Positively Derailed

MANITOBA’S CONFERENCE FOR LEADERS | MAY 16, 2023

PRESENTED BY QNET

Conference Agenda
Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre
1808 Wellington Avenue | Winnipeg, Manitoba

Join forward thinking leaders – current, emerging and
aspiring – for a day of learning and networking. Gain the tools and
inspiration to refresh your thinking and put new ideas into practice.

Kick off your day with an energizing opening keynote by
Dr. Liane Davey (message from Liane here), then create your own
customized conference experience with relevant
breakout sessions in four targeted streams
– Leadership, Quality, Wellness and Tools.

Closing keynote Anthony McLean has shared hundreds of inspiring
talks around the world. Check out his personal invitation to the
QNET Conference here.

Challenge yourself to a leadership reset, refresh your thinking, and
move forward with renewed energy, clarity and confidence.

Join the conversation and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram
#QNETMB2023


GROUP REGISTRATION HERE

YOUNG LEADERS REGISTRATION HERE

OPENING KEYNOTE

DR. LIANE DAVEY

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR,
EXPERT ON EFFECTIVE TEAMS, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION

Liane Davey is changing the world one team at a time, from the frontlines to the boardroom, across a variety of industries and around the globe. 

With a mission to transform the way people communicate, connect, and contribute, she offers a unique perspective on the challenges teams face and how to solve them.

Liane is the New York Times Bestselling author of The Good Fight: Use Productive Conflict to Get Your Team and Organization Back on Track. and You First: Inspire Your Team to Grow UP, Get Along, and Get Stuff Done

She is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review and is sought out by CNN, USA Today, The Globe & Mail and Forbes, for her expertise on productivity, engagement, leadership, and as one client put it, “dealing with the damn drama!”

Liane has spoken to audiences as big as 2000 and as intimate as 20. In between the laughter and stories, she provides a proven model and framework, along with the latest research, so that attendees walk away with the tools to start making their teams better from the moment they leave the room.

The Good Fight

In The Good Fight, Liane Davey shows you how to create the productive conflict your organization needs to get along and get stuff done. Drawing on her 20-year career as an advisor to the C-Suite, Davey shares real-world examples and practical tools you and your team can use to handle even the most contentious conflicts as allies – instead of adversaries. Filled with strategies you’ll use again and again, The Good Fight is an essential field-guide for leaders at all levels.

The Good Fight is an essential field guide any leader can use to prevent drama before it starts.
-Cy Wakeman, Drama Researcher, New York Times bestselling author of No Ego

The best solutions emerge when people feel comfortable sharing their ideas, even when what they have to say challenges the status quo. In The Good Fight, Davey shows leaders how to facilitate the productive, healthy conflict that’s needed for teams to fully engage and give their best. – Howard Bear, former Presidents Starbucks International.

CLOSING KEYNOTE

ANTHONY MCLEAN

ACTOR, INSPIRING INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER
LEADERSHIP, MENTAL HEALTH, INCLUSIVITY

Anthony McLean is an actor and speaker who has shared hundreds of inspiring and powerful talks across the world, rocking the stage at conferences, colleges, and corporate events. 

He delivers lively, engaging and passionate presentations on mental health, diversity and inclusion, with research-backed tools and actionable strategies.

Anthony works actively in the Film and TV industry. He hosted the CBC Television show The X and was featured in the documentary films Colour Me, SOAR, and Rising Above. In his theatre career, McLean acted in the renowned Stratford Festival, where he developed his passion for Shakespeare. He also loves to freestyle rap — give him any topic in the world and he’ll make up a rap on the spot about it.

As a respected voice in his field, McLean has been featured in The Globe and Mail and on CBC News and Breakfast Television. He is currently writing his first book, Fire Up Your Mental Health! He also has a passion for inspiring educators. McLean says it was teachers who made the biggest difference in his life and inspired him to be his best.

Thank you to our closing keynote sponsor:

Manitoba Blue Cross Logo

Anthony is an energetic, charismatic, and engaging speaker. As industry leaders and professionals, his message is one we need to hear, digest, and propagate to the highest levels possible. ”
— President, Ontario Risk & Insurance Management Society

Anthony’s presentations have been so helpful to us as we work to create a culture that fosters caring, wellness, diversity and inclusion. He is incredibly gifted at connecting with people in a way that reaches them t their level and lifts them higher. He navigates difficult subjects with respect, grace and humour.
-Director of Employee Experience, Real Matters / Solidifi

SESSIONS

10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

PLENARY SESSION

10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

Eleanor Coopsammy Photo
Eleanor Coopsammy
Director, Media Relations and Issues Management
University of Manitoba
Panel Moderator
Joseph Chaeban Photo
Joseph Chaeban
President
Chaeban Ice Cream / Chaeban Artisan
Dion McKay Photo
Dion Mckay
Vice President, Pension & Benefits
TIPI Group of Companies
Liz Wilson Photo
Liz Wilson
President & CEO
FortWhyte Alive
Dr. Shawn Young Photo
Dr. Shawn Young
Chief Operating Officer
Health Sciences Centre

Leadershift Panel

Join us for an exploration of the shifting role of leaders, within the context of our conference theme Positively Derailed – Thoughtfully navigating forward. We’ll dive into challenges, opportunities and experiences of these leaders, along with the values qualities and skills they embrace. Come prepared for insightful discussion, inspiring stories and ideas to take back to your workplace.

11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Wendy Loewen Photo
Wendy Loewen
Managing Director, Author, Podcaster, Speaker
ACHIEVE Centre for Leadership
Stuart Fletcher-Cook Photo
Stuart Fletcher-Cook
Senior Manager, Carrier Development
Bison Transport
Sarah Wilson Photo
Sarah Wilson
Manager, Human Resources
Bison Transport
Ashley Smith Photo
Ashley Smith
HR Manager
Ubisoft Winnipeg
Sue Peterson Photo
Sue Peterson
Production Manager
Ubisoft Winnipeg

When Leadership and Culture Collide

Stream: Leadership & Management
Stream: Leadership & Management

A strong corporate culture is said to have a positive impact on an organization’s recruitment, retention, employee satisfaction, collaboration, teamwork, workforce health, productivity and profitability. With these credentials, it’s no wonder then that the two presenting companies are passionate about their culture, promote it prominently on their websites, and are excited to talk about it.

At this session you’ll hear from leaders and HR managers at Bison Transport and Ubisoft Winnipeg, very different organizations but both strongly focused on culture. The speakers will then join a Fireside Chat led by Wendy Loewen, co-author of The Culture Question: How to Create a Workplace Where People Like to Work.

David Falk Photo
David Falk
Partner and Senior Mediator
Facilitated Solutions

From Polarized to Optimized

Tools for Leveraging Differences at Work

Stream: Quality & Effectiveness

It does not take much these days for people to polarize around differences, be they Union / Management tensions, vaccine mandates, work/life boundaries, or even personality/style differences. 

The bad news is that some of these tensions/differences will never be resolved. The planners will want to plan, and the doers would rather skip the meeting and just get on with it. The good news is that there are conceptual models, tools and process that can help you value and work with these inevitable tensions in ways that can unlock the potential within your team.  

This highly interactive session will introduce a concept, tool and process you can use to enhance your team’s cohesion and ability to effectively collaborate, and also to rebuild trust and restore functionality when escalated tensions have polarized your group.

Shannon Gander Picture
Shannon Gander
Founder & Director
Life Work Wellness

Thriving at Work

Stream: Workplace Wellness

Around the globe, leaders are trying to figure out how to help their teams revive and thrive after a time of derailment. Employees continue to feel wired and tired while trying to serve their stakeholders, produce great work and get along. 

Organizations that incorporate psychological health and safety into their workplace culture are shown to be more productive, and have higher levels of employee satisfaction, engagement, and retention. We have a Canadian Standard that includes psychosocial factors for helping employees thrive and protecting their mental health at work. 

In this session, we will drill down on the key factors that need extra attention and how to inject these into your planning and daily interactions for reducing employee anxiety, building trust, and engaging teams. Whether you are in-person, hybrid or fully remote, you’ll get to reflect on what’s most important now for leaders in gaining stability, preventing further burnout (including your own) while helping those around you flourish into the future.

Sylvia Marusyk
Founder
MindBody Works

Derailed and Reimagined

Stream: Tools & Techniques

Change is just a word, but it can carry a lot of baggage. Sometimes it’s one of the most exciting words in the English language, but it can also be one of the most frightening. 

Typically organizational change happens in big initiatives, big efforts, big investments of time, money, and talent. But what if there was a more sustainable, easier to institute, more achievable, and far less stressful approach to change. 

At this interactive session, you will learn a powerful strategy for reimagining your approach to change initiatives. The change can be large or small, organization-wide, team based, or personal – at work or at home. When you discover and practice how to break down change into smaller components and habit stack, you’ll be surprised how this strategy has the ability to shift the way you adjust, adapt or move in a new direction.

1:15 to 2:15 p.m.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

1:15 to 2:15 p.m.

Allana Schmidt Photo
Allana Schmidt
Vice-President, Global Organizational Management
IntouchCX
Sheeraj Patel Photo
Shreeraj Patel
Vice-President – Commercial Financial Services
RBC
Sanjana Vijayann Photo
Sanjana Vijayann
Director, Diversity and Inclusion
The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce
Cecil Sveinson Photo
Cecil Sveinson
Manager, Indigenous Relations
City of Winnipeg
Jamie Dumont Photo
Jamie Dumont
Jamie Dumont Consulting
Panel Moderator

Moving Forward with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Stream: Leadership & Management

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is on the minds of current, emerging and aspiring leaders in organizations small to large, in the public and private sector, and from all industries. Everyone is at a different place on the journey, so we’ll explore of how to begin and advance DEI, whether it is organization-wide, within a specific area / team, or simply in your sphere of influence. Our expert panel will offer insight and ideas, share their experiences, and direct you to helpful resources. 

Pam Grahame Photo
Pam Grahame
Principal
Shop Floor Leadership
Warren Peters Photo
Warren Peters
Business Solutions & Coaching Manager
Brunswick Steel

Getting to the Root of the Matter

Stream: Quality & Effectiveness

The pandemic has accelerated the pace of change in the world of work, bringing new opportunities and challenges. We are leading our teams in an environment that has shifted, and we have the opportunity to move forward thoughtfully, using practical tools that get to the heart of why we do what we do. 

Effective leadership benefits from problem solving to analyze and understand what’s really going on and what’s getting in the way. Long-term, sustainable change works best when you understand the real challenges or barriers, cut through the noise and engage your brain in a whole new way – and this can be done with Root Cause Analysis.

At this hands-on, collaborative session, you’ll explore a tool for solving current leadership challenges, generating ideas, and seeing solutions through a different lens. It will help you realize your vision and goals, support the development of strategy, and be a more effective leader.

Jodie Voth Photo
Jodie Voth
Manager, Employee Assistance Services Manitoba Blue Cross
Florent Thezard Picture
Florent Thézard
Wellness Program Leader
Manitoba Blue Cross

Taking Your Mind Off-Track

Stream: Workplace Wellness

Derailing our minds and taking a new perspective is healthy. We can intentionally and beneficially derail by learning new things, considering new or different perspectives, and challenging ideas. 

Intellectual wellness allows your brain both stimulation and rest for critical thinking, curiosity, and creativity. In the workplace, cultivating intellectual wellness can be done many ways, some at the organization-wide level and others at the team or individual level.

In this dynamic presentation, the presenters will engage attendees in an exploration of the what, why and how of intellectual wellness, and explore the many benefits of nurturing this aspect of wellness in individuals and teams.

Tanya Clarke-Marinelli photo
Tanya Clarke-Marinelli
Founder TC Training Services

Thoughtfully Navigating Forward:
A Culture of Kindness

Stream: Tools & Techniques

In the workplace, conscious kindness can help create a safe and inclusive work environment, develop a culture of belonging and respect, and encourage open and honest communication. When leaders and team members embrace kindness and empathy, the outcome is a more positive workplace and an environment where everyone is heard, respected, and accepted for who they are.

This session will invite participants to consider conscious kindness as a critical communication technique, and provide specific tools to approach and repair a situation or interaction that has left someone hurt or offended.

Explore how to repair a relationship, by listening empathetically, accepting criticism and feedback and becoming aware of bias, and its impact. 

Learn how to confidently approach someone who has offended us, in a way that positively contributes to improved community and culture, and how to identify when professional help is needed.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Conference venue: Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre Winnipeg (1808 Wellington)

Regular Registration Fees

QNET Members: $380.00 + GST | QNET Member List
Conference Partners: $380.00 + GST
Non-Members: $430.00 + GST | Join QNET

Group Registration link (5+ registrations)

Group registration with 5 or more from the same organization save $30 per person.

Young Leaders Registration link

Young leader (35 and under): $279 + gst
Invitation letter for Young Leaders
Young Leaders Happy Hour Networking Event (Free) on June 19th

Conference Partner Registration

Members of the following organizations receive the conference partner rate for this event. When you register, simply select “Partner Organization” under Membership type.

CCHL (Canadian College of Health Leaders) – MOC Credits (6.25 Category | credits, details here)
ACMP (Association of Change Management Professionals)
CME (Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters)
CPHR (Chartered Professionals in Human Resources) – Pre-Approved Program for CPD – 8 hours

Note: There will be a photographer taking photos throughout the conference. By agreeing to attend, you are giving QNET rights to use captured photos in promotional efforts.

SPONSORS

Showcase your organization and expertise, increase your brand awareness, and demonstrate your commitment to leadership, learning and excellence.

All sponsorships include conference passes. Connect in person and virtually with 400+ leaders and professionals from the private and public sector.

Sponsor invitation available here.

CLOSING KEYNOTE SPONSOR


Manitoba Blue Cross Logo

PLATINUM


RRC Corporate Solutions Logo

GOLD


Achieve Logo
WCB Manitoba Logo
Facilitated Solutions Logo

SILVER


Misericordia Hospital Logo
Reseau Logo
Starling Logo
Social Media Sponsor
Relish Logo
Website Sponsor
Inland Audio Visual Logo
Audio Visual Sponsor
Palliser Factory Outlet Logo
Lounge Sponsor

ABOUT

QNET offers high quality workshops, certificate programs, conferences and special events designed to advance your learning, growth and professional development. Our network of members and clients are focused on leadership and organizational excellence.

Participants in QNET programs come from a wide variety of roles in diverse sectors such as service, health, manufacturing, government, education, non-profit, and consulting.

Funding provided by the Manitoba government.

Established as a non-profit association in 1995, QNET continues to lead an ongoing process of awareness, networking and equation in a changing business environment.

Check out QNET’s Calendar of Upcoming Events to find out how you can join in the learning & networking, sign up to receive email announcements & conference updates, and be sure to follow @QNETManitoba on social media and use the hashtag #QNETMB2023.