Axis Connects Leadership Forum
November 25th, 2025 | Calgary Telus Convention Centre
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this transformative day that will elevate your leadership journey and expand your network.
CONVINCE YOUR BOSS! The Axis Connects Leadership Forum is a worthwhile investment
The Axis Connects Leadership Forum is Calgary’s premier leadership event, presenting a distinct chance for personal and professional advancement through:
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Enhance leadership skills
Attendees will leave the Forum with new insights and actionable strategies to elevate their leadership abilities and drive greater impact within your organization. From leading high-performance teams to navigating change, this event is designed to empower individuals at every stage of their career. -
Expand professional networks
The Forum offers unparalleled networking opportunities with influential executives, thought leaders, and peers from diverse industries. These connections foster collaboration and open doors to new partnerships and career opportunities that can benefit both your team and your organization. -
Gain actionable insights from industry leaders
By attending, your team will have direct access to high-level discussions with experts on the latest leadership trends, innovation strategies, and organizational best practices. The knowledge gained can be immediately applied to solve real-world challenges and drive growth within your organization. -
Drive career mobility and organizational growth
Supporting career development at the Forum is not just an investment in your people, it’s an investment in your organization. Attendees will gain the skills, confidence, and relationships to advance their careers while bringing fresh perspectives that drive innovation, inclusivity, and performance at all levels.
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Can’t make it to the entire day?
Join us for our Network Cocktail Reception 4:30-6:00pm! Tickets include a complimentary drink, valuable networking opportunities, access to the vendor market, and more. Don’t miss out on this chance to connect and engage. Tickets on sale now!
2025 Speakers
Morning Keynote
We’re thrilled to welcome Vassy Kapelos, one of Canada’s most respected political journalists, to this year’s Leadership Forum stage.
As the Chief Political Correspondent for CTV News, she brings a sharp, insightful lens to the most pressing issues shaping our democracy. With her signature clarity and journalistic integrity, Kapelos will share her perspective on Canada-U.S. relations, gender and politics, as well as her own leadership journey.
Whether you’re a policy wonk, media enthusiast or simply curious about the forces shaping our nation — this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Vassy Kapelos
CTV News Chief Political Correspondent
Vassy Kapelos
CTV News Chief Political Correspondent
Based in Ottawa, Vassy Kapelos is Host of CTV’s weekly political journal of record, QUESTION PERIOD, and Host of CTV News Channel’s weekday marquee political program, POWER PLAY. She is also the host of the weekday national radio program THE VASSY KAPELOS SHOW on the iHeartRadio Canada Talk Network. Born in Toronto, Kapelos is a three-time Canadian Screen Award winner, having been recognized for Best Live Production Social Media (2020), for CBC’s coverage of the B.C. by-election that saw Jagmeet Singh win his seat in Parliament, and Best Talk Program or Series (2021), for POWER & POLITICS, and Best Political News Program or Series (2024), for CTV News’ Power Play. She also received the 2021 Leitch Lecture Award from the University of Alberta and University of Calgary’s Faculties of Law after delivering a lecture on the political effect of the COVID-19 health crisis in Canada. Kapelos has extensive experience covering federal and provincial politics in Canada. Prior to joining CTV News, Kapelos was host of CBC’s POWER & POLITICS. Previously, she was Global News’ Ottawa Bureau Chief and host of THE WEST BLOCK. Before working in Ottawa, Kapelos covered provincial politics in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Kapelos graduated from Western University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and then from Dalhousie University with a Master of Arts. She speaks English.
Morning Keynote – From Energy to Empowerment: The Moral Imperative for Advancing Women’s Economic Opportunities
We are delighted to have Dr. Scott Tinker, global energy visionary and educator, as a keynote speaker!
Don’t miss his talk on the global energy transition, including the link between energy poverty and gender inequality.
With a career spanning industry, academia, government, and non-profits, Dr. Tinker’s insights on energy, environment, and economy have sparked meaningful dialogue and driven real-world solutions.
Dr. Scott Tinker
Dr. Scott Tinker
Dr. Scott Tinker is a global energy visionary, educator and pragmatist working to solve major societal challenges in energy, environment, and economy. His career in industry, academia, government, and non-profits, including travel to 60 countries, underpin his global speaking, writing, filmmaking, television, radio, and board work. Tinker has led the dialog on balancing energy access for human flourishing with environmental protection in what he calls the “radical middle.” His views of the global energy landscape have proven prescient and impactful to industry leaders, policy makers, and educators.
Afternoon Keynote – Anthony Viel
We are delighted to welcome Anthony Viel, Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte Canada, to this year’s Leadership Forum stage.
A visionary leader driving bold transformation across Deloitte’s global network, Anthony is a champion of gender parity and diversity on leadership teams.
In this exclusive keynote, Anthony will share insights on:
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- How inclusive leadership has shaped culture and engagement at Deloitte
- The intersection of AI, the future of work, and leadership
- Diversity as a proven driver of growth, resilience, and competitive advantage for the future
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Don’t miss it- This is a must-attend session for leaders looking to build resilient, inclusive, and future-ready organizations.
Afternoon Keynote – The Authority Gap with Hetty Pye
Join us for a powerful keynote that confronts the Authority Gap: the persistent disparity in how women leaders are perceived, evaluated and expected to perform.
Hear from Hetty Pye, co-founder of RRA Artemis, a pioneering development program designed to drive systemic change in the succession planning process.
Through real-world examples and transformative insights, this conversation dives deep into the invisible hurdles women leaders face and the systemic shifts needed to dismantle them.
Expect bold truths, actionable strategies, and a renewed sense of possibility.
Hetty Pye
Russell Reynolds Associates
Throughout her professional life, Hetty has been drawn to, and focused on, helping people and companies transform. Based in London, she supports businesses to respond to an ever-more dynamic world by solving complex leadership succession, development and transformation challenges.
In recent years, Hetty has been instrumental in guiding clients towards embracing inclusive leadership and sustainability as essential pillars for performance and purpose. This has included a deep commitment to promoting true gender parity at the highest levels of organizations, focused on board, CEO and ExCo progression in particular.
Collaborating with kindred spirits at Russell Reynolds Associates, and a growing group of global business leaders, this passion has led to the creation and launch of RRA Artemis—a movement aimed at driving systemic, positive change in the entire succession planning process and reshaping perspectives and practice. At the core of the movement is our pioneering women CEO accelerator development programme.
Hetty is a member of Russell Reynolds’ Board & CEO Advisory Partners and leads the global Energy and Infrastructure Services Practice. She also chairs the firm’s LEAP Board, advising on promotions and development across the firm.
Hetty received her MA in Modern History from Brasenose College, Oxford University.
Morning Breakout Session 1: Power, Influence & Persuasion
Joanna Shea
CEO and Co-Founder, Negotiations Collective
Joanna has over 20 years of negotiations experience in the natural resource, utilities, infrastructure, health care and education sectors. During that time, she has led over $2B worth of acquisitions, divestments, and contract negotiations. She has project managed and negotiated agreements linked to over $1B in capital projects in both Canada and the United States and held senior leadership roles in commercial negotiations, project management, resource development and organizational restructuring.
Joanna has served as both director and president of volunteer and professional organizations across Canada, whereby her primary objective has been to lobby provincial governments on issues relating to the members she represented, in addition to developing and delivering education and social programs.
Joanna has a BCOM from St. Francis Xavier University, is a graduate of British Petroleum’s intensive in-house Conflict and Negotiations training course, holds a Graduate Certificate in Project Leadership from Cornell University, and a Graduate Certificate in Negotiations Mastery from the Harvard School of Business.
Joanna is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Negotiations Collective.
Morning Breakout Session 2: Coded Inequality: When AI Brings Bias to Work
- How bias creeps into AI models—from data collection to deployment
- Real-world consequences of algorithmic discrimination
- Strategies for building more equitable and responsible AI systems
Danielle Gifford
Managing Director of AI, PwC
As the Managing Director of AI at PwC, Danielle’s role is to help steer the growth of the Data and AI Practice in Canada, She has more than a decade of experience in commercializing advanced technologies particularly in artificial intelligence, data analytics, augmented reality, and cloud platforms in both the private and public sector.
Throughout her career, Danielle has championed AI innovation and education. She helped spearhead The51 Ventures’ M51 investment education platform and led AltaML’s AI Talent and Experimentation Accelerator, where she helped trained 240 professionals and developed 70+ AI applications. She also helped launch Alberta’s first Government AI Lab (GovLab) and was part of the initial team at the Creative Destruction Lab Rockies in Calgary, contributing to over $250M in venture equity value creation.
Recognized as a Global AI Ambassador and Top 40 under 40 recipient, Danielle is a sought-after speaker at premier conferences. She also teaches the University of Calgary’s inaugural AI in Business MBA course, reinforcing her commitment to making AI education accessible to all.
Morning Breakout Session 3 – Looking Ahead: Alberta’s Evolving Landscape
Rob Roach
Deputy Chief Economist and Managing Director, ATB Financial
As the Deputy Chief Economist at ATB Financial, Rob is laser-focused on the Alberta economy, the forces that shape it and the challenges and opportunities affecting the prosperity of Albertans.
He is the co-author of three books: “The Boiling Frog Dilemma: Saving Canada From Economic Decline,” “Spiders in Space: Successfully Adapting to Unwanted Change,” and “Spiders in COVID Space: Adapting During and After the Pandemic.”
As Vice-President of Research with the Canada West Foundation, Rob had the opportunity to explore a broad array of economic and public policy topics. Rob recently served as the Chair of the National accessArts Centre–Canada’s largest and oldest disability arts organization. Rob also teaches courses on local government for the University of Alberta.
Heather Exner-Pirot
Senior Fellow and Director of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa, Special Advisor to the Business Council of Canada, Research Advisor to the Indigenous Resource Network, and Global Fellow at the Wilson Centre in Washington D.C.
Heather Exner-Pirot is a Senior Fellow and Director of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa, Special Advisor to the Business Council of Canada, Research Advisor to the Indigenous Resource Network, and Global Fellow at the Wilson Centre in Washington D.C.
She has twenty years of experience in Indigenous, Arctic and resource development and governance. She has published on Indigenous economic development, resource politics and policy, energy security, Arctic human security, regional Arctic governance and the Arctic Council, Arctic innovation, First Nations equity and own source revenues, and more. She obtained a PhD in Political Science from the University of Calgary in 2011.
Exner-Pirot sits on the boards of the Saskatchewan Indigenous Economic Development Network and the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation. She is a member of the Canadian Defence and Security Network and a Network Coordinator at the North American and Arctic Defense and Security Network. She is the Managing Editor of the Arctic Yearbook (an international, peer-reviewed annual volume), a member of Yukon’s Arctic Security Advisory Council, and the former Chair of the Canadian Northern Studies Trust.
She has published over 45 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and edited volumes, and presented at over 100 conferences and events nationally and internationally, in addition to authoring dozens of op-eds in Canada’s top publications.
She currently lives near Calgary with her husband and two children.
Afternoon Breakout Session 1: Leading Through Life’s Transitions: How biologic changes shape resilience, health and leadership
-Discover how hormonal shifts and life stage transitions impact decision-making, energy, and emotional intelligence.
-Learn strategies to support health and career growth through every phase of life – from early ambition to seasoned leadership.
-Explore the evolving relationship between health and leadership, and how embracing change can elevate personal and professional impact.
Dr. Erin Brennand
Academic and Clinical Department Head of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services – Calgary Zone
Dr. Jayna Holroyd-Leduc
Academic geriatrician, professor and head of the Department of Medicine at the University of Calgary.
Afternoon Breakout Session 2: Rethinking Leadership in High-stakes Environments
Featuring Melinda Park, Regional Managing Partner, BLG Calgary and Geoff Bertram, Executive Managing Director & Co-Head, Global Corporate and Investment Banking Coverage, TD Securities.
Afternoon Breakout Session 3: Inside the Boardroom: How Great Leaders Plan, Serve and Evolve
Featuring Judith Athaide & Sue MacKenzie.
Judith Athaide, P.Eng., ICD.D
Ms. Athaide is an accomplished corporate director, entrepreneur, Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), and certified Corporate Director (ICD.D). She has 30 years of executive and corporate governance experience in a variety of sectors including energy, power and utilities, clean technology, software, oilfield services, banking and investments.
Ms. Athaide is currently serving on the Board of Kiwetinohk Energy Corporation where she Chairs the Governance and Nomination Committee and the Board of Canada Pension Plan Investments.
A proponent of life-long learning and continuous improvement, she has a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Honours), a Masters of Business Administration in Finance, a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and has been awarded the designation of ICD.D by the Institute of Corporate Directors. She has earned the Nuclear Governance Certificate from the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University and a Certificate in Artificial Intelligence from the MIT Sloan School of Business. She has been an adjunct professor at a number of Canadian universities and is an instructor for the ICD DEP program and an examiner for the ICD’s mock boardroom examinations.
Sue MacKenzie, P.Eng., ICD.D
Sue MacKenzie, P.Eng., ICD.D
Ms. MacKenzie is a Corporate Director with over 40 years of energy sector experience.
Ms. MacKenzie is currently a director of MEG Energy Corporation, Precision Drilling Corporation, Teine Energy Ltd. and Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS). She is a former director of Enerplus Corporation, Freehold Royalties Ltd., TransGlobe Energy Corporation, FortisAlberta Inc., the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter and Safe Haven Foundation.
Most recently Ms. MacKenzie was Chief Operating Officer at OilSands Quest Inc.. Before then she was with Petro-Canada in various technical, strategic and leadership roles, including Vice President Human Resources and Vice-President In Situ Oilsands Development and Operations. Prior to that she was with Amoco Canada in a variety of engineering and leadership roles in natural gas, conventional oil and heavy oil development.
Ms. MacKenzie holds a B. Eng (Mechanical) from McGill University, an MBA from the University of Calgary, the ICD.D designation, is a P.Eng. and Life Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.
Hear From Our Attendees
“Attending last year’s forum was a turning point in my career. The energy and insights from the speakers and attendees inspired me to pursue new opportunities I hadn’t considered before. I even formed a partnership with another attendee, which led to significant career advancement. The event provided not just inspiration but practical advice and connections that have been invaluable to my professional growth. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to elevate their career and expand their network.”
“Loved the energy at the event, the professionalism, courtesy and welcome given to all attendees. Great line up of speakers. Overall, an excellent event.”
“The day flew by because the content was so engaging! Awesome event, well run, meaningful content. Thank you!!!”
