Peer Forum Facilitators
Bios
Greg Smith
Partner, Lighthouse Nine Group and
Founder of SafeBrave Spaces
Facilitator: CHRO Peer Forum (CHRO-1)
Greg is a certified executive coach (PCC) and business advisor who heads Lighthouse Nine Group’s Leadership Development and Coaching practice. He also serves clients in the areas of Change Management, Strategy and Alignment, Organizational Design, Culture, Engagement and High Performing Teams.
Greg is a senior business leader who has thrived in challenging business environments across mulitiple industries for more than 30 years, achieving results that are in line with the required strategic and cultural transformation. He is the author of ‘In Search of Safe Brave Spaces: A Guide to Unlocking and Releasing Potential’ and the co-host of the Safe Brave Stories Podcast and the Talking Not Ranting Podcast.
http://www.lighthouse9.ca
Andrea De Jager-Jackson
Founder and Principal, Limitless Growth Partners
Facilitator: CHRO Peer Forum (CHRO-2)
Andrea is the founder and principal of Limitless Growth Partners, an executive coaching, women’s leadership & culture advisory firm. She works with leadership teams to create the conditions for growth accelerating cultures to come to life, so that people, teams and organizations can live their purpose and create exceptional customer experiences.
With almost 30 years of experience across global, multi-national, and Canadian organizations, Andrea is a former C-Suite executive, now leadership coach, speaker, and trusted Human Resources and Culture advisory partner. Her career has spanned diverse industries and ownership models where she’s shaped culture, scaled businesses and developed next generation talent. She is known as a people first and purpose driven executive, having held senior Human Resources roles at Signature Vacations, Constellation Brands, REVLON, Arterra Wines Canada, and NVA Canada.
She’s not just a strategist – she’s lived it. As a wife, mother, and someone who’s faced profound personal loss and a life-altering diagnosis when she was 47, she walks alongside her clients in their pursuit of growth and brings empathy, integrity, and hard-won wisdom to every room she’s in.
http://www.andreadejagerjackson.com
Joanne Rivard
Principal, Rivard Consulting
Facilitator: CHRO Peer Forum (CHRO-3)
Joanne is an executive coach and Human Resources consultant with over 30 years of experience in diverse industries such as manufacturing, engineering, food and professional services, holding senior Human Resources roles in both corporate and consulting settings. Passionate about coaching executives and helping businesses evolve through change, Joanne works with leaders to tangibly define and measure the effectiveness of their organization’s culture, celebrating the factors that make them successful while re-aligning elements causing pain points.
Val Duffey
CHRO, Ontario Health
Facilitator: CHRO Peer Forum (CHRO-4)
Val brings over 30 years of experience in HR leadership roles in organizations across multiple sectors including KPMG Canada, Aviva Canada and Torys LLP. She was CHRO at the Greater Toronto Airports Authority during a period of significant investment in talent, leadership and workforce development, and also ran a successful consulting practice supporting companies to embrace new ways of working in the wake of the pandemic and calls for social reform. Immediately prior to joining Ontario Health, Val was Special Advisor, Talent & Leadership at University Health Network where she led the development of a nursing talent strategy, restructuring of the recruiting function and creation of their inaugural executive leadership program. Val has been with SCN since 2005, and was a member of the inaugural CHRO Peer Forum. She delights in her role as facilitator and cherishes the engaging and supportive peer network that she and her colleagues have created together.
http://linkedin.com/in/valduffey
Laura Barker
Director of Coaching and Leadership
Development, Talent Rise
Co-Facilitator: CHRO Peer Forum (CHRO-5)
Laura Barker, PCC, CPCC, CPQC, is an executive and leadership coach with more than 20 years of experience in HR and organizational transformation across global industries. As Director of Coaching and Leadership Development at TalentRise, she helps senior leaders gain clarity, strengthen core leadership skills, and lead with confidence and purpose. Her values‑based approach integrates tools like Hogan, Predictive Index, and Positive Intelligence to deepen self‑awareness and elevate leadership effectiveness.
Laura also leads TalentRise’s Fast Start Coaching Program, supporting newly hired executives as they navigate cultural integration and accelerate impact in their first 90 days. With a foundation in HR and a focus on coaching and leadership development, she creates insight‑rich, psychologically safe spaces for leaders—especially CHROs—to reflect, grow, and drive meaningful organizational outcomes.
http://www.laurabarkercoaching.com
Nadia Padassery
Founder and CEO, unHR Company
Facilitator: SHRL Peer Forum (SHRL-2)
Nadia spent over 25 years leading organizations as a HR Executive at various organizations and industries. During this time, she played a pivotal role in building successful companies such as implementing innovative HR strategies through business and IT transformations, improving employee retention, and organizational performance. She has been recognized for Best Employer, Most Innovative Workplace, DEI, and Leadership awards, demonstrating a commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of human resources.
http://www.unhr.ca
Deborah Jann
Vice President, Client Relationships, Gallagher
Facilitator: Professional Peer Forum (PPF-1)
Deborah is VP, Client Relationships at Gallagher, a trusted Insurance, Risk Management, Benefits and HR consulting firm. Gallagher advises, designs, implements, manages, administers and communicates benefits, retirement, HR, and compensation programs for employers across the globe.
In her business development role, Deborah leverages Gallagher’s bench strength as a global consulting firm, with local, service focused, boutique experience resulting from Gallagher’s acquisition of Optimum Talent and HORN Sales & Leadership Development. She also draws on 25+ years of experience in HR and innovation consulting, adult education, leadership and organizational development to identify solutions that will better the lives of her clients.
In addition to being a Master Facilitator in Effective Intelligence®, resilience and emotional intelligence, Deborah is a trained Management Coach and Certified Assessor of numerous psychometric assessments. She is also a former industry practitioner instructor for Schulich ExecEd, affiliated with York University.
Deborah has been an active volunteer for SCNetwork since 2016.
http://www.ajg.com/ca
Amanda Smith
Amanda Jane Smith, Coach & Facilitator
Facilitator: Professional Peer Forum (PPF-2)
Amanda is a leadership communication coach who works with teams and individuals to elevate their inner awareness and outer expression. She helps people uncover their genuine voice, craft compelling stories, and develop inspiring, effective communication.
As a behaviour coach, Amanda brings her knowledge of fitness, nutrition, and wellness into her work, supporting people in creating healthy habits and sustaining them over time.
Ginette Brown
Principal, The Career Fit Architect / Just
Got Redirected
Facilitator: HR Leaders In Transition (HRLT)
Ginette Brown, CCDP, is a distinguished professional in Human Resources Leadership and Career Development, with over 20 years of leadership experience. Ginette has successfully coached hundreds of employees and clients, including executives from large corporations.
In 2021, Ginette pivoted from HR Leadership to career coaching, by completing an intensive year long program in Career Development and then obtained her Certified Career Development Professional (CCDP) designation.
Later that year, Ginette started her 1:1 career coaching business, Just Got ReDirected Career Development Coaching, and in January 2025 she launched her second business, The Career Fit Architect, which supports organizations through career transition (outplacement) programs and proactive employee development and succession planning strategies.
https://justgotredirected.com/
Vanessa Bragg
Principal, Vanessa Bragg Consulting
Facilitator: Executive HR Peer Forum (eHR-Vancouver)
Vanessa is a seasoned Certified Coach and HR Consultant. Vanessa’s career spans across diverse leadership roles – notably Human Resources and Learning and Development where she has spearheaded the design and implementation of comprehensive leadership programs from emerging to executive leadership. With a knack for seamless virtual or face-to-face facilitation, Vanessa orchestrates engaging discussions fostering collaboration and problem-solving, nurturing an environment conducive to growth and sustainable outcomes. Whether coaching leaders or consulting, her aim remains consistent: empowering potential and fostering impactful change.
Vanessa is a Professional Certified Coach (ICF-PCC), a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and a Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP) through The Institute of Learning and Performance. She is an EQ-i 2.0 Certified Practitioner, coaching the emotional intelligence tools, Leadership, Workplace, Group and EQ 360°. Vanessa also holds an Insights Discovery Accreditation (IDA) through Insights Canada. Vanessa is a lifelong learner and is currently working towards her Inclusion, Equity and Diversity (IED) Certificate at the University of British Columbia.
http://www.vanessabragg.com