Member Login  Join Our Email List  Become a Member
  1. Home
  2. Membership
  3. Peer Forum Membership
  4. CHRO Peer Forums

SCNetwork CHRO Peer Forums

$1500 annually, includes annual SCNetwork Learning Membership

Being the top Human Resources executive is arguably the loneliest job of all.

Request to join

Being your organization’s senior HR leader, you know “it's lonely at the top”. But, who can you talk to when you need help with challenges, staying ahead of your rapidly changing profession, or even just finding inspiration? Consider a peer – a CHRO peer.

Where to turn? SCNetwork's CHRO Peer Forums.

  • Imagine being able to confer with fellow CHROs who have the experience to help you solve your challenges and grow your capability. That's what SCNetwork's CHRO Peer Forums do!
  • SCNetwork's CHRO Peer Forums are small groups of top HR executives from a cross-section of sectors and industries, who meet regularly to learn, collaborate and inspire each other.
  • CHRO Peer Forums are safe, confidential spaces for sharing and discussion. 

Who is in the CHRO Peer Forums?

  • Ensuring that members of a Peer Forum are true peers is vital to each Peer Forum’s success.
  • Not all members have the CHRO/CPO title, but they share a similar mandate and report to the CEO or head of a business unit.
  • The key attributes of a CHRO Peer Forum member are that they have the top HR job in a large organization and are willing to share their experiences and expertise to help others.
  • A member’s role typically exhibits the following:
    • Senior HR executive for a large organization or business unit within a large organization in Canada, or in a global HR leadership role for a global organization.
    • Shapes People Strategy for their organization, addressing areas of culture, engagement, talent development and management, and talent acquisition.
    • In most cases, will be responsible for communicating with their organization’s board or equivalent governance body.
    • Provides coaching and partnership to executive-level business leaders.
    • Has resources to handle HR administrative tasks.

What is the structure of the Peer Forum?

  • Self-directed: Through their Steering Committee, with guidance from the Facilitator and administrative support from SCNetwork, Forum members themselves determine the content, frequency, timing, and format of their meetings.
  • Contains no fewer than six, and no more than 20 members.
  • Each Forum has a volunteer Facilitator who provides general oversight to the effective operation of the Forum.
  • Each Forum has a volunteer Steering Committee of two people from its own members that coordinates the activity of the forum with the guidance of the Facilitator.
  • The Facilitator ensures that potential Peer Forum candidates are not in a competing organization with any other member’s organization.

How often does the Peer Forum meet, and in what format?

  • CHRO Peer Forums typically meet four times a year, at least twice in person, otherwise virtually.
  • More informal interaction between members occurs throughout the year.
  • Meetings are often held at members’ offices, or at any other venue chosen by the members. In-person locations have included hotels and spas, restaurants, board rooms, co-working spaces, etc. 

What are the expectations for members?

  • Members are expected to bring an “abundance mentality” to each meeting.
  • They will actively participate in learning and sharing during meetings.
  • Members are also expected to offer ideas for future meeting topics and suggest ways in which the Forum may be improved.  
  • All members will, occasionally, be called upon to meet with, and provide recommendations on, prospective members.  
  • Members should be willing to take their turn on the Steering Committee.
  • Forum members shall also be positive ambassadors for SCNetwork and recommend new general members for the association as well as prospective Forum members for this Forum, and other SCNetwork Peer Forums.
  • Confidentiality regarding what is discussed or presented in the Peer Forum is strictly observed – “What is said in the room, stays in the room.”

What is the cost for participation in the Forum?

  • $1,500 annually
  • Includes an annual SCNetwork Learning Membership
  • Each CHRO Peer Forum allocates its membership dues for whatever expenses the members agree upon.
    • For example: lunches, dinners, materials, and overnight stays (if applicable). 

What happens if employment status changes?

  • Members who leave their executive role and don’t step immediately into another comparable role may remain a member for the current year as well as one additional year, if annual fees are fully paid and there is not competing conflict with incoming members, as determined by the Forum Facilitator.

Interested in joining?

  • We have four Forums running currently and are planning to open additional Forums across Canada to meet the level of interest of our members.
  • If you’d like to participate in a Forum, please complete a Request to Join.
  • After receiving your request to join, one of our current Peer Forum members will contact you to schedule a meeting and discuss your fit for the group.
  • For more information, please contact Cathy Sprague, Peer Forums Chair at spraguefick@gmail.com 

Testimonials

Brian Henry, 
Chief People Officer
Bird Construction Inc.

My involvement in the SCNetwork CHRO Peer Forum has been immensely valuable, and I can confidently say that it has enhanced my leadership capabilities. The SCNetwork CHRO Peer Forum extends beyond a mere exchange of business cards; instead, we engage in sharing our stories, experiences, wisdom, and extending support to one another. Our interaction includes follow-up emails, insightful chats, and a camaraderie that continues well past scheduled events.

Through my participation in the SCNetwork CHRO Peer Forum, I have honed my strategic approaches, gained fresh perspectives, and nurtured meaningful HR connections that contribute to my growth as a leader.

My experience with the SCNetwork CHRO Peer Forum has been incredibly rewarding, so I highly recommend it to anyone looking to elevate their leadership journey.

 

Kelly Davis
Chief People Officer 
Sunwing Travel Group 

I'm so glad that my peer group helped me through (my career transition) time. Being able to get that mentorship and guidance from my CHRO peer network was so valuable to me and helped me land, in which I would have to say is, my favorite job so far in my career. I'm so appreciative to my group for that. 

I am part of several other networking groups but with SCNetwork’s CHRO Peer Forum group, there’s that absolute trust factor. I would share anything with them because the members are committed to the understanding that in being part of the group there’s a call to silence and nobody would break that trust. So, I feel I can speak very freely about my work, but also about my personal life. Having peers being honest and saying, “hey, I’ve been there and here’s some guidance,” means so much to me. 

For me, the top reasons to join SCNetwork’s CHRO Peer Forum are the sharing of information and pushing yourself. Our meetings are not like conferences where you attend and just mainly sit and listen without sharing and participating. If you’re looking for help and support from the group, you must be willing to give it back. If you want to learn and grow, and you're also willing to and share I think, it's an amazing environment. All executives are busy but when you do take the time and put a CHRO Peer Forum meeting in your calendar, you are committing to leadership development and growth for yourself that you wouldn’t otherwise get. 

Membership and the Calendar Year

  • Memberships are annual, and last from January 1 to December 31. 
  • If you join between June 1 and October 31 inclusive, dues are halved.
  • If you join between November 1 and December 31 inclusive, no dues apply for the balance of that year.

Request to join