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!

ALICIA SUTTON (Keynote Speaker)
Vice President, Prevention and Workplace Services
WorkplaceNL

Building a psychologically safe and healthy workplace

All professions and workplaces have psychosocial hazards. Investing in a psychologically healthy and safe workplace is good for business. Organizations and workers have a shared responsibility for health, safety, and well-being at work. This session will share tips on how workplaces can:

• • Create and model a respectful workplace culture
• • Train leaders to be psychologically safe leaders
• • Build the capability of employees

BRITTANY KEATING
Partner
McInnes Cooper

Asserting with confidence

Leaders who assert with confidence inspire trust within their teams. They communicate decisively while remaining open to feedback. This approach strengthens credibility and positions them as capable leaders.

• • Setting boundaries
• • Balancing firmness with openness to others’ perspectives
• • Building credibility and trust through clear expression

JANICE MULLINS
Director of Corporate Services
City of Mount Pearl

Conflict competence: Turning tension into strength

Unresolved conflict can quietly undermine teams, erode trust, and stall progress. But when handled with intention, it becomes a powerful tool for clarity, connection, and transformation. In this reflective and practical session, Janice Mullins shares lessons from nearly 20 years of navigating complex, unionized environments. Through real-world stories and proven frameworks, she explores what it means to lead with “conflict confidence.” Participants will explore practical strategies to approach conflict with confidence and empathy — turning difficult moments into opportunities for growth and influence.

• • Navigating emotionally charged conversations with clarity
• • De-escalating tension and creating psychologically safe environments
• • Understanding how gender dynamics shape conflict and leadership
• • Building presence and resilience in high-stakes situations

ADRIANN KENNEDY
Director, Strategic Communications and Media Relations Unit
RCMP

Being more mindful

Slowing down to notice what’s happening inside and around you can shift how you experience daily life. Instead of rushing through tasks, mindfulness invites calm. It helps you reflect and respond with intention.

• • Building self-understanding
• • Breaking habitual reactivity 
• • Deepening focus and overall life satisfaction

ASHLEY POWER-STACK
Director of Finance
Killick Capital Inc.

Incorporating ‘leader’ in your brand

Positioning yourself as a leader within your brand builds influence. It demonstrates the ability to guide others effectively. By embedding leadership qualities into your brand, you set yourself apart as someone who drives impact.

• • Showing expertise through your actions
• • Highlighting achievements that reflect influence
• • Establishing yourself as a catalyst for others’ growth

Dr. ANGELA BUSSEY
Clinical Chief, Surgical Services
NL Health Services

Community leadership in today’s world

Strong leadership within communities today unites people across diverse backgrounds to tackle shared challenges. As society, technology, and the environment evolve rapidly, effective leaders navigate change and foster innovation. In today’s world, community leadership plays a vital role in driving collective progress and strengthening social bonds.

• • Encouraging collaboration among diverse community members
• • Adapting to social, technological, and environmental challenges
• • Inspiring collective action for sustainable progress

SHARLENE JONES
Deputy Minister, Department of Jobs, Immigration and Growth
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Mentorship in leadership

As leaders, we have a responsibility to leave it better than we found it and one easy way to do that is through mentorship. When Sharlene Jones thinks about the women who have influenced and shaped her journey, she realizes they didn’t just offer advice, but they offered belief and confidence. Mentorship is not just about climbing the ladder; it’s about making sure the ladder is strong enough for someone else to climb too.

• • Who benefits from mentorship and why it matters
• • Building a culture of supportive leadership
• • Common pitfalls in mentorship and how to avoid them

MICHELLE SIMMS
CEO
Advantage St. John’s

The lifelong learning journey

Michelle Simms joins us to share how lifelong learning has shaped and guided her career journey. An avid reader with a passion for strategic thinking, Michelle credits much of her growth to the wisdom and influence of the mentors who challenged and inspired her along the way. Through formal and informal learning alike, she has come to view learning as an ongoing journey — one that doesn’t begin or end in the classroom. Don’t miss this inspiring session as Michelle reflects on:

• • The lessons she’s learned
• • Her perspective on why continuous learning is essential to both personal and professional evolution

CHERYL MULLETT (Morning Chair)
City Solicitor
City of St. John’s

ANDREA WHITE (Afternoon Chair)
Partner
KPMG Canada