President and founder of Le groupe conseil Strat@c, Gladys has more than 15 years of experience as a coach and consultant in leadership and innovation. She works closely with her clients to improve the performance of their organizations by implementing best practices and putting their strategic plans into action. Gladys is a workshop facilitator at the Centre de perfectionnement HEC Montréal in leadership, creativity and performance mangement. Gladys has an M.B.A from McGill University. She is [...] Keep reading

President and founder of Le groupe conseil Strat@c, Gladys has more than 15 years of experience as a coach and consultant in leadership and innovation. She works closely with her clients to improve the performance of their organizations by implementing best practices and putting their strategic plans into action. Gladys is a workshop facilitator at the Centre de perfectionnement HEC Montréal in leadership, creativity and performance mangement. Gladys has an M.B.A from McGill University. She is also certified in Leadership Training by Management Research Group as well as in Creativity and Innovation by Edward DeBono. She is chief evaluator for Les Grands Prix Québécois de la qualité. Gladys is perfectly bilingual.

Mary currently volunteers at Hawthorn School for Girls and the local St. Paul's Food Bank, in addition Mary runs an annual Mother & Teen's Fashion Show that serves to promote stylish yet modest clothing for both moms and their daughters. Up until September of 2009 she worked for 28 years at Nortel Networks Corporation. Her most recent position involved managing the Global Equity Awards Services department which included a customer base of up to 35,000 employees spread over 50 countries. She [...] Keep reading

Mary currently volunteers at Hawthorn School for Girls and the local St. Paul's Food Bank, in addition Mary runs an annual Mother & Teen's Fashion Show that serves to promote stylish yet modest clothing for both moms and their daughters. Up until September of 2009 she worked for 28 years at Nortel Networks Corporation. Her most recent position involved managing the Global Equity Awards Services department which included a customer base of up to 35,000 employees spread over 50 countries. She managed numerous projects in an ever changing environment and her responsibilities included customer service, data integrity, reconciliation, reporting and communications. Mary has been married 25 years and has 3 children.

Gianna is currently a key account manager at Harmony Printing Limited. With six years of production, sales and marketing experience, Gianna's current role involves consulting with clients on their marketing initiatives, concepts, creative development, production, and fulfillment. Gianna studied Graphic Communications Management at Ryerson University, earning her Bachelor of Technology degree with a minor in Marketing. Throughout her university career, Gianna was involved with the student governm [...] Keep reading

Gianna is currently a key account manager at Harmony Printing Limited. With six years of production, sales and marketing experience, Gianna's current role involves consulting with clients on their marketing initiatives, concepts, creative development, production, and fulfillment. Gianna studied Graphic Communications Management at Ryerson University, earning her Bachelor of Technology degree with a minor in Marketing. Throughout her university career, Gianna was involved with the student government holding various positions, chaired the GCM annual Colloquium in 2002, and was a member of the Ryerson Women's Squash team. Gianna also volunteers her time with Windfall Clothing Service in Toronto, and participates in mini marathons for various causes including breast cancer, prostate cancer, and the United Way.

Elise is a high school educator with the HCDSB in the capacity as a teacher, Department Head of Heath and Physical Education and Director of Athletics at Assumption Secondary School. She graduated with an undergrad degree in History from Ottawa University and completed a Graduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier University before receiving her Bachelor of Education degree at University of Toronto. While working on her degrees, Elise participated in varsity basketball as an athlete and coach. She contin [...] Keep reading

Elise is a high school educator with the HCDSB in the capacity as a teacher, Department Head of Heath and Physical Education and Director of Athletics at Assumption Secondary School. She graduated with an undergrad degree in History from Ottawa University and completed a Graduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier University before receiving her Bachelor of Education degree at University of Toronto. While working on her degrees, Elise participated in varsity basketball as an athlete and coach. She continues to be involved in facilitating coaching courses and coaching in Ontario Basketball programs.

Sonia Mata, MD, MSc. Currently working as a senior consultant and manager for leadership programs and social projects designed for high school & university students, she is directing and implementing such activities in five Canadian cities. One of these projects is a summer camp, in wich more than 45 young people participate as staff and 140 as campers. Trained as a medical doctor in Spain and having held various research positions at McGill University, she has been on the Board of Directors [...] Keep reading

Sonia Mata, MD, MSc. Currently working as a senior consultant and manager for leadership programs and social projects designed for high school & university students, she is directing and implementing such activities in five Canadian cities. One of these projects is a summer camp, in wich more than 45 young people participate as staff and 140 as campers. Trained as a medical doctor in Spain and having held various research positions at McGill University, she has been on the Board of Directors for university students' residences in Montreal and Ottawa. She has given seminars to parents on teens issues. At the moment, she is also a consultant for the Foundation for Culture and Education (FCE) and is the president of the McGill Women Alumnae Association.

Melissa Wooder has been the Manager of Erin Heights Golf Course for the past thirteen years. Prior to having children, she would spend her winters working for the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) helping with their main fundraising campaign. She graduated from the University of Western Ontario with her BA in Sociology, with a minor in Business. She currently lives in Rockwood with her husband of 12 years and their three sons.

Melissa Wooder has been the Manager of Erin Heights Golf Course for the past thirteen years. Prior to having children, she would spend her winters working for the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) helping with their main fundraising campaign. She graduated from the University of Western Ontario with her BA in Sociology, with a minor in Business. She currently lives in Rockwood with her husband of 12 years and their three sons.

Tracey Pitoscia holds an Honours BA in Child and Youth Studies. She studied at Ryerson University. Tracey also attended Humber College and received her diploma in Child and Youth Work. Tracey worked for the Toronto Children’s Aid Society for 17 years as a Children Service Worker. In this role Tracey was the legal guardian to 23 Children and Youth who were Crown Wards. Tracey continued to expand her counselling skills and received her certification as a Trauma Counsellor for Children from the [...] Keep reading

Tracey Pitoscia holds an Honours BA in Child and Youth Studies. She studied at Ryerson University. Tracey also attended Humber College and received her diploma in Child and Youth Work. Tracey worked for the Toronto Children’s Aid Society for 17 years as a Children Service Worker. In this role Tracey was the legal guardian to 23 Children and Youth who were Crown Wards. Tracey continued to expand her counselling skills and received her certification as a Trauma Counsellor for Children from the United States. She always had an interest in counselling children and youth and the social service field. Tracey is currently considering opening her own counselling practice for children and teens. Tracey has been married for 7 years and has two children aged 4 and 6.

Jacqueline Chow is a family medicine resident at the University of Toronto. She is currently in her last year of residency and will be doing an obstetrical fellowship afterwards. She graduated from McMaster medical school prior to this and has an Honors Bachelor of Science degree from University of Toronto. Her special interests lie in obstetrics as well as palliative care. She also enjoys teaching and introducing medical students to the interesting world of family medicine. In her spare time, s [...] Keep reading

Jacqueline Chow is a family medicine resident at the University of Toronto. She is currently in her last year of residency and will be doing an obstetrical fellowship afterwards. She graduated from McMaster medical school prior to this and has an Honors Bachelor of Science degree from University of Toronto. Her special interests lie in obstetrics as well as palliative care. She also enjoys teaching and introducing medical students to the interesting world of family medicine. In her spare time, she teaches catechism in Mississauga to young kids in grades 3-5, runs 10K races in the spring, does cross-stitch and plays the piano.

Genevieve has been a Teacher with the DPCDSB for twenty years. After attending Barat College in Illinois, she graduated with a B.S.W. from King's College, University of Western Ontario. She worked in Social Work at both London Psychiatric Hospital and CPRI on the Adolescent Team, before returning to Western (Althouse College) to obtain her Bachelor of Education. Genevieve has been involved with Birthright Brampton for over 15 years and has spoken on the Life Issues at churches and high schools f [...] Keep reading

Genevieve has been a Teacher with the DPCDSB for twenty years. After attending Barat College in Illinois, she graduated with a B.S.W. from King's College, University of Western Ontario. She worked in Social Work at both London Psychiatric Hospital and CPRI on the Adolescent Team, before returning to Western (Althouse College) to obtain her Bachelor of Education. Genevieve has been involved with Birthright Brampton for over 15 years and has spoken on the Life Issues at churches and high schools for many years. While caring for her aging parents, she received training for pastoral visiting which she hopes to pursue. She and her husband of 25 years have four sons.

Alice holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours with minor in Psychology and Doctor of Medicine from McMaster University. Currently, she is in the final year of her family medicine residency at the University of Toronto. She is actively involved in academics and tutors for the undergraduate medical school. She is also the resident representative for the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP). She plans to pursue an emergency medicine fellowship and eventually practice both as a family and [...] Keep reading

Alice holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours with minor in Psychology and Doctor of Medicine from McMaster University. Currently, she is in the final year of her family medicine residency at the University of Toronto. She is actively involved in academics and tutors for the undergraduate medical school. She is also the resident representative for the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP). She plans to pursue an emergency medicine fellowship and eventually practice both as a family and emergency physician.
Her biggest passion is travelling and she has so far been to Canada, US, Europe, China, Nepal and Africa. Her next destination is Southeast Asia.

Sandi Gamble currently works with breast cancer patients at Dianne's Mastectomy, a company providing post-mastectomy products to women in Toronto and the GTA. Sandi studied at The University of Western Ontario, earning an Honors Bachelor degree in Media and the Public Interest, as well as a post-grad diploma in Public Relations. She has completed internships at The Weather Network (production), Big Brothers Big Sisters of London (resource and development), and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment [...] Keep reading

Sandi Gamble currently works with breast cancer patients at Dianne's Mastectomy, a company providing post-mastectomy products to women in Toronto and the GTA. Sandi studied at The University of Western Ontario, earning an Honors Bachelor degree in Media and the Public Interest, as well as a post-grad diploma in Public Relations. She has completed internships at The Weather Network (production), Big Brothers Big Sisters of London (resource and development), and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (community and player partnerships). She volunteers at many local breast cancer events, as well as the annual "Great Strides - Taking Steps to Cure Cystic Fibrosis" fundraiser walk in Kitchener/Waterloo.

Elise is a high school educator with the HCDSB in the capacity as a teacher, Department Head of Heath and Physical Education and Director of Athletics at Assumption Secondary School. She graduated with an undergrad degree in History from Ottawa University and completed a Graduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier University before receiving her Bachelor of Education degree at University of Toronto. While working on her degrees, Elise participated in varsity basketball as an athlete and coach. She contin [...] Keep reading

Elise is a high school educator with the HCDSB in the capacity as a teacher, Department Head of Heath and Physical Education and Director of Athletics at Assumption Secondary School. She graduated with an undergrad degree in History from Ottawa University and completed a Graduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier University before receiving her Bachelor of Education degree at University of Toronto. While working on her degrees, Elise participated in varsity basketball as an athlete and coach. She continues to be involved in facilitating coaching courses and coaching in Ontario Basketball programs.

As a reporter for Canada's National Post newspaper in Toronto, Kathryn Blaze Carlson covers the gamut — from federal politics to natural disasters to cultural trends. In January 2010, Kathryn traveled to Leogane, Haiti, to report on the earthquake devastation in the immediate aftermath. Prior to joining the Post, Kathryn was a contributing reporter to The New York Times, where she earned bylines for metro stories and for her coverage of the 2008 U.S. presidential election. She also contributed [...] Keep reading

As a reporter for Canada's National Post newspaper in Toronto, Kathryn Blaze Carlson covers the gamut — from federal politics to natural disasters to cultural trends. In January 2010, Kathryn traveled to Leogane, Haiti, to report on the earthquake devastation in the immediate aftermath. Prior to joining the Post, Kathryn was a contributing reporter to The New York Times, where she earned bylines for metro stories and for her coverage of the 2008 U.S. presidential election. She also contributed reporting to a book called The Selling of the Canadian Economy, written by now-former The New York Times reporter Micheline Maynard. Before that, she worked in the Prime Minister's Office of Canada as a correspondence writer. Kathryn has a masters in journalism from New York University and obtained an undergraduate journalism degree from Ottawa’s Carleton University. In 2008, she became a fellow of the Washington, D.C.-based National Press Foundation. Kathryn was born and raised in Winnipeg, MB.

Helen Burstyn has enjoyed a 35-year career in public service, community service, business and education.

Helen served for over six years as the Chair of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, a government agency that makes 1,500 grants annually to not-for-profit and charitable organizations in the social services, arts and culture, sports and recreation and environment sectors. She stepped down earlier this year when she was appointed by the Premier to co-chair the Partnership Project, [...] Keep reading

Helen Burstyn has enjoyed a 35-year career in public service, community service, business and education.

Helen served for over six years as the Chair of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, a government agency that makes 1,500 grants annually to not-for-profit and charitable organizations in the social services, arts and culture, sports and recreation and environment sectors. She stepped down earlier this year when she was appointed by the Premier to co-chair the Partnership Project, a provincial government initiative to strengthen the not-for-profit and voluntary sectors. She has now returned to the Ontario Government to run this program following the provincial election, in which she ran as the Liberal candidate for Beaches-East York.

Helen is an active volunteer with many community organizations and boards. She serves on the board of Luminato, the international arts festival founded by her late husband, David Pecaut, the CAMH Board of Trustees, the Walrus Foundation and the Canadian Journalism Foundation.

She is also a co-founder and Honorary Chair of Gilda's Club Greater Toronto, Past President of the Canadian Club of Toronto, and a founding member of Equal Voice.

Helen received the YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Community Leadership in 2010 and the Ontario Citizenship Award for Volunteer Service that same year.

Colleen Sidford is Vice President Treasurer at Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG). Colleen Sidford was appointed Vice President Treasurer in December 2005. She is responsible for providing financial leadership to the Corporate Treasury function which includes Treasury Operations, Insurance Risk Management, and Investment Fund Management of the Pension and the Nuclear Funds. Colleen Sidford joined Ontario Power Generation in September 2003 as the Assistant Treasurer. From 1995 to 2003, [...] Keep reading

Colleen Sidford is Vice President Treasurer at Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG). Colleen Sidford was appointed Vice President Treasurer in December 2005. She is responsible for providing financial leadership to the Corporate Treasury function which includes Treasury Operations, Insurance Risk Management, and Investment Fund Management of the Pension and the Nuclear Funds. Colleen Sidford joined Ontario Power Generation in September 2003 as the Assistant Treasurer. From 1995 to 2003, Colleen Sidford owned a private consulting business specializing in providing advisory services to large multinational corporations in the area of international banking and centralized treasury service centres. Originally based in Toronto Canada, the business was relocated to The Netherlands to be closer to a largely European client base. During her five years as Vice President, Treasurer, Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG), Colleen Sidford has been a champion for women’s advancement both within OPG and in the community. She meets with the managers and directors at OPG to discuss gender biases and how supervisors can encourage women in their business sectors. Her results speak for themselves: Ms. Sidford’s direct reports have become extremely diverse within the last five years and include 28 percent visible minority women, 28 percent white women, and 16 percent visible minority men. The nuclear/utility industry is male-dominated, and it was for that reason Ms. Sidford founded a leadership development and mentoring program called emPOWERed Women at OPG to help women with their networking, career development, and mentoring skills. More than 300 women have participated to date. The women participants in emPOWERed Women are developed into “diversity ambassadors,” leaving the program with the goal of mentoring and helping other women. Ms. Sidford was also recently appointed President of Women in Nuclear (WIN), speaking at its annual conference and events and acting as an ambassador for the program.

Prior to joining Ontario Power Generation in the Emergency Management division, Cynthia Scott held a wide range of roles and responsibilities in the fields of Financial Services, Fitness, and Information Technology.

Cynthia studied marketing and business at Douglas College and Simon Fraser University, prior to her entry in the financial services industry. She successfully held a number of challenging positions in the investment industry.

When continued scandals rock [...] Keep reading

Prior to joining Ontario Power Generation in the Emergency Management division, Cynthia Scott held a wide range of roles and responsibilities in the fields of Financial Services, Fitness, and Information Technology.

Cynthia studied marketing and business at Douglas College and Simon Fraser University, prior to her entry in the financial services industry. She successfully held a number of challenging positions in the investment industry.

When continued scandals rocked the investment community, Cynthia decided it was time for a career change and switched to the Information Technology sector as an Associate Project Manager. Later, declines in the IT industry presented Cynthia the opportunity to seek a new career where she could succeed.

Having always been interested in fitness, she accepted a manager position at a women’s fitness club, which was extremely valuable and helped her gain vital small business skills. She later re-entered the business world at Ontario Power Generation as a contract employee prior to joining the company full-time in 2007.

Working in the Emergency Management division has provided Cynthia with the valuable learning opportunities and allowed her to accelerate her knowledge of the organization, its corporate culture and the unique people that work at Ontario Power Generation in meeting with people at all levels of the company.

Cynthia is the co-founder of the emPOWERed Presentations volunteer initiative at OPG’s corporate head office, as well as an active member of the emPOWERed Women’s Program Management Team.

The emPOWERed Women’s program has provided her with a renewed optimism of what women can do when they come to a consensus. Cynthia continues to look forward to advancing at Ontario Power Generation into more senior roles with greater responsibilities.

Leave Out ViolencE (LOVE - http://www.leaveoutviolence.org/en/) is a non-profit organization that helps reduce violence in the lives of youth aged 13 to 18 through Media Arts and Leadership programs. Our unique skill-building programs educate and empower youth that have been affected by drug and alcohol abuse, bullying, thoughts of suicide, verbal, physical and sexual abuse, as well as street gang activity, etc. to break the cycle of violence in their lives and in their communities. Through p [...] Keep reading

Leave Out ViolencE (LOVE - http://www.leaveoutviolence.org/en/) is a non-profit organization that helps reduce violence in the lives of youth aged 13 to 18 through Media Arts and Leadership programs. Our unique skill-building programs educate and empower youth that have been affected by drug and alcohol abuse, bullying, thoughts of suicide, verbal, physical and sexual abuse, as well as street gang activity, etc. to break the cycle of violence in their lives and in their communities. Through photography writing , video-making, journalism, and broadcast media programs, youth are encouraged to openly document their experiences. As the program progresses, they gain marketable skills and are trained to become community leaders, delivering messages of non-violence, by sharing their stories and knowledge with thousands of other youth across Canada and in new york and the middle east each year.

Brenda Zosky Proulx, a former feature writer with The Toronto Star and The Montreal Gazette, winner of the National Newspaper Award, teacher of journalism at Concordia University for 15 years, is a co-founder and creator of the LOVE programs which started in Montreal with 15 youth in 1995 and now reaches thousands of youth in five north American cities and in the Middle East.

Heather Wright is a former LOVE youth, now an accredited high school teacher, is the Central Co-ordinator for LOVE. Heather has done work with youth in various parts of the world and is now actively involved with the projected expansion of LOVE into schools in Uganda.

Tahirah Stanley is also a former LOVE youth who is in her fourth year of university studying International Affairs and Drama. Tahirah is committed to the prevention of violence, is a key volunteer for LOVE, and was sent to Israel to help launch LOVE programs in the Middle East. Tahirah is presently involved with a series of LOVE programs just starting to run on Rogers.

Claire Carver-Dias is a communications and business consultant with over ten years
of experience providing communications strategy advice, communications
assessments, writing and editing services, and communications project management
for corporate clients.
Throughout her career as a member of the medal-winning Canadian Olympic Synchro
Team, Claire honed her communications skills: publishing articles, writing for
newsletters and other publications, devel [...] Keep reading

Claire Carver-Dias is a communications and business consultant with over ten years
of experience providing communications strategy advice, communications
assessments, writing and editing services, and communications project management
for corporate clients.
Throughout her career as a member of the medal-winning Canadian Olympic Synchro
Team, Claire honed her communications skills: publishing articles, writing for
newsletters and other publications, developing a reputation as a top-quality speaker
and presentation skills trainer.
While working with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Synchro Canada, and
Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS), Claire was responsible for writing athlete manuals,
web content, media guides, profiles, and press releases. With the COC, she wrote the
content for the nationally-distributed newsletters, Podium and Olympians Canada,
and while with BCS she developed their nationally-distributed newsletter, Slider.
In 2005 Claire was selected as writer of Synchro Canada’s Long-term Athlete
Development manual, a multi-faceted year-long project that required community
involvement and buy-in.
Over the years, Claire has written and published newspaper articles, excerpts for
business textbooks, short stories, and extensive web-copy. She continues to write,
edit and manage an assortment of writing and editing projects, including developing
corporate annual reports, newsletters, event guides and website copy for clients,
including RBC, Granite Club, and the Coaches Association of Ontario.
Claire has a B.A. in English, with distinction, from the University of Toronto and a M.A.
in English from McGill University. She is currently working on her PhD in English, with a
specialization in Critical Writing.

As she was leaving the orphanage where she had been working, a little child clung to Shakira Abubakar’s pants. “Please, don’t leave me. Don’t forget about me.” With a few words, that child changed Shakira’s life.

At the age of 12, Shakira left her native country of Ghana to move with relatives in Canada. At that young age, she had already learned something important through her work at the orphanage: poverty impacts women differently that it does men. Since then, she [...] Keep reading

As she was leaving the orphanage where she had been working, a little child clung to Shakira Abubakar’s pants. “Please, don’t leave me. Don’t forget about me.” With a few words, that child changed Shakira’s life.

At the age of 12, Shakira left her native country of Ghana to move with relatives in Canada. At that young age, she had already learned something important through her work at the orphanage: poverty impacts women differently that it does men. Since then, she has come to see the gendered aspect of democratic governance, policy making and implementation and development.

Over the last ten years, Shakira has founded the non-profit organisation Continental Rescue Africa, of which she is the director, has been a Canadian Delegate to the World Youth Congress, held in Quebec, and was selected to represent Canada and Ghana on a panel where, with other African delegates, she helped write proposals for then Governor General of Canada Michaëlle Jean. Amongst other things, Continental Rescue Africa (http://continentalrescueafrica.com/) aims to eradicate poverty and gender-based violence, promote education, and raise awareness of a culture of peace and non-violence.

Furthermore, Shakira has hosted and presented two workshops, titled “Taking a Stand: Youth Against Apathy” and “Poverty, Illiteracy of the girl-child, Gender-based Violence: So You Think you Have Nothing to do With it?” In May 2009, she was also selected to be a participant of the Canadian Centre for Diversity’s March of Remembrance and Hope, through which she went on a week-long Holocaust educational trip in Germany and Poland. Following that trip, Shakira was one of six participants to be interviewed for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Seven Days of Remembrance... and Hope” documentary, and share how she wants to change the world.

With more than 2 decades of professional training and management experience, Heather Wattley has developed her presentation skills and methods for dealing with nervousness, managing verbal mannerisms and body language and using visual aids.
As a training manager at Bell Canada for eight years, she designed and facilitated soft skills training sessions for over 500 sales associated and senior level management. After leaving Bell Canada, Heather spent three years at CDI Education, a profes [...] Keep reading

With more than 2 decades of professional training and management experience, Heather Wattley has developed her presentation skills and methods for dealing with nervousness, managing verbal mannerisms and body language and using visual aids.
As a training manager at Bell Canada for eight years, she designed and facilitated soft skills training sessions for over 500 sales associated and senior level management. After leaving Bell Canada, Heather spent three years at CDI Education, a professional training organization, conducting Professional Leadership courses to executives. One of those courses, for example, was titled "Making Presentations."
After the death of her father from cancer, Heather decided to make a career change to work within the healthcare industry, and for the last four years has been a Senior Data Services Manager at Cancer Care Ontario, a provincial agency responsible for continually improving cancer services, and the Provincial government's cancer advisor.

Carol Ann Cole is a best-selling author, a professional speaker and the founder of a national fund-raiser.

Bringing extensive business experience to the speaking platform, Carol Ann shares details of her twenty-seven-year career, going from typist to one of the first Vice Presidents in a non-traditional role with Bell Canada. With presentations that speak to corporate life and the balance with home life, Carol Ann addresses change, teamwork, leadership, communication, humour, ima [...] Keep reading

Carol Ann Cole is a best-selling author, a professional speaker and the founder of a national fund-raiser.

Bringing extensive business experience to the speaking platform, Carol Ann shares details of her twenty-seven-year career, going from typist to one of the first Vice Presidents in a non-traditional role with Bell Canada. With presentations that speak to corporate life and the balance with home life, Carol Ann addresses change, teamwork, leadership, communication, humour, image/self-esteem, career/lifestyle and how to stay motivated in all that you do. She is as comfortable with executives as she is with the first person of contact in any company.

Carol Ann and her mother were diagnosed with breast cancer within days of each other. Deciding there was more to life than climbing the corporate ladder, Carol Ann walked away from what she affectionately calls her "big job at the Bell." The rest, as they say, is history.

Carol Ann has authored three books. "If I Knew Then What I Know Now" was published in the fall of 2009. "Lessons Learned Upside the Head" was published in 2006, and "Comfort Heart," her best-selling memoir, came out in 2001.

A member of the Order of Canada, Carol Ann has received numerous additional awards including the Golden Jubilee Medal, the Elite Maclean"s Honour Role, the Terry Fox Citation of Honour and the L'Oreal's dozen outstanding Canadians celebrating International Women's Day. She is profiled in "Canadian Who's Who," and in the 2005 edition of "1000 Great Women of the 21st Century," published by the American Biographical Institute in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Volunteer work is important to Carol Ann and she lends her time to numerous organizations. As the founder of the Comfort Heart Initiative, Carol Ann has helped to raise over one million dollars for cancer research and has put thousands of Comfort Hearts in the hands of people all over the world. She is also a volunteer with the Good Neighbours' Club in Toronto.

Carol Ann is a member of the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia and LinkedIn.

Dagmar has been an independent consultant since 1988. She works extensively with the private sector, various levels of government and foreign clients to solve real-estate based problems and coordinate development projects. To this end she is currently working on some of the most advantageously sited land in GTA and has arranged financing commitments for over 50 million dollars.

Dagmar has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto and has authored and co-authored [...] Keep reading

Dagmar has been an independent consultant since 1988. She works extensively with the private sector, various levels of government and foreign clients to solve real-estate based problems and coordinate development projects. To this end she is currently working on some of the most advantageously sited land in GTA and has arranged financing commitments for over 50 million dollars.

Dagmar has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto and has authored and co-authored numerous publications on domestic and international tax law. She studied law at Queen's University focusing on the challenges of the Canadian Tax System. After graduating and being called to the bar, she obtained her designation as a chartered accountant. She lectures extensively on tax matters at Canadian universities.

Dagmar is actively involved in various charitable institutions. Dogs are her other passion. She competed in obedience school with both Rottweiler and Weimaraner. Through this initiative Dagmar and the dogs would go to the various places they were assigned including palliative care at Sunnybrook Hospital, Alzheimer's day care and Harmony place which assists disabled young adults. This initiative is one of the things of which Dagmar is most proud of.

Dagmar is fully bilingual in English and German and fluent in French and Spanish. A few years ago she took up the study of Arabic. She is a certified scuba diver and has a private pilot's license.

Ginette Brûlotte worked many years within various companies where she held positions of leadership and management. From 1990-1997 she held a position at a large telecommunications company. Thereafter, she started a small business communication with clients such as Bell, Hydro, the Ministry of Commerce, Devencore, etc.
At this point in her career and personal life, Ginette decided to devote her time and energies to mandates or files that would allow her to engage socially. She has worked [...] Keep reading

Ginette Brûlotte worked many years within various companies where she held positions of leadership and management. From 1990-1997 she held a position at a large telecommunications company. Thereafter, she started a small business communication with clients such as Bell, Hydro, the Ministry of Commerce, Devencore, etc.
At this point in her career and personal life, Ginette decided to devote her time and energies to mandates or files that would allow her to engage socially. She has worked in a non-profit organization serving families and individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease. She agreed to be part of a research team linked to the Faculty of Medicine at University of Montreal on the topic of training people to support seniors.

Maureen Shaughnessy Kitts is Principal of Shaughnessy Kitts Communications, a consultancy specializing in strategic communications and reputation and project management for the corporate and not for profit sectors.

A Fellow of the Canadian Public Relations Society, Shaughnessy Kitts has over 30 years of agency, public sector and corporate communications experience, in Montreal and Toronto. As Senior Director of Communications for McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited and Execu [...] Keep reading

Maureen Shaughnessy Kitts is Principal of Shaughnessy Kitts Communications, a consultancy specializing in strategic communications and reputation and project management for the corporate and not for profit sectors.

A Fellow of the Canadian Public Relations Society, Shaughnessy Kitts has over 30 years of agency, public sector and corporate communications experience, in Montreal and Toronto. As Senior Director of Communications for McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited and Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities, she provided strategic communications counsel to the Canadian and Russia companies and sat on a number of International Advisory Boards including founding member of McDonald's Corporate Social Responsibility and global Environmental task forces.

Ms. Shaughnessy Kitts is a sought after public speaker and the recipient of many industry awards. Throughout her career, she sat on numerous community and not for profit boards and committees in the healthcare, social services and communications sectors.

In 2008, Ms. Shaughnessy Kitts was elected to the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. Ms. Shaughnessy Kitts is a Board Member and Vice Chair of the Canadian Journalism Foundation. She also sits on the Board of YWCA Toronto and is Toronto Event Chair for Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion.

Ms. Shaughnessy Kitts recently received the Certificate in Governance Essentials for Directors of Not for Profit Organizations from the Institute of Corporate Directors and The Joseph L. Rotman School of Management in Toronto.

Barbara Kay graduated from the University of Toronto in English Language and Literature and received her M.A in Literature from McGill University with a specialty in graduation from the University of Toronto. Barbara taught Literature and Composition at Concordia University, Mariannopolis College, Dawson College, and Vanier College for many years. She has also taught courses in Critical Reading at private and public institutions in Montreal, such as The Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts and th [...] Keep reading

Barbara Kay graduated from the University of Toronto in English Language and Literature and received her M.A in Literature from McGill University with a specialty in graduation from the University of Toronto. Barbara taught Literature and Composition at Concordia University, Mariannopolis College, Dawson College, and Vanier College for many years. She has also taught courses in Critical Reading at private and public institutions in Montreal, such as The Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts and the Jewish Public Library. Barbara is a well known book reviewer on the circuit of Montreal's private an dinstitutional book clubs. Barbara founded and is the editor in chief of First Fruits, an annual anthology of creative writing published by the Jewish Public Library, in publication for over twenty years. Barbara was a frequent contributor of op/eds, book review and humour pieces to the National Post, then became a Comment page columnist (Wednesdays) in September, 2003.

Magician, comedian, entertainer, teacher and school principal, Joe Cacchione is a man of many talents. He holds a C.A. designation as well as a degree in Education. He has been in the field of education for the last seventeen years. His passion for teaching grew out of his earlier experiences as summer camp monitor and then as camp director. Magic, humor, entertainment and creativity have always played an integral role in his style and approach to teaching. As a high school mathematics teacher a [...] Keep reading

Magician, comedian, entertainer, teacher and school principal, Joe Cacchione is a man of many talents. He holds a C.A. designation as well as a degree in Education. He has been in the field of education for the last seventeen years. His passion for teaching grew out of his earlier experiences as summer camp monitor and then as camp director. Magic, humor, entertainment and creativity have always played an integral role in his style and approach to teaching. As a high school mathematics teacher at Ecole Antoine-deSaint-Exupéry, he introduced a novel approach to teaching mathematics by way of theater. After five years of teaching, Mr. Cacchione joined the ranks of school administration at Anjou High School were he has been for the last nine years. He became principal two years ago and in that time, he and his team, have institued a dress code requiring all students to wear a uniform, started a football program, implemented Curriculum Reform and developed a unique master schedule offering all students the opportunity to choose a profile (arts, computer sciences, music, physical education, science) from the very first year of high school. In the last ten years, enrollment at Anjou High School has gone from 880 students to 1400 students. All students, parents and staff are proud to be part of this success.

Nathalie Drouin is a Professor of Management at l'École des sciences de la gestion at l'Université du Québec à Montréal (ESG-UQAM). She earned a post-doctorate from l'École Polytechnique de Montréal and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge (England). She also earned an M.B.A from HEC Montréal and a law degree from l'Université de Sherbrooke. Before joining ESG-UQAM, she acted as a consultant for M3K Solutions, a technological firm, and Secor Group, a consulting management firm. She [...] Keep reading

Nathalie Drouin is a Professor of Management at l'École des sciences de la gestion at l'Université du Québec à Montréal (ESG-UQAM). She earned a post-doctorate from l'École Polytechnique de Montréal and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge (England). She also earned an M.B.A from HEC Montréal and a law degree from l'Université de Sherbrooke. Before joining ESG-UQAM, she acted as a consultant for M3K Solutions, a technological firm, and Secor Group, a consulting management firm. She also practiced law within law firms based in Montreal.