the 100km Ultra Trail Snowdonia Race in Wales while breastfeeding throughout, just six months post-partum. The news of her performance went viral around the  world, showing new mothers everywhere that they did not have to give up their dreams when  becoming a parent. Stephanie has since returned to hundred-mile races and is planning her  next adventure

Anuj is passionate about bringing data and heart together in People functions, to help companies grow and solve for health, happiness and productivity. This has been true over Anuj’s time at Google, since 2008, as Anuj worked in People Analytics, conducting scientific trials and multi-year analyses, as well as front-line HR functions helping achieve business results. Anuj has been part of growing Google across 20+ countries and multiple functions, over various tech and people related stages of change. As the Head of HR for Google Canada, Anuj now focuses on building and growing a thriving employee workforce that positively contributes to the communities around us. Prior to Google, Anuj was a Consultant at Mercer HR Consultant and taught Account & Finance at the Richard Ivey School of Business. He holds MBA and HBA degrees from the Richard Ivey School of Business. 

Chris Dodge is a Partner in People Advisory Services, based in Ottawa, Canada. He is a business-led HR Transformation leader who architects and transforms forward focused HR organizations and helps clients unleash the potential of their workforce. Chris helps public and private sector clients re-imagine the delivery of HR, design for the employee experience, drive digital innovation, and amplify HR and business outcomes. He takes tremendous pride in developing others and building stand-out teams. With more than 20 years of experience, Chris offers a thoughtful and creative approach to bringing HR strategies and human capital programs to life. 

Candice Faktor is the CEO of Disco, an AI-powered learning platform transforming how organizations upskill their talent. A serial entrepreneur, tech executive, and investor, Candice helped scale Wattpad to its $660M acquisition and is a partner at Lobby Capital, a $250M Series A fund based in Silicon Valley.

Candice brings deep expertise in AI, digital transformation, and innovation, having advised numerous Fortune 100 companies during her time at Deloitte Monitor and through Gamechanger Advisory. She has served on the boards of pioneering AI-first platforms, including Coveo and DreamBox Learning.

A sought-after speaker on the future of AI, innovation, and human potential, Candice has inspired audiences at Deloitte, CPPIB, Elevate, YPO, and Top 40 Under 40, urging leaders to unlock the full potential of people in the age of AI and digital disruption. 

Chris is a Partner and National Leader of EY’s People Advisory Practice in Canada. The leader of PAS Tax Canada, he leads a diverse team of over 700 professionals, led by 35 partners serving companies across a wide range of services including, Rewards (compensation, pensions, benefits), Mobile Talent (mobility, social security), Immigration (Canadian, US and Global), and Payroll.

Chris provides strategic insight, advice and leadership support for companies sending critical talent to over 150 countries globally. He has advised and served some of the largest Canadian, Global and Fortune100 corporations in his 25+ year career in professional services.

Chris believes that bringing diverse teams and perspectives together to tackle or biggest business and social challenges, leads to better outcomes and solutions. Chris serves on the EY Americas Inclusion Advisory Council, EY Canada Inclusion Advisory Council and EY Canada ESG Committee.

Chris has a passion for entrepreneurship and is Director of the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network (EAN), which helps Black and Indigenous founders in Canada build professional networks, access funding and grow their businesses.

He is devoted husband to Janine and father to two boys and a Tottenham Hotspurs fan (he believes that everyone should live with at least one terrible choice).

Future success depends on how organizations prioritize people today. An EY Canada Partner in People Advisory Services, Simon inspires our Digital Workforce Transformation group to evolve human resource functions, strategies and practices in line with market and workforce needs. 

Bringing together leaders across HR, technology, finance and payroll, Simon’s team helps businesses take a holistic, people-first approach to transformation. He draws on two decades’ experience bridging innovation and insight to transform HR functions, systems, people analytics and future of work programs. 

Before joining EY in 2022, Simon led a global consulting team of professionals in Asia, Europe and North America through industry-leading, sustainable growth — always with a focus on strengthening the link between people and technology to spark new possibilities. 

Simon holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration Degree from HEC Montréal  School of Business. He has completed graduate studies in project management, as well as qualifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), SAP Solution Architect and Microsoft Certified Solution Architect. 

With over 20 years of experience in human resources across both the private and public sectors, Nadim has a proven track record of designing and implementing people strategies that drive organizational transformation and performance.  He is known for aligning and advancing human resources priorities and functions in the context of changing market realities, and creating synergies with both leadership and operations to achieve strategic transformation. 
 
As the Executive Vice President, Head of People and Culture, Nadim is focused on advancing GreenShield’s People & Culture function to foster a high-impact and highly engaged workforce where Purpose meets Passion and Performance. 
 
Nadim holds a Masters in Industrial Relations from the University of Toronto and is designated as a Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE) and Certified Compensation Professional. 

Alida Meghji is a Partner in EY’s AI & Data . She has extensive public sector experience and has supported clients across many countries, including Canada, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, South Sudan and Afghanistan. She assists public sector clients nationwide in improving service delivery for Canadians through emerging technologies such as, generative AI, robotic process automation (RPA), machine learning and natural language processing (NLP)

Alida’s experience includes intelligent automation, strategy development, strategic communications, project management, program reviews, governance and operating model development, communications, ideation, facilitation, change leadership and culture change, team building and business case development.  

She is a trailblazer in the world of technology and leadership – a woman who has not only shattered ceilings but continues to build pathways for others to follow. Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson is a seasoned technology executive, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and fierce advocate for women in leadership. As Vice President of Technology Operations & Services and Cloud Transformation at Export Development Canada, she leads complex digital transformation initiatives, ensuring that businesses and technology evolve together for the future.

With over two decades of experience at industry giants like TD, IBM, and Rogers Communications, Nkechi has consistently been a force in navigating spaces where women, especially women of color, are often underrepresented. But she has never allowed those barriers to define her. Instead, she has used her expertise, resilience, and vision to claim her space and create opportunities for others.

Nkechi's leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, most notably being named one of the Women's Executive Network (WXN) Top 100 in Canada. This prestigious accolade highlights her exceptional contributions and influence in the industry.

Beyond the boardroom, Nkechi is the Founder & CEO of Empowered in My Skin, a movement dedicated to helping individuals recognize their worth, embrace their authenticity, and rise with confidence. She knows firsthand that breaking barriers isn’t just about individual success, it’s about bringing others along, ensuring that women don’t just have a seat at the table, but a voice that is heard and valued.

Sangita Patel is one of Canada’s most engaging media personalities. Previously a co-host of ET Canada, she has interviewed many of the biggest stars from around the globe, both in-studio and on the red carpet. Today, she’s the host of TLC’s newest lifestyle show, Love and Translation, following her hit four-season run as host of HGTV Canada’s Home to Win. Whether hosting an event or sharing her personal story, Patel infuses everything she does with passion and professionalism. 

In 2022, Patel won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Host of a Web Program or Series for her work with ET Canada Live. She has also been nominated for Best Host in the lifestyle category for her work on Home to Win. In addition, Patel is the recipient of a Trailblazer Award from the Reelworld film festival, named Anokhi magazine’s “Television Personality of The Year”, and was featured in Vogue India as one of the “50 Most Influential Global South Asians.” 

Patel has a passion for giving back to her community, stepping up when it’s needed most, from delivering food to frontline workers during the pandemic to hosting national fundraisers for charitable causes. 

Matthew is a consultant in communication who has a deep understanding of and appreciation for total rewards.  

He has more than 20 years of experience helping employers of all sizes and in all sectors: public, para-public and private. 

Matthew helps employers (and other plan sponsors) meet their HR and organizational objectives through:  

• Employee research and analysis (focus groups, interviews, town halls and surveys)  

• Communication and change management strategies  

• Action plans and tools 

Matthew translates complexity into friendly communication that supports comprehension, engagement and action. He helps maximize the understanding and appreciation of various HR programs (cash compensation, group benefits, pension plans, stock plans, performance management, engagement, etc.). 

Matthew is also a Prosci certified change management practitioner. 

With nearly a decade of experience at Indeed, Signy Plaxton, Global Client Strategist, is recognized for her expertise in digital recruitment solutions and understanding the Canadian hiring market.  

Signy began her career in sales, developing a consultative approach while partnering with national accounts and leading enterprise clients across Canada to deliver impactful hiring strategies. In recent years, she has taken on a senior strategic role, shaping innovative approaches for global partners by leveraging data-driven insights and a passion for client advocacy. Signy’s diverse background and commitment to excellence makes her a trusted advisor for organizations navigating the evolving recruitment landscape.  

Outside the workplace, Signy finds joy in discovering new places, enjoying cottage life and showcasing her flair for tap dancing. 

Douglas Porter has over 30 years of experience analyzing global economies and financial markets. As Chief Economist at BMO Financial Group and author of the popular Talking Points, he oversees the macroeconomic and financial market forecasts and co-writes the firm’s weekly flagship publication, Focus. Mr. Porter manages the team that has won numerous forecasting awards. Most recently, Douglas led the team to a #1 ranking for Top U.S. Forecaster among 60 global firms in the 2023 Focus Economics Survey, and #1 for Top Canadian Inflation Forecaster among 28 firms. Also, his team took the #1 spot in the StarMine Awards for Most Accurate Forecasters for Canada in 2022.

As a respected commentator on economic and financial trends, he is regularly quoted in the national press and often interviewed on radio and television.

Douglas’ career began at the Bank of Canada; then, before joining BMO, he held the positions of Economist and Country Risk Analyst with other Canadian financial institutions.

He has been a member of C.D. Howe’s Monetary Policy Council since 2008 and serves on the Investment Management Committees of the Bank of Montreal’s Canada Pension Plan and Western’s Endowment Fund.

Douglas Porter, CFA, earned a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Western Ontario.

Mélanie has extensive experience as an HR and total rewards leader with more than two decades of success in strategy, design and execution of compensation, benefits and human resources services for organizations across diverse industries in Montreal and Vancouver. Earlier in her career, Mélanie also worked as an executive compensation consultant at an international firm.

Over the years, she has been instrumental in driving mergers and acquisitions integration efforts, negotiating cost-effective benefit plans, and ensuring compensation market competitiveness. She is passionate about pay equity, pay transparency, diversity, and developing and implementing compensation infrastructure and incentives with an emphasis on aligning total rewards with business goals.

With over 27 years of experience in the financial services industry—including Insurance, Wealth Management, Investments, and Banking—David is a seasoned National Sales Leader known for his strategic vision and exceptional market development skills across Canada. Throughout his career, he has successfully signed and managed more than 150 partner agreements with leading Canadian enterprises, associations, unions, and universities, driving growth and expanding market reach. 

David holds a Master of Business Administration from the Université du Québec à Montréal and a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Finance from Concordia University. He is also a designated Chartered Investment Manager (CIM), reflecting his deep expertise in investment strategy and portfolio management. 

Beyond his professional achievements, David is an avid traveler and hiker who enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife. Together, they are passionate advocates for causes supporting children and animal welfare. 

Raj has a background in IT, procurement, financial planning, business intelligence and growth. He spent two years in Canada setting up Peninsula operations there, was CEO at Peninsula Ireland for two years and now heads up our Canada operations as CEO at Peninsula Canada and BrightHR Canada.

His strategic acumen, commitment to excellence, and unwavering dedication have been instrumental in helping the business grow. Raj is known for his collaborative leadership style and for fostering a culture of innovation and inclusivity.

He is extremely passionate about technology, highly experienced with all types of business analysis and able to offer expert commentary on business growth and data trends.

Vanmala Subramaniam has been a journalist for more than a decade, with a career spanning television, print and online media. She began her career as a producer at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, working on various news and current-affairs programs, including the investigative show the fifth estate. 

In 2016, she joined VICE News, leading the formation of a new business-focused vertical, VICE Money. Vanmala spent much of her time at VICE, and subsequently at The Financial Post, reporting on the nascent legal cannabis industry, investigating and breaking stories on some of the biggest names in the cannabis industry. 

Vanmala joined The Globe and Mail in 2021. She’s broken several stories since joining The Globe, including her reporting on MindGeek that revealed various bidders, including a former cannabis entrepreneur, were vying to buy the controversial owner of Pornhub in the summer of 2021. As the Globe's designated Future of Work reporter, Vanmala will explore a host of workplace issues, including the growing chasm between employers and employees, the rise of unions, and how technological change and immigration trends will reshape the Canadian labour force. 

Vanmala hails from Malaysia, and speaks three languages. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto, majoring in economics and political science, and has called Canada her home for over 15 years. 

Alexandra Tillo is a seasoned Senior Talent Marketing Consultant at Indeed Canada, where she partners with HR and TA leaders in major Canadian organizations, delivering insights through best practices, thought leadership, and data-driven analysis. Thanks to over eight years at Indeed, Alexandra brings a wealth of experience, having transitioned to marketing after holding various sales roles with national accounts.  

Originally from France and based in Toronto for over a decade, she is fluently bilingual and brings a deep understanding of the Canadian hiring landscape. Her career has been defined by nurturing close client collaboration, leveraging her field expertise to meet clients’ needs and driving strategic outcomes. Outside of work, Alexandra is an avid traveller and a self-proclaimed white wine connoisseur. 

The life of visionary activist Spencer West is a powerful story of resilience and triumph. At age five, he lost both legs from the pelvis down. Rather than let adversity define him, Spencer rose to each challenge and learned to thrive in a world not built for people with disabilities. His journey revealed strategies that empower leaders, educators, professionals, and young people to redefine what’s possible in their lives and careers. 

Spencer is a global keynote speaker, content creator, and activist. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro using his hands and wheelchair, opened for Demi Lovato on a world tour and starred in Redefine Possible: The Story of Spencer West, a documentary that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. He also authored the best-selling memoir Standing Tall: My Journey, played Spencer the window washer on Murdoch Mysteries. Today, he engages a global audience of over 4 million followers on TikTok. 

His work has been featured by ABC News, BuzzFeed, 60 Minutes, CTV, BBC News, TMZ, CNN, Forbes, The Globe & Mail, CBS This Morning, and Bloomberg. He also appeared on Season 2 of Karamo The Podcast, hosted by Karamo Brown. 

Spencer West has shared the stage with figures like former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Mia Farrow, Martin Luther King III, Jennifer Hudson, and Natalie Portman. 

Spencer’s message has reached millions through live and virtual events. He has spoken for organizations including Virgin Atlantic, KPMG, Microsoft, Staples, Universal McCann, SickKids Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs, and many more across the education, finance, and healthcare sectors. 

From major conferences and universities to stadiums of 20,000, Spencer captivates every audience with charisma and authenticity. His words inspire people to face challenges, embrace change, and lead with purpose. Every event ends with takeaways that help people and teams redefine their possible. 

When you have the right people, with the right capabilities, in the right place, for the right cost, doing the right things – the possibilities are limitless. As a Partner in our People Advisory Services practice, Andrea collaborates with clients to help them get their strategy right.

A strategic change management and human resources leader, she’s laser focused on driving the kinds of transformational change that helps clients evolve their leaders and workforce for the future. Focused on financial services, and with experience across industries including retail, technology, health care and more, Andrea advises clients on human capital planning spanning operating model and organization design, change management, talent management and human resources service delivery.

Andrea holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Kinesiology from Western University and a Master of Business Administration (Business) from McGill University. She is a Prosci-certified change practitioner and was a guest lecturer at York University’s Schulich School of Business. 

How Andrea is building a better working world

“With the changing dynamics around talent and our broader operating environment, rethinking your people strategy and how you manage transformational change can open organizations up to a wealth of possibilities. We’re proud to work with Canada’s leading businesses, pioneering game-changing strategies that unlock potential for their people, organizations and the working world.”