Jasmine Amini, M.Eng., is a Senior Accident Investigator at Metrolinx and the youngest and first female Senior Accident Investigator in the organization’s history. With a background in occupational health and safety, forensic and transportation engineering, Jasmine leads complex investigations involving rail, bus, and public transit operations, helping identify systemic risks and drive organizational learning. Her work has influenced safety improvements in maintenance, operations, infrastructure, and oversight practices across one of North America’s largest public transit networks. Passionate about moving beyond blame-focused approaches, she champions systems-based investigation methods that examine how organizational, technical, and human factors interact to shape safety outcomes. Jasmine is a recipient of the Canadian Occupational Safety Young Achiever Award and was recognized by the National Safety Council as a Rising Star of Safety. She is committed to mentoring the next generation of safety professionals and advancing women in safety leadership.
Stephanie Benay is the Principal of Benay Leadership & Safety Advisory and an award‑winning HSE executive with more than 30 years of experience across aviation, energy, education, and industrial operations. A direct, clarity‑driven strategist, she helps organizations strengthen leadership and safety performance, align culture with performance, and make decisions that actually move the needle.
As a speaker and author of Unapologetic, Stephanie equips women to lead with conviction, set boundaries without guilt, and navigate high‑stakes environments without shrinking. Her work blends lived experience, sharp insight, and a no‑nonsense approach that resonates deeply with women in safety and operational leadership roles.
Stephanie’s voice is candid, practical, and unapologetically human — exactly what today’s workplaces need.
Jackie Davis is the Safety and Health Director for an Electrical & Construction Company, Tri-M, where she leads multi-site safety strategy and drives operational excellence across construction, manufacturing, distribution center, warehouse and office environments.
With a passion for advancing safety culture, Jackie has led large-scale transformations focused on Serious Injury & Fatality (SIF) prevention, process safety, and regulatory excellence. She partners closely with senior leaders to integrate safety into business strategy, delivering measurable improvements in performance while strengthening organizational resilience.
Jackie is recognized for her people-centered, accountability-driven leadership style—championing psychological safety, speak-up culture, and ownership at every level. She is deeply committed to developing the next generation of SHE leaders and creating environments where individuals feel empowered to act and lead safely.
Her work is grounded in a clear purpose: achieving zero harm while protecting people, communities, and the environment.
Candace DiCresce is a thought leader in the field of providing holistic occupational and psychological health, safety and well-being support to employees. In roles spanning consulting, public sector, and private industry, she is proud and grateful to bring over 25 years of experience in strategy, problem-solving, crisis response, leadership, and communication. Candace was honoured among the Top Women in Safety 2026 by COS Magazine.
Candace holds a B.A.Sc. in civil engineering from the University of Toronto, is a proud professional engineer, and is the grateful mother to two weird and wonderful teens.
dam Gaiser brings over 30 years of experience with Mark’s, combining deep industry knowledge with a people-first leadership approach. As Vice President of Mark’s Commercial, he leads a national team of more than 100 sales and operations professionals and serves as executive sponsor for key strategic partnerships across the country.
A steadfast advocate for employee health and safety, Adam is passionate about supporting Canada’s skilled trades and advancing equal access to properly designed personal protective equipment (PPE) for all genders. His leadership is grounded in a simple but powerful vision: ensuring every worker has the protection they need to return home safely at the end of each day.
Hager Ibrahim is a senior safety and risk management leader with over 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as Director, Aviation Safety, Regulations & Performance at the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. She began her career in aviation as a student and has progressed into senior leadership through a range of operational and safety roles at Toronto Pearson. Today, she leads the development and oversight of integrated Safety Management Systems (SMS), regulatory compliance, and safety assurance programs, and is responsible for occupational health and safety (OHS) and overall airport safety at the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. Hager is known for translating complex safety data into actionable insights, strengthening proactive risk management practices, and fostering psychologically safe, high-performing teams. She is passionate about advancing safety culture through collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Dr. Lianne M. Lefsrud, P.Eng. is the CEO of Insight Risk Systems and the Risk, Innovation, and Sustainability Chair (RISC) at the University of Alberta. With over two decades of senior operational, consulting, and regulatory experience—including serving as an Assistant Director of Operations for Canadian National Railway—she knows firsthand the intense technical demands and systemic pressures of male-dominated, high-hazard industries. Holding a PhD in Strategic Management and Organization and degrees in engineering, Dr. Lefsrud bridges the gap between the field and the boardroom. Her award-winning work leverages data analytics, AI, and risk management methods to help safety professionals move beyond compliance and confidently claim a strategic seat at the table. Dr. Lefsrud joins this workshop to empower women to lead with conviction, manage high-stakes operational pressure, and promote continuous improvement in organizations.
Angelica Rotundo, is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and a senior Health, Safety, Environment, and ESG leader with over 16 years of experience across diverse industries, including regulated and high-risk environments. She currently serves as Director, Health, Safety and Environment at OEC Energy & Infrastructure, where she leads enterprise-wide initiatives focused on safety, sustainability, risk management, and organizational culture, with a strong emphasis on leadership accountability and prevention outcomes.
Angelica is recognized for helping organizations move beyond compliance by aligning leadership behaviours, operational decision-making, and culture to drive meaningful and sustainable improvements in safety performance. Her work integrates strategic risk thinking with practical operational insight to support resilient, high-performing organizations.
In addition to her professional role, Angelica serves on the Board of Directors and Governance Committee of the Women's Centre of Halton and on the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Committee of Girls E-Mentorship (GEM). Through these roles, she supports governance excellence, leadership development, and initiatives that advance opportunities for women and youth.
Angelica holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Toronto, along with postgraduate education in Human Resources and Occupational Health & Safety from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). She is passionate about leadership, safety culture, sustainability, and building workplaces where people and organizations can thrive.
A seasoned healthcare leader with over 15 years of experience, Seema Sharma specializes in workplace violence prevention, employee health, and organizational safety. An internationally trained physician with a Master of Public Health from the University of Toronto, she combines clinical expertise with strong administrative leadership in acute care settings.
As a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), she brings expertise in hazard identification, risk assessment, and exposure control to develop evidence-based safety programs and ensure regulatory compliance. Her ability to integrate industrial hygiene principles into healthcare operations strengthens both staff safety and organizational effectiveness.
Seema is skilled at translating policies into practical, frontline actions, ensuring that safety and health protocols are effectively implemented at the bedside to improve both patient care and workforce well-being.
Jody Young is a strategic and operational leader with over 30 years of experience in both public and private sectors.
Before joining Workplace Safety and Prevention Services as the President and CEO, Jody held the role of Assistant Deputy Minister, Employment and Training Division with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. In that role, she provided strategic leadership to the transformation of Employment Services in Ontario. Previously, Jody served as Assistant Deputy Minister for Fair, Safe and Healthy Workplaces leading compliance and enforcement divisions in both Ontario and Alberta.
With extensive experience in operational leadership roles across prominent public service institutions, Jody holds a profound conviction in nurturing and advancing the capabilities of people. Her enthusiasm lies in fostering leadership skills in enabling the next generation of leaders to emerge. Jody has recently attained a Certified Executive Coach designation with the International Coaching Federation through Royal Roads University. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto, a Canadian Registered Safety Professional and a life-long learner.
Vanessa Gomes is the Director of Health, Safety, and Environment for a food and beverage manufacturing organization, with over 10 years of experience helping organizations build safer workplaces and stronger safety cultures. Throughout her career, she has led teams through meaningful cultural transformation, focusing on employee engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement. Vanessa is passionate about creating environments where safety is embedded in everyday operations and where people feel empowered to speak up and take ownership. Known for her practical and straightforward leadership style, she believes lasting change comes from working alongside teams, listening to employees, and turning safety principles into sustainable actions and results.
Janet has been working within Health and Safety at Hydro One since December 2020 and is currently the Vice President, Health and Safety. Janet’s leadership has helped transform Hydro One’s safety culture and was recognized by Canadian Occupation Safety magazine as one of the 2024 Top Woman in Safety. With over 25 years of experience at Hydro One in various roles in Human Resources, Operations and Health and Safety, Janet is highly regarded as a compassionate leader who is collaborative and drives action.
Corporate Health & Safety Manager, Policy & Program Integration
VCNA
About Dana Stamu
Dana Stamu is a passionate Health, Safety, and Environmental leader with more than 15 years of experience helping organizations transform workplace safety into a core business value. She has led safety programs across complex, high-risk industries, fostering cultures where people feel empowered, supported, and accountable for one another’s well-being.
Having led safety initiatives across multi-site operations throughout North America, she is known for combining strategic leadership with genuine care for people, driving measurable improvements in safety performance while building trust and engagement at all levels. Her commitment to developing others extends beyond the workplace through her role as Mentorship Director with the Women in Occupational Health & Safety Society, where she supports and inspires the next generation of safety professionals. She is a dedicated advocate for women in leadership and inclusive workplaces.
