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)

Conference tickets (ticket sales end October 31, 2023):

National GC Network Members: Free - Included with membership & thanks to our generous sponsors

National GC Network Ally Member: $175 + HST = $197.75

Member of Women General Counsel Canada: $50 + HST = $56.50

Non-members who are in-house counsel: $600 + HST = $678.00

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