Agenda 2026
9:00 AM – Registration (Rotunda)
9:00 AM – Service Provider Showcase & Networking (Viking and Crush Rooms)
9:30 AM – Call to seats
9:45 AM – Opening Welcome, House Keeping, Land Acknowledgement
10:00 AM – Indigenous speaker: Discussion of unity, shared purpose - Benny Skinner
10:45 AM – Stretch Break: Please be back promptly at 11:00 am so we can get started.
11:00 AM – Keynote Speaker - Carolina Balcazar
11:45 AM – Building Your 30‑Second Introduction – Erin McLaren
12:00 PM – Lunch is provided (Vegetarian options available)
Exhibitors Lounge & Networking Open
1:00 PM – Speed Networking 101
1:45 PM – Stretch Break: Please be back promptly at 2:00pm so we can get started.
2:00 PM – The Employer’s Lens: Hiring in a Changing World – Panel Discussion
Moderator: Jennie Di Girolamo
Panelists: Pam Hillis , Julie Newman, Sadia Anjum
3:00 PM - Wrap Up and Closing Remarks in individual workshops & registrant evaluations. Panelists to be available in Employer Networking Session
3:05 PM- 4:30 PM – Employer Networking Session hosted by Immigration Partnership - Main Hall.
Meet Your Host
An energetic emcee, community builder, and unapologetic 80s music fan.
Mac is the Director of Finance & Business Services at the KW Multicultural Centre, where he leads core business functions including Finance, Interpretation & Translation, and Marketing. He moved to Waterloo Region in 2013 after nearly 30 years in the Hamilton area. With an MBA in Finance from McMaster University and a background spanning operations, finance, communications, and film/TV production and concert promotion, Mac brings equal parts structure and showmanship.
He’s here to keep the pace lively, the vibes friendly, and your networking game at “pro level.”
Mac Summers
Indigenous speaker
Benny Skinner
Keynote Speaker
Carolina Balcazar
Carolina Balcázar is a finance professional at OpenText and CPA candidate who built her Canadian career step by step after immigrating in 2019. With experience in M&A integrations, SaaS finance, and SAP initiatives, she bridges finance and technology with purpose. She is also the founder of GROW Profit Inc., supporting newcomers and small businesses in building financial stability.
She believes growth happens one intentional step at a time.
Build Your 30-Second Introduction
Mini-Workshop:
Erin McLaren
Program Support Lead – Starling Employment Services
Erin is a social service professional with 9 years of experience working with teens and young adults in Waterloo Region. They started their career as a community health educator, addressing the gaps that youth face to get health care and information that they need. For the last 4 years, Erin has been part of Starling Employment Services’ team, working with youth who are facing extra challenges to finding work.
"The Employer’s Lens: Hiring in a Changing World" discussion panel
Julie Newman,
Certified HR leader with 15+ years building inclusive, safe workplaces.
Experienced in culture, performance, recruitment, relations, plus health and safety. Applies education to solve complex challenges while developing high-performing teams.
Certified Human Resources Leader
Sadia Anjum
Seasoned higher education professional with 10+ years across Ontario post-secondary supporting career services and co-op education.
Bridges talent and opportunity for students and internationally trained professionals. PhD researcher advancing equity.
Higher Education & Career Services Professional
Certified Human Resources LeaderPam Hillis
HR consultant based in Kitchener-Waterloo with 20+ years in nonprofit and financial services. Partners with mission-driven organizations on recruitment, leadership, and people strategy. Passionate about inclusive hiring, trust, and thriving workplace cultures.
Facilitator
Jennie Di Girolamo
Professional LinkedIn Headshots
Randy C. Moore is a photographer and business professional who discovered his passion for photography after purchasing a Sony camera to create humorous YouTube videos for his accounting and tax preparation business. Realizing the camera’s full creative potential, Randy quickly fell in love with photography and began developing his craft.
Since early 2020, he has been creating photographic artwork, capturing portraits for friends and family, and photographing weddings. With a strong foundation in business through his work with PV3 Tax Inc., Randy understands the importance of excellence in marketing, including high-quality photography and thoughtful visual design for social media.
by. Randy C. Moore
