Industries in Canada are facing a range of workforce challenges, from an aging population to immigration reform, to technology-driven disruption. These issues are set against the backdrop of global instability and geopolitical change. As Canada embarks on a new era of nation-building how might we develop a workforce to support long-term prosperity, business resilience, and national security?
On October 22 The Globe and Mail will bring CEOs, policy makers, technology and workforce experts together to discuss how to build and sustain Canada’s workforce for a resilient future.
Key sectors of Canada’s economy such as construction, health care and technology continue to grapple with skills shortages. In parallel to this challenge, A.I. is rapidly reshaping the job market and public openness to immigration has waned. This panel will bring CEOs together to talk about these risks and opportunities, and to share their top strategies for a resilient workforce.
George Vassallo, President and CEO, Bothwell-Accurate
Justine Hendricks, President and CEO, Farm Credit Canada
Kelly Higginson, President and CEO, Restaurants Canada
Penny Wise, Global Vice-President, Public Policy and Communications, 3M
Moderator: Rita Trichur, Senior Business Writer and Columnist, The Globe and Mail
Founded in 1974, World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change.
Mr. Balsillie is the retired Chairman and co-CEO of Research In Motion (BlackBerry), a technology company he scaled from an idea to $20 billion in sales globally. His private investment office includes global and domestic technology investments.
He is the co-founder of the Institute for New Economic Thinking in New York, and founder of the Council of Canadian Innovators based in Toronto, the Digital Governance Council in Ottawa, and the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo, as well as the Centre for Digital Rights, the Balsillie School of International Affairs, and the Arctic Research Foundation. He currently chairs the boards of CCI, CIGI, Innovation Asset Collective and Digital Governance Council. He is also a member of the Board of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Advisory Board of the Stockholm Resilience Centre; an Honorary Captain (Navy) of the Royal Canadian Navy and an Advisor to Canada School of Public Service.
Mr. Balsillie was the private sector representative on the UN Secretary General’s High Panel for Sustainability. His awards include: several honorary degrees, Mobile World Congress Lifetime Achievement Award, India’s Priyadarshni Academy Global Award, Canadian Business Hall of Fame, Time Magazine’s World’s 100 Most Influential People and three times Barron’s list of "World’s Top CEOs.
As CEO of Century Initiative, Lisa Lalande leads ambitious efforts to secure Canada’s long-term prosperity through smart, responsible population growth. She has been instrumental in shaping critical national conversations on immigration, housing, and childcare while informing transformative policy changes. Among her key achievements is the creation of the National Scorecard on Growth and Prosperity, a vital tool that measures Canada’s progress across socio-economic indicators and equips decision-makers with actionable insights. Lisa also played a pivotal role in advocating for a national childcare system, a transformative initiative that supports workforce equity and economic resilience. In addition, she has led research and advocacy to position immigration as a cornerstone of smart growth, emphasizing its critical role in economic development, demographic renewal, and cultural diversity. Her work exemplifies bold, evidence-based strategies to address Canada’s most pressing challenges and build a stronger, more inclusive future.
Parisa Mahboubi is an Associate Director of Research at the C.D. Howe Institute, where she leads the human capital policy research program and chairs the Immigration Targets Council. Her research focuses on social policy, with a particular emphasis on immigration, demographics, and generational accounting, as well as education, skills, and labour market issues. Parisa has contributed extensively to Canadian public policy debates through publications, conferences, panel discussions, advisory meetings, and media appearances. She also serves on the advisory board of The Education Promise, an initiative dedicated to transforming public education through actionable policy change.
Prior to joining the C.D. Howe Institute in 2016, Parisa worked at the Statistics Canada Research Data Centre and served as an Instructor and Research Assistant at the University of Guelph while completing her PhD studies. She holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Economics from Shiraz University, as well as an M.A. and PhD in Economics from the University of Guelph. Her doctoral research focused on social security reform, technological change, and human capital accumulation, and examined the skills, education, and labour market outcomes of second-generation immigrants in Canada.
Sara Mojtehedzadeh is a reporter on The Globe and Mail’s investigative team, focusing on immigration issues. She spent a decade as the Toronto Star's labour reporter, including several years on the newspaper's investigations team, where her work explored precarious work, income inequality, and workplace safety.
Sara was recognized by the National Newspaper Awards and Canadian Association of Journalists for a 2023 series investigating Canada's pipeline of low-wage labour. Other award-winning pieces include an undercover investigation of temp agency deaths at a Toronto industrial bakery, an investigation into the toxic legacy of a General Electric factory, and numerous probes into abuses in the temporary foreign worker program. Her investigation into injury and illness rates at Canadian Amazon warehouses amid the COVID-19 pandemic won her an Amnesty International Canada media award in 2021.
Sara previously worked for the BBC, producing radio coverage on African current affairs.
With over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, including more than 25 years with a successful electrical distribution firm, George purchased Bothwell-Accurate in 2006 and has crafted a vision of vertical integration practices to better anticipate and respond to evolving customer requirements.
A driven leader with a clear vision of the products and services that will redefine the industry, George’s primary focus remains the quality of people and relentless pursuit of service excellence. He strongly believes in providing all employees with resources, education and coaching, as an integral part of the company’s ongoing success – and it has become a hallmark of George’s leadership. As CEO, George has doubled company revenue and expanded the company portfolio from a regional roofing company to a complete building envelope solutions provider for clients across Canada.
Kelly Higginson is the President and CEO of Restaurants Canada. She took on the role in 2022, following her previous position as Chief Operating Officer, where she played a pivotal role in shaping Restaurant Canada's strategies.
Prior to joining Restaurants Canada, Kelly served as the Executive Vice President of Operations at The CFW Group, where she led operations for prominent Canadian hospitality brands such as ki modern japanese + bar, The Shore Club, and Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House.
Kelly is an experienced leader with over 25 years in hospitality and foodservice, highlighting a wealth of knowledge and experience that makes her a dynamic force for delivering meaningful impact within Restaurants Canada and the broader hospitality industry.
Goldy Hyder is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of Canada (BCC), a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose membership is comprised of more than 170 chief executives and entrepreneurs of Canada’s leading and largest companies.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of OpenText Corporation and has a long track record of service on behalf of several charities and non-profit organizations, including the Coalition for a Better Future and the Business + Higher Education Roundtable.
A regular commentator in Canadian media on business, politics and leadership, he hosts the “Speaking of Business” podcast, which features interviews with Canadian innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders. He holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Calgary.
Justine Hendricks holds an MBA from the University of Ottawa and a BA in Urban Studies from Carleton University. She brings over two decades of experience in financial services, including 17 years at Export Development Canada (EDC) and 7 years at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). At EDC, she led business development across multiple sectors and was the organization’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, driving the development of the corporate environment and human rights strategies.
As FCC's President and CEO, Justine is committed to fostering a sustainable and customer-driven future, empowering Canadian agriculture to grow, innovate, and thrive. She is recognized for her strategic and client-focused leadership.
She also serves on the University of Ottawa Board of Governors and is a dedicated community volunteer.
The Honourable Jean Charest has served at the highest levels of Canadian government for nearly three decades, making him one of Canada’s best known political figures. As the former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Premier of Québec — and a current member on the Prime Minister's Council on Canada-US Relations — Charest brings a deep understanding of the complex Canada-US relationship, global trade, strategic leadership, and business diplomacy to audiences. He offers a compelling reflection on Canada’s position in a dynamic world, while sharing key lessons on navigating both the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Charest was first elected to the House of Commons in 1984 and, at the age of 28, became Canada’s youngest cabinet minister, assuming the role of Minister of State for Youth. In 1991, he was named Minister of the Environment and Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and Registrar General, before becoming the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada in 1993.
Charest was chosen Leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party in 1994, holding that post until 1998 when he became Leader of the Québec Liberal Party. He then broke a 50-year provincial record by winning three consecutive election campaigns in 2003, 2007, and 2008.
During his tenure as Premier of Québec, his government initiated an unprecedented labour mobility agreement between France and Québec and launched Plan Nord, a major initiative for the sustainable development of Northern Québec. Charest is notably the initiator of the negotiation for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA).
Today, Charest is a partner at the Canadian firm, Therrien Couture Joli-Coeur, where he provides invaluable expertise to the firm’s clients with his in-depth knowledge and experience with public policy, corporate Canada, and international matters. As a strategic advisor with a unique perspective, he supports clients on complex transactions, projects, and international mandates.
Shamira Madhany joined WES in 2018 after more than two decades of government service in Ontario. She is a transformative leader and passionate advocate for a more inclusive Canada. Shamira served as the chief architect of several government cutting-edge programs that break down barriers to equality, helping to enable internationally educated professionals to obtain employment in their fields and newcomers to integrate into Canadian life. She serves on the boards of Windmill Microlending, Herzing College Toronto, and CERC Migration Stakeholder Advisory Board at Toronto Metropolitan University. Shamira was featured in Profiles in Diversity Journal’s 2019 Women Worth Watching® Awards, which recognizes women who have demonstrated high levels of leadership. She is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the 2023 International Alliance for Women (TIAW) World of Difference Awards, and the 2020 Metropolis Policy Maker Award of Excellence.
Carole is a tireless champion for cities and communities, driving an ambitious vision for local government leadership in building a more sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive Canada.
Carole is an accomplished strategist with a decade of experience in federal and municipal advocacy. High performing and goal oriented, Carole has been a driving force behind watershed achievements for municipalities, securing unprecedented investment and progress for cities and communities.
Recognized by peers as tenacious, ambitious and a game-changer and consistently voted as one of the Top 100 Lobbyists in Canada. She is a 2020 recipient of “Canada’s Top 40 Under 40”, and the "Women of Influence in Local Government Award" from Municipal World.
Carole’s leadership and effective team-building have positioned FCM as one of the most respected and effective advocacy organizations in Canada.
Rita Trichur is an award-winning journalist. She is a Senior Business Writer and Columnist in the Report on Business. Her previous roles at The Globe and Mail include Senior Editor, Financial Services Editor, and Canadian business columnist for the Report on Business Magazine. Rita returned to Globe in July 2016 after spending about 2 ½ years as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal’s Canada bureau. She primarily covered domestic banks and insurance companies from Toronto, but also wrote a variety of other stories about Canada for the U.S. newspaper. Prior to WSJ, Rita spent more than three years at the Globe, initially working as a general assignment reporter in the Report on Business before covering the telecom beat. Rita has also covered financial services and economics for the Toronto Star, and has held various roles at the Canadian Press and the Ottawa Sun. She got her first byline at age 6 when the Toronto Star published her short story about a fish-stealing cat and paid her $10. Rita, who also speaks French, was born in Toronto. She has a Bachelor of Journalism and Political Science and a M.A. in Canadian Studies – both from Carleton University in Ottawa.