Kendra (she/her) is the CEO for Canada's Ocean Supercluster (OSC), responsible for driving the sustainable growth of Canada's Ocean Economy. Along with the OSC team, Kendra is passionately commitment to raising awareness of Canada's ocean opportunity and role as an ocean nation.

Kendra was previously a partner in Deloitte’s Atlantic Risk Advisory practice and the Chief Audit Executive of Deloitte Global. Based in St. John’s, NL, Kendra joined Deloitte in 1993 and built a wealth of national and international experience having previously worked in Deloitte offices in Ottawa, Montreal, Sydney, Australia, Moscow, Russia and Hong Kong providing internal audit, external audit, internal control certification and governance services. Kendra was the lead partner for a number of Deloitte’s Atlantic Canada clients as well as member of Deloitte' National Innovation Council.

Kendra currently serves as a Director for a number of not-for-profit organizations including as Chair of the Audit Committee for BioCanRx and past-Chair of the Board for the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries. She previously served as Chair for Lupus Canada, Treasurer for the Battle Harbour Historic Trust and Treasurer for the St John’s Board of Trade.

Kendra is a skilled facilitator and speaker and has developed and delivered training on a number of topics including strategy, governance, risk management, cyber risk, disruptive technology and innovation.

My dream is one billion happier people. 

While not the typical career path of an Electrical Engineer, I began exploring the relationship between gratitude and philanthropic giving during my MBA—receiving the Gold Medal for highest academic standing. Since then, I’ve been writing and conducting practice-based gratitude research and teaching the habits of gratefulness—for close to fifteen years now. What has emerged is our science-based program, Gratitude At Work. It's a simple, yet innovative approach to thriving leadership and business growth.

I founded Gratitude at Work in 2007 and started hosting conversations in my community which have since grown into work with leaders around the world, shifting cultures, helping leaders and their teams be happier at work by bringing more gratitude to work each day.

My 2019 book, Surviving to Thriving - The 10 Laws of Grateful Leadership, was named 1 of 8 recommended reads by Greater Good Science Center at University of California Berkeley and 1 of 5 positive psychology books for a happier 2019 in inc. Also in 2019, I was an inaugural winner of Canada's CEO Trusted Advisor Awards Program and in 2017, I was awarded the highest earned designation in professional speaking, CSPTM.

I’m a son, brother, husband, father and relatively newly minted grandfather. My kids poke fun at my gratitude work (air quotes) as we are heading to one billion with an online community that gives everyone easy access to the secrets of gratitude and grateful leadership. I’m a lifelong resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia and trying to do my part to make my community a better place to live.

I help companies create and maintain great workplaces by providing a positive, modern, and innovative employee experience through the intersections of strategies, intention, and technology. You can find me speaking to audiences at SHRM and other conferences around the country, giving webinars on HR topics, and writing blogs and articles focusing on a positive employee experience in the workplace. Additionally, I teach and advise MS degree candidates in the Human Resources Management program at McDaniel College. I love HR!

Arielle is a Mi’kmaw woman from Sipekne'katik First Nation, living in Halifax. For over ten years, Arielle stood behind a salon chair but was looking for a change. Her education led her to work for Indigenous Services Canada eventually discovering her passion to support the urban indigenous population.

Gordon is a highly accomplished and solutions-driven professional with theoretical and hands-on, progressive experience in team building, strategic planning, identifying initiatives, and facilitating action-driven plans to support cultural growth and objectives in both profit and non-profit settings.

Gerard has a 30-year track record of excellence as a facilitator, educator, and speaker. His passion is helping people engage in impactful conversations that influence individuals, teams and organizational performances. He has worked nationally, provincially and regionally to provide facilitation, training and consulting services to clients within the voluntary, public and private sectors.

Isaac (they/he) is a transgender, non-binary, queer social scientist and STEM communicator. He is passionate about promoting entrepreneurship and assisting scientific and technological growth as Dal Innovates and MindFrame Connect’s Ecosystem Manager.

Annika works to develop the capacity and influence of the community impact sector. She has experience working across federal and provincial government departments, academia and the business sector. She has a Ph.D. in social entrepreneurship and has research interests in networks and social innovation

As a Maritimer, a big thinker, and a self-described extrovert, Reg’s work includes researching and engaging with the Community Impact Sector to understand the conditions for organizations to thrive. His current work covers the topics of burnout, sector sustainability, and measuring impact.

Emily Pilon is a Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor and Hiring Consultant. Working with businesses from coast to coast and internationally to build employees that thrive. Her experience spans from small businesses taking the leap to make their first hire to large multinationals creating teams that work and adapt to the changing employment landscape.

He is a graduate of the British Army's Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst and has served with the British, Canadian, and US Armies. By his mid-twenties he was leading soldiers in overseas combat, going on to serve as a senior leader working alongside nations and cultures from around the world. His subsequent journey leads him to become an executive in both the provincial and federal governments and an academicleadership instructor.

Nick enjoyed a career in Human Resources throughout the GTA and more recently in Nova Scotia. He has been recognized for winning a few industry awards like the HRPA Rising Star award, the HR Award of Excellence and an Innovation award. Nick is now the CEO of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of Nova Scotia. Since then, he has expanded the influence of HR beyond Nova Scotia into the whole Atlantic region by creating CPHR Atlantic. Bringing together the four provinces has increased the quality and quantity of offerings throughout the region anthe collective CPHR brand, the HR profession, and the designation.

Dr. Andrew Rau-Chaplin has spent over 30 years in industry and university as a faculty member, researcher, and research manager. He received his Ph.D. from Carlton University and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at DIMACS – a research center operated by Princeton University, Rutgers, and AT&T Bell Labs. He is passionate about promoting growth and diversity in tech and making Nova Scotia one of North America’s most attractive jurisdictions for both digital talent and companies.

Dennita Fitzpatrick leads the teams who work to strengthen Nova Scotia’s workplace safety culture and prevent injuries before they happen, and the teams who help individuals return to work when they do. During her 17 years with WCB Nova Scotia, Dennita has demonstrated her passion for collaboration and strategic thinking in a wide range of positions at the senior leadership level.

Stacy has been working in the mental health field for over 14 years in different capacities. The essence of her work is to support individuals that are struggling to find themselves and want to heal from their trauma. Stacy's approach is person-centred, culturally informed, and trauma-informed and she uses approaches that best suit her client's needs.

Prior to his role as Student Advisor supporting post-secondary students, Brad was a leader in the Canadian Armed Forces where he was responsible for team building, solving problems, and making timely decisions. As a leader in the community, Brad serves on local boards aimed at building capacity in underserved populations.

Debbie’s formal education includes a Diploma of Nursing, a Bachelor of Nursing and a Master’s Arts (Health Education) from Dalhousie University. She is a Registered Nurse, Adult Educator and Certified Coach. She is the sole proprietor of Deborah Hope Consulting and is an education consultant, trainer and facilitator. Debbie has a passion and enthusiasm for supporting healthy and inclusive workplaces and seeing others grow and succeed through developmental activities, coaching and training. She is currently contracted through the Health Care Human Resource Sector Council to coordinate and deliver The Working Mind mental health program across the province of Nova Scotia for employees and leaders within the Continuing Care and Disability Supports sectors. She is also a contract trainer in The Working Mind Program for the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Lisa Frizzell is engaged in the development of standards, examinations, and new pathways to trade certification. She is also currently leading the development of an Atlantic Trades Mentoring Program in collaboration with her Atlantic counterparts and AISC. Lisa holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education degree, as well as a Master of Education in Post Secondary Studies. She’s worked for over 18 years with provincial governments where she has led Nova Scotia’s Youth Pathways and Transitions Strategy, supported the integration of technology in the P12 curriculum and oversaw a wide range of career-related programming specific to skilled trades.