Global News Calgary: CIWB Highlight

Global News Calgary covers the 2024 Calgary Influential Women in Business Awards.

“The community should be very, very proud of the amazing role models we have in Calgary. Calgary is a true enabler, and that is why this is so exciting. Calgary corporations are getting behind this initiative, and it’s helping our community grow,” remarks Heather Culbert, Axis Connects Co-founder and board chair.

Reflecting on her achievement as the recipient of the Large Enterprise Award, Doreen Cole expresses, “Winning this award to me means that I am given the opportunity to represent the many successful women that are part of large business in the energy sector here in Calgary.”

Wendy Beauchesne, recipient of the Social Enterprise Award, shares her thoughts, stating, “As a winner, I do think it is a reflection of the project I get to be a part of, which is the new cancer centre opening in less than 6 months. It is truly going to be a cancer centre built for the community by the community, and if this is a reflection of that, then I am very, very proud.”

CTV News Calgary: CIWB Highlight

Coverage of the 2024 Calgary Influential Women in Business Awards by CTV News Calgary.

Hear from Doreen Cole, recipient of the Large Enterprise Award, as she shares her perspective on the promising future for women in Calgary. In Doreen’s words, “There are so many women who are accomplishing major deals, projects, investments, opportunities, and pursuing thoughts all across the province and very early in their careers“.

“The Awards are so important to profile exceptional women and male champions in our city,” says Heather Culbert, Co-founder and board chair of Axis Connects.”So people in our city can see it. If they can see it, they can be it!”

‘A slow-moving machine’: Calgary’s top businesswomen taking charge as gender gaps prevail

Axis Connects and two CIWB Award winners, Lorraine Mitchelmore and Jennifer Massig, had the opportunity to speak with Matt Scace Calgary Herald yesterday on gender parity in leadership. We are proud to be celebrating female leaders and male allies at the CIWB Awards, Presented by National Bank Financial and TransAlta who are committed to changing the status quo and advancing diversity in leadership roles.

“This year’s recipients have “set a tone and pace of strong leadership and haven’t backed away from challenges, and have addressed them head-on,” said Nuvyn Peters, CEO of Axis Connects”

Join us in congratulating this year’s winners, who will be honoured at the gala this evening: Lorraine Mitchelmore, Wendy Beauchesne, Jennifer Massig, Doreen Cole P.Eng. ICD.D, Alicia Quesnel and Bryan de Lottinville

CIWBAwards2024

READ HERE

Amplifying Diverse Voices: Advancing Women in Leadership

Today on Collisions YYCAmber Griffith had the pleasure of being back on the show to share the latest from Axis Connects! Join us in championing gender diversity and leadership equality at our flagship event of the year: the Calgary Influential Women in Business Awards, Presented by National Bank Financial and TransAlta! Last chance to grab your ticket for tomorrow: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2024-calgary-influential-women-in-business-ciwb-awards-tickets-872174416157?aff=Axiswebsite

Calgary Chamber: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Forum

 

Last night, Axis Connects proudly supported the Calgary Chamber in presenting the sold-out Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Forum, a pivotal event sparking insightful dialogue and actionable strategies. As a supporting sponsor, we were thrilled to contribute to an evening dedicated to fostering positive change within corporate environments.

The forum featured an esteemed panel including Alex Gysen, TD Regional Manager of 2SLGBTQ+ Business Development in the Prairies, Daniel Monzon, Entrepreneur and Founder of Catapult Startups, and Rachel Wade, Director of DEI & Employee Experience at Alberta Investment Management Corporation. Guided by Brian Lanier, Founder & CEO of The Leaders Circle, these passionate panelists shared invaluable insights into cultivating diverse and inclusive workplaces.

Throughout the discussion, attendees gained a deeper understanding of the profound connection between diversity and organizational performance, the importance of intersectionality, and the transformative potential of inclusive hiring practices. Panelists underscored the significance of becoming employers of choice for immigrants and underrepresented communities, emphasizing the competitive advantage that diversity brings to businesses.

POST EVENT RECAP 

Axis Connects: Stampede Round-Up

Stampede Round Up 2024 Poster

SOLD OUT!

Axis Connects & Board Ready Women invite you to join us for an amazing afternoon of networking, snacks and drinks on the open-air patio perched above the lively streets of downtown YYC.

We want everyone to join in on the fun! Bring your male allies, partners, friends and colleagues – everyone is welcome to celebrate with us!

All proceeds from this event will be donated to Wings of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation. Minimum ticket price is $20 (but please feel free to add more – all additional proceeds will be donated).

Tickets includes:

      • direct entry
      • drink ticket
      • snacks
      • access to the Fluor photobooth

Agenda:

    • 11:00am Doors Open + Networking
    • 12:00pm Premier Danielle Smith Remark
    • 12:10pm Reception & Networking

From the c-suite to the boardroom, Axis Connects supports and accelerates the advancement and recognition of gender diversity throughout the Calgary business community. Become a member today [CLICK HERE].

Board Ready Women offers recruitment opportunities, skill-building programs and thought-provoking events to support women with their board career journey.

Lunch with a Leader featuring Rhona DelFrari

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Join Rhona DelFrari this March, at The Ranchmen’s Club for Lunch with a Leader. This program is designed to provide Axis Connects members with valuable opportunities to gain insights, mentorship, and network with senior professionals in various industries. We aim to inspire and empower our members by exposing them to diverse perspectives and experiences.

Only 10 spots available!

Must be an Axis Member to register (Register here)

  • Date: March 27, 2024
  • Location: The Ranchemn’s Club
  • Time: Please arrive at 11:15am. Lunch will begin at 11:30am.
  • Lunch is included!

About Rhona DelFrari

Chief Sustainability Officer & Executive Vice-President, Stakeholder Engagement

As Chief Sustainability Officer & Executive Vice-President, Stakeholder Engagement, Rhona works to ensure environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations are embedded in the company’s strategy and business plans. Rhona is also responsible for leading the company’s communications efforts and building strong relationships with stakeholders. This includes working with Indigenous community members, government officials and community partners.

Rhona has been with Cenovus and its predecessor company since 2008. She has a combined honours degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Carleton University and an MBA specializing in global energy from the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business.

Lunch with a Leader featuring Gina Grandy

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Join Gina Grandy this February, at The Ranchmen’s Club for Lunch with a Leader. This program is designed to provide Axis Connects members with valuable opportunities to gain insights, mentorship, and network with senior professionals in various industries. We aim to inspire and empower our members by exposing them to diverse perspectives and experiences.

Only 10 spots available!

Must be an Axis Member to register (here)

  • Date: February 29, 2024
  • Location: The Ranchmen’s Club
  • Time: Please arrive at 11:15am. Lunch will begin at 11:30am.
  • Lunch is included!

About Gina Grandy

Dr. Gina Grandy is Professor and Dean for the Haskayne School of Business at University of Calgary. Prior to her current role she served as the Dean for the Hill and Levene Schools of Business at University of Regina. She has also held the roles Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Programs, Research Development Program Lead, and the RBC Women in Leadership Scholar. Gina was the lead for the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) in Saskatchewan – a national network coordinated by Toronto Metropolitan University.

Gina is the co-editor of two books and her award-winning research on leadership, gender and women’s experiences at work, stigmatized work and case writing has been published widely. Gina is a trained leadership and performance coach and is an emotional intelligence certified facilitator. Gina has designed and facilitated leadership development programming, for both aspiring leaders and those holding leadership positions. She has a particular interest in women’s leadership development. She has worked for eight universities located in Canada, United Kingdom and Ukraine. Over the past 25 years Gina has consulted for a diverse range of not-for-profit, public and for-profit organizations across Canada in strategic analysis, planning, implementation and leadership development.

Lunch with a Leader featuring Sippy Chhina

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Join Sippy Chhina this January, at The Ranchmen’s Club for Lunch with a Leader. This program is designed to provide Axis Connects members with valuable opportunities to gain insights, mentorship, and network with senior professionals in various industries. We aim to inspire and empower our members by exposing them to diverse perspectives and experiences.

Only 10 spots available! 

Must be an Axis Member to register (here)

  • Date: January 18, 2024
  • Location: The Ranchmen’s Club
  • Time: Please arrive between 11:30-11:45am. Lunch will start at 11:45am.
  • Lunch is included.

About Sippy Chhina, CPA, CA, CMA, ICD.D:

Sippy is a recently retired Partner from Deloitte Canada LLP (“Deloitte” or “the Firm”), she also served as a Director on Deloitte’s Board and as a Vice Chair for the Firm. With over 23 years of leadership experience in professional services, Sippy has served Canadian and Global businesses, including 9 years in various executive management and operational roles, Sippy has had the privilege of being in many Boardrooms advising both Directors and members of the C-Suite on a variety of matters as a qualified financial expert. In her professional career she has either been the lead audit partner, a quality assurance partner, or the lead advisory partner serving some of Deloitte’s largest public company energy sector clients. Her experience includes companies operating in sub sectors such as oil and gas, power, renewables, and related infrastructure across North America, South America and Africa. She has also been the lead audit partner for investees of large Canadian and US private equity and pension funds operating either directly or through infrastructure investments in the energy and related services sector. In her client facing role she has provided services with respect to audits, securities offerings, IPOs/MBOs, M&A transaction advisory, corporate structuring, business model design, master data management, supply chain, and ESG with a focus on energy transition and decarbonization strategies. Sippy is known for growth-focused leadership, her strength as a strategic advisor, her ability to lead transformative change, to simplify complex issues which coupled with her stakeholder-centric approach, have helped her successfully advise and guide organizations through ever evolving market, regulatory and stakeholder expectations.

In addition to her client responsibilities, Sippy served for seven years on the Board of Deloitte. Deloitte Canada/Chile employs 17,000 people and generates $3 billion in annual revenue. Sippy co-chaired the board’s Strategy, Ethics & Risk Committee as well as the Audit Quality Committee and has previously served on the Compensation Committee. In her role as a board member and committee member, she has provided oversight on matters related to Deloitte’s enterprise risk framework, strategy, related risks, and measurement KPIs. She has been on the board through an executive team transition, participated in tabletop exercises with respect to cyber threats and has been an active member of the board during an actual cyber breach. Her committee responsibilities have also included executive compensation, internal audit, as well as the oversight of Deloitte’s compliance with regulation. In each of these situations, Sippy brings a pragmatic, fact-based, inquisitive approach to supporting the Board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities.

Sippy has consistently held leadership positions within Deloitte. Most recently she was a member of Deloitte’s Energy, Resources & Industrial (ERI) executive team as well as the National Sector Lead for Audit & Advisory Services. Sippy was also a part of the national Audit executive team. ERI represents approximately 20% of the annual revenues of the Firm and has delivered double digit revenue growth year over year. Previously Sippy was Managing Partner of the Prairie Region Audit & Advisory practice, providing her with deep understanding of the complexities of leading a highly regulated business.

Outside of Deloitte Sippy has served as Chair of the Board of the Calgary Petroleum Club and as a board member of the Mount Royal University Foundation. She currently serves on the board of Board Ready Women. Sippy has her CPA designation and has completed the Institute of Corporate Directors Director Education Program. In 2023 she was recognized as a Calgary Influential Women in Business (CIWB) and was an award recipient in the professional services category.

Sippy enjoys mentoring, reading, gardening, painting, culinary challenges and time with family and friends. She is fluent in English, Hindi, and Punjabi. She currently resides in Calgary, Canada with her husband and has two adult children.

Lunch with a Leader featuring Dawn de Lima

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Join Dawn de Lima this November, at Bridgette Bar for Lunch with a Leader. This program is designed to provide Axis Connects members with valuable opportunities to gain insights, mentorship, and network with senior professionals in various industries. We aim to inspire and empower our members by exposing them to diverse perspectives and experiences.

Only 10 spots available!

Must be an Axis Member to register (here)

Lunch is included.

About Dawn de Lima:

Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services at TC Energy

As Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services, Mrs. de Lima provides strategic and functional leadership for human resources, information systems, aviation and facilities services. She also serves as the Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer for the Company.

Prior to joining TC Energy, Mrs. de Lima served as Chief Shared Services Officer on the executive leadership team with TransAlta Corporation, responsible for leading Business and Operational Services, Information Technology, Data and innovation, Supply Chain Management, Corporate Security and Facilities. Mrs. de Lima has also held progressively senior positions in Human Resources, overseeing Executive Compensation, Talent and Culture, Leadership Development, Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Relations.

Mrs. de Lima currently sits as the Chair of the Board for Junior Achievement Canada and the Co-Chair for SHEInnovates Alberta, a United Nations project to advance the progress of women in innovation.

She holds a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Calgary.