Workshop Speakers
Shannon Anthony
Shannon Anthony
She graduated from the University of Windsor Faculty of Law (after completing her final year at Osgoode Hall Law School) and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2008. She gained experience in this area through her educational background as well as her law practice experience, first as an employment law associate at Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt, followed by six years in private practice in a boutique firm as a labour and employment lawyer and more recently as the sole in-house labour and employment counsel to a large manufacturing company.
She was responsible for the efficient and effective implementation of human rights policy and compliance projects for all Canadian and U.S. locations of the manufacturing company. She has extensive experience conducting and reviewing workplace investigations, human rights, accommodations and with broader diversity, inclusion and reconciliation issues.
Kirk Berthiaume
Kirk Berthiaume
With more than 20 years of dedicated public service, Kirk Berthiaume’s career reflects a profound commitment to community and resilience. He joined the military in 2001 and transitioned to the fire service in 2003, beginning his tenure with Markham Fire and Emergency Services in 2009 as a Firefighter.
In 2024, Kirk advanced to the role of Training Officer. In September 2020, Kirk was diagnosed with Complex PTSD, rooted in his experiences from both military and fire service. He was partnered with Oscar, his service dog, in March 2023. Through Markham’s accommodation process, Kirk has seamlessly moved into the training role – where Oscar accompanies him to work every day, offering both support and companionship.
Kirk is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and firefighter wellness, leading by example and fostering a culture of care within emergency services.
Ryan Best
Ryan Best
With over two decades of distinguished service, Ryan Best brings a wealth of leadership experience and a deep commitment to inclusive workplace practices. Beginning his career in 2001 as a suppression firefighter with Markham Fire and Emergency Services (MFES) Ryan has risen through the ranks, serving as Captain and Battalion Chief, and now as Deputy Fire Chief.
His leadership is marked by a strong dedication to strategic innovation, team collaboration, and fostering environments where every voice is valued. Ryan has been a key supporter of MFES’s progressive management initiatives, including efforts to enhance employee well-being and retention in a rapidly evolving workforce landscape.
Lori Bolton
Lori Bolton
Director of Human Resources, City of Orillia
Lori Bolton serves as OMHRA’s President. She previously held the positions of Vice President of Finance and Stakeholder Relations and Chair of the Stakeholder Relations Committee.
Lori is the Director of Human Resources for the City of Orillia, where she directs and administers the corporate human resources function, including employee labour relations, collective bargaining, compensation and benefits administration, employee performance management, corporate training and development, health and safety functions, and payroll.
Wylie Burke
Wylie Burke
She’s worked with United Way, CIBC, SickKids, and TMU, and is known for her people-centred, strategic approach. Wylie helps organizations align strategy, people, and operations to meet the shifting demands of modern work and to drive meaningful and lasting change.
Wylie holds an MBA from Queen’s University, an Honours Sociology degree from York University, and is an Adler Trained Coach. Learn more at wylieburke.com.
Evan Daikov
Evan Daikov
Evan provides pragmatic and proactive advice on a wide range of labour and employment issues. His areas of expertise include human rights and accommodation, wrongful dismissal claims, workplace safety and insurance, and employment standards.
Evan represents and advises employers of all sizes in a variety of sectors and industries. He regularly acts for corporations in the public and broader public sectors. Evan takes great pride in being an advocate and enjoys working closely and collaboratively with the clients he serves.
Adam Garcia
Adam Garcia
William Gardiner
William Gardiner
With experience in both the municipal and non-profit sectors, William brings direct expertise in supporting local economic and workforce development initiatives. Before joining AMO, he served as a municipal Legislative Clerk. His work focuses on strengthening municipal capacity through workforce strategy, cross-sector collaboration, and supporting talent pipelines.
He holds a Master of Public Administration from Western University, specialising in local government, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from McGill University.
Vivian Geneski
Vivian Geneski
Vivian Geneski is a Senior Manager of People Services with a passion for fostering inclusive workplaces that drive employee engagement and retention.
With years of experience leading and inspiring teams, she specializes in developing strategies that cultivate a sense of belonging and empower organizations to thrive. Vivian will share actionable insights on how collaboration and inclusivity can strengthen retention, ensuring municipalities attract, develop, and retain top talent.
Her expertise and leadership make her a trusted voice in HR, guiding organizations toward more equitable and effective workplace cultures.
Brian Gottheil
Brian Gottheil
Specializing in workplace culture, he leads culture assessments, delivers training, and co-developed the Transforming Toxic Teams Toolkit. Brian also co-chaired a national workplace culture conference.
As a seasoned workplace investigator on the federal register, he covers issues like harassment, discrimination, and team conflict for diverse organizations, including municipalities and First Nations.
Brian frequently leads certificate courses, speaks at major HR conferences, and appears as a guest expert on workplace harassment, mental health, and investigations.
Angela Gravelle
Angela Gravelle
At OMLI, Angela has spent the past 15 years collaborating with municipal leaders across Ontario and Canada to design and develop innovative training solutions. Most recently, OMLI received national recognition from CAMA for its excellence in Lean Six Sigma training and for building strategic partnerships that drive operational efficiency, enhance governance, and support leadership development. Angela’s work also includes leading numerous municipal service delivery reviews as part of a consulting team and co-launched EmployeeHotline.ca — a confidential reporting platform that supports transparency and accountability in public sector organizations.
In her spare time she enjoys her grandchildren, and trying not to get stung while beekeeping!
Sébastien Huard
Sébastien Huard
A graduate of the common law and civil law programs at the University of Ottawa, Sébastien provides counsel on labour arbitration, wrongful dismissal claims, human rights, collective bargaining, labour disputes, WSIB claims, health and safety matters, pension and benefits issues, and privacy and access to information matters under MFIPPA.
Sébastien also provides workplace training for all personnel, from front line staff to the highest level of management, in both small workshop groups and large seminars.
Jennifer Li
Jennifer Li
Janine Liberatore
Janine Liberatore
Janine provides training on many human resource topics and is a frequent speaker and trainer with appearances on BNN Bloomberg News Channel, as well as at the American Bar Association. She is also a former adjunct professor at Seneca College teaching alternate dispute resolution, and an instructor for the Professional Engineers Ontario teaching employment law, contract law and ethics.
Sara Luther
Sara Luther
Forwardworking’s expertise lies in aligning behaviours, practices, and systems to enhance critical organizational relationships. Our services span conferences, professional development, EDI alignment, policy rebuilds, conflict resolution, and coaching.
As a human rights lawyer, consultant, facilitator, and coach, Sara brings lightness to heavy topics and offers practical tools for immediate use.
Sara has a soft spot for the public sector, having spent two decades working with many smart people with big hearts, all dedicated to improving the workplace landscape.
Nathaniel Marshall
Nathaniel Marshall
Experienced in unionized and non-unionized workplaces, he addresses harassment, discrimination, workplace violence, and anti-Black racism. Nathaniel is an adept mediator and trainer, offering mediations and training on workplace conduct. He has represented clients before Ontario courts and tribunals.
Recognized as one of HR Law Canada’s Top 5 Lawyers under 40 (2025), Nathaniel holds a BA and JD from Dalhousie University and practices nationally, licensed in Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Nunavut.
Mark Mason
Mark Mason
Mark is recognized as one of Ontario’s leading counsel in the emergency services sector through his work with municipalities in managing their relationships with both firefighters and paramedics. He works extensively in this area and keeps his clients current on existing and emerging sector trends.
A portion of Mark’s practice also involves day-to-day human resources and workplace consulting. He works closely with various employer groups, speaks extensively at conferences and seminars and conducts client training workshops, all on a wide variety of issues facing management in both labour and employment law. He provides employers with the knowledge and tools they need to anticipate and manage their workplace issues.
Sabine Matheson
Sabine Matheson
Since 2016, she has been the lead author of StrategyCorp’s influential Annual CAO Survey, which gives voice to Ontario and Canadian Chief Administrators.
Sabine served as Chief of Staff to Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. In that capacity, she was deeply involved in the creation of Ontario’s municipal taxation and assessment regime, key reforms to Ontario’s Municipal Act and Planning Act, as well as the amalgamation the City of Toronto.
Jennifer McGillis
Jennifer McGillis
Ronald Minken
Ronald Minken
Given Ron’s expertise in this area, he publishes extensively, is a Columnist in Canadian HR Reporter and Human Resources Director Canada, also being interviewed frequently by media such as the National Post, Financial Post, Canadian Business, Toronto Star, and Canada Justice TV on the topic of Workplace Romances.
Ron is a prominent speaker at conferences including the Law Society of Ontario, Canadian Bar Association, Human Resources Professional Association, Financial Executives International Canada, City of Markham, and in the United Kingdom.
Jon Montgomery
Jon Montgomery
Building the confidence, we so desperately require, to accomplish that which we seek – you CAN do this!!
Jon Montgomery is an Olympic Champion and the award winning television host of the acclaimed series The Amazing Race Canada. For over a decade he has been gracing stages around the world entertaining and inspiring audiences with his story-telling, humour and delivering messaging on building confidence and developing self-efficacy – the unwavering belief that we can accomplish that which we seek.
April Morganti
April Morganti
April holds a Master’s of Public Administration (MPA) and an Honours BA from the University of Western Ontario, a Diploma in Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University, and a Certificate in Co-Creative Stakeholder Engagement from the University of Toronto. April is a licensed Crucial Conversations trainer and has facilitated sessions for healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and not-for-profit organizations. April is passionate about people and their development.
April was the Executive Director of Able Living Services in Hamilton, an award-winning not-for-profit organization serving individuals with physical disabilities and seniors, where she oversaw a budget of $15 million and a staff of 350. April led the team to win the Minister’s Medal of Excellence in Community Healthcare, the 3M Award for Innovation, and the Pinnacle Award for Innovation, and the organization ranked 37th in the 50 Best Workplaces™ with 100 to 999 employees by Great Place to Work® Canada in 2018.
April also worked in communications for two provincial Ministers. Most recently, she was the Director of Corporate Communication at Thrive Group, a local social enterprise in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
Aleksandra Pressey
Aleksandra Pressey
Michael Raine
Michael Raine
Manager of Content and Business Development at Montana Consulting Group
Michael Raine is the Content and Business Development Manager at Montana Consulting Group and a Master Turnaround Interview Instructor. Formerly Senior Editor and Editor-in-Chief at a national magazine publisher, he has produced respected podcasts/webinars, contributed to outlets like CBC and HuffPost, and conducted 1,000+ interviews with top professionals, artists, and public figures. Michael’s journalistic and hosting background underpins his engaging, results-focused style as a trainer and course developer.
Brian Sartorelli
Brian Sartorelli
As founder of Investigative Risk Management Inc., he has led complex insurance, corporate intelligence, and litigation-related investigations. Brian’s career began in law enforcement with the Department of National Defense, specializing in drug enforcement and coordinated operations with agencies at all levels. Designated as a Master Investigator by the Council of Professional Investigators in 2022, he is also acknowledged as a Subject Matter Expert by the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety & Correctional Service.
Brian has held leadership roles in major industry associations including the Council of Private Investigators of Ontario and the Canadian Association of Special Investigation Units. He is a sought-after speaker, seminar designer, and published author, providing strategic insights and training on corporate risk management and investigative best practices.
John Saunders
John Saunders
Krista Siedlak
Krista Siedlak
Krista integrates into clients’ decision-making to proactively address issues and is a strong advocate in litigation. She focuses on building positive workplaces, developing customized training programs on topics like workplace investigations and managing mental health.
Krista also has extensive experience in workplace investigations and audits and offers post-investigation remediation services.
Nicole Thomas
Nicole Thomas
In addition to her HR experience, Nicole is a seasoned yoga practitioner and has completed her 500-hour teacher training certificate. She previously taught classes at Radiant Joy Yoga in Uxbridge, ON, until the studio closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. She currently practices yoga twice a week at Creekside Yoga in Stirling, ON, in addition to her home studio. She strives to teach classes that are accessible to all experience levels, including beginners, and enjoys practicing gentle and restorative yoga.
