3rd Annual
MENTAL WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

The Eighth Mile Consulting | ‘Good People, Helping Good People’

 
David Neal is a Director and self-confessed ‘servant leader’ with first-hand experience in leadership, management, project management and organisational change. David is a highly energetic, charismatic, and committed leader that takes pride in inspiring others to reach their full potential and enabling organisations to find their competitive edge.

David’s experience stems from a career as an Australian Army (Army Officer), where he was directly responsible for the management of highly diverse teams and projects ranging in size, danger and complexity. Since leaving Defence David has supported numerous projects from Community Digital Platforms through to Enterprise Resource Planners (ERP). He has supported a wide variety of business and organisational types, including food manufacturing, retail, wholesale distribution, Not-for-Profit (Residential and Community Care groups), IT consultancy, biofuels, and Allied Health agencies. In doing so, David has worked with numerous organisational types, cultures, and demographics in highly challenging environments and circumstances, each with their own individual complexities and nuances. His work, and the work of his company, have been featured in FORBES magazine.

David has developed a reputation for cutting through the white noise and discussing topics that would otherwise not be broached. He places particular attention on the intricacies associated with developing new leaders and cultures based on succession. David holds a master’s degree in project management, and a bachelor’s degree specialising in Management and English

David will be speaking about mental fitness. Here is a link to David’s website! https://eighthmile.com.au/about/

As an alumni of RBC ’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrants, Wali Shah is a poet and public speaker. He’s delivered TED talks, created poetry for corporate events, narrated voice overs for commercials, and spoken at hundreds of schools and colleges across North America.

Wali has toured Canada coast to coast as a WE Day performer, and closed out President Barack Obama’s keynote speech with a bespoke poetic message in Toronto. He’s impressed notable figures with his freestyle poetry and performances, including: Seth Rogen, Chris Hadfield, David Foster, and Kendrick Lamar.

Wali has served his hometown, as the City of Mississauga’s official poet. He is a proud University of Toronto graduate, an ambassador for Bell Let’s Talk, and has helped in raising over one million dollars for United Way. His work inspires thousands to follow his voice, his journey, and his advocacy — Wali Shah is the people’s messenger.

Check out Wali’s website:

https://www.lifeaswali.com

Neil will be speaking about 
“Your Influence Never Sleeps”.

As President of The Thornton Group and author of his upcoming second book ‘Presence, Impact and Influence’, Neil brings 20 years of experience to business and management development, strategic planning, executive coaching and team culture. A hands-on consultant, he’s met clients everywhere from job sites to shop floors, boardrooms, remote teams and everywhere in between. 

Neil is well known for his highly energetic, dynamic speaking style and in-depth knowledge on topics ranging from strategic execution to the new reality of business development, branding, speaker and leadership development, body language and communications. 
 
Committed to turning teams into business thinkers and asking the tough questions, Neil demands honesty and authenticity in every interaction, from himself and his clients. In return, he throws away the traditional management handbooks to help them get real work done by turning ideas into action, holding them accountable and bringing them measurable results that dramatically improve their performance, vision and culture.

Check out Neil’s website!

https://thorntongroup.ca/about/

Stacey Love-Jolicoeur is an Independent Education and Mental Health Support professional for the LGBTQ2S community.
In this role Stacey provides services to eleven (11) Federal and Provincial Correctional Facilities and Institutions and seven half-way houses where she supports over 300 incarcerated LGBTQ2S offenders. This service is provided from Ottawa in the East to Kitchener in the West and North to Penetanguishene, Ontario. Stacey does training to administration, medical and support services, psychology and the social workers. In addition, she also provides LGBTQ2S group facilitation, and peer to peer or one to one counseling support to offenders. Stacey also created a re-integration program for the transgender inmates that have a set release date to assist them to be a successful member of society upon release. To date 20 of 21 trans offenders have not re-offended in last 5 years. The benefits of her work are recognized throughout the correctional system.
Most recently, Stacey has created and founded a not-for-profit agency called, “SAGA/LGBTQ Education and Support Services of Canada Inc.” Where she is the Chief Executive Director for this new agency designed to provide services, education and opportunities for LGBTQ people and their families. Second to the work she does as noted above, this new agency provides presentation on Diversity and Inclusion and Affirmation, LGBTQ Cultural Competency and Transgender 101. As educators and support workers for the LGBTQ community they do group, facilitation, peer support counselling, post-op recovery support and assistance, homelessness, and poverty (building self-sufficiency) and transitional services for anyone considering or wishing to transition.
Stacey also volunteers as the coordinator and facilitator for the TRANSforum group in Belleville Ontario for the last 8 years. She is an active member on the Organizing Committee of the Belleville’s Bay of Quinte Pride Parade and Pride in the Park for the last 7 years.
Stacey is a two-spirited Métis Trans woman with a strong passion for the betterment of the LGBTQ2S community. In addition to the work above, she also delivers workshops, lectures and speaking engagements on diversity, acceptance, inclusion and affirmation to companies, organizations, and service agencies in which she offers support for the LGBTQ2S community. Her passion and insight into Tran’s issues is a welcomed resource to the many groups she works with.

Check out Stacey’s website link!

https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/service-provider-directory/stacey-love-jolicoeur/

David Sider comes with 12-years’ experience supporting individuals diagnosed with mental illness to strive towards obtaining and maintaining competitive employment. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Brock University and is currently working towards completing his Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. David utilizes a range of strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. David currently works as a Community Support Worker with Canadian Mental Health Association Niagara Branch. He will share in his presentation some practical strategies that can be used to regulate emotions for the workplace.

Check out David’s Linkedin profile!

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/david-sider-54145723

Rebecca Rafuse, is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and founder of Limestone Psychotherapy. She brings with her a background in behavioural psychology, counselling psychology, mindfulness, and social/emotional learning.  In recent years she has focused on working with families after divorce, child and youth development, as well as teaching skills of empowerment, self-regulation, and wellness through use of evidence-based and holistic strategies such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness, Solution-based therapy, essential oils, and energy healing. 

Rebecca specializes in empowering neurodiverse clients living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism, or Trauma to enhance their self-regulation, stress management and mindfulness skills. She views mental and physical struggles from a whole person perspective and works to identify the underlying biological, social, and emotional causes.  She understands that balance is an integral part of wellness and empowers individuals to heal themselves, supporting them on their wellness journeys. 
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Check out Rebecca’s website!

https://www.limestonepsychotherapy.com/

Dr. Andrew Moss trained as a Clinical Psychologist in England, and initially worked in the U.K’s National Health Service. He has worked in various community and hospital settings, serving adults with mental health difficulties and those with intellectual disabilities. He has extensive training and teaching experience, and has developed a wide repertoire of therapeutic skills, including cognitive therapy, compassion focused therapy and emotionally focused therapy.
 
Since emigrating to Canada in 2009, he runs a thriving private practice, offering assessment and treatment services to individuals and couples within the Quinte region.
 
He is a strong advocate of promoting healthy work environments, and will be speaking on the use of compassion as a powerful tool for mental wellness and resiliency.

Check out Dr. Andrew Moss’s website!
www.mosspsychology.com

Kalen will be speaking about workplace accommodations and how it relates to mental health and the current pandemic.

Please check out Kalen’s website!

Kalen Ingram – Cunningham Swan Lawyers (cswan.com)

Gay will be speaking about “Managing through Crisis – Lessons Learned”

Gay’s lifetime of experience in volunteer board leadership and professional non-profit management shed light on how to transform organizations for the better

Check out Gay’s website! https://gdassociates.ca/about-us/