Candice Alderson was appointed as Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Artemis Gold in 2021.
Prior to her new position, she was the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the Ledcor Group of Companies, a privately-owned company that is one of the most diverse conglomerates in North America. The Ledcor Group of Companies consists of the Commercial Construction, Property, Industrial, Mining, Pipeline, Resource, Transportation and Telecommunication business units.
Candice has worked with a variety of these business units during her time at Ledcor and is currently the senior legal advisor for Ledcor’s P3 and Telecommunications Group, while also overseeing general corporate matters, including acquisitions for the Ledcor Group of Companies. Candice graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University (double major) and a LLB from the University of Victoria. Candice was an executive member of the Vancouver Bar Association and has been active on various Canadian Bar Association Committees (BC and National) during her legal career. She was a member and Chair of the Bar Talk Editorial Advisory Board for over 10 years has participated in the CBABC’s Women’s Lawyers Forum mentorship program for many years. She is also a member of the Canadian Infrastructure Law Forum Organizing Committee. She is an alumnus of the Governor General’s Leadership Conference (2004), a member of the Governor General’s BC Study Tour Committee and a member of the Advisory Board of Power to Be. Candice was awarded L’Expert’s Top 40 Under 40 Rising Star Award.
Al-Karim Khimji is a Director at Shirin Group, an Alberta (Canada)-based multi-city hospitality company. He has worked in the hospitality industry since his youth, and upon completing his studies, began his career by developing, opening and serving as general manager for the Staybridge Suites in Calgary. Currently, he oversees operations, development and expansion spanning multiple brands (Choice Hotels, Wyndham, Intercontinental Hotels, Hilton and Marriot). He is an active member of the IHG Owners Association and member of the Canada Committee, Digital & Marketing Channels Committee and Emerging Leaders Executive Committee. Prior to returning to the Shirin Group, Al-Karim was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company and worked overseas for the Aga Khan Development Network. Al-Karim volunteers with and is a Board member for a variety of community organizations. He earned an MBA from Queen’s University, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University.
Laurel Garven is Vice President, Business Strategy at ISC, a TSX-listed company that provides registry and information management services for public data and records. Prior to this, Laurel worked for the Government of Saskatchewan’s Information Technology Office on citizen-centred service delivery. She also led projects for a diverse set of organizations and sectors including government, health, utilities and First Nations while serving as a business consultant at a Saskatchewan-based management consulting firm.
Laurel is involved in the non-profit sector, serving as Chair of the Ranch Ehrlo Society Board of Directors, Saskatchewan’s largest human services agency. She is also a member of the Luther College Board of Regents and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors.
Laurel is currently completing post-graduate studies in strategy and innovation at the Saïd Business School – University of Oxford. She received her HBA degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University and a Diploma in Business Administration from the Paul J. Hill School of Business at the University of Regina. She also holds a Professional Director certification.
Laurel served as Regional Co-Chair for the 2015 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference and is an alumnus of the 2015 Conference, having served as Co-Chair of the Ontario 2 Study Group.
Alastair MacFadden is an Executive in Residence with the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. He served previously as Deputy Minister of Immigration and Career Training (2018-2020) and Assistant Deputy Minister of Labour Market Development (2013-18) for the Government of Saskatchewan, and in other roles in government and the non-profit sector. As a senior official in government, Alastair reconciled labour market agendas for Canadians and newcomers, he negotiated investments in workers and businesses, and he worked to improve the results of labour market activities through collaborative planning with business, labour and others.
His work also prepared the system—of training, education, employment, immigration and related services—to adapt to a changing economic and social context. His time as a senior official saw Saskatchewan rank among the top performing labour markets in Canada, based on areas like the employment rate of under-represented groups, job tenures, and the average period of unemployment.
Leanne is an alumnus of the 2004 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. Leanne works as senior manager with MNP Consulting in Winnipeg’s organizational development practice in which she serves as MNP’s change management and organizational transformation expert. Prior to joining MNP, Leanne was Partner in a Winnipeg and Ottawa-based organization development consulting firm.
Leanne received her Master of Arts degree from Concordia University in Montreal, where she specialized in organizational change and learning. She believes in contributing to her community and has been involved with the planning of every GGCLC conference since her participation in 2004, co-chairing the Manitoba Regional Committee for the last two editions.
Leanne serves on international boards and committees for the Association of Change Management Professionals, the Human Resource Association of Manitoba and the United Church of Canada. She has served as chair of several human resource conferences and national youth forums.
Leanne is a born-and-bred “Winnipeger” and is proud to support the development of great Manitoban and Canadian leaders.
Brian Marks has the privilege of being the Chief Administrative Officer for the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board. Brian truly appreciates the opportunity to serve his CDSSAB coworkers as they provide Emergency Medical Services, Affordable Childcare, Affordable Housing, Income Security and Employment Services to the residents of Northeastern Ontario across 140,000 km2 and multiple municipalities.
Brian is an unapologetic civil servant and a champion for personal and collective accountability in service delivery. Brian believes that Ontarians can be best served through strategic and honest collaboration across service sectors, including: Health, Education, Social Services, and Economic Development and he is dedicated to creating the service system people need.
Brian has served on numerous provincial, regional and local boards with diverse mandates, from immigration to health care and literacy to addictions treatment. Brian is a founding member of the Chartered Institute of Housing Canada and a proud alumnus of the Governor Generals Canadian Leadership Conference (2012).
Brian is a lifelong resident of Northeastern Ontario, save some time away to obtain his Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Degree and his Master’s Degree of Business Administration. Brian is a husband, father and runner.
Tobi Day-Hamilton is a passionate advocate for education and engagement.
In her role as Director Strategic Initiatives at the University of Waterloo, Tobi leads strategic planning and implementation for Waterloo’s research and innovation endeavours. She is also co-founder and Executive Director of LAUNCH Waterloo, an organization dedicated to inspiring young people to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math). LAUNCH keeps kids curious, connected and creative through year-long programming and events.
Tobi was a member of the 2012 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference (GGCLC), served on the GGCLC Southwestern Ontario Regional Committee in 2015 and in 2017 as regional chair. She is a member of the Board of Governors of the Grand River Hospital Foundation, an alumna of the University of Waterloo and McMaster University, a self-proclaimed geek and an avid adventure seeker.
Victor is the District Vice President for Scotiabank London and Area, where he is responsible for Retail Banking and Small Business growth. His experience in the financial industry has been focused on leadership, business development, transformational roles and community relations.
Victor has often been described by his co-workers as an influential role model and motivator and has been fortunate to be recognized with several Leadership and Community awards throughout his career.
One of his personal highlights was being selected to attend the Governor Generals Canadian Leadership Conference (GGCLC) in 2015. Since the Conference, he continued to participate as an Alumni to promote the program to emerging leaders. Community has always mattered to Victor and he continues to look for ways to participate and make a difference, whenever he can.
Biography to follow
Shari MacKay is a Staff Sergeant, People Strategy and Performance with the Toronto Police Service. In this role, she has led initiatives including the Competency Framework development, Toronto Police Service Mentorship Program and the rebuilding of the Service’s Core Values. She has a bias for action and is committed to contributing to the modernization of the Toronto Police Service and police agencies across the country.
Shari joined the Toronto Police Service as a front line constable. Since then, she has worked in organized crime, major crime, and other specialized units. She is also worked in Strategic organizational programs such as the Chief’s Internal Organizational Review, the Implementation Mental Health Recommendations lead by Chief Justice Iacobucci, and the development of training programs to enhance officer safety and community engagement.
Shari participated in the 2015 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference (GGCLC) where she was a delegate of Team New Brunswick. She was the co-chair for the GGCLC ‘s 2017 Conference for the Greater Toronto Area and continues to be an active leader with the conference.
Shari is a Civic Action DiverseCity Fellow (2015/2016) and committed to city building and the development of civic leadership across the GTA and Canada.
In 2015, Shari became the Co-Founder of Awesome Eh? Inc. and continues to be committed to mobilizing AWESOME everywhere!
Born and raised in Northern Ontario, Sudbury, Matthew started his 20 year career with Toromont CAT, after graduating from McMaster University’s Mechanical Engineering and Management program. His career has been focused on after sales parts and service support, currently as the General Manager of Product Support and Mining Operations for Toromont’s Caterpillar customers in Eastern Canada and Nunavut. He and his family spend the summer off the grid at their cottage and in the dance study, hockey rink or ski hills during winter. He was a member of the 2015 GGCLC Newfoundland and Labrador Study Group.
Katherine Burke is the Director of Operations of the Investment Review Division at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada where she is responsible for the administration of the Investment Canada Act, dealing with the review of foreign investments into Canada on economic and national security grounds.
Since joining the public service, Kate has also worked at the Privy Council Office, Global Affairs and Public Safety Canada, as well as previously working in private practice in fields ranging from commercial transactions to labour and employment law. Kate holds law degrees from Dalhousie University, the London School of Economics and Harvard Law School, as well as a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from Queens University.
A graduate of HEC Montreal in both Business Administration and Project Management, and holder of a BSc in Computer Network Management, Eric started his career as IT Support Manager at Aéroports de Montréal. He went on to join Bell Canada as Director of Outsourced Call Centers, and carried out several consultation mandates nationally and internationally in this capacity.
In 2006, he moved to France and joined the Webhelp group as International Development Director. As such, his main responsibilities included the implementation and subsequent integration of new subsidiaries worldwide.
Back in Quebec since 2013, Eric started his own consulting company, working with clients such as Nespresso USA, Colorado Group and La Presse Télé on their business strategy, before joining City of Brossard in 2014, as the Innovation Director.
Eric passions are mainly focused on finding new ways to help citizens get more involved within their communities, and get innovative services and interactions from their local government and organizations.
Eric co-chaired the 2017 British Columbia tour of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference.
Nadine Duguay-Lemay has been Chief Executive Officer of Dialogue NB since February 2018.
Her personal and professional background is characterized by her strong community and social involvement and her desire to create a more inclusive and tolerant society.
She is known for her visionary spirit and her remarkable skills as a leader, unifier and strategist. A skilled communicator, she can speak French, English and Spanish.
Nadine Duguay-Lemay has acquired a wide variety of experience in the public, private and community sectors. She loves to share her expertise by acting as a mentor for various programs in the community.
After working as a manager and marketing executive for the Agropur Dairy Cooperative, she founded and directed The Compello Institute of Language, a language training school in Miramichi. She then became Executive Director of the Dieppe Arts and Culture Centre and 21inc. Before joining Dialogue NB, Nadine Duguay-Lemay was Director, Regional marketing at National Bank.
Nadine Duguay-Lemay’s career has taken an atypical course through language instruction, entrepreneurship, management and leadership development.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Université de Moncton and a certificate in contemporary management. She is a graduate of NBCC St. Andrews where she completed a diploma in international business. She is also a Certified International Trade Practicioner and holds diplomas in international trade from the Forum for International Trade Training.
A tireless volunteer, Nadine was a delegate and current chair of the New Brunswick Committee for the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. She is also known for having established numerous community networks, including the Women of Miramichi Entrepreneurial Network, Miramichi Young Professional & Involved Entrepreneurs Network (MYPIE) and Rotary Resurgo, of which she remains an active member.
Over the past 20 years, Jennifer has held senior positions in both industry and government and has an extensive background in international business development, economic policy and strategy development. Prior to joining the Nova Scotia Community College, she was Director of the Major Initiatives and Projects Office for Province of Nova Scotia working across governments, academia and industry to maximize the economic potential associated with major projects. She has also held progressively senior positions with Nova Scotia Business Inc., including the Director Corporate Strategy, leading investment, trade policy, and sector strategies for the agency, Manager, Investment Attraction, and Director, Information and Communications Technology, Investment. This experience saw her lead and contribute to a number of key provincial strategies including the International Trade Strategy, Productivity and Innovation Strategy, Nova Scotia Ocean’s Strategy and the most recent Halifax Economic Strategy.
As the Director Strategic Initiatives for NSCC, Jennifer works across schools and campuses to facilitate strategic development of sector priorities and strategic assets with a view to support industry through the College’s unique value proposition areas such as applied research and work integrated learning. She is also the College lead on strategic initiatives including industry engagement surrounding the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) and Innovation Superclusters.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University College of Cape Breton and is a graduate of the Strategic Planning & Implementation Executive Program from Queens University. She is an active community volunteer and is proud to serve as the Chair of the Nova Scotia Board for Junior Achievement and as the Regional Chair for the Governor General’s Leadership Conference.
Anna Marenick is a successful human resources and transformational change leader with extensive regional and national experience leading multi-faceted and complex programs in diverse and challenging environments.
Anna joined Nova Scotia Health in 2021 in the role of Senior Director of Organizational Change Management and assumed the role of Vice President, People, Culture, and Belonging In 2022.
Her creative, inclusive approach to solving complex problems in a variety of settings makes her exceptional at collaboratively propelling ideas and people forward. Always looking for ways to serve her community, she is a member of the Saint Mary’s University Board of Governors and has been involved in the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference since 2017.
Anna has a Master of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University and Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from St. Francis Xavier University. She is also a Prosci Certified Change Management Professional and a Chartered Professional in Human Resources.
David MacKenzie is General Manager of Red Shores Racetrack and Casino in Charlottetown PEI, a division of Atlantic Lottery. Prior, David served in a variety of leadership positions in the private, not-for-profit and public sectors. He was Regional President (PEI) for Saltwire Network, President of MacKenzie Zver Consulting, Deputy Minister of the Province of PEI’s Department of Tourism, Parks & Culture, CEO of Confederation Centre of the Arts, President and Chair of PEI 2014 Inc., Executive Director of the Capital Commission of Prince Edward Island and a partner in Landfest Inc., a private real estate development company.
In addition to his volunteer work with GGCLC, David currently serves on the campaign team for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Board of Governors of Junior Achievement PEI, and is an honorary lifetime member of the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce.
David is an alumnus of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference (2004) where he served as Co-Chair of the Quebec Study Group. He was Regional Chair (PEI) for the 2008 Conference, and has been active on the PEI Regional Steering Committees since.
Victoria is an experienced strategic planner, facilitator, and communicator, and has developed a strong reputation as an effective and charismatic leader. Throughout her career, Victoria has successfully transformed associations and organizations into key drivers of policy, advocating on behalf of memberships, business, industry and consumers.
As the CEO for the Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association, Victoria Belbin is also a Director for two provincial crown corporations, and volunteers with provincial associations, social enterprises and charities demonstrating her care for the community.
With a proven track record building robust governance processes with Boards of Directors/ staff volunteer teams and bringing diverse stakeholders together, she fosters strong relationships that enable action-oriented planning to respond to industry and community needs.
Victoria holds a Masters of Marine Studies from Memorial University of NL and stays on top of governance practices through her commitment to the Institute for Corporate Directors designation, ICD.D.
Vikki is the President of the Yukon Federation of Labour. Her many years as a Union Executive member and activist have strengthened her opinions and resolve with many years of experience in organising and facilitating human rights and labour training classes. She realized if she wanted to see change happen in anything, she would have to step up and take the challenge.
Vikki believes that a person should never quit learning and upgrading any skills. Occasionally taking a variety of courses at Yukon College herself such as Psychology, Accounting, German and French keeps her interest in learning different skills high. She understands and wholly believes in the benefits of lifelong learning, a belief that led her to apply for and gain entry to the 2015 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. Networking with Canada’s future leadership from all occupations was an experience she will always use and treasure in her work and home life.
Having been a musician in some local performance groups, Vikki used her stage experience to volunteer with organising the Variety Performance Stage inside the Sourdough Rendezvous Winter Festival Tent. She believes in volunteering for many social awareness groups, including the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition.
Mark is currently the Executive Director of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB) in Yellowknife, which is an independent administrative tribunal responsible for the environmental impact assessment process in the Northwest Territories. Prior to joining MVEIRB, he was the Executive Director of the We’keezhii Land and Water Board in Yellowknife from 2010 to 2014, which provides regulatory permits to Canada’s largest diamond mines.
He first moved to the Northwest Territories in 2002 where he worked as a teacher on a fur trapping program for youth at risk in Fort Good Hope, prior to joining the Sahtu Land and Water Board as a Water Technician in 2003. His educational background is in Physical Geography at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
Mark is an alumnus of the 2015 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference and Co-Chaired the Northwest Territories Regional Committee in 2017.
Yvonne is a proud Sahtu Dene woman who lives in Yellowknife. Her current position is as Regional Director of operations in Northwest Territories Government.
Prior to this she worked in various roles, including sport and recreation, to build capacity for local governments and communities. Her newest leadership challenge is an appointment to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board in 2014. Yvonne is an avid outdoors person and volunteer. She loves coaching traditional Inuit and Dene games or soccer. She has a diploma in Recreation Leadership and completed the Government of NWT Executive Leadership Development Program in 2011.
Yvonne is an alumnus of the 2015 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference and Co-Chaired the Northwest Territories Regional Committee in 2017.
Kilikvak Karen Kabloona is Chief Executive Officer at Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
Kilikvak is the former Associate Deputy Minister, Quality of Life with the Government of Nunavut, a position created to respond to the suicide crisis in Nunavut. In this role, she has repaired relationships to develop a funded, five-year action plan. She has been with the Government of Nunavut since 2004, including as a political advisor to two Cabinet Ministers and two Premiers.
Karen Kilikvak was born and raised in Baker Lake, then Northwest Territories. She obtained a diploma from the Thompson Rivers University and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary. She is a founding member of the Qanak Collective. Kilikvak is an avid hunter, cross-country skier and enjoys preparing soul food such as seal, walrus, whale and caribou.
an Inuk from Iqaluit in Nunavut, Karen Flaherty is currently the Assistant Director of Communication at Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI), Nunavut’s land claims organization.
Prior to her work at NTI she worked in Communications at the Department of Environment at the Government of Nunavut while also working for various DEW Line sites across the territory. Outside of her professional career, she has also travelled to different places around the world to teach and perform Inuit Throat singing.
Karen enjoys the bounty of the land and enjoys preparing traditional foods prepared in modern ways.
Karen is an alumni of the 2015 Governor General’s Leadership Conference, who travelled and explored British Columbia.