Speakers

Alison Anderson

Alison Anderson is the Director of Occupational Health and Safety for the City of Toronto. This position was created in 2007 to provide leadership for a Safety Culture initiative, reinforcing worker health and safety as a key corporate priority. The focus of the initiative is on union-management collaboration to achieve a culture of continuous improvement with a target of a zero-injuries workplace. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Anderson headed Human Resources Employment Services since the City's amalgamation in 1998. In that capacity she directed the harmonization and development of over 40 HR policies for the amalgamated City. These included a Workplace Violence policy (2002) and the initial Human Rights and Harassment policy (1998). Ms. Anderson is a graduate of Queen's University (BSc '80, MBA '83)

Cheryl A. Edwards

Cheryl A. Edwards is a former Ontario Ministry of Labour OH&S Prosecutor, now leading the National OHS & Workers' Compensation Practice Group of Heenan Blaikie LLP. Cheryl has focused her practice on strategic OH&S advice and representation for employers and managers across Canada in health and safety trials, inquests, and other proceedings since 1988.

Cheryl has been regularly recognized as a leading advisor in workplace safety and insurance and occupational health and safety law, by both Lexpert and the Financial Post Best Lawyers in Canada. She is co-author of a leading health and safety text entitled "The Employer's Health and Safety Manual-Ontario". She has authored special reports for the publisher Carswell/Thomson on "Due Diligence under the Occupational Health and Safety Act", "Employer Liability for Contractors under the Occupational Health and Safety Act", and, most recently, on "Corporate and Organizational Liability for OH&S Under Bill C-45". She is a regular speaker at professional conferences. She has both written and spoken extensively on the topic of workplace violence in Canada.

Wayne Del'orme

Wayne De L'Orme is the Provincial Coordinator for the Industrial Program of the Ontario Ministry of Labour. As Provincial Coordinator, Wayne is responsible for the development of operational policies and programs to ensure effective and efficient enforcement by the inspectorate in the 30 industrial sectors. Wayne has been with the Ministry of Labour since 1991. He led the implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act into the farming sector and developed the Ontario Workplace Gateway. Wayne has a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science from the University of Saskatchewan and a Master of Business Administration from the Ivey School of Business.

Jattinder S. Dhillon, P.Eng., D.O.H.S., C.H.R.M., CRSP

Jattinder has over 15 years of experience within the Health, Safety, and Environment field in consulting, manufacturing and retail sectors. Over the past 3 years, Jattinder has also held responsibility for energy management and operational reliability. He is currently the Vice-President of Health, Safety, Wellness and Business Continuity at Loblaw Companies Limited and is a member of the HR leadership team within Loblaw.

Jattinder holds a B.A. in Chemical/Environmental Engineering from the University of Toronto, a post-graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety from McMaster University, and a Certificate in Human Resource Management from Sheridan College. He has both Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) and Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designations.

Glenn French, MSW, RSW

Glenn French is the President of the Canadian Initiative on Workplace Violence. The Canadian Initiative, founded in 1999, is a social research firm that studies trends in workplace conduct within Canada. In addition, they catalogue the practices which organizations and unions are employing to reduce the risk of workplace aggression. The Canadian Initiative has been showcased on the CBC (The National), CITY TV, CTV, Global Television, within The National Post, Globe & Mail, Toronto Star and multiple print dailies across Canada, not to mention a wide coverage on radio and trade publications. In 2001, the Canadian Initiative partnered with the Federal Government in planning for the first North American conference on workplace violence as part of the North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation, which includes both United States and Mexico. In March, 2008 Mr. French was invited to address the 9th Global Conference on Occupational Health and Safety sponsored by the World Health Organization held in Merida, Mexico where he tabled his most recent paper entitled, "Towards a Global Standard for Workplace Conduct"

Andrew Harkness

Andrew Harkness is a Senior Strategy Advisor, Healthy Workplaces with the Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA) of Ontario, and has been with the organization since 1988. He has Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and Labour Relations and a post graduate diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. Andrew has been accredited as a Safety Auditor under the International Safety Rating System; received certification in Quality Systems through the National Quality Institute and Integrated Risk Assessment training with the Professional Development Centre (University of Toronto). Andrew is a Certified Health and Safety Consultant and a Professional Member of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering.

While employed at the IAPA, Andrew has specialized in Occupational Health and Safety legislation, program evaluation and loss management systems, including the BSI OHSAS 18001 and IAPA's Integrated Management System (IMS). Andrew is leads IAPA's Healthy Workplace Implementation Consulting team, and is a Certified Excellence Professional for Healthy Workplaces through the National Quality Institute.

Lisa Mihalis

Lisa Mihalis is a Manager of Employee Relations for Union Gas, a Spectra Energy Company, a position she has held for 10 years. In this capacity, Lisa partners with her management client groups to both align and integrate human resource strategies with business objectives through operational support, strategic planning and tactical leadership. As part of this ongoing effort, Lisa has been the organizational lead in the development of Union Gas's innovative Workplace Violence Prevention Program.

Prior to assuming her responsibilities at Union Gas, Lisa held positions in both the public and non-profit sectors. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University, and has a post graduate certificate in Human Resources from Humber College. Lisa is a member of the Human Resources Professional Association of Ontario, and is a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP).

Cynthia R.C. Sefton

Cynthia Sefton is a partner in Aird & Berlis LLP's Litigation Group and Energy Team with over 30 years of trial and appellate advocacy experience. She has acted on behalf of individuals and businesses of all sizes, including natural gas utilities, secondary lead smelters, manufacturing companies and energy service and sales companies. Cynthia has advised clients on risk-management, insurance and operational issues and liability and mitigation measures relating to outsourcing and use of contractors.

Cynthia's practice areas include the investigation and defence of fires and explosions and other large disasters, product liability, construction projects, risk-management and due diligence, environmental liability, occupational health and safety, employment law, and contract issues. More specifically, her practice encompasses all aspects of tort and contract litigation, investigation and defence of quasi-criminal matters and provincial offences, including the occupational health and environmental fields.

Cynthia is a frequent speaker at organizations such as the Ontario Regional Common General Alliance, the Canadian Gas Association and other industry groups. She also lectures to management and front line personnel on their legal duties and how to ensure they fulfill those duties in their day-to-day operations, especially as they relate to management of outsourcing. Additionally, she is a regular contributor to the ORCGA's Ear to the Ground publication.