Rebecca Ryan is a noted top 50 professional futurist, economist, best-selling author and entrepreneur. She is the founder of NEXT Generation Consulting through which she partners with government leaders across the country. Looking a generation ahead, she outlines strategies in urban planning, economic development and workforce development to ensure communities are well equipped for future trends and challenges. Rebecca is a graduate of Drake
University with a certificate in Strategic Foresight from University of Houston; she is the Resident Futurist at the Alliance for Innovation and on the Executive Committee of the global Association of Professional Futurists.

Val is an experienced Chief Human Resources Officer whose career spans 25 years in financial and professional services organizations such as KPMG Canada, Aviva Canada and Torys LLP. Most recently, Val was CHRO role at the Greater Toronto Airports Authority where she had a mandate to ready Pearson to become a global mega hub airport.

With a reputation for building business-centric HR strategy and driving transformational change, Val brings a passionate, strategic and pragmatic voice to the top table. She is a trusted advisor, an invested leader, and a dedicated mentor.

Since early 2020, Val and collaborator Mark Edgar have been examining emerging market trends and new workplace realities brought about by the pandemic and calls for social reform. Together they have developed the ‘Reimagine Work’ framework, a holistic view of the paradigm shifts defining today’s world of work and have supported companies across multiple sectors to design and adopt hybrid work strategies that are bespoke to their culture and values.

Val holds a degree in Education from Ryerson University, a Certificate in Executive Organization Development from Columbia University, and a Certificate in HR Management. She is a member of Women Get on Board and sits on the Board of St. Michael's Choir School in downtown Toronto.

Max Whitehead is one of New Zealand’s leading Employment Relations practitioners with more than 30 years of experience and an extensive in-depth knowledge of New Zealand employment law. Max has occupied leading roles with the Ports of Auckland, Auckland Council, Feltex and ADHB as well as advocating for hundreds of employers during his 11 years at the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA).

Currently, Max is the Managing Director of the Whitehead Group. Over the last 17 years he has personally advocated for over 5000 personal grievances cases and workplace disputes.

Due to his extensive knowledge of the complexities of employment law in relation to both employers and employees his services are in high demand. Max is also a respected contributor to the media in New Zealand and for the last five years has hosted his own radio talk show.

The Whitehead Group – New Zealand’s leading
independent provider of ER solutions.
www.whiteheadgroup.co.nz
P: 0800 247 9393 M: 021 247 9393
E: [email protected]

Victoria Rivera is a Wellness Psychotherapist and outsourced Chief Wellness Officer with a private and corporate wellness practice in New York City. Victoria has her BA from Colgate University and graduated from Columbia University’s School of Social Work. She has worked in community mental health for over 15 years providing individual and group psychotherapy.

During her work she continued her education completing NYU’s Institute for Psychoanalytic Education, Adult Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program, Certification in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and The Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s health coaching certification program.

Victoria started her private practice in 2014 incorporating all of her knowledge and experience to providing holistically oriented treatment to New Yorkers with “Type A” personalities with high functioning anxiety, who struggle with self-care and finding meaning in their lives. Victoria has expanded her work to corporate America creating tailored employee wellness programs to businesses worldwide. Some of the companies she has worked with are Ragnarok, Thomson Reuters, Ballet Hispanico, Welnys, The C3 Method and Nap York.