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!

CHARLENE BROPHY (Keynote Speaker)
President and CEO
Fonemed

Fostering a culture of innovation

Charlene Brophy will present how Fonemed has fostered a culture of innovation through cutting-edge services and technology. She will highlight Fonemed’s commitment to staying at the forefront of healthcare advancements while emphasizing the crucial role of employee engagement in driving success. By cultivating an environment where creativity and collaboration thrive, Charlene has led Fonemed to consistently deliver exceptional value to its clients with innovative solutions that have impacted healthcare delivery globally.

• • Embrace cutting-edge technology and data analytics
• • Foster a culture of continuous innovation
• • Prioritize patient-centric solutions

Dr. TANA ALLEN
Vice-President (Research)
Memorial University of Newfoundland

Finding your voice as a leader

One of the most effective ways a leader can guide and support is through authentic and thoughtful communication — discovered only when they find their true voice. Finding that voice is often a surprising lifelong journey influenced by career and life choices. Through an engaging presentation, infused with inspiration and humour, Dr. Tana Allen draws on more than 20 years of experience as a passionate teacher, researcher, mentor, and post-secondary education administrator to share her story of finding her own voice and empowering others.

• • Staying true to yourself
• • The power of authenticity
• • Why words matter

ASHLYNN BURRY
Vice President, Commercial Operations
PAL Airlines

Getting out of your comfort zone to become a better leader

As Roy T. Bennett said: “Step out of your comfort zone. Comfort zones, where your unrealized dreams are buried, are the enemies of achievement. Leadership begins when you step outside your comfort zone.” When we let fears hold us back, we could be missing opportunities. In this session, Ashlynn Burry will discuss ways to get out of your comfort zone and achieve success.

• • Setting goals
• • Taking risks
• • Learning from failures
• • Staying positive

JACKIE McCANN-SCOTT
Founder
Lupin Planning Group

Are you leading authentically?

The first crucial step in leading authentically is having a professional vision that aligns with your personal values. If you don’t believe it, they never will see it. In this session, Jackie shares her authentic leadership “lessons learned”, including:

• • Provide opportunities for people to shine
• • Embrace the difficult conversations
• • Recognize that vulnerability is a superpower

PAMELA ROBINSON
Chief Superintendent
Criminal Operations Officer
RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador

Communicating your wellness strategy

Effective communication of an organization’s well-being strategy can be one of the most challenging tasks faced by a leader. It isn’t until an organization, team, or employee is faced with an unexpected crisis that we can understand how effective our communication strategy is. By developing and implementing an effective communication strategy, we can ensure our employees have the tools and resiliency necessary to manage a health and wellness crisis during and post-incident. Through this session, you will be able to enhance your knowledge and skills concerning;

• • Understanding the importance of developing a proactive communication strategy
• • Putting the strategy in place during a time of crisis
• • Ensuring employees are not forgotten once the incident is over

LAURABEL MBA
Founder
Laurabel Mba Consulting

Diversity in leadership

Explore the essential role of diversity in leadership, going beyond quotas and the typical 9-5 framework. Laurabel Mba delves into practical strategies for implementing inclusive and equitable leadership practices that resonate authentically in all aspects of life. Learn how to foster genuine diversity that drives meaningful change within your organization and community.

• • Implementing inclusive and equitable leadership practices beyond the workplace
• • Embracing authenticity in diverse leadership strategies
• • Driving meaningful change through genuine diversity initiatives

LAURA BROCKLEHURST
Counsel
TD Insurance

Advancing women leaders in organizations

Acknowledging what may hold women back and looking at how to overcome barriers in today’s workplace is crucial for advancing women in leadership. Using real-world examples and providing concrete suggestions to take away, this presentation will look at what leadership encompasses and how to foster leadership potential in yourself and others. In this presentation, Laura Brocklehurst will focus the discussion on:

• • Seeing where leadership currently exists
• • Digging underneath a false narrative 
• • Securing allies

SHERRY COLFORD
Fire Chief and Director of Regional Fire and Emergency Services
St. John’s Regional Fire Department

Leading with influence: Navigating success in a male-dominated environment

For any women leaders aspiring to advance in their careers or currently navigating leadership roles in male-dominated industries, this session will explore strategies and insights for navigating and thriving in male-dominated organizational cultures. Drawing from Fire Chief Sherry Colford’s personal examples and experiences, you will learn how to leverage your unique strengths, foster inclusive leadership practices, and overcome common challenges faced by women in leadership roles. From communication strategies to building strong networks, this session equips leaders with actionable steps to drive meaningful change and cultivate environments where diversity is celebrated and leadership knows no gender bounds.

• • Developing and asserting your leadership style in a male-dominated environment
• • Building strong alliances and networks
• • Communicating with impact and authority and fostering a culture of inclusion and respect

TRACEY POWER (Morning Chair)
Chief Financial Officer
Crosbie

SUSAN SHEERR (Afternoon Chair)
VP, Finance
Hickman Automotive Group