Conference Speakers
Carl Alphonse
Carl Alphonse
Carl Alphonse is the founder of Alphonse Latham LLP and a U.S. & Canadian immigration lawyer specializing in business and family immigration. Fluent in French, English, and Haitian Creole, he has nearly a decade of experience helping individuals and businesses navigate complex immigration processes. Carl has handled over 1,000 successful applications and appeared before various Canadian tribunals and courts. A member of the New York and Ontario bars and a recognized Foreign Legal Consultant in Ontario, Carl is passionate about community service and education. He serves as Executive Secretary of the Rotary Club of Brampton and Secretary for the AILA Canada Chapter, while regularly conducting legal education and media outreach to support clients and communities.
Kristen Angrilli
Kristen Angrilli
Kristen Angrilli is Manager, Total Rewards at Niagara Region, leading compensation, benefits, pension, and recognition programs. She is known for combining analytical thinking with creative, practical solutions to complex workforce challenges, balancing strategy, sustainability, and employee experience. Kristen brings prior HR consulting experience at the Region and 19 years in the private sector, including Canadian Tire Financial Services. Her background spans talent acquisition, total rewards, and employee relations. A Niagara College graduate, she holds CHRL and CCP designations and serves on the College’s HR curriculum advisory committee.
Michael Babe
Michael Babe
Michael Babe is a labour and employment lawyer with Hicks Morley’s Ottawa office, advising and representing management in the public and private sectors on labour, employment, and human rights matters. His experience spans wrongful dismissal claims, human rights complaints, and labour disputes. Michael has appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, and various administrative tribunals, including federal and provincial labour relations boards and human rights tribunals. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Western Ontario, where he supervised at the community legal aid clinic, and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Ottawa. Michael practised labour and employment law in Ottawa before joining Hicks Morley.
Lori Bolton
Lori Bolton
Lori Bolton currently serves as OMHRA’s President and previously held the positions of Vice President of Finance and Stakeholder Relations and Chair of the Stakeholder Relations Committee with the association.
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.
Steven Burola
Steven Burola
Steven has been with the City of Mississauga as a Health and Safety Specialist since June 2025. He has extensive experience in the private sector and the public sector. He has held multiple operational safety roles in organizations such as Schneider Electric, Loblaws, Magna International and Compass Group. Additionally, Steven spent 7 years with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development as an Industrial Health and Safety Inspector. He holds a Bachelor of Science – Environmental Health (Occupational Health and Safety) from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Tara Dakin
Tara Dakin
Tara has been with the City of Mississauga as the Manager of Safety since September 2023. She has extensive experience in the private sector. She has held various risk related and operational roles for organizations such as Best Buy Canada, Indigo, Staples Business and Metro. She holds an Occupational Health and Safety certificate and diploma from the University of New Brunswick and holds a CRSP designation.
Michelle Folliott
Michelle Folliott
Michelle Folliott is an employment lawyer, advisor, and investigator at Turnpenney Milne LLP focused on helping organizations build healthy, productive workplaces. She previously practised at a leading management-side labour firm and held leadership roles at one of Ontario’s largest public sector employers, where she established industry-leading human rights, ethics, and investigations functions. She partners with clients on effective investigations, practical advice, and equity-centered strategies and policy frameworks. A national award winner, including Canada’s Top 10 Diversity & Culture Impact Leader, Michelle is a sought-after speaker and trainer. She was called to the Ontario bar in 2013 and holds a J.D. from the University of Toronto.
Jordan Goure
Jordan Goure
Jordan Goure is the CEO and Co-Founder of Picsume and a frequent speaker and facilitator on talent acquisition, employer brand, and the candidate experience. He holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Windsor and completed an executive program in AI and Machine Learning Strategy at Harvard. A 2026 NEXT Canada Founders alumnus and one of The Peak’s 12 Emerging Leaders Under 40 in AI across Canada, Jordan works closely with municipalities and public sector employers on the gap between the employer they want to be and the experience candidates actually have. He is known for translating hiring challenges into clear, practical strategies HR leaders can act on.
Danielle Halliday
Danielle Halliday
Danielle Halliday is an HR Consultant at the Niagara Region, balancing analytical rigor with a practical, people-first approach to workforce strategy. Drawing on six years as a Senior Compensation Specialist and a background in private-sector consulting, she possesses deep technical expertise in designing compensation frameworks that align with organizational objectives. In her current role, Danielle bridges this expertise with a client-centered perspective, working closely with divisions to understand their unique needs and customize HR solutions that support their specific goals.
Stephanie Jeronimo
Stephanie Jeronimo
Stephanie Jeronimo is a Partner with Hicks Morley and chair of the firm’s Municipal Practice Group. She advises employers, including municipalities, hospitals, and organizations in healthcare, paramedic, and fire sectors, on labour relations, collective bargaining, human rights, wrongful dismissal, employment standards, and pay equity. Stephanie represents clients in interest and labour arbitrations, provides ongoing HR and workplace consulting, and frequently speaks on human resources law. She favors an interest-based approach, prioritizing understanding and collaboration with clients.
Lori Kelly
Lori Kelly
Director, Human Resources, City of Mississauga
Lori is responsible for managing all business functions of the Human Resources division which includes talent management, total rewards, health and safety, HRMS as well as employee and labour relations. Lori leads a team of dedicated Human Resources professionals in service to almost 8000 employees across fifteen unique and diverse service areas.
Lori has proudly served the City of Mississauga for over 25 years. Prior to this role, Lori spent more than two decades in leadership roles with the City of Mississauga’s Human Resources Division along with serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Mississauga Library System. In addition to her work in Human Resources and the Library, Lori spent six years in the City Manager’s Office where she provided leadership to what became the largest community engagement initiative in the City’s history resulting in a Strategic Plan that represents the city’s vision for the next 40 years.
Lori earned an honours degree in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario, a Masters Certificate in Municipal Leadership from the Schulich School of Business at York University and certification as a Human Resources professional. Lori is a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association.
Lavinia Latham
Lavinia Latham
Lavinia Latham is an employment and human rights lawyer, workplace investigator, and co-founder of Alphonse Latham LLP, known for a trauma-informed, legally rigorous approach to independent investigations into harassment, discrimination, and workplace misconduct across public, private, municipal, and broader public sector organizations. A
sought-after speaker, she trains HR professionals and executives on respectful workplaces, psychological safety, and human rights compliance. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa and previously built the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s first Human Rights and Equity Office. Recognized among the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women and Lexpert Lawyers to Watch, she serves as Vice President of the Black Female Lawyers Network.
Mark Mason
Mark Mason
Mark Mason is a Partner with Hicks Morley, practicing arbitration advocacy, employment litigation, human rights proceedings, and collective bargaining, including interest arbitrations and strike management. He primarily advises public sector employers with a practical, solution-focused approach. Mark is recognized as a leading Ontario counsel in the emergency services sector, helping municipalities manage relationships with firefighters and paramedics while tracking emerging sector trends. He also handles day-to-day HR and workplace consulting, frequently speaking at conferences and seminars and leading client training workshops on labour and employment issues to help employers proactively manage workplace challenges.
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
Jen McGillis is a Certified Professional Ergonomist whose practice centres on injury prevention and workplace safety. Her passion for ergonomics developed during her Master’s studies, where she recognized its potential to expand her impact on injury prevention. Jen brings a worker-focused approach to every training session and business partnership, ensuring that educational moments and ergonomic solutions are grounded in practical, sustainable injury prevention. She works closely with organizations to identify and resolve ergonomic challenges, helping guide them toward safer workplaces. Jen considers it a privilege to support organizations in building safer, healthier work environments every day.
Manjit Minhas
Manjit Minhas
Manjit Minhas built her business empire from a university dorm room at 19, launching Minhas Breweries, Distilleries and Wineries with her brother Ravinder and just $10,000.
While studying petroleum engineering in Calgary, the siblings grew their venture into one of North America’s largest independent breweries, selling billions of pints across Canada, the U.S., and 16 other countries. Best known as a longtime Dragon on CBC’s Dragons’ Den, Manjit has invested in dozens of Canadian companies on air.
She serves on the boards of Enbridge and ATB Financial, holds the honorary title of Lieutenant Colonel, and is a dedicated philanthropist.
Lola Obomighie
Lola Obomighie
Lola Obomighie is a healthcare executive and Certified Human Resources Executive with over 20 years of international leadership experience across healthcare, higher education, and the public and not-for-profit sectors in England and Canada, currently serving as Vice President, People, Culture & Organizational Effectiveness at a regional healthcare organization. A facilitator with Queen’s University IRC, she is recognized for advancing workforce transformation, equity, diversity and inclusion, and evidence-informed people strategies. She holds an Executive MBA from Rotman and was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch 2025 and an HRD Canada Elite Woman 2025.
Michael Raine
Michael Raine
Michael Raine is Business & Content Development Manager at Montana Consulting Group and a Master Turnaround Interview instructor. He co-founded LabourWyse, an online platform delivering expert training and guidance in Canadian labour relations. Before joining Montana in 2023, Michael spent over a decade as a journalist and editor, including 10 years as Senior Editor and Editor-in-Chief at national magazine publisher NWC, specializing in business reporting and producing a respected podcast and webinar series for the music and audio industries, with contributions to CBC and HuffPost. He has conducted over 1,000 interviews with executives, entrepreneurs, and public figures, and is a sought-after conference panel moderator.
Asha Rampersad
Asha Rampersad
Asha Rampersad is a Partner with Turnpenney Milne LLP. She is an employment lawyer and investigator specializing in human rights litigation, disability management, and trauma-informed workplace investigations for provincially and federally regulated employers, universities, school boards, police services, municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations. Asha has represented crown corporations and municipalities in grievance arbitrations and partnered with HR teams on equity and inclusion initiatives. A sought-after conference speaker, she taught Constitutional Law at Wilfrid Laurier University for 14 years and has appeared on CBC Radio. Called to the Ontario Bar in 2008.
John Saunders
John Saunders
Natasha Savoline
Natasha Savoline
Natasha Savoline is a Partner with Bernardi Human Resource Law and investigations practice lead who applies a trauma-informed, anti-oppression approach to complex workplace investigations—harassment, discrimination, sexual violence, and toxic work environments—for municipalities, hospitals, police and fire services, school boards, and other organizations. She also provides workplace transformation services, including sensitivity training, mediation, and culture assessments. Natasha facilitates the HRPA Workplace Investigations Certificate Program and frequently speaks at Osgoode Professional Development, HRPA, and OMHRA conferences. She co-authored the Ontario Human Rights Code: Quick Reference (2009) and a Human Resource Management textbook (2011), with writing featured in the Toronto Star and Municipal World.
Krista Siedlak
Krista Siedlak
Krista Siedlak is a Partner with Turnpenney Milne LLP. She partners with clients to provide strategic advice on human r
against risk. Krista adopts a practical approach, guiding clients on all aspects of employment, from complex restructuring to daily HR issues. She integrates into clients’ decision-making to proactively address issues and is a strong advocate in litigation. Krista focuses on building positive workplaces, developing customized training programs on topics like workplace investigations and managing mental health. She also has extensive experience in workplace investigations and audits and offers post-investigation remediation services.
Laura Williams
Laura Williams
As founder and managing partner of Williams HR Law LLP and President and CEO of Williams HR Consulting Inc., Laura Williams brings over two decades of experience advising organizations on labour, employment, and human rights matters, with particular expertise in workplace investigations, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and systemic discrimination issues. A Certified Professional Speaker, she frequently keynotes legal, association, and business conferences and delivers customized corporate training on risk, culture, and people management. A recognized thought leader featured in Canadian Lawyer, HR Professional Magazine, and CTV News, Laura chairs the 360Kids Board and hosts the podcast We Thrive Forward.
Jennifer Wu
Jennifer Wu
Jennifer Wu is the Founder of Empower Learning Solutions, bringing more than 18 years of experience designing high-impact learning across all levels of government, healthcare, finance, technology, transportation, and other sectors. She specializes in transforming complex concepts into clear, practical training that strengthens leadership, communication, and workplace culture. Jennifer has extensive experience creating fully customized programs, including mandatory and compliance training, customer service, soft skills, software, and management development training. Known for her clarity, empathy, and practical approach, Jennifer designs engaging learning experiences that deliver real-world results.
