Speakers
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Arun SubramanianVP- Industry Health, Safety & HR, go2HRArun leads the industry health and safety and HR programs at go2HR. go2HR is BC ‘s tourism and hospitality human resource and health and safety association. Its purpose is to drive strong workforces and safe workplaces that deliver world-class tourism and hospitality experiences in BC. Arun is a Human Resources Professional with more than 20 years experience, including over 10 years in senior leadership roles, across all functions of HR and Health & Safety. Arun holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University, a Diploma in Hotel Administration from the Sophia Polytechnic, and has completed management programs in HR at both BCIT and the Indian Institute of Management. He is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR), and a Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor. A change evangelist, with a strategic, collaborative mindset, Arun thrives on building strong partnerships to help employers increase organizational and employee wellbeing.
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Chris BjerrisgaardFounder / Head of Commercialization, Small Gods Brewing Co.In addition to founding Small Gods Brewing this past year, Chris has over twelve years of experience in the craft brewing industry including roles as Marketing Director at Vancouver Island Brewing, a Founding Member / Marketing Director at Vancouver Craft Beer Week, and Marketing Manager at Parallel 49 Brewing & Central City Brewers + Distillers.
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Jonny MorrisChief Executive Officer, Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division, go2HRFor over 2 years, Jonathan Morris has been the noteworthy leader of the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division. He returned to CMHA as CEO after almost two years in the public service working for the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, where he played a key role in helping build this new Ministry from the ground up, eventually leading the Policy and Legislation Branch as Senior Director. In this role, Jonathan was responsible for providing advice on a range of complex policy and legislative initiatives, while leading several transformational mental health and addictions programs. His prior work at CMHA focused on addressing systemic disparities between physical and mental health, campus mental health, the criminal justice system, systems transformation, policy and government relations. Jonathan has a long research and practice history in suicide prevention, has trained as a counsellor, and has held sessional teaching appointments at the University of Victoria and Douglas College in Child and Youth Care.
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Kira BerntsonManager - Prevention Field Services, WorkSafeBCKira Berntson is a manager in Prevention Field Services with WorkSafeBC in the Okanagan and Kootenay regions.
She has a Bachelors in Engineers and a Masters of Psychology, which she combines to support her passion of helping to make the world a safer place. Kira has worked as an engineer and as a health and safety professional in a variety of industries ranging from theater to manufacturing to utilities. Where ever she works, her core message and drive is the same: Safety first, and physical and psychological health and safety go hand in hand.
Provincially Kira is the PFS manager of interest for bullying and harassment prevention, and for psychological health and safety. She is privileged in this role to work with a highly skilled and passionate team of officers who share her belief in helping employers and workers achieve the highest levels of workplace health and safety. -
Shanleigh ThomsonRegional Sales Manager - Western Canada, Yakima ChiefShanleigh has been in the alcohol beverage industry for the last 10 years. She is from Winnipeg, Canada, and has her Masters in Food Science from Purdue University focusing on enzymology and microbiology. She was a formulation specialist for Diageo, working on Smirnoff and Captain Morgan products in Chicago before completing here Master Brewers and Professional Brewers Certificate from UC Davis. From there, she brewed and was a production manager in Seattle before moving to Minnesota and then back to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada where she worked in brewing ingredient and malt sales before starting with Yakima Chief Hops. She is currently the Regional Sales Manager for Western Canada at YCH and is the Social Media Board Chair for Pink Boots Canada. She is really excited to be able to act as an agent of hop growers, telling their story and providing the best quality hops to breweries in Canada.
Respectful Workplaces: Tips and Tools for Employers to Reshape the Workplace: Panel discussion
Without question, the global pandemic has ushered in a higher level of societal awareness around the importance of mental health and wellness. The societal, cultural and workplace norms regarding acceptable behaviours are rapidly changing, and the legal framework around this issue is also shifting. This movement necessitates that employers pay additional attention in learning how to create and maintain a safe work environment; from both a physical and psychological perspective.
Even more importantly, in a tight labour market, employers who prioritize adapting their workplaces to these new imperatives will be rewarded with a more reliable workforce. Those who ignore these imperatives, risk impacting the success of their business.
Join the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) BC Division and go2HR for an informative and interactive presentation that will focus on how employers can create and maintain a respectful workplace. The discussion will center on new initiatives developed by the organizations as well as practical tips and tools employers can use to create safer workplaces.
