2013 Employer Council of Champions Summit

Key Note Speaker

Christine Stigter

Senior Manager, Human Resources

TD

Christine is currently the Senior Manager for Diversity and Inclusion supporting the Canadian Banking, Auto Finance and North American Credit Cards and Merchant Services businesses for TD. Supporting the corporate diversity agenda across for over 33,000 employees across Canada, and about one thousand employees based in the US, Christine works closely with her business and HR partners to further the TD commitment to creating a unique and inclusive work environment. Christine joined MBNA Canada Bank in 1997 to help start up the Finance department. Christine has held positions in Administration, Finance and HR with MBNA Canada including responsibility for compensation and Benefits, Payroll, Recruitment, Health and Safety Services, Associate Experience, Employment Equity and Learning and Leadership Development. When TD purchased the MBNA Canadian business in 2012, Christine supported the administration of interim servicing arrangements with Bank of America until moving back into HR in August. Christine obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematical Sciences from Carleton University. Christine also holds her Certified General Accountant designation. Christine actively volunteers in the community primarily with war veterans programs and Hire Immigrants Ottawa. She is currently the senior sponsor for the local Asian Leadership Network and is an active member of the Person with Disabilities and Allies network.

Presenters

Zaina Sovani

Director General

Shared Services Canada

Zaina began her career as an entrepreneur with The Brokerage Restaurant in the Rideau Center and then became a business process transformation executive with Nortel. She subsequently moved into the field of outsourcing administrative services with the Global Business Development group at Price Waterhouse Coopers. In 2003, Zaina joined the Federal Government, where she is currently a Director General, Project Management Centre of Excellence at Shared Services Canada and is the Diversity Champion for the department. She holds a MBA from the University of Ottawa. Zaina has volunteered for a number of organizations since immigrating to Canada in 1975. She recently completed her second 3 year term as president of His Highness Prince Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Ottawa. She has held this position since 2005 when she was first appointed by His Highness Prince Aga Khan. Prior to this, Zaina served as the chair of Human Resources Development, Chair of the Economic Planning Board, Chair of the Settlement of Refugees Board and was a community member to the board of directors for the Ottawa Hospital and is currently a board member with the United Way. In recognition of her community contributions, Mayor Larry O’Brien presented Zaina with the “Agent of Change” Medallion in June 2010.

Master of Ceremonies

Alan Neal

Host of Ottawa’s favourite drive home show All in a Day, on CBC Radio One, 91.5 FM. All in a Day is music, news, current affairs, culture, theatre, movies, politics, history, humour and conversation – all wrapped up in an engaging and entertaining package. Airing weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. in the greater Ottawa, West Quebec and Kingston areas, All in a Day helps you wind down from a hectic day and get ready for the evening. Its dynamic, up-to-the-minute pace ensures that if you miss a minute, you’ll miss a lot. In addition to hosting All in a Day, Alan is now a published author. His children’s book Ava and the Little Folk is now available at local book stores.

Key Note Speaker

Mary Karamanos

Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Business Development Bank of Canada Mary Karamanos was appointed Senior Vice President, Human Resources in 2004. In this role, she works closely with other members of the senior management team and is responsible for the development and implementation of BDC’s human capital strategies, including talent management and leadership development. Over a twenty-five year career in business, she has acquired extensive experience in strategic human resources in both entrepreneurial companies and large global organizations in the retail, consumer goods and financial sector. Ms. Karamanos joined BDC in October 2002 as Vice President Human Resources. Prior to this, she held executive positions at Corby Distilleries in Montreal and Toronto and Allied Domecq, Spirits and Wine in Westport, Connecticut. A native of Montreal, she is a graduate of McGill University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Relations and a CCP designation (Certified Compensation Professional) from World at Work. She is active in the community and supports children’s charities.

Presenters

Dr. Lorraine Dyke

Sprott School of Business Carleton University

Dr. Lorraine Dyke is an Associate Professor of Management and Strategy in the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University. Dr. Dyke is also the founder and current Director of the Centre for Research and Education on Women and Work and the Management Development Program for Women at Carleton. Professor Dyke holds an M.B.A. and Ph.D. in Management from Queen’s University. Dr. Dyke’s research focuses on careers, the changing workplace and workforce diversity. Her monographs include a cross cultural study of attitudes towards women in management, a study on career development in the federal public service and a study of career issues in the high tech sector. She is the author of numerous research articles and has received extensive funding for her research. Dr. Dyke is also the recipient of five Best Paper Awards for her research. Her consulting experience includes work with some of Canada’s largest public and private sector organizations. Consulting projects include a major executive training initiative on diversity, a custom leadership program for a federal agency and three projects on workplace climate issues. Dr. Dyke was recently awarded a Carleton Graduate Mentoring Award and the Graduate Students’ Association Excellence Award in Graduate Teaching at Carleton University. She has also been nominated by Carleton alumnae for a Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Person’s Case, as a YMCA-YWCA Woman of Distinction and for a Capital Educators’ Award.

Paul Chiasson

Regional Vice-President in Ottawa East

Royal Bank of Canada

As Regional Vice-President in Ottawa East, Paul Chiasson had the overall responsibility for Retail Banking, Business Banking and Financial Planning in the Ottawa East market. With RBC for 34 years, Paul has progressed through a variety of positions including senior roles in Operations, Human Resources, the Call Centre and Retail Banking. Active in his community and involved in numerous fundraising initiatives, Paul is a member of the Board of Hire Immigrants Ottawa and a cabinet member for JDRF. Paul holds a Master of Business Administration from Université du Québec a Montréal (UQAM).