Please note: In accordance with the province's proof-of-vaccination policy beginning October 4, 2021, each attendee will be required to provide proof vaccination. Both electronic and paper records will be accepted.

CPHR CPD: 8.0

Join us for our first ever, in-person, full day
Diversity & Inclusion Conference!

We are thrilled to welcome you back in person for a full day of tremendous & thought provoking learning
+ networking opportunities you can't miss.

Limited seats available.
Register today!

Keynotes

Unconscious Bias & Micro-aggressions: Barriers to Cultural Competence  

April Howe, Senior Executive Advisor to the Deputy Minister, Department of Justice 

When we are moving fast or lack all the data, our unconscious biases fill in the gaps, influencing everything from professional decisions to our interactions with people. This session aims to raise awareness, spark conversation, and initiate action. We will examine how implicit attitudes and stereotypes result in subtle forms of prejudice and micro-aggressions that can undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion in our society.  

April has been an active voice for diversity and inclusion in Nova Scotia for many years. Through her consultancy, she helps organizations navigate the journey to become more diverse and create the conditions for authentic inclusiveness. She works extensively with clients from various sectors including pharmacare, health care, finance, engineering, and not-for-profit to provide assessment, leadership awareness building, customized training, diversity frameworks that build inclusive, progressive work environments. 

HRA Unchecked: Considering the implications of Human Resource Analytics on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Dr. Wendy R. Carroll, PhD, CPHR - Director, EMBA Program & associate professor, Department of Management, Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University

Chiedza Chigumba, PhD student, Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University

Rob McNutt, PhD student, Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University

There is a great deal of hype around “Big Data” and HR Analytics (HRA) and the potential for these applications to transform people management. Despite the ambitious claims from various creators and vendors about HRA, it remains that efforts in these areas are predominantly being led from a technology rather than an HR perspective.
 
In this session, we aim to provide HR professionals with:

• An overview of the developments in HRAs
• The debates and challenges around building with biases embedded
• The need to bring the voice of HR professionals to the forefront of HRA developments

Dr. Wendy R. Carroll, an award-winning teacher and practice-oriented researcher, is the Director of the EMBA Program and associate professor in the Department of Management at the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University. Wendy researches in the areas of Human Resource Management and  Employee Silence after Unjust Events, and teaches from an evidence-based management approach in practice. Wendy was awarded the Dr. Geraldine Thomas Educational Leadership Award within the academy in 2018 and received national recognition as one of the Top 25 HR Professionals by Canadian HR Reporter Magazine in 2016.

Chiedza Chigumba is a PhD student at the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University. Her research interests include culturally diverse workplaces, immigration, recruitment and retention.

Robert is a Ph.D. student in Business Administration (Management) in the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. His research interests focus on corporate board diversity, equity/ diversity/ inclusion within HRM analytics, and cooperative relations of healthcare management organizations.

My Superpower is Privilege: Understanding Your Secret Weapon to Create Inclusive Spaces

A privilege is defined as “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.” When it comes to inclusions, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA), we tend to talk about things like “white privilege” or “male privilege”. What about “financial privilege” or “educational privilege”? There are many forms of privilege and while not everyone possesses every type of privilege, many people have some form of privilege, in some way, whether they know it or not.  

My Superpower is Privilege: Understanding Your Secret Weapon to Create Inclusive Spaces is an entertaining and informative look at the concept of privilege, and how it can be used to the advantage of others. Based on his award-winning and best-selling book Birds of All Feathers: Doing Diversity and Inclusion Right, Michael Bach focuses on the individual and how those of use with certain privileges can use that privilege to make our spaces more inclusive for all people.  

Michael Bach is the founder and Chair of the board of directors of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. He is nationally and internationally recognized as a thought leader and subject matter expert in the fields of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility, bringing a vast knowledge of leading practices in a live setting to his work.  

He is the author of the best-selling and award-winning book Birds of All Feathers:Doing Diversity and Inclusion Right and the upcoming book Alphabet Soup: The Quintessential Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion. 

Being a Disability Confident Leader 

Tova Sherman, 

Referencing her recently published book; Win, Win, Win: The 18 Inclusionisms You Need to be A Disability Confident Employer Award-winning presenter, Tova Sherman will guide you through the key elements of becoming and staying, a diverse and inclusive workplace. A disability confident team, from the top down, takes more than a mission statement - it takes action. 

Tova Sherman is an award-winning Inclusion Leader and CEO of The NGO, reachAbility. Her trail-blazing approach to equalizing the playing field around disability at work has led her to be a highly sought-out Presenter and Consultant to P3 Clients across Canada & The US. Her recently released title; Win, Win, Win: The 18 Inclusion-isms You Need to Become a Disability Confident Employer ( Win, Win, WIn Book) is only the latest accomplishment from this passionate innovator.

Professional Panel - HR Best Practices: Leading Inclusive Change

Jaime Burnet, Associate Lawyer, NMP Barristers

Jaime is an associate lawyer at Nijhawan McMillan Petrunia in Halifax. Her practice focuses on labour, employment, professional regulation, and human rights law, as well as civil litigation. Jaime facilitates employer training sessions on preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based harassment, and creating safe, inclusive workplaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ people.  

Jaime received her law degree from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University. While at Dalhousie, she completed a term working at the Dalhousie Legal Aid Service, and worked as a research assistant on international human rights law projects regarding discrimination in the health care system against women who use drugs, and the criminalization of sex, gender, and reproduction. Prior to law school, Jaime completed an MA in Women and Gender Studies & Sexual Diversity Studies from the University of Toronto. She volunteers with Wellness Within: An Organization for Health & Justice, and is the Former Chair of the Canadian Bar Association Nova Scotia’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Community (SOGIC) section. 

Laurel Clark, Vice President, Corporate Human Resources, Chorus Aviation Inc

Laurel has over thirty years of experience in senior human resources roles within the aviation industry. Although she has led all human resources functions, she has a special interest in culture, diversity and inclusion, leadership development and strategy.
Laurel holds an MBA from Dalhousie, CPHR and Chartered Director designations and is an Executive Coach with an ACC certification.  

Susan Malana, Chief Human Resources Officer, Port of Halifax

Susan Malana graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Commerce, specializing in Human Resources / Industrial Relations. She started her Human Resources career in the financial industry, transitioned to the retail industry as Human Resources and Operations Manager with the Hudson’s Bay Company and settling for a period in hospitality.

Most recently she worked with New Castle Hotels & Resorts where she was the Regional Director of Human Resources for the Canadian Region, which currently consists of 6 hotels/resorts in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, one of which is the Westin Nova Scotian. During her time with New Castle Hotels she cultivated their reputation as an Employer of Choice and they are routinely recognized as a top employer in Canada. Recognition in 2020 & 2021 includes Best Workplaces in Canada, Best Workplaces for Retail & Hospitality, Best Workplaces for Women, Best Workplaces for Inclusion, Best Workplaces for Mental Health, and Best Workplaces for Today's Youth.

Susan recently transitioned to the Halifax Port Authority as the Chief Human Resources Officer

Heather Deblois, Director Diversity & Inclusion, Sobeys

Heather DeBlois graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University, Sobeys School of Business, with a specialization in Human Resources.

Heather joined Sobeys in 2003 as a Manager of Organizational Development and has since held numerous progressive roles within the Human Resources team including roles in employee relations, talent acquisition, and change management. Heather was most recently promoted to the Director of Diversity and Inclusion in 2018 where she is responsible for setting th e organizational D&I Strategy.

Heather is a two time recipient of the organization’s Value Champion Award for, “Get it Done with Passion and Integrity” and “Always Place the Customer First”. In April 2019, Heather was recognized at Sobeys Leader Forum for her outstanding achievement as one of the first recipients of Sobeys’ President Award. Successful award winners were identified by the executive committee for their significant contributions to advancing a key strategy.

Moderator

Natalie Borden - Executive Director, Pharmaceutical Services and Extended Health Benefits at Government of Nova Scotia

Upon graduating from the Dalhousie University College of Pharmacy in 1994, Natalie worked as a community pharmacist in NB, NS and ON.  She also worked for in private insurance and benefits consulting in Toronto and she maintained a practice in community pharmacy up until 2014.

Natalie joined the NS Department of Health and Wellness in 2008 and is currently the Executive Director of Pharmaceutical services and Extended Health Benefits.  She was the first black female director in the department and is currently the first black executive director.

Outside of work, Natalie is an accomplished instructor and mentor; working with the Nova Scotia Community College’s African Nova Scotian Student Tutoring Program, as a lab demonstrator and occasional lecturer with the Dalhousie University College of Pharmacy, and conducting admissions interview for Dalhousie schools of Pharmacy and Medicine.   She is also an experienced board member; serving as a member and chair of the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners; sitting on the NS Barristers’ Society Council, the Halifax Regional Police Foundation Board, and is Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee for Provincial Judicial Appointments.

Stay tuned! More to be announced.

Lunch + Interactive Activity

What's The T with Elle and Rhea

Elle Noir & Rhea Listique

Elle Noir is a Trans Black east coast Drag Legend. She's been performing for 16 years and is known as The Beyonce of Halifax.

One of her proudest moments was in 2019, on the 50th year of stonewall, when she was awarded the Pride Ambassador of Halifax. She is an activist, public speaker, and has performed in over 10 countries during her drag years. Bringing her intersectionality to stage and screen, as well as being a featured artist in Stage Mother (2020), she is known for her fabulous performances and wonderful stage presence. Even if you don't know your learning, she is teaching with every performance.

Rhea Listique has been dropping jaws since 2015 when she first took the stage. She is known for her exquisitely painted bearded queen persona. Breaking the standard for queens in our Halifax drag scene and inspiring new creativity from even the most seasoned artists, she will leave a crowd begging for more.

Conference Schedule

The Diversity & Inclusion Conference will provide the opportunity for attendees to participate in active discussions, connect with each other, share ideas, and focus on building their social capital while enhancing their skills through the professional development offered.

Conference schedule subject to change.

Menu

Appetizer
Spinach Salad - Red onion, Mandarins, Almonds & Cranberries

Entrées

Your choice of:

  - Chicken Breast - Wild Mushroom & Rosemary Sauce
- Maple Glazed Salmon – Dijon Cream Sauce
- 3 Peppercorn Rib Steak - Served Medium with Onion Jus

All Entrees are served with Chef’s Choice of Potato & Vegetable

Dessert

New York Style Cheesecake - topped with berry sauce

Pricing