The Women in Leadership Conference brings together professional women to discuss the challenges they face, exchange perspectives, and learn from peers and industry leaders.

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

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

KIERA YOUNG (Keynote Speaker)
Executive Vice President
MacDon Industries Ltd.

Tales of a prairie girl: How our stories shape our leadership

In this personal and reflective keynote, Kiera Young shares the experiences, relationships, and lessons that shaped her journey from rural Manitoba to executive leadership. Through stories of family, education, mentorship, partnership, and career growth, she explores how our roots influence our values, confidence, and the ability to lead. As leadership continues to evolve in an increasingly complex world, attendees will be encouraged to reflect on the influences that have shaped their own paths and the unique strengths they bring to the world through:

• • People
• • Experiences
• • “Strange lessons”

JODY COLLINS
VP, Internal Audit
Access Credit Union

Asserting with confidence

This session provides a practical and supportive approach to assertive leadership, helping participants strengthen their ability to speak up with clarity, set respectful boundaries, and communicate with confidence. The content reinforces that assertiveness is not about being forceful; it is about expressing ideas, needs, and recommendations in a way that builds credibility, trust, and connection.

• • Confident communication
• • Boundary setting
• • Leadership presence

EVE OMAR
Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Families
Government of Manitoba

Creating a culture of accountability

Accountability is the foundation of high-performing teams. It fosters an environment where individuals take ownership of their responsibilities. Leaders who model accountability inspire engagement and a commitment to achieving organizational goals.

• • Lead by example
• • Empower employees to take ownership
• • Recognize accountability by celebrating responsible behaviour

ASHLEY SMIDT
VP Business Development
Paradigm Consulting Group

Advancing women leaders

In this session, we will explore practical strategies for helping women leaders advance in their careers while creating workplaces where diverse talent can thrive. We will examine common barriers to advancement and identify approaches for accelerating leadership advancement. Through real-world examples and actionable insights, attendees will gain practical ideas they can apply within their own organizations to support the advancement of women leaders.

• • Identify and address common barriers that limit women’s leadership advancement
• • Foster sponsorship and mentorship relationships
• • Develop practical strategies to attract, retain, and advance women leaders

MARY NIRLUNGAYUK
Corporate Secretary and Vice President of Governance and Member Relations
Arctic Co-operatives

Building influence in the boardroom

Knowing your audience – particularly the individual directors around the board table – is essential to building influence. Effective board agendas should focus on key strategic issues at the beginning of the meeting, when directors are most engaged and able to contribute meaningfully. Prioritizing strategy, future planning, and substantive discussion items on the first day helps maximize the board’s effectiveness, as energy and focus often diminish by the second day. By keeping reports and discussions at a strategic rather than operational level, organizations enable boards to concentrate on governance, oversight, and long-term decision-making. A woman in a leadership role is important; don’t be afraid to voice your opinion, as we’re not just in administrative roles, we’re in influencing roles.

• • Impact in Governance
• • Shape the board meeting
• • Have a strategic focus on the agenda
• • Future planning agenda

PAULA ANDERSON
Director, IT Operations & Client Success
Epic: A Bell MTS Company

Everyone has brilliance. Great leaders uncover it.

Too often, organizations focus on finding the next star performer while overlooking the untapped potential that already exists within their teams. Great leaders understand that brilliance comes in many forms and that their role is not simply to evaluate people, but to recognize their unique strengths, create opportunities for growth, and build environments where they can thrive. In this session, we’ll explore how to uncover hidden potential, develop emerging talent, and help people achieve more than they thought possible.

• • Distinguish visible performance from underlying potential
• • Recognize and nurture the unique strengths and brilliance that exist within every team
• • Create opportunities and environments where people can grow, contribute, and shine

KERSTIN JORDAN
Vice President, Nursing, Allied Health, Quality & Chief Nursing Officer
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

 
Emotional Intelligence in action

Emotional Intelligence isn’t about being ‘nice’; it’s about recognizing emotions – our own and others’ – and using that awareness to lead effectively.

• • Leadership is emotional work
• • Your most important emotional investment is YOU.
• • Emotionally aware leaders do these 5 things every day
• • Emotional Intelligence is leadership’s secret sauce

SARA HALSTEAD
Senior Wealth Advisor
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, Sara Halstead 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

FELICIA WILTSHIRE
Next President and CEO
Manitoba Heavy Construction Association

Moving outside your comfort zone

Personal growth begins when we are willing to try new and unfamiliar experiences. Taking on challenges that stretch our abilities helps build confidence and reveals strengths we may not have realized we possessed. Each new experience prepares us to handle future challenges more effectively.

• • Develop new skills and discover hidden strengths
• • Build resilience by facing fears and challenges
• • Create opportunities for new experiences

KERILEE FALLOON (Morning Chair)
Director, Communications and Marketing
Winnipeg Airport Authority

CLAIRE ALFORD (Afternoon Chair)
General Manager
Teranet Manitoba