Agents of Change 2025 Program

Registration & Networking Breakfast

8-8:30 am | Pick up your badge and enjoy a delicious breakfast as you meet peers attending the event.

Welcome & Opening Remarks

8:30-9:10 am

• Emcee Muhammad Ahsan, DEI Specialist, EHRC
• Opening Remarks by Michelle Branigan, CEO, EHRC

Indigenous Opening Ceremony

Grandmother Kim Weathley, Ojibwe Anishinaabe Grandmother from Shawanaga First Nation Reserve

Keynote | Leveraging Talent with Disabilities

Spencer West, Global Speaker, Disabled Content Creator, Author, Entrepreneur, Actor

9:15-10:15 am

The life of visionary and activist Spencer West has been marked by both obstacles and triumphs. After losing both legs from the pelvis down at the age of five, he entered a world that might have easily defeated him. Instead, he tackled challenge after challenge, learning to navigate in a world set against those with disabilities. From climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to climbing the workforce ladder, Spencer shares his insights on how bringing in talent with disabilities can have a very positive impact on your employees and customers.

Networking Coffee Break

10:15-10:35 am | Enjoy light refreshments and an open networking session as you meet peers, foster new professional relationships, and strengthen existing connections.

Panel | Empowering Change: Industry Insight on Driving DEI Progress

10:35-11:30 am

This panel discussion features industry leaders who have advanced diversity, equity and inclusion in the electricity sector in Canada. Their organizations are dedicated to creating inclusive workplaces that attract and retain diverse talent. You’ll gain insights into the challenges and successes of driving systemic change, including strategies for measuring DEI progress, fostering inclusive leadership and cultivating a diverse workplace culture for sustainable growth.

Moderated by Glain Roberts-McCabe, Founder & President, The Roundtable

Panelists:

• Ekaterina Borshevetskaya, Director Environment, Health, Safety and Human Resources, Birnie Electrical Contractors
• Jennifer Smith, EVP, Corporate & Chief People Officer, Burlington Hydro
• Jeffrey W. Betker, Vice President, External, Government & Indigenous Relations & Communications at Manitoba Hydro
• Vivian Yoanidis, Senior Manager, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Hydro One

Presentation | Building a Gender-Based Harassment and Violence-Free Workplace

Donna Joyette, Principal Consultant, Joyette Consulting Services

11:30 am-12 pm

Panel | WiRE Junior Ambassadors

12-12:25 pm

WiRE Junior Ambassadors is an initiative by Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE) to engage young people, from children to teens, in understanding the importance of energy. The mission is to inspire, prepare and equip future energy leaders in elementary and high schools by making the topic engaging and relatable, emphasizing diversity and inclusion for a cleaner, fairer energy system. Join Junior Ambassador Rhea Gupta as she interviews two women in the sector, sharing her unique perspective!

Moderator: Rhea Gupta, Wire Junior Ambassador

Panellists:

• Anjula Mary Antonis, Power System Engineering Analyst, Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)
• Haida Liu, Engineer, Capacity Planning & Grid Innovation Team, Toronto Hydro

Lunch

12:25-1:25 pm | Enjoy a stand-out lunch buffet crafted with quality, locally produced ingredients.

Presentation | Agent of Change Award

1:25-1:40 pm

Join us in announcing and celebrating the 2025 Agent of Change Award recipient, recognizing exemplary leadership by an individual in advancing diversity, euity and inclusion.

Award nominations close April 9

Presentation | Building a Culture of Psychological Safety in Skilled Trades and the Energy Sector

Meg Mathes, Founder & Principal Consultant, EquiMeg Consulting Inc.

1:40-2:10 pm

In high-risk, male-dominated environments like the skilled trades and energy sector, psychological safety is essential—not optional. This session explores how to create safe, inclusive spaces where diverse employees feel empowered to speak up, contribute fully and thrive.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of why psychological safety matters in these sectors, along with practical tools to foster open communication, allyship and inclusive leadership. Discover how cultivating a culture of psychological safety can improve team performance, strengthen retention and support the well-being of all employees.

Panel | Energizing the Future: Bridging Generations in the Electricity Workforce

2:10-3 pm

In a rapidly evolving electricity sector, diverse generations offer a chance to harness innovation and fresh perspectives. This session explores strategies for inclusive leadership that bridge generational gaps, foster collaboration and drive growth. Join industry leaders as they share insights on navigating intersectionality, addressing workforce challenges, and leveraging a multigenerational team to power the future.

Moderated by Yoana Turnin, Program Manager, Careers and Education, EHRC

Panelists:

• Imraan Mohamoud, Apprentice, IBEW 353
• Liz Palmera-Nunez, Manager, Asset Management, Newfoundland Power
• Nirav Patel, Head of Human Resources, Atura Power

Fireside Chat | A Personal Conversation on Leadership, Advocacy and Social Change

Kimberly R. Murray, Queen’s National Scholar in Indigenous Legal Studies and former Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites and Studies

3-3:45 pm

This fireside chat with Kimberly R. Murray is an in-depth personal conversation on leadership, advocacy and social change. Murray has dedicated much of her legal career to promoting reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and advocating for Indigenous communities.

Moderated by Muhammad Ahsan, DEI Specialist, EHRC

Closing Remarks

3:45-4 pm

Wrap-up an insightful day of conversations as you leave inspired and equipped with new knowledge and resources to empower underrepresented individuals in your workplace.