Reminder: Bring your QR code to access the CIBC Square elevators to the the 44th floor and then proceed down to the 43rd floor.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
Schedule is subject to change; CPD information to be announced
DAY 1 - Monday, November 20, 2023
9:30-10:00am - Registration and Morning Networking
10:00-10:10am - Land Acknowledgement and Welcome Remarks
Conference Co-Chairs:
Hina Latif, VP, General Counsel and Secretary, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada and Mercedes-Benz Canada
Leola Pon, Associate Director, Organizational Transformation and Accountability, Toronto District School Board
10:10am-12:00pm - Workshop: Flex Your Leadership Style
Ontario: This program contains 1 hour and 15 minutes of Professionalism, and 30 minutes of Substantive content.
British Columbia: This program contains 1.75 hours of Lawyering Skills credit.
Quebec: This program contains 1.75 hours of continuing education.
In this interactive workshop, participants will learn how to apply DiSC, a behavioural assessment tool, to help recognize when and how to flex your preferred approach to communicate across differences, build stronger teams, and influence leaders. All participants will have an opportunity to complete a 15-minute online assessment and will receive a personalized report before the program.
Speakers:
Lori Gauld, Director, Learning Initiatives, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Lauren Prisco, Senior Manager, Learning Initiatives, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
12:00-12:10pm - Break
12:10-1:00pm - Keynote Address
The Honourable Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin, Supreme Court of Canada
1:00-1:45pm - Lunch
1:45-2:45pm - Embracing Wellness
1:45: Embracing Wellness: Mindfulness and Leadership
Participants will together learn and dive into 3-4 meditation techniques infused with interactive table-top discussions on activating equity, diversity, and inclusion as a mover and shaker amongst senior management and your legal team, and for your personal and professional growth.
Speaker:
Maneesha Gupta, Group Counsel — Banking, Vencora
2:15: Embracing Wellness: Workplace Initiatives
With the concerning state of wellness of legal professionals in Canada, how can in-house counsel support and improve wellbeing? Learn about successes and trends of workplace wellness initiatives from an in-house counsel who serves as a legal department's wellness ambassador and has received an employee wellness initiative of the year award.
Speaker:
Kwende Thomas, Counsel, TD Bank Group
2:45-2:55pm - Break
2:55-3:55pm - Tapping the AI Potential
The potential that AI brings to companies and the legal profession is limitless; however, many GCs are slow to take the leap. In this panel, we’ll hear from experts on how we can untap AI’s potential, how GCs can make the business case for investing in AI tools, the potential pitfalls, and its impact on the legal profession.
Speakers:
Jason Fung, General Counsel, MacEwan University
Gary Kalaci, Chief Executive Officer, Alexa Translations
Moderator:
Joanna Leong, Manager, Legal Affairs & Counsel, Honda Canada Inc.
3:55-4:45pm - Empowering You: Juice Tasting Event
5:30-6:00pm - Dinner Reception (The Keg Steakhouse + Bar - Esplanade, 26 The Esplanade)
6:00-8:30pm - Dinner Roundtables
DAY 2 - Tuesday, November 21, 2023
9:00-9:45am - Morning Networking
9:45-9:50am - Land Acknowledgement
9:50-10:50am - Walk, Don’t Talk: Realizing the TR/EDI Promise
How do companies that are committed to advancing Truth and Reconciliation and EDI demonstrate that commitment? How can in-house counsel help their companies move beyond “performative” toward real progress. Hear from a panel of leaders on their experience and advice on how to deliver on the TR/EDI promise.
Speakers:
Ashley Butts, Senior Counsel, BASF Canada
Cam Cameron, Partner, Gowling WLG
Mitch Frazer, Partner, Mintz LLP
Kristina Milbourn, Managing Counsel, Rogers Communications Inc.
Moderator:
Jeanette Lee, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Arterra Wines Canada
10:50-11:00am - Break
11:00am-12:15pm - Roundtable Group Reports
This session provides an opportunity to hear the results of the discussions from each of the tables at Monday’s Dinner Roundtables on topics stemming from the various sessions of the Empowered Voices conference. The goal is to further reflect and gain insight to effect empowered voices within us, our teams, and the legal community, including influencing leaders, embracing wellness, committing to the TR/EDI promise, creating boundaries in professional and personal life, and managing brand reputation.
Facilitator:
Hilda Wong, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, First National Financial LP
12:15-1:00pm - Lunch
1:00-2:00 - Workshop: Take Charge of Your Time
This interactive and fast-paced workshop will provide tools to protect your time and energy for what you value most, such as helping you block time for strategic thinking and create boundaries/balance in your professional and personal life.
Speaker:
Ann Gomez, Speaker, Author and Founder, Clear Concept Inc.
2:00-2:15pm - Break
2:15-3:15pm - The Lawyer as PR Strategist
When crisis strikes, GCs are often called upon to help lead the war room, but managing PR strategy and protecting brand reputation requires much more than a law degree. Learn expert strategies from one of Canada’s leading PR and strategy firms to build your strategic toolkit and make yourself the ultimate strategic advisor.
Speaker:
Jason Lietaer, President, Enterprise Canada
3:15-3:25pm - Closing Remarks
3:30-5:30pm - Cocktail Reception and Social (TABLE Fare + Social, Fourth Floor of CIBC Square)
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