The Women in Leadership Conference brings together professional women to talk about the challenges that they face, exchange views, and learn from peers and leaders.

The event provides an invaluable opportunity to listen to industry leaders as they share best practices and insights to help women in leadership roles become more effective leaders and be on top of their game.

Join us at this in-person event. Learn, connect & reconnect, and have fun!

C/Supt DALE KENDALL (Keynote Speaker)
CAD District Officer
Central Alberta District
RCMP

Embracing meaningful change

Embracing meaningful change is approaching transformation with openness and a willingness to adapt. Whether personal or work, meaningful change requires reflection and action. It involves letting go of old mindsets that no longer serve you and making room for new ways of being.

• • Being open to new perspectives
• • Being resilient in the face of challenges
• • Embracing the uncertainty

ERIN MIRTH
GM – Alberta North
TELUS

Stepping out of your comfort zone

This presentation is a walk through on personal growth and career development, emphasizing the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone to achieve success and innovation in a rapidly changing business environment.

• • Challenging limiting beliefs
• • The power of “Yes”
• • Learning to embrace failure
• • Staying connected and sharing

ASHLEY BHATIA
Associate Vice-President, Infrastructure Planning, Development and Partnerships
University of Alberta

Strategic risk-taking

When was the last time that you took a risk? How about a strategic risk? How did that decision impact your career, your team, your organization or your community? Regardless of your level of comfort with taking a strategic risk – such as recommending a major acquisition or taking that new job that’s outside your comfort zone – you are contributing to your personal and professional growth. This session highlights stories and ideas on how strategic risk-taking can:

• • Be thought of in big ways (i.e. organizational-level strategic risk taking), and small ways (i.e. individual strategic risk taking)
• • Be thoughtful and calculated in a way that will set you up for success
• • Fuel professional growth

SHAUNA YOHEMAS
Vice President, People, Culture & Equity
NorQuest College

Leading through polarities

As leaders, we are required to navigate polarities every day as we balance things like innovation vs. stability, competing vs. collaborating, supporting vs. challenging or even being powerful vs. empowering others. And the list goes on and on… What if you could break away from the struggle of having to choose? Better yet, what if you could accomplish even more while getting the best of both worlds? In this session, you will level-up your leadership by:

• • Discovering how to differentiate problems from polarities
• • Learning how to map polarities and determine what to do with them
• • Effectively leveraging polarity thinking to achieve your aspirations

THU PARMAR
Vice President Alberta & Northwest Territories
Canadian Red Cross

Making a difference through volunteerism

Volunteerism is one of the most impactful ways to make a difference. Volunteerism is a cornerstone of positive change, offering individuals the chance to contribute their time, skills, and passion to causes that matter. The value of volunteerism lies in its ability to empower individuals, turning small actions into significant movements that transform lives and communities.

• • It’s about connection
• • The importance of giving back
• • The ripple effect

SHAHANI PERERA
Chief Transformation Officer
Innovation Federal Credit Union

Being a goal-setter who gets results

A goal-setter who gets results is someone who transforms aspirations into measurable achievements. It’s about having a clear vision of what is to be achieved and then breaking that vision down into actionable, measurable steps. It’s about building a mindset that embraces challenge. In this presentation, Shahani Perera will discuss the steps to achieve results.

• • Goal
• • Strategic plan
• • Commitment

LINDSAY ROBERTSON
Vice President, Communications, Marketing and Brand
Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

Community leadership in today’s business world

Community leadership in today’s business landscape is about fostering meaningful connections, driving social impact, and creating sustainable success. It requires vision and a commitment to making a positive difference. Companies that prioritize community leadership build deeper relationships with their customers, employees, and stakeholders, creating a culture of collaboration and social responsibility.

• • Corporate Social Responsibility
• • Employee engagement
• • Partnerships and collaboration

KATHRYN MILLER
Director, Pensions and Special Projects Lead
Alberta Pension Services

Advancing as a woman in leadership: Success stories with plot twists

Every career path is bound to feature a few notable moments where we encounter twists and turns of both pleasant and unpleasant varieties. When we’re navigating opportunities and disappointment, it can be a perfect time to take stock and consider whether there are any epiphanies, even small ones, to unearth. In this session, Kathryn Miller will delve into some of the leadership wisdom she’s acquired (occasionally the hard way) while navigating her own career.

• • Treat every day as an interview
• • You don’t need permission to want to succeed
• • Sometimes, a setback is also a steppingstone

DANIELA O’CALLAGHAN (Morning Chair)
Senior Managing Counsel, Regulatory
Privacy Officer and Compliance Officer
EPCOR Utilities Inc.

PATRYCJA KUJAMA (Afternoon Chair)
VP, Information Management and Technology
AutoCanada