GROW Women Leaders Summit 2025

Investing in Inclusive Hiring for the Future of Work

October 22-24, 2025

96days

18hours

12minutes

16seconds

About the GROW Women Leaders Summit

The GROW Women Leaders Summit is an annual gathering that brings together equity-driven professionals, HR leaders, employers and government officials from across Canada to collectively build inclusive hiring systems. This year's theme, "Investing in Inclusive Hiring for the Future of Work," focuses on breaking barriers, fostering innovation, and rethinking how we define talent.

The Summit includes keynote talks, industry panels, workshops, and breakout sessions that lead to real-world implementation of inclusive and competency-based hiring practices. It is designed to support public and private employers on their journey toward equitable workforce transformation.

What to Expect

High-impact keynotes
Actionable workshops
Cross-industry panels
Public-private collaboration roundtables
Marketplace of inclusive hiring
Celebration of inclusive leadership

Outcomes You'll Leave With

A toolkit of inclusive recruitment strategies
Access to cross-sector partnerships
A commitment roadmap for your hiring systems
Recognition for your role in building a fairer workforce

Target Audience

Professionals

HR Leaders

Employers

Government Officials

Note: We're pleased to announce that the GROW Women Leaders Summit 2025 is Pre-Approved for CPHR Alberta Continuing Professional Development Hours. Training hours will be granted to eligible participants who attend DEI-related workshops and provide proof of attendance. Others will receive a certificate of attendance. This accreditation supports inclusive hiring and contributes to increasing the workforce participation of underrepresented women across sectors.

Why This Summit Matters

The world of work is evolving. Yet too many talented individuals—especially BIWOC, immigrants, newcomers, and youth—remain locked out by outdated hiring systems. The Grow Women Leaders Summit 2025 is where changemakers gather to rewrite the rules.

This is not just another HR conference. It's a bold convening of innovators, employers, governments, and advocates designing inclusive hiring for the AI age, skills economy, and human future.

2025 Theme

Investing in Inclusive Hiring for the Future of Work

We believe equitable hiring is not charity—it's strategy. This year's theme challenges employers to move from intention to action.

Intention Action

Prioritizing skills over credentials
Designing bias-aware recruitment systems
Building cross-sector partnerships for long-term inclusion

Steering Committee

Dr. Hellen Gateri

Paula Kirman

Jean Bruce Koua

Izabela Figueiredo Shudra

Guest Speakers

To Be Announced

Agenda

GROW Women Leaders Summit 2025

Day 1 - Redesigning Recruitment for Equity

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - Venue: Edmonton Convention Centre

Registration & Networking

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Participants register and begin networking with fellow attendees.

Welcome from Tracy Barry, Founder & CEO, Grow Women Leaders

9:15 AM - 9:30 AM

Tracy Barry kicks off the event with a welcome address, setting the tone for the day.

Entertainment - Poet

9:30 AM - 9:45 AM

A poetic performance to inspire and energize attendees.

Keynote: Hiring Beyond Barriers: The Workforce of the Future

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

An exploration of innovative hiring practices to shape a more equitable workforce.

Panel: Beyond Resumes: Rethinking HR Systems for Inclusive Hiring

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Industry leaders discuss the limitations of traditional hiring practices and present inclusive solutions.

Lunch & Networking Break

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Enjoy lunch while connecting with peers and speakers.

Workshop: Creating a Bias-Awareness Culture: Best Practices for Fostering Inclusive Recruitment Pathways

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

An interactive session focusing on actionable steps to eliminate bias in recruitment.

Breakout Sessions: Pathway to Inclusive Hiring Solutions

2:15 PM - 4:30 PM

Industry-focused sessions tailored to specific fields, exploring innovative hiring strategies.

Industries covered: Healthcare, Finance, Investments, Technology, General Electrics, Mining, Oil and Gas, Construction, Manufacturing, Transportation, Logistics, and Utilities.

Topics include: 'From Credentialism to Competency' and 'Designing Inclusive Job Descriptions & Interview Protocols'.

Closing Remarks

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Reflect on the day's insights and outline the vision for the next steps.

This program has been approved by CPHR Alberta for 16 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours.