Dr. Chris K. Bart, C.A.

DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University

Dr. Chris Bart is one of the world’s leading authorities on organizational mission and vision statements. He is the Founder, Principal and Lead Professor of The Directors College at McMaster University, Canada’s first university accredited corporate director certification program. Dr. Bart is also the author of the Canadian business best seller, “A Tale of Two Employees and the Person Who Wanted to Lead Them” as well as the widely acclaimed CICA publication “20 Questions Directors Should Ask About Strategy”.

Through his pioneering research and teachings, Dr. Bart has become highly sought after by organizations seeking to develop vision and mission statements that get results. His practical approach for bringing mission statements to life has inspired business leaders and audiences around the world.

Professional Activities
As a Professor of Strategic Market Leadership (Strategy and Governance) at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business, Dr. Bart has published over 100 articles, cases and reviews. He currently serves as Associate Editor of the International Journal of Business Governance & Ethics. Dr. Bart has been awarded the Ontario Chamber of Commerce “Outstanding Business Achievement Award for Corporate Governance”, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce “HR Hero Award” and McMaster’s “Innovation Award”. A highly regarded lecturer, Dr. Bart has received both the “Outstanding Undergraduate Business Professor” and “MBA Professor of the Year” on multiple occasions. He has also won “The President’s Award for Teaching Excellence”, McMaster’s highest teaching award – which made him the most decorated professor at the DeGroote School. Dr. Bart is listed in the Canadian Who’s Who and has been a director on many Boards.

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Harold Gershman is currently Vice-president, Global Rewards at Manulife Financial, based out of their global headquarters in Toronto, where he is responsible for the development, advocacy and implementation of global reward strategies and policies (spanning 19 countries), ensuring compliance for all compensation, pension, benefits, and international assignment programs. 

Gershman has more than 20 years experience in the compensation field in multiple industries with a focus on Financial Services.  Prior to joining Manulife, he spent more than seven years at Bank of Montreal in Toronto, consulting on compensation matters. Gershman is very well regarded in the compensation community and has spoken at many conferences on various topics in the compensation field.  He is an active participant with several industry and professional associations and has served on the Canadian advisory board for WorldatWork.  He currently sits on the advisory board for the recently established Greater Toronto Rewards Association.

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Brad Harper is TELUS Communications Vice-President of e.HR Workforce Solutions, which includes payroll, benefits, HR call centers, health and wellness services, e.HR (HR website and tools development), SAP testing, Workforce Solutions (management information and reporting development), capital project management and the health, wellness and fitness portfolios.

Prior to his role in e.hr Workforce Solutions and e-hr, Harper was the Vice-president of Learning Services and Chief Learning Officer, with responsibilities to provide training across the areas of Technology, Management, Sales and Marketing and to build competency development at all levels. 

Harper holds Bachelor degrees in psychology and education from the University of Calgary and a certificate in Human Resources Management from the University of Alberta.  Harper attended the Executive Human Resources Program at the University of Michigan and received an Organization Development Certificate from National Training Labs, Bethel Maine.  In 1999 through to 2002, he was a member of the board for the Center for Telecommunications Management.  Harper currently sits on the board for Theatre Calgary and is an advisory member of the Learning Partnership.

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Dr. Allan Middleton currently manages the International Executive Development Division at teaches marketing at the Schulich School of Business. 

Middleton has also provided training and consulting services for Bell, CBC, CIT Group (US), Goddards (West Indies), Manulife Financial, A.C. Neilson, Quaker, Saatchi and Saatchi (US) and Statistics Canada. 

Previously. Middleton was  President/CEO of the J. Walter Thompson (JWT) advertising agency in Japan and a board director of the international company, following seven years as President of Enterprise Advertising Associates in Toronto.

Middleton is co-author of Advertising Works, and Advertising Works II.

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Susan Robinson is Chief People & Performance Officer at Securit with responsibility for human resources, brand strategy, communications and strategic marketing. Robinson has more than 20 years experience as an HR executive. Her career started in sales at Xerox in 1977 and she held a variety of positions at Xerox becoming their first female executive in 1989. She has held senior Human Resources position at AGT/Telus, Baxter Healthcare in Canada and Brussels Belgium and at Manulife Financial.

Robinson is a founding director of the Canadian Learning Directors Forum and The Learning Partnership. Robinson attended McMaster University, the Queen’s University Executive Program and has a MA in Leadership from Royal Roads University.

Rajesh Uttamchandani is Senior Vice-president of Human Resources at CIBC Mellon, is member of the company’s executive management committee and has overall responsibility for the company’s human resources strategy and function. Uttamchandani joined CIBC Mellon in 2006, bringing extensive human resources and organizational development expertise to the company.  He has more than 10 years of human resources experience in the financial services, health care, retail and technology sectors.

Uttamchandani is a graduate of the University of Toronto where he obtained a BSc and master of industrial relations.  He also holds an MBA from the University of Honolulu and an LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School. He is currently pursuing an LLM in employment and labour law at Osgoode Hall Law School and is a member of the Ontario Bar Association. He also teaches in the Industrial Relations and Human Resources program at the University of Toronto, where he is also the President of the alumni association. 

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As the Senior Vice-president, People at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., Walker directs the human resources, labour relations, training and development, and office administration for a company with more than 500 full-time and 1,800 part-time staff. 

Prior to joining Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. 10 years ago. Walker led the human resources team for PetSmart's entry into the Canadian market. Walker has also headed up human resources for Marriott Hotels and Resorts.

Walker has a BA in psychology from the University of Western Ontario. She also has her CHRP designation from the Humans Resources Professionals Association, and acts as a member of their Human Resources Experts Bureau. In 2004, she received the first ever Professional Leadership Award from the HRPA recognizing her commitment and leadership within the human resources profession. Walker was part of the inaugural class of “The Judy Project” at the Rotman School of Business a business leadership program for female senior executives. 

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Margot Thom is a Partner in the Toronto office of Deloitte, leading the Canadian Human Capital Practice for Deloitte, with more than 125 practitioners across the country. She is also the Global Leader for Deloitte’s HR Transformation business with close to 1,000 practitioners in more than 40 countries.  Deloitte's Canadian Human Capital Practice provides services to clients in the areas of Talent Management, Transformational Change, Organization Design and HR Transformation.

Thom has more than 20 years of experience in designing practical HR and talent strategies and implementing effective and strategic HR organizations for clients in all industries. In addition to her consulting experience, she has held several senior HR roles in both Canada and the United States.