RDC26 Speaker Bios

Reem Ali

Guided by a core belief that collaboration is key to success, Jennifer actively contributes to cross-sector partnerships. She serves on the Special Education Advisory Committee in her Northern Ontario community and is a member of the Project SEARCH National Advisory Committee. Her work is driven by a passion for bridging gaps for youth as they transition from school to the workforce, ensuring they are  connected to meaningful employment opportunities.

Speaker session:

7C – Collaborate to Innovate: Municipalities as Partners to Inclusive Employment (Panel)

Co-Panelist – Jennifer Way, MODC

Co-Panelist – Lisa Purchase, Alternatives Community Program Services

Liza Arnason

Liza Arnason BA, MA , is the founder and Chair of the Ase Community Foundation for Black Canadians with Disabilities, the owner of Arnason Consulting, founder and Chair of the UCalgary Black Alumni Network, and UofT Alumni from Ontario Institute for Studies in Education; and above all a mom, grandma, and mentor.

Liza’s commitment to the principles of “nothing without us” and “for us, by us”, has always been the cornerstone of her work as an educator, administrator, and community advocate. Her depth of knowledge and expertise is informed by her lived experiences, research and policy initiatives, passion for equity, and an inspirational 30-year career journey as pioneer and visionary.

Liza draws on critical pedagogy including Black Feminism, disability justice, and critical race theories to inform community-based research and policy change initiatives. She unapologetically brings the lived experiences of those intersectional experiences of race, gender, and disability to the “table”, identifying nuances, gaps, and disparities within systems, structures, and research. Through collective leadership and wisdom across Canada, Liz continues to design and advocate for new models and systems that will affect real change.

Speaker session:

4A – Intersectionality in Action:  Strategies for Race, Disability & Gender Inclusion at Work

Elaine Belanger-Porter

Elaine Belanger-Porter (she/her), M.A.Ed. is a Student Success Advisor and Self-Advocacy Skills Builder at Humber Polytechnic, where she supports students with disabilities in developing self-advocacy as a core employability skill. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in career education, employment services, career advising, and workforce engagement, Elaine is the creator and lead developer of the Self-Advocacy Learning (SAL) initiative. SAL equips learners with practical tools and strategies to articulate their strengths, advocate for accommodation needs, and promote their disability edge in academic and workplace conversations. Through innovative learning design and cross-campus collaboration, Elaine is advancing inclusive career education and helping position Humber Polytechnic as a leader in self-advocacy, accessibility, and equitable pathways to employment.

Speaker session:

9C – Level the Playing Field: Self Advocacy as a Core Employability Skill

Co-Presenter – Dimple Rai, Humber Polytechnic

Michael Bennett

Speaker session:

7B – A Subtle look at Job Development and the way it was. Where is it now and how do we get what once worked – Back!

Véronique Boyer

A person living with disabilities herself, Véronique brings both lived experience and a professional commitment to advancing accessibility and inclusion. With studies in Diversity, Equity and Human Rights, she is particularly interested in the ways disability, language and other barriers can intersect and shape a person’s access to services, employment and opportunity.

Originally from Northern Ontario and fluently bilingual, Véronique is passionate about creating practical, inclusive approaches that recognize accessibility in all its forms and ensure people can access the services and opportunities they need in the language in which they feel most comfortable.

Speaker session:

9B – Beyond Access: Exploring the Intersection of Disability and Linguistics Accessibility

Co-Presenter – Jacob Sirois, College Borèal

Summer Burton

Summer Burton is Executive Director of Literacy Link South Central and a leader in adult learning, workforce development, and community collaboration. She has extensive experience developing educational resources, facilitating training, and building partnerships that support inclusive participation in learning and employment. Under her leadership, LLSC has expanded its provincial reach while remaining focused on creating pathways that help individuals, employers, and communities succeed together. Summer believes that meaningful inclusion is achieved not only by supporting individuals, but by designing environments, systems, and partnerships that enable diverse learners and workers to thrive.

Speaker session:

5C – From Assessment to Apprenticeship Success: How Specialized Supports Create Inclusive Pathways in the Skilled Trades

Co-Presenter – Vito Mendonca, LLSC

Andrea D. Carter

Speaker sessions:

Opening Plenary – “Built for This: The Missing Piece to a Team That Sustains and Performs”

1A – From Insight to Action: Building Conditions Your Team Needs to Sustain and Perform

Clara Chan

Clara brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the Ontario Public Service, spanning five ministries and central agencies. She has led the development and delivery of several high-profile initiatives, including the Ontario Together Fund, the Ontario Together Trade Fund, the Protect Ontario Financing Program, and Succession Ontario.

Clara’s connection to accessibility is both professional and personal. As a person who identifies as neurodivergent and the proud mother of a daughter with Rett syndrome, she brings lived experience and a deep commitment to advancing accessibility, inclusion, and equitable opportunities for all Ontarians.

Known for her collaborative and inclusive leadership style, Clara works with partners across sectors to advance Ontario’s accessibility priorities and support the province’s commitments under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Speaker session:

6A – Accessibility Leadership in Action: Driving Inclusion & Economic Growth

Co-Presenter – Meenu Sikand, ADM, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Division, MSAA

Deborah Childs

With a Master of Social Work and extensive experience in employment, mental health, and social services, Deborah brings a client-centred and trauma-in

Speaker session:

3A – From Design to Practice: Emerging Promising Practices in Integrated Employment Services (IES)

Co-Presenter – Andrew McMurray, London Regional Employment Services

Co-Presenter – Sarah Haase, Fleming College

Matthew Chow

Speaker session:

7A – AI and the Inclusive Workplace

Co-Presenter – Agnes McLachlan, TELUS Canada

Fabio Crespin

Fabio Crespin is a workforce development and inclusive employment leader with extensive experience in designing and leading strategic initiatives that connect diverse talent to meaningful employment opportunities. As Senior Manager, Inclusive Employment at United Way Greater Toronto, he oversees partnerships and programs that bring together employers, community organizations, educational institutions, and government stakeholders to advance workforce participation and economic inclusion.

His work focuses on employer engagement, workforce development, and the creation of inclusive employment pathways that align talent development with labour market needs. Known for his collaborative and practical approach, Fabio is passionate about building partnerships that help individuals overcome barriers to employment while supporting employers in accessing diverse talent.

Through innovation, collaboration, and system-level thinking, Fabio works to strengthen inclusive employment ecosystems and create sustainable opportunities for job seekers and employers alike

Speaker session:

6B – Building Inclusive Employment Pathways for Youth Who have Disabilities

Rylan Degenhardt

Rylan Degenhardt is a workforce development and skilled trades leader with 20 years of experience in the construction industry . His career began with 14 years in the field, where he earned multiple Red Seal certifications and developed extensive expertise across several skilled trades before transitioning into workforce development.

Over the past six years, Rylan has worked alongside industry leaders, employers, unions, educators, and apprentices to design and implement workforce strategies that strengthen apprenticeship systems, enhance training delivery, and build leadership capacity. His work spans program development, curriculum design, organizational partnerships, business development, and initiatives that improve workforce readiness and long-term industry sustainability.

Rylan is passionate about developing the next generation of skilled trades professionals while helping organizations create high-performing, future-ready workforces.

Speaker session:

3B – Building Pathways to Apprenticeship: Expanding Access and Success in the Skilled Trades

Co-Presenter – Lovey Sidhu, Skillplan

Jodi Delage

She is passionate about helping businesses understand the value and business case for inclusive hiring, while developing practical strategies that support workplace accessibility and diversity. Jodi is committed to challenging misconceptions surrounding disability employment and creating meaningful opportunities for connection, mentorship, and career growth.

Through both her professional and personal experiences, Jodi values authenticity, perseverance, and creating supportive spaces where people feel empowered to succeed.

Speaker session:

Tuesday Lunch – MentorAbility: Making a Difference One Mentorship at a Time

Co-Presenter – Julia Douglas, MODC

Jake Deutsch

Jake completed a Master of Business, Entrepreneurship & Technology at the University of Waterloo and is passionate about Equity-centered Design for government services with his thought-leadership on the topic published on Deloitte.com.

Speaker session:

8A – Co-Designing for Success: Meaningfully Engaging Job Seekers in the Design & Delivery of Services

Co-Presenter – Rosshane Vignarajah, Deloitte

Julia Douglas

Bio – Coming Soon

Speaker session:

Tuesday Lunch – MentorAbility: Making a Difference One Mentorship at a Time

Co-Presenter – Jodi Delage, ODEN

Christine Dubois-Cross

Christine Dubois-Cross is currently the Acting Recruitment Manager at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). With over 20 years of recruitment experience across both the public and private sectors, Christine brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in talent acquisition and relationship building.

Christine is passionate about connecting with individuals who are dedicated to advancing mental health care and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Speaker session:

5B – Lessons from a Recruitment & Retention Initiative: CAMH Employment Works

Co-Presenter – John Fernandes, CAMH

Ofelia Dugal

Ofelia Dugal is a workforce development leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing employment, settlement and workforce development initiatives. Her career includes leadership roles with the Greater Essex County District School Board and the City of Windsor. She currently leads employer engagement for Project SEARCH Realizing Employment Potential at ODEN, driving workforce inclusion through strategic partnerships and employer collaboration.

Speaker session:

8C – Collaborate Differently with Employers:  Using LinkedIn for Strategic, Relationship Driven Employer Engagement

Co-Presenter – Cristin O’Sullivan, OCTC

Sarah Ennor

Speaker session:

8B – Employees are Just Customers That You Pay

John Fernandes

John Fernandes is proud to support the Employment Works initiative at CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), where people with lived and living experience of mental health and substance use challenges pursue employment goals. John has more than 25 years of experience at CAMH, including roles in human resources, project management, and patient-facing services. He is also involved in community and education initiatives focused on employment, inclusion, and lived experience. As a person with lived and living experience, John is interested in how organizations can create more inclusive pathways to employment.

Speaker session:

5B – Lessons from a Recruitment & Retention Initiative: CAMH Employment Works

Co-Presenter – Christine Dubois-Cross, CAMH

Francis Fung

Speaker session:

7D – IDEA – Income Support and Organization Capacity Building

Co-Presenter – Rebecca Gewurtz, IDEA

Wendy Galloway

When a Grade 6 volunteer experience introduced Wendy Galloway to an inclusive recreation program for children with developmental disabilities, it sparked a passion that would shape her career. More than 40 years later, Wendy leads employment initiatives as Employment Services Manager and VjobReady Project Coordinator at Career Services of Brockville. A Canadian Certified Rehabilitation Counsellor (CCRC), she has spent her career helping people overcome barriers, build confidence, and achieve employment success. Wendy is recognized for her practical, solution-focused approach, collaborative leadership, and commitment to advancing inclusive employment.

Speaker session:

5A – Strengthening Job Development through Shared Learning

Co-Panelist – Mateja Mihelcic, PATH Employment

Co-Panelist – Christie Scales, KEYS Employment

Rebecca Gewurtz

Dr. Rebecca Gewurtz is an Occupational Therapist, an Associate Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University, and an Adjunct Scientist at the Institute for Work and Health. She is the Director of the Inclusive Design for Employment Access (IDEA) Social Innovation Laboratory where she is leading research examining strategies for building employer capacity to hire, accommodate, and promote persons with disabilities. She is also interested in income security, benefit systems, and housing and homelessness. She holds a PhD from the University of Toronto and completed a collaborative program through the CHSRF/CIHR in Health Services and Policy Research.

Speaker session:

7D – IDEA – Income Support and Organization Capacity Building

Co-Presenter – Francis Fung, IDEA

Mariana Harrietha

Since joining SECC in December 2023, Mariana has thrived in the organization’s collaborative and supportive environment, finding fulfillment in helping clients achieve their employment and training goals. She is deeply passionate about workforce development and takes pride in supporting local businesses and employers by connecting them with skilled talent and meaningful resources, while also promoting inclusive hiring practices and opportunities.

Driven by her commitment to growth and community impact, Mariana focuses on building strong relationships, strengthening employer partnerships, and leading by example to create accessible workplaces and positive outcomes for her team, job seekers, and the broader community.

Speaker session:

6D – From What If to What’s Possible: Growing Partnerships to Create Inclusive Employment Opportunities

Co-Presenter – Emily Pontini, SECC

Sarah Hasse

Speaker session:

3A – From Design to Practice: Emerging Promising Practices in Integrated Employment Services (IES)

Co-Presenter – Deborah Childs, WCG Employment Services

Co-Presenter – Andrew McMurray, London Regional Employment Services

Brenda Herchmer

Brenda has been honoured as a YWCA Woman of Distinction and as a Distinguished Graduate of Brock University. Through her work as the founder of RESET Communities and as the Canada Chapter Chair of Catalyst Now, Brenda supports the capacity to think and work differently across organizations and sectors. Her work connects local action with a broader vision of inclusive, thriving communities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Speaker session:

Closing Plenary – From Silos to Systems: Connecting the Dots for Inclusive Employment and Community Well-being

Erin Keeley-Messier

Erin Keeley-Messier is the Executive Director at iSisters Technology Mentoring. Before iSisters, Erin lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she gained over 10 years experience in the non-profit and adult education sectors. She supported and empowered some of the most marginalized people, including in prisons, with street sex workers, young people in the care system, and those experiencing substance use disorders, supporting them to overcome multiple and systemic barriers and progress into education and employment. With iSisters since 2021, Erin has used the experience in Scotland to inform her practice with the women and gender-diverse individuals served by iSisters. She works closely with partner organizations and learners to grow and develop the tailored digital literacy and employability training offered, with a strong focus on confidence, community building, and amplifying the voices of equity-deserving people. She firmly believes that empowering women
with the skills to succeed is foundational for building a better world.

Speaker session:

4B – Accessible Learning, Inclusive Employment:  iSisters Impact Through Innovation

Co-Presenter – Lynda Muckelston, iSisters Technology Mentoring

Co-Presenter – Estel Russo, iSisters Technology Mentoring

Dr. Greg MacLuckie

Speaker sessions:

6C – Your Brain Biology is Not Fixed

Agnes McLachlan

Beyond her core role, Agnes is a proud member of the Abilities Employee Resource Group committee, where she leads special projects to drive accessibility and inclusion. With 15 years of experience across the private and public sectors, Agnes blends her clinical background as a Registered Nurse with certifications in Occupational Health and Safety and CMHA Psychological Health and Safety.

Speaker session:

7A – AI and the Inclusive Workplace

Co-Presenter – Dr. Matthew Chow, TELUS Canada

Andrew McMurray

Speaker session:

3A – From Design to Practice: Emerging Promising Practices in Integrated Employment Services (IES)

Co-Presenter – Deborah Childs, WCG Employment Services

Co-Presenter – Sarah Haase, Fleming College

Michelle McQuigge

As CEO of BALANCE for Blind Adults, Michelle McQuigge is leading the organization’s growth across Ontario, with a focus on practical, responsive services and stronger community partnerships. Her leadership is informed by her own experience of blindness and a commitment to expanding opportunities for blind and partially sighted people.

Before joining BALANCE as CEO in August 2025, Michelle spent 19 years as a national journalist and editorial leader with The Canadian Press. She also brings more than a decade of governance experience in Canada’s sight loss sector, including nine years as a board director with BALANCE. Michelle is totally blind and works alongside her Seeing Eye® dog, Lucy, BALANCE’s Chief Morale Officer.

Speaker session:

4C – The Inclusion Advantage: Practical Guidance for Employing Blind & Partially Sighted Talent

Co-Presenter – Christina Peruzzi, BALANCE for Blind Adults

Vito Mendonca

Vito Mendonca is Manager of Client Services at Literacy Link South Central and has spent more than 15 years advancing inclusive approaches to workforce development, employment, and apprenticeship success. His work focuses on helping organizations shift from adapting individuals to systems toward designing systems that work for diverse learners and workers from the outset. Through partnerships with employers, educators, disability-service providers, and community organizations, Vito supports initiatives that strengthen accessibility, reduce barriers, and improve participation in training and employment. He is particularly interested in how collaboration across sectors can create workplaces and learning environments where people of all abilities can succeed.

Speaker session:

5C – From Assessment to Apprenticeship Success: How Specialized Supports Create Inclusive Pathways in the Skilled Trades

Co-Presenter – Summer Burton, LLSC

Mateja Mihelcic

Speaker session:

5A – Strengthening Job Development through Shared Learning

Co-Presenter – Wendy Galloway, Career Services Brockville

Co-Presenter – Christie Scales, KEYS Employment

Lynda Muckleston

I come from a background in financial and management roles, where I learned how to navigate complex systems, support teams, and build programs that work in practice. Alongside that professional path, I was always a passionate advocate for the disability community. Even before my own injury, I understood how systems can either support people or shut them out, and I chose to use my voice to push for better. After acquiring my brain injury, that commitment deepened into disability justice. I experienced firsthand how barriers show up in everyday communication, learning, and access to information. I also discovered how powerful technology can be when it is designed accessibly. I relied on digital tools to rebuild routines, manage fatigue, and stay connected, and that lived experience reshaped my purpose

Speaker session:

4B – Accessible Learning, Inclusive Employment: iSisters Impact Through Innovation

Co-Presenter – Estel Russo, iSisters Technology Mentoring

Co-Presenter – Erin Keeley-Messier, iSisters Technology Mentoring

Cristin O’Sullivan

Speaker session:

8C – Collaborate Differently with Employers:  Using LinkedIn for Strategic, Relationship Driven Employer Engagement

Co-Presenter – Ofelia Dugal, ODEN

Christina Peruzzi

Christina Peruzzi is Communications Strategist at BALANCE for Blind Adults, where she leads strategic communications and cross-organizational initiatives that build understanding, strengthen engagement and turn complex ideas into practical action.

With nearly two decades of experience in communications and project management, Christina brings a strong focus on audience needs, relationship building and clear, accessible information. She works across teams and with external partners to help make blindness, accessibility and inclusion easier to understand, navigate and put into practice.

Speaker session:

4C – The Inclusion Advantage: Practical Guidance for Employing Blind & Partially Sighted Talent

Co-Presenter – Michelle McQuigge, BALANCE for Blind Adults

Emily Pontini

With experience facilitating workshops and employment-focused programming for youth and adults, Emily is passionate about helping individuals develop practical workplace skills, strengthen their job search strategies, and discover pathways to long-term success. Her work often focuses on networking, career readiness, job retention, and supporting individuals facing complex barriers to employment.

Emily is especially passionate about creating supportive and inclusive spaces where individuals feel encouraged, prepared, and empowered to achieve their employment goals.

Speaker session:

6D – From What If to What’s Possible: Growing Partnerships to Create Inclusive Employment Opportunities

Co-Presenter – Mariana Harrietha, SECC

Lisa Purchase

Through her work with Project SEARCH and broader employment initiatives, Lisa is passionate about building partnerships that move beyond individual hiring opportunities toward sustainable employment pathways. She believes meaningful change happens when employment service providers, municipalities, and businesses collaborate to create inclusive workplaces where individuals of all abilities can contribute, grow, and succeed.

Speaker session:

7C – Collaborate to Innovate: Municipalities as Partners to Inclusive Employment (Panel)

Co-Panelist – Jennifer Way, MODC

Co-Panelist – Reem Ali, City of Peterborough

Jasmine Qi

Jasmine (Jiaxuan) Qi is a workforce inclusion and systems-change leader with expertise in workforce strategy, inclusive employment, organizational transformation, and equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA). She designs systems, leads national initiatives, mobilizes partners, influences organizations, and translates evidence into implementation to address complex workforce challenges and create more equitable pathways to employment and leadership.As Director, Workforce Inclusion at Tourism HR Canada, she leads the national Belong project, a multi-faceted initiative advancing disability inclusion across Canada’s tourism sector through employer capacity building, accessible employment solutions, talent connections, inclusive leadership, and sector-wide partnerships. Her work brings together employers, industry organizations, community partners, researchers, and workforce development stakeholders to turn evidence and emerging ideas into practical solutions that organizations can implement and sustain.

Her professional background spans workforce strategy, human resources, policy research and analysis, stakeholder engagement, immigrant integration, career development, mentorship, and program development. She brings a systems perspective to complex workforce challenges, with a particular focus on challenging conventional approaches, building cross-sector partnerships, and creating solutions that enable individuals, employers, and communities to thrive together.

As a racialized immigrant woman, Jasmine also brings lived experience to her work on equitable access to employment and leadership opportunities. Her leadership is grounded in a simple belief: opportunity should never be limited by barriers that society has the power to remove

As the founder of CARCO Disability Strategies, Erica empowers individuals with disabilities to confidently advocate for their workplace needs and educated employers on disability inclusion. She’s delivered impactful trainings, participated in panels, and authored insightful blog posts—all aimed at fostering greater understanding and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Speaker session:

1B – Tourism Careers: Building Pathways to Opportunity

Dimple Rai

Dimple Rai (she/her) is the Associate Director of Advising & Career Services at Humber Polytechnic, with over 15 years of experience supporting students across post-secondary institutions. Her current work centers on helping learners achieve academic and career success, with a focus on employability skills, retention and persistence interventions, and equity-based programs to support learners in completing their studies and transition confidently into meaningful employment. Dimple leads and supports initiatives that connect academic and career development across the student lifecycle. Equity work in her portfolio includes programming for learners with disabilities through Humber’s Transition to Work initiative, supporting learners in and from care, and expanding career development for Black and queer learners through partnerships. Grounded in care and collaboration, she is committed to creating environments where students feel supported, empowered, and prepared to achieve their goals.

Speaker session:

9C – Level the Playing Field: Self Advocacy as a Core Employability Skill

Co-Presenter – Elaine Belanger-Porter, Humber Polytechnic

Roman Romanov

As an internationally experienced architect with an ocular disability, Roman brings a wealth of lived experience to his role. He is responsible for providing a range of advisory services designed to support multi-site and large-scale public and private organizations on their journey towards increased accessibility and inclusion, in the built environment and beyond.

Roman is sessional faculty in several higher education institutions in Canada, having taught courses in architectural design, theory, and accessibility, including the RHFAC Professional Designation. He currently sits on Waterfront Toronto’s Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Passionate about client success and meaningful business relationships, Roman speaks five languages, and has worked in customer success and advisory in industries such as banking, international relations, and hospitality. He holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Design degree from OCAD University.

Outside of work, Roman can be found playing tennis, painting, or riding his bike along Toronto’s
waterfront, where he resides.

Speaker session:

9A – You Hired Inclusively. Is Your Workplace Ready?

Zachary Rose

Zak Rose is Director of Strategic Initiatives at Magnet, a Centre of Innovation at Toronto Metropolitan University focused on the future of work and building adaptive capacity in Canada. He brings a background in postsecondary policy and public sector work, with an understanding of how federal and provincial programs, institutions, and intermediaries fit together. At Magnet, he leads strategy, business development, government relations, and program design across the organization’s national initiatives, including the Adaptive Leaders executive roundtables, MagnetAI, and the MAPLE Awards. His work centres on building partnerships with government, sector councils, and employers that help Canada’s workforce adapt as AI reshapes how work gets done.

Speaker session:

2A – Practical Approaches to How AI can Empower Employees and Allow our Staff to Adapt

Estel Russo

Estel Lita Russo is the Program Manager and Instructional Designer at iSisters Technology Mentoring. She brings more than 30 years of experience in education, training, and technology, including over 20 years of management experience and more than 20 years designing and delivering learning programs. Technology education is central to Estel’s work. She designs courses that help learners use computers, online services, and digital tools with greater confidence. At iSisters, her programs cover digital skills, online safety, employment readiness, AI literacy, and responsible AI use. She works with instructors and community partners to make these subjects practical and accessible to women, youth, and adults with varied learning needs. Estel has also taught language and arts, as well as technology, to audiences ranging from community learners to business professionals. That breadth of experience helps her adapt complex concepts to different abilities, goals, and ways of learning. At ODEN, she will share insights from iSisters’ work to reduce barriers to digital participation for people with disabilities

Speaker session:

4B – Accessible Learning, Inclusive Employment: iSisters Impact Through Innovation

Co-Presenter – Erin Keeley-Messier, iSisters Technology Mentoring

Co-Presenter – Lynda Muckelston, iSisters Technology Mentoring

Christie Scales

Christie J. Scales is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in Career Services, Workforce Development, and Community Services across Kingston and the surrounding region. Throughout her career with KEYS Employment and Newcomer Services, she has provided leadership in program design and management, governance, strategic relationship development, contract negotiation, collective impact initiatives, community of practice building, program evaluation, and community needs assessment. Her diverse experience also includes workshop facilitation, settlement services, and counselling support for at-risk youth.

Christie brings energy, integrity, and a people-centered approach to every endeavor. She is passionate about building inclusive systems, empowering teams, and creating opportunities that drive meaningful and lasting community impact.

Beyond her professional role, Christie is an active Mama to two amazing teenaged girls and a community volunteer, she is committed to bring people together for conversations, creativity and real solutions that have impact for all.

Speaker session:

5A – Strengthening Job Development through Shared Learning

Co-Panelist – Wendy Galloway, Career Services Brockville

Co-Panelist – Mateja Mihelcic, PATH Employment

Lovey Sidhu

Throughout her career, Lovey has led and supported organizations across postsecondary institutions, unions and affiliated training providers, government, non-profits and industry to design, develop and implement innovative training programs. Her expertise includes curriculum design, program development and the integration of digital and blended learning approaches to strengthen training delivery and improve learner outcomes.

Lovey brings a strategic and systems-level perspective to advancing apprenticeship and workforce development, with a focus on scalable, high-impact solutions that improve access, progression and success for learners.

Speaker session:

3B – Building Pathways to Apprenticeship: Expanding Access and Success in the Skilled Trades

Co-Presenter – Rylan Degenhardt, SkillPlan

Meenu Sikand

Previously, Meenu served as Assistant Deputy Minister of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Division and held groundbreaking roles as the first Executive Lead for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and the inaugural Accessibility Specialist for the Region of Peel. She is the founder of Accessibility for All and creator of the IDEA Lens, an innovative framework that bridges disability inclusion with broader diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies.

A respected advocate, thought leader, and international speaker, Meenu is the first South Asian woman inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame. Her work continues to influence accessibility policy, infrastructure design, and inclusive leadership across Canada and beyond.

Speaker session:

6A – Accessibility Leadership in Action: Driving Inclusion & Economic Growth

Co-Presenter – Clara Chan, ADM, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Division, MSAA

Jacob Sirois

Jacob Sirois is a Contractual Relations Specialist with Naviguer vers l’emploi at Collège Boréal, where he supports a province-wide network of employment service providers. His work focuses on transforming program requirements, technology, and operational processes into practical solutions for frontline organizations. With experience in technology implementation, post-secondary education, and provider support, Jacob is committed to developing practical and inclusive approaches that reduce barriers and improve access to services for diverse communities. As a strong advocate for high-quality French-language services, he is particularly interested in how accessible communication, inclusive design, and linguistic accessibility can work together to create more equitable and effective experiences for job seekers across Ontario.

Speaker session:

9B – Beyond Access: Exploring the Intersection of Disability and Linguistics Accessibility

Co-Presenter – Véronique Boyer, College Borèal

Bruce Squires

Bruce Squires joined Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital as president and chief executive officer in February 2026.

Before joining Holland Bloorview, Bruce served as president of McMaster Children’s Hospital and vice president, Women’s & Children’s Health at Hamilton Health Sciences from 2019 to 2026. Prior to that, he spent six years as vice president of people, strategy & performance at CHEO in Ottawa. Bruce has played a pivotal role in supporting these organizations to achieve internationally recognized levels of excellence.

His career also includes 20 years as a senior executive in professional health associations, including the Canadian Medical Association. Deeply committed to system leadership, partnership and transformation, Bruce has held leadership roles at national, provincial, regional, and local levels, including as chair of Children’s Healthcare Canada and governing council chair of the Provincial Council on Maternal & Child Health. He is currently a member of the Boards of the Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada, Ronald McDonald House Canada and Collaborative Benefits Inc.

Speaker sessions:

3C – Building a Disability Inclusive Healthcare Workforce

Rosshane Vignarajah

Rosshane holds a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University and an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Business from the University of Waterloo.Rosshane is a Manager in Deloitte’s Government and Public Services Solutions practice, where she works on program design, service delivery, and large-scale transformation for provincial governments across Canada. Her work centres on human and social services, justice and community safety, and digital strategy, with a focus on person-centred design that improves outcomes for people who interact with social service systems. Before consulting, Rosshane had a career in the Ontario Public Service in policy, program, and operational leadership roles.

Rosshane holds a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University and an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Business from the University of Waterloo.

Speaker session:

8A – Co-Designing for Success: Meaningfully Engaging Job Seekers in the Design & Delivery of Services

Co-Presenter – Jake Deutsch, Deloitte

Jennifer Way

Guided by a core belief that collaboration is key to success, Jennifer actively contributes to cross-sector partnerships. She serves on the Special Education Advisory Committee in her Northern Ontario community and is a member of the Project SEARCH National Advisory Committee. Her work is driven by a passion for bridging gaps for youth as they transition from school to the workforce, ensuring they are  connected to meaningful employment opportunities.

Speaker session:

7C – Collaborate to Innovate: Municipalities as Partners to Inclusive Employment (Panel)

Co-Panelist – Reem Ali, City of Peterborough

Co-Panelist – Lisa Purchase, Alternatives Community Program Services

Michelle Wilson

Speaker session:

2C – From Campus to Career: Collaborating Across Sectors to Foster Inclusive Talent Pipelines

Jennifer Wright

Speaker session:

2B – Building Inclusive Pathways to Careers in Agriculture & Agri-Food