Attendees Gathered ‘Here & Now’ at HR Conference & Expo 2025
CPHR BC & Yukon executed yet another successful annual HR Conference & Expo on April 29th and 30th at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.
CPHR BC & Yukon’s Conference and Events Manager, Jessica Ng, and Events Specialist, Annie Wong, supported and led by Kelly Aslanowicz, Senior Director, Business Development, welcomed 1,395 participants to this year’s conference.
Given the current global uncertainty, largely driven by geo-political tensions, as well as the Trump tariffs, the conference’s theme of “Here & Now,” which encouraged togetherness and building space for connection in the workplace, resonated with delegates.
Returning emcee Kevin Lim was in fine form, humbly acknowledging that this was the first time in the conference’s history that an emcee had hosted the event for the second time. He kept the attendees engaged throughout the conference.
This amazingly curated event included a wide range of issues and topics relevant to HR professionals through four keynote presentations, as well as two pre-conference workshops and 27 breakout sessions. Everything from finding bold ways to engage employees and how to retain and build trust with employees working in remote and/or hybrid environments, as well as in the age on AI, to the issues of enhancing wellness in the workplace, the DEI deficit, the impact of AI, and handling terminations in today’s day and age, the conference had something for everyone.
CPHR BC & Yukon CEO, Anthony Ariganello, moderated an information-rich panel discussion that explored the perspectives of global HR leaders from USA, Mexico, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka. It was insightful to learn that many common themes that affect workforces transcend borders – such as the return to office policies versus remote and/or hybrid work environments, skills and talent shortages, the impact of AI on the future of work, stress at work due to global tensions, and talent migration, to name a few.
Cassandra Worthy led us off on day one with her keynote where, using a very personal story of when one time in her career someone took credit for her ideas, she talked about how this forced her to look at things with a different lens and she never looked back. In her engaging and energizing remarks, she said she could, in that moment, have been bitter or rather she could have focused on being better. She chose the latter and went on to urge the audience to embrace change enthusiasm and subsequently become self-actualized in working towards a change vision.
At the end of day one, the redefinition of the “digital nomad” and how this is increasingly becoming the norm (with such workers defining their personal lives first and then building their work environments around it) was a key part of Iliana Oris Valiente’s keynote, entitled, “Borderless: “Digital Nomads”, Global Citizens, and Location Independence. Designing Work for a Borderless Life.”
Day two’s opening keynote enthralled the audience when Madison Tevlin took to the stage to passionately demonstrate that despite being born with Down Syndrome, she has dedicated her life to dismantling the stigmas associated with that condition, proving from a young age that it does not define her capabilities, and that we all thrive when we reduce stigmas and lift each other up. Her remarks were followed by an engaging and heartwarming moderated chat with CPHR BC & Yukon Board Chair, Naz Kullar, giving the audience a better understanding and appreciation of what Madison has achieved since a young age.
Shawn Kanungo closed out day two’s keynote, helping us understand what being an innovation strategist really means and how we need to reimagine today’s world of work. Describing to us that we are in the “Agentic era” (Editor’s note: yes, I had to Google that one…), Shawn said that with information now readily available to all, knowledge was no longer power. Rather, he said, innovation and boldness are power, and he urged the audience to embrace change quicker, and truly leverage the opportunities associated with disruptive innovation, to remain competitive and relevant in the hyper AI age. He also recommended being polite, nice and show appreciation to AI tools, but that’s a story for a different day…?
In speaking to the keynotes, Conference Advisory Committee Chair, Basil Onyia, summarized it well when he said, “all these (keynote) themes point to one core concept that ties our conference here with a beautiful bow: being intentional, being present, and being here. Now, more so than ever.”
Next year’s conference will take place on May 5 & 6, 2026. So, if you have been sitting on the sidelines about whether to attend, we urge you to save these dates and act by signing up for next year’s event when registration opens later this year in December. Once more, if this year’s event is anything to go by, you will benefit immensely – both for yourself and the organization you pour your heart and soul into!
See the photos
Thank You
CPHR BC & Yukon would first like to thank you, our delegates, for attending and participating in this year’s conference.
We hope you continue to nurture your new and renewed connections made during the two-day conference, and to maximize your CPD hours by taking in all parts of the conference by watching the recorded content on demand.
Thank you to Kevin Lim, who entertained us as emcee throughout the event. Our deepest gratitude to all the speakers for sharing their knowledge and expertise.
Thank you to Naz Kullar, CPHR, Board Chair, and the CPHR BC & Yukon Board of Directors for their dedication and commitment to ensuring we executed yet another successful conference.
Thank you also to Conference Chair, Basil Onyia , CPHR and the rest of the Conference Advisory Committee and Track Sub-Committee members for the countless hours of the time they contributed to building the program.
Thank you to our volunteers and entertainment providers for their outstanding work over the two-day in-person conference. Your support to us is invaluable!
Thank you to our valued sponsors and exhibitors for your support of the event and the HR profession.
Thank you to our incredible suppliers that helped make this event possible: Vancouver Convention Centre, Encore Canada, iilo Creative Alliance, PheedLoop, and Levy Show Services. Thank you also to our other service providers and entertainers: Butter Studios, Rintzylee Designs, Soulful Indulgence, The Happy Hera, Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, Envirosax, Promo Plus, Sit With Sikari, BBW International, Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, John Gilliat, DJ Morgan Lily, Destineak, Niki Kennedy, The Printing House, Tofino Towel Co., Fuse & Sip, Soap For Hope Canada, MyBadges, and Wordly.
We would also like to extend a sincere note of thanks to the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) for providing an on-site counsellor to support delegates affected by the Lapu-Lapu Day Festival tragedy.
And last but certainly not least, thank you to the entire CPHR BC & Yukon team, particularly to Jessica Ng, and to Annie Wong, for all their hard work and efforts to put together our conference and creating an event experience that delegates really appreciated.
Please feel free to check out the CPHR BC & Yukon Google Drive for photos from this year’s HR Conference & Expo.
As a reminder, access to all the recorded sessions of the conference will be available to registered delegates between May 8 and July 7, 2025.
See the photos
Sponsors
For more information on our sponsors, we encourage you to visit their websites.
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
- BCIT School of Business + Media
- Desjardins Insurance
- Equitable
- Harris & Company LLP
- Perkopolis
- Roper Greyell LLP
- WELL Health Medical & Longevity Centres
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
- AMJ Campbell
- British Columbia Chiropractic Association
- FSEAP Vancouver
- Headversity
- Johnston Group
- Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC & Yukon Branch
- People Corporation
- TeksMed Services Inc.
- University Canada West
- University of Calgary Continuing Education
