The Women in Leadership Conference brings together professional women to explore today’s leadership challenges, exchange perspectives, and learn from peers and industry leaders.

The event provides an invaluable opportunity for women in leadership roles to gain insights and strategies that will help them become more effective leaders and thrive in today’s evolving workplace.

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

TERRA PENROSE (Keynote Speaker)
Chief People Officer
Kraken Robotics

Creating a culture of accountability

Creating a culture of accountability is not about blame — it is about clarity, ownership, and enabling people to deliver meaningful outcomes. In this session, Terra Penrose will share how intentional culture-building connects mission, vision, values, and strategy to everyday leadership behaviours and the achievement of individual results. Drawing on practical experience linked to proven accountability principles, this session will explore how leaders can not only model the behaviour but foster the conditions for people to see an opportunity, take ownership, find a solution and ensure results.

• • Connect mission, vision, values, and strategy to clear expectations, autonomy for deliverables, and measurable outcomes
• • Use leadership behaviours to shape culture intentionally and create the conditions for accountability to thrive
• • Apply a practical, experience-based approach to development that helps people learn, own results, and grow through action

RACHEL SULLIVAN
Director, Interprofessional Practice and Learning
Central Zone, Nova Scotia Health

Leading beyond your title

Leadership is not defined by a job title — it’s defined by the relationships we build, the trust we inspire and the influence we have on others. In today’s complex healthcare environment, authentic relationships and collaboration empower individuals to lead through change and create a meaningful impact.

• • Leadership is influence, not authority
• • The power of relationships
• • Everyday leadership in action
• • Lessons learned as a young leader

RHONDA BISHOP
Vice President, Inflight & Onboard Product
Jazz Aviation LP

Bridging generations in the workplace

A diverse workforce brings together employees with different experiences, perspectives, skills, and communication styles. Understanding and respecting these differences can help create stronger relationships. A workplace that values every generation can improve productivity and overall workplace culture.

• • Respecting differences
• • Promoting teamwork
• • Creating inclusion

LEANNE DIXON
VP, Talent & Communications
Halifax Port Authority

Identifying high-potential talent: Looking beyond performance

Everyone has potential. The role of leaders is to recognize who is ready, willing, and able to grow into greater responsibility and impact. In this session, Leanne Dixon will explore how high-potential talent is shaped not only by performance, but by a person’s desire to grow, ability to adapt, and the way others experience their leadership.

• • Why high-potential talent should be viewed through a broader lens than performance, tenure, or technical expertise
• • How desire, learning agility, adaptability, and self-awareness signal readiness for future growth
• • The importance of trust, credibility, influence, and how others experience someone’s leadership potential

MICHELE PEVERIL
Senior Director, Sustainability and Environment
Emera

Paddle your own canoe: Charting your own course

It’s about charting your own career path by taking thoughtful risks, trusting your instincts, and being willing to learn new skills, adapt to change and step into opportunities before you feel completely ready. And it’s about building relationships — because the people you learn from and connect with can help open doors for you and your team.

• • Take the risk & trust your instincts: Be willing to leave the safe harbour, make bold choices and listen to your own judgment — even when the path isn’t clear.
• • Keep learning & adapt: Careers rarely follow a straight line; embrace new skills, unexpected opportunities and change as part of the journey.
• • Build your network & your confidence: Invest in relationships inside and outside your organization to support you and your team, seek mentors and sponsors, and recognize that you and your team have something valuable to contribute.

CATHERINE BUTLER
President & Chief Executive Officer
Health Association of Nova Scotia

Advancing women leaders

Organizations that invest in developing women leaders position themselves for long-term success. This session explores practical strategies that empower women to lead with confidence and expand their influence. Participants will leave with actionable insights to help create workplaces where women leaders can thrive and make a lasting impact.

• • Identify practical strategies to navigate career progression
• • Foster workplace cultures that support the recruitment, development, and retention of women leaders
• • Leverage mentorship to accelerate leadership growth and organizational success

STACY BURGESS
VP, Clinical Support & System Integration
IWK Health

The power of saying yes: How unexpected opportunities shape exceptional leaders

Leadership is often defined not by the paths we plan, but by the opportunities we have the courage to take. In this inspiring and practical session, Stacy Burgess will reflect on how her leadership journey has been invigorated by emotional intelligence, curiosity, trust, and strong relationships and how these attributes have been applied in shaping her career and leadership approach. Participants will leave with insights into navigating uncertainty, leading through people, and creating cultures where individuals and teams can thrive.

• • Why the most impactful career opportunities are often the ones we never planned for
• • How trust, empathy, and authentic relationships create influence and strengthen leadership effectiveness
• • What high reliability organizations teach us about culture, safety, performance, and helping people do their best work

MEREDITH BUCHANAN
Global Head People
Legend

Leading with AI: More capacity, better judgment, greater impact

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming an everyday leadership tool, helping leaders think, communicate, and act more effectively. The challenge is knowing when to use it, how to evaluate its output, and which responsibilities must remain firmly human. Explore practical ways to put AI to work while managing its risks and keeping people, purpose, and business impact in focus.

• • Recognize high-value opportunities to apply AI in leadership and organizational work
• • Ask better questions and evaluate AI output with informed human judgment
• • Build confidence and readiness for responsible AI-driven change

CINDY VINER
Executive Financial Consultant
IG Wealth Management

Measuring leadership impact

Leadership impact extends far beyond business results. The most influential leaders build successful businesses, create opportunities for others to thrive, and leave a lasting mark on their communities. In this session, Cindy Viner will share how women leaders can measure their impact through the growth they inspire — in their organizations, in the women they mentor and champion, and in the communities they serve. Attendees will gain practical strategies to evaluate their leadership effectiveness while building a meaningful legacy of influence and empowerment.

• • Build and grow a successful business through leadership
• • Lift and empower other women
• • Extend leadership beyond the workplace

“The true measure of leadership is not only what you achieve, but how many people succeed because of your influence.”

Dr. CHRISTY BUSSEY (Chair – Morning Session)
Chief Medical Officer
Shannex

KELSEY MACLEAN (Chair – Afternoon Session)
Associate Director, Recruitment and Admissions
Graduate Studies, Faculty of Management
Dalhousie University