Better Workplace Conference 2025

This session is part of the members-only ​​Council for Safe Workplaces, Council on Workplace Health and Wellness, and Council on Inclusive Work Environments meeting. To learn more about becoming a member of one of these councils, please contact us.

Dr. Shimi Kang

Leading expert in change, leadership, innovation, and wellness

Conference Board CEO Susan Black will introduce our conference theme in greater detail, highlighting the importance of integrating evidence-based insights into our decision-making for the modern workforce.

Susan Black

CEO, The Conference Board of Canada

Discover how psychological health and safety drives innovation, enhances adaptability, and strengthens diversity in today’s complex work environments. This session will highlight the business case for psychological health and safety, showcasing its direct impact on the bottom line. Learn practical strategies to create workplaces that embrace diversity, foster collaboration, and leverage the full potential of AI and emerging technologies. Equip yourself with tools to navigate challenges, unlock team potential, and future-proof your organization for sustained success.

Dr. Shimi Kang

Change, leadership, innovation, and wellness expert

This workshop will delve into approaches to measuring workplace health, exploring various metrics of organizational culture that most directly impact employee wellbeing and productivity.

Attendees will walk away from this session thinking about new ways to implement effective measurement strategies that drive meaningful improvements in workplace culture and employee satisfaction.

John Moore

Founder and CEO, Mental Fitness IQ

Tegan Slot

Director, Workplace Wellbeing, Public Services Health and Safety Association

In a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles are under increasing scrutiny, businesses find themselves at a crossroads. The backlash against DEI initiatives in the US has begun to ripple across borders, influencing Canada’s political and cultural landscape.

This session will explore the intersection of business values, societal expectations, and the evolving political climate on both sides of the border through an insightful conversation featuring leaders from three prominent companies operating in both Canada and the United States. Panelists will share strategies for staying true to their values, reinforcing DEI policies, and maintaining focus on long-term goals amid external pressures. Attendees will leave with useful insights and a renewed sense of purpose in championing inclusion and belonging within their organizations.

Moderator

Michael Bassett

Director, Research Impact, The Conference Board of Canada

Speakers

Sandra Cushnie

Senior Director, Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion McCain Foods Ltd

Marni Panas

Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, ATCO

We evaluate machines based on the entire unit’s output, not the impressiveness of their individual parts. Extraordinary teams, like great machines, require certain components to hold their pieces together.

While most organizations focus exclusively on building individual skills, elite organizations invest in the stuff that transform a collection of talented people into an extraordinary team. This keynote is packed with insights, humour, and tools to help listeners take their respective teams to a higher level.

Lee Rubin

Team-building expert

Discover some of the latest trends shaping Canada’s workforce and workplaces through a series of dynamic lightning talks. Gain quick insights and practical strategies from peers, and walk away with useful ideas to implement in your own setting.

Moderator

Bailey Farrell

Health and Safety Staff Officer, Power Workers’ Union

Speakers

Carrie Bjola

Chief Executive Officer, Service Hospitality

Chantal Dugas

CRHA, General Manager, DEI Community Relations and Partnerships, Air Canada

Andrea Vrbanac

SVP, People & Culture, Axonify

Alison Wall

Director, Strategic Partnerships and Planning, Service Hospitality

Join us for this dynamic session celebrating innovation in health and safety. This year’s case study competition tackled critical workplace safety issues, including workplace violence, working alone, and considerations for small businesses.

We’ll announce the winners of the 2025 Health and Safety Case Study Awards and hear from finalists who will showcase their innovative solutions to the workplace safety issues in the case study. Attendees will gain practical insights and fresh approaches to health and safety challenges while celebrating the next generation of safety leaders.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore innovative ways to prioritize safety, sustainability, and responsible care practices within your organization. If you’re an emerging safety professional or know someone with a passion for health and safety, this session is a must-attend.

Moderator

Jacqueline A. Stagner

Undergraduate Programs Coordinator, Faculty of Engineering, University of Windsor

Partner

This session is part of the​​ Council for Safe Workplaces, Council on Workplace Health and Wellness, and Council on Inclusive Work Environments members-only meeting. To learn more about becoming a member of one of these councils, please contact us.

Lee Rubin

Team-building expert

This engaging keynote will dive into the critical workplace issues of loneliness, polarization, and technology-induced burnout and will examine how external factors such as societal changes and economic pressures can significantly impact workers.

Learn useful approaches to help you lead the way in cultivating a psychologically safe environment, addressing diverse employee needs, and implementing strategies that prioritize rest and wellbeing. Empower your organization to build a healthier, more resilient workplace that’s ready to thrive in an evolving future.

Dr. Jody Carrington

Psychologist, human connection expert, and best-selling author

This session will explore how data and evidence can drive innovative practices in the Canadian workplace, with a strong emphasis on empowering employee voice and choice.

Attendees will gain insights from cutting-edge research on employee preferences in areas like safety, company culture, and benefits, highlighting new Conference Board research and its practical application. Presenters will also spotlight groundbreaking work being done to integrate listening strategies—moving beyond surveys to create more dynamic, data-driven employee experiences.

Speaker

Diogo Borba

Senior Research Associate, Human Capital, The Conference Board of Canada