Join us for a fun, festive holiday reception celebrating all the ways we sleigh all year long. There’s no formal programming and no pressure: just good vibes, great conversation, and a chance to unwind and connect with fellow Axis Connects and BRW members as we close out the year.
Pop in as you can, stay as long as you’d like, and kick off the holiday season with a little sparkle, a little laughter, and a whole lot of sleighing. 🎉
December 9, 2025
4:00-7:00pmÂ
Barbarella Bar, 240 8 Ave SW
Join us for a powerful conversation with Roselle Gonsalves, PhD, Head of Inclusion & Reconciliation at ATB Financial, whose work is reshaping how organizations engage with equity, belonging, and Indigenous reconciliation.
A transformational leader, storyteller, and bridge-builder, Roselle brings over 15 years of experience across social services, consulting, and post-secondary education. At ATB, she leads systemic efforts to embed inclusion and socio-economic reconciliation into the heart of corporate culture. Her academic depth—anchored by a PhD from the University of Calgary—explores immigrant identity, Canadian multiculturalism, and intersectionality, offering a rich lens on the complexities of belonging.
Beyond the boardroom, Roselle’s leadership extends to sport and civic life: she serves on the Board of Governors at Curling Canada, represents Canada at the World Curling Federation, and advises Boston College’s Centre for Corporate Citizenship. Named one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40, she’s also the author of the Amazon bestseller The Ordinary Turned Precious: A Quest for Belonging.
This session is more than a talk—it’s an invitation to reflect, connect, and reimagine leadership through the lens of inclusion and reconciliation. Don’t miss it!
Dr. Roselle M. Gonsalves is Head of Inclusion & Reconciliation at ATB Financial, where she leads systemic efforts to embed equity, inclusion, and socio-economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities across the organization. A transformational leader, storyteller, and bridge-builder, she brings over 15 years of experience advancing equity and belonging in sectors spanning social services, consulting, and post-secondary education.Â
Roselle holds a PhD from the University of Calgary, where her research explored immigrant identity, Canadian multiculturalism, and intersectionality. She serves on the Board of Governors at Curling Canada, represents Canada at the World Curling Federation, and sits on the Executive Advisory Board at Boston College’s Centre for Corporate Citizenship.Â
Named one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2022, Roselle is also the author of The Ordinary Turned Precious: A Quest for Belonging, an Amazon bestseller. She makes her home in Mi’kma’ki, now called Nova Scotia.Â
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Join us for an intimate lunch session with Alison Jackson, Managing Partner of EY Calgary, whose career journey is a masterclass in leadership, strategy, and community impact.
Since joining EY Canada, Alison has been at the forefront of transformative work in mergers, acquisitions, governance, and taxation. As Calgary’s Managing Partner, she brings deep expertise and a bold vision to the region’s business landscape. Her dedication to service is reflected through board roles with the Calgary Public Library, United Way Calgary and Area, Simpson Centre and more.
This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of Calgary’s most respected business leaders—on navigating complex change, building resilient teams, and leading with purpose. Come with questions, leave with insights.
Alison Jackson joined EY Canada in 1998, became a Partner in 2007 and has served as Managing Partner of the EY Calgary office since 2019. As Managing Partner, she leads in the areas of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, business transformation and risk, governance and taxation. She has completed several executive education programs at the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University, the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University and the London School of Business, in addition to completing the Directors Education Program with the Institute of Corporate Directors. Alison has served on the boards of St. Paul’s University College, the Ontario Association of Triathletes, the Calgary Public Library and the United Way Calgary and Area.
Strategic Networking: Make Your Contacts Count!
Your network isn’t just a list of contacts—it’s your greatest untapped asset. Whether you’re climbing the ladder, pivoting careers, or launching something bold, this session will show you how to activate the full spectrum of your connections—from close friends to high-level mentors—to uncover opportunities and accelerate your success.
What You’ll Learn:
đź’ˇ Whether you’re building influence inside your organization or expanding your reach externally, this session will equip you with the mindset and tools to turn relationships into results.
4:00pm Doors open
4:30pm Program begins
5:45pm Networking, refreshments served
7:00pm Event ends
Joanna Shea is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Negotiations Collective, bringing over 20 years of experience in negotiations across the natural resource, utilities, infrastructure, healthcare, and education sectors.
She has led over $2B in acquisitions, divestitures, and complex contracts, and has negotiated agreements supporting over $1B in capital projects throughout Canada and the U.S. Joanna has held senior leadership roles in commercial negotiations, project management, and organizational restructuring, known for guiding high-stakes, multi-party deals with strategic focus.
She has served as a Board Director and President of national volunteer and professional organizations and currently sits on the Alberta Cancer Foundations Breakthrough Fund.
Joanna holds a Bachelor of Commerce from St. Francis Xavier University, is a graduate of British Petroleum’s Conflict and Negotiations program, holds graduate certificates in Project Leadership (Cornell University) and Negotiation Mastery (Harvard Business School).
Join us for a unique opportunity to engage with one of Canada’s top change-makers, Kirstie Boyle, CEO of Envirosoft Corporation, and a renowned leader in tech, innovation and transformation. Since 2020, Kirstie has led the company through a remarkable transformation—quadrupling its size, expanding into international markets, and building a high-performing team.
Kirstie’s background spans startups, venture-backed scale-ups, and global commercialization, but what drives her is building inclusive, purpose-driven organizations. Kirstie is passionate about making science and technology more accessible, mentoring emerging leaders, and showcasing Calgary’s innovation on the world stage.
During this intimate lunch, Kirstie will share insights from her extensive career, her passion for science and technology, and her experiences fostering transformation. Expect an engaging discussion on the future of business innovation, the role of women in leadership, and sustainable solutions for today’s most pressing challenges.
This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with a powerful thought leader, ask questions, and gain valuable perspectives on how to drive meaningful change within your organization and industry. Limited seating is available for this exclusive lunch, so don’t miss your chance to be inspired by one of Canada’s most influential leaders.
Kirstie Boyle is the CEO of Envirosoft Corporation, a Constellation Software company. Envirosoft is a Calgary-based environmental software company that helps the energy industry manage emissions and regulatory compliance. Since 2020, Kirstie has led the company through a remarkable transformation—quadrupling its size, expanding into international markets, and building a high-performing team.
Kirstie’s background spans startups, venture-backed scale-ups, and global commercialization, but what drives her is building inclusive, purpose-driven organizations. Kirstie is passionate about making science and technology more accessible, mentoring emerging leaders, and showcasing Calgary’s innovation on the world stage. She’s a Board Director and former Chair of TELUS Spark Science Centre, where she’s helped increase access to science and technology globally.
Kirstie holds an MBA in Global Energy Management and Sustainable Development and a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from the University of Calgary. As a mom of two young boys, Kirstie is deeply invested in shaping a future where everyone sees themselves as having the ability to be a scientist, a leader, and a changemaker.
Join us for a unique opportunity to engage with one of Canada’s top change-makers, Sona Khosla, Chief Impact Officer of Benevity, and a renowned leader in tech, innovation and social impact.
In her role as CIO, Sona is responsible for infusing impact into Benevity’s business and culture and overseeing the company’s own impact and inclusion initiatives. At the helm of Benevity Impact Labs, an incubator and resource hub, Sona and her team bring cutting-edge data, research, insights and best practices to help organizations and individuals maximize their impact and authentically live their purpose.
As the host of Benevity’s podcast, Speaking of Purpose, Sona is a frequent guest on shows and in the media discussing topics such as building purpose-driven brands, authentic employee and customer engagement, corporate giving trends and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
During this intimate lunch, Sona will share insights from her extensive career, her passion for fostering innovation, and her experiences fostering transformation. Expect an engaging discussion on the future of business innovation, the role of women in leadership, and sustainable solutions for today’s most pressing challenges.
This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with a powerful thought leader, ask questions, and gain valuable perspectives on how to drive meaningful change within your organization and industry. Limited seating is available for this exclusive lunch, so don’t miss your chance to be inspired by one of Canada’s most influential leaders.
In her role as Chief Impact Officer, Sona is responsible for infusing impact into Benevity’s business and culture and overseeing the company’s own impact and inclusion initiatives. At the helm of Benevity Impact Labs, an incubator and resource hub, Sona and her team bring cutting-edge data, research, insights and best practices to help organizations and individuals maximize their impact and authentically live their purpose.
As the host of Benevity’s podcast, Speaking of Purpose, Sona is a frequent guest on shows and in the media discussing topics such as building purpose-driven brands, authentic employee and customer engagement, corporate giving trends and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Join Axis Connects as we present the public launch of The Prosperity Project’s Annual Report Card on Gender Equity and Leadership – a vital national snapshot tracking the progress (and gaps) in women’s representation and intersectional diversity in leadership roles at the top organizations across Canada. This year’s results will spark urgent conversations about what’s changing, what’s not, and how we can turn insights into meaningful action.
Why Attend:
$20 from each ticket will go directly toward funding next year’s research, helping ensure the continued tracking and transparency needed to support meaningful progress.
The Prosperity Project (TPP) is dedicated to creating a world where all women can thrive and break through the biases and barriers that hinder their success. TPP promotes gender equity and diversity in the workplace, recognizing their vital role in driving Canada’s economic prosperity. With a deep-rooted belief in the power of inclusivity, TPP works tirelessly to identify and eliminate obstacles that impede all women’s advancement.
To view the 2024 Annual Report Card on Gender Equity and Leadership please click here​.
Back by popular demand! Join Jillian Climie for part two of compensation negotiation training (attendance at the first session [March 13] is not required to register).
Key takeaways include:
All the elements of compensation & benefits that are negotiable (beyond salary).
How compensation decisions are made within employers.
What you should and shouldn’t use as rationale for a pay increase.
The biases women face in negotiations, and how to work around them.
When you should be bringing up compensation, and how to frame the ask in a positive & confident manner.
Jillian Climie, Co-Founder of The Thoughtful Co, has spent her career advising and leading teams in executive compensation and corporate governance, both as a consultant, and in-house at two global retailers. Most recently at Lululemon, she led the global equity compensation and executive compensation programs. After taking a pause, she realized she wanted more of three things in her professional life: thoroughness, passion and freedom. She Co-Founded The Thoughtful Co so she can leverage her niche and technical experience, coupled with her passion for gender equity, to empower women to get paid what they deserve.
This workshop will help you frame your compensation ask. We walk through our compensation negotiation template that helps our clients achieve a +25% increase in their compensation package on average, and practice using it with other attendees. By mastering these strategies, you’ll gain confidence in advocating for your worth and securing equitable compensation that aligns with your skills and contributions. We leave time for group discussion and Q&A to ensure all your questions are answered.
Key takeaways include:
Jillian Climie, Co-Founder of The Thoughtful Co, has spent her career advising and leading teams in executive compensation and corporate governance, both as a consultant, and in-house at two global retailers. Most recently at Lululemon, she led the global equity compensation and executive compensation programs. After taking a pause, she realized she wanted more of three things in her professional life: thoroughness, passion and freedom. She Co-Founded The Thoughtful Co so she can leverage her niche and technical experience, coupled with her passion for gender equity, to empower women to get paid what they deserve.
Join us for a unique opportunity to engage with one of Canada’s top change-makers, Judy Fairburn, Co-Founder and General Partner of The51 Ventures, and a renowned leader in venture finance, industry, and public policy.
Judy brings over 25 years of diverse experience in C-suite roles across major corporations, government, and the startup ecosystem. As a board director and change-maker, Judy has been instrumental in building cutting-edge business ventures and empowering women-led companies. With a remarkable track record, including her recognition as one of Canada’s Top 50 Change-makers (The Globe and Mail) and her multiple awards for leadership in sustainable innovation, Judy is a visionary who bridges the worlds of business, technology, and policy.
During this intimate lunch, Judy will share insights from her extensive career, her passion for fostering innovation, and her experiences shaping transformative ventures in both the corporate and venture capital landscapes. Expect an engaging discussion on the future of business innovation, the role of women in leadership, and sustainable solutions for today’s most pressing challenges.
This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with a powerful thought leader, ask questions, and gain valuable perspectives on how to drive meaningful change within your organization and industry. Limited seating is available for this exclusive lunch, so don’t miss your chance to be inspired by one of Canada’s most influential leaders.
Board director and change-maker (Co-Founder, Fund Managing Partner – The51 Ventures), bridging the worlds of venture finance, industry, and public policy. Proven track record in building cutting-edge business ventures and providing sage advice to CEOs and executive teams of large corporations as well as startups.
Named one of Canada’s Top 50 Change-makers in 2023 (The Globe and Mail – Report on Business) and recipient of Canada’s WXN Top 100 Powerful Women, Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal, Schulich School of Engineering Alumni Leadership Excellence Award, the inaugural Calgary Influential Women in Business Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and 2025 Clean50 Lifetime Achievement Award for sustainable innovation.
Judy (MSc Chemical Engineering, MBA, FCAE, ICD.D) draws upon a unique mix of C-suite industry, government and start-up/venture capital experience. Previously was EVP Safety & Chief Digital Officer, EVP Business Innovation, EVP Environment and Strategic Planning, VP Refining, VP Weyburn Operations and VP Portfolio Management at major Canadian corporations, as well as the first Board Chair of the consolidated Alberta Innovates. She was also Visiting Executive to the federal government Privy Council Office in 2003/2004.
