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!

Dr. SHELLY McNEIL (Keynote Speaker)
President
Doctors Nova Scotia

Addressing health and wellness in the workplace

Creating a healthy workplace is vital for sustaining employee well-being and organizational success. A strong wellness approach considers physical, mental, and emotional health, ensuring employees feel valued and supported. Companies that invest in wellness initiatives often see improved engagement and higher productivity.

• • Reducing stress and burnout through supportive programs and resources
• • Encouraging work-life balance and healthy workplace relationships
• • Strengthening retention through a culture of care

AMELIA WARREN
Vice President, Client Services
Arrivals + Departures

Strategic thinking and planning

Strategic thinking isn’t just a skill for senior leaders — it’s a mindset that can and should be cultivated throughout the organization. When teams are stuck in reactive mode, opportunities are missed, priorities blur, and long-term goals stall. This session will explore how leaders can coach their teams to think more proactively, connect their work to the bigger picture, and contribute to smarter, more forward-looking decision-making.

• • Help your team shift from reactive execution to more proactive planning
• • Learn simple ways to guide conversations and decisions with a longer-term lens
• • Explore everyday leadership practices that build strategic awareness and confidence across your team

Dr. NATALIE CHENG
Medical Site Lead
Dartmouth General Hospital

Building a culture of collaboration

In today’s complex work environments, success depends increasingly on the ability to work effectively across teams. This session will explore what it takes to build and sustain a culture of collaboration within an organization. We’ll discuss challenges and identify actionable strategies. Whether you’re a team leader, executive, or aspiring changemaker, this topic offers practical guidance to help you cultivate collaboration in your organization.

• • Understanding the foundation of collaboration
• • Key elements to foster collaboration
• • Sustaining a collaborative culture

LINDA PENNY
Chief Operating Officer, Faculty of Medicine
Dalhousie University

Engaging employees: A critical leadership challenge

Engaging employees is crucial for every organization as it directly impacts productivity, job satisfaction, and overall success. Leaders face the challenge of creating a positive work environment, providing clear communication, and offering growth opportunities. Balancing these responsibilities while addressing individual needs and maintaining organizational objectives requires a strategic and empathetic approach.

• • Engaging and encouraging employees
• • Creating a positive work environment
• • Keeping the momentum going

LAUREN BOYD
Controller, CFO Services
BDO Canada

Connecting across generations for success

In today’s workplace, success is a team effort that spans generations. With five years of experience mentoring new grads in audit and CPA pathways, plus cross-generational collaboration in industry and professional services, Lauren Boyd brings a practical lens to bridging generational gaps. This session will explore how inclusive leadership and communication across age groups can drive innovation, trust, and team performance.

• • Bridge the Generational Gap
• • Unlock Cross-Generational Strengths
• • Foster Growth Through Reverse Mentoring

PATTY FAITH
Chief Brand and Reputation Officer
Medavie

Bringing resilience into your life and career

This presentation examines how resilience enables individuals to remain focused, recover from setbacks, and maintain their well-being while pursuing personal and professional goals. It emphasizes proactive strategies. In the workplace, resilience fosters leadership, innovation, and sustainable success.

• • Practical techniques to strengthen resilience in everyday situations
• • The connection between emotional intelligence and resilience
• • Resilience strategies to thrive during transitions and uncertainty

SHELLY DAUPHINEE
Chief Engagement Officer
Workers’ Compensation Board

The importance of innovation

Innovation is the driving force behind progress, shaping industries, economies, and societies. In an era of rapid technological advancements and evolving market demands, the ability to innovate is crucial for businesses, organizations, and individuals seeking long-term success. This session will explore:

• • The significance of innovation
• • Innovation’s role in fostering growth and competitiveness
• • How creative thinking can solve complex challenges

JANELLE POOLE
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Emera

Are you being mindful? – Leading with purpose and balance

For women navigating leadership at work and at home, balance often feels like an elusive goal. The demands of a successful career while managing family and individual responsibilities can pull us in countless directions, leaving little space to breathe — let alone thrive. This presentation explores how mindfulness isn’t just a trendy buzzword, but a strategic opportunity to lead with intention and clarity, build resilience, and pursue success on your own terms.

• • Reclaiming Control Through Presence: Mindfulness empowers people to pause, recalibrate, and lead from a centred place — even amidst chaos. It’s how you go from reacting to responding.
• • Success Without Burnout: Establishing meditation and mindful routines help manage stress without compromising ambition. They can create the mental and emotional stamina needed to pursue bold goals without getting lost in the busy.
• • Leadership in Action: Integrating presence and awareness into everyday decisions, professional interactions, and long-term goal setting — mindful leaders aren’t just calmer, they’re sharper and more effective.

This approach invites women to view balance not as a static state, but as a dynamic skill — strengthened through intention and focus.

LIA MacDONALD (Morning Chair)
VP Customer Experience & Innovation
Nova Scotia Power

DUSTINE RODIER (Afternoon Chair)
Superintendent
RCMP