Shakira Naraine is the Chief People and Culture Officer for the Toronto Transit Commission. She has an extensive career leading multidisciplinary teams in public sector human resources and is passionate about continuous learning. After serving in the federal government for 25 years, Shakira joined the TTC in 2023 and is enjoying her role as a leader and change maker, thriving on the opportunity to build a future ready workforce and leading culture change along the way. She is a wife and mother, and knows that a well-rounded approach to wellness, personal and professional development takes a village – and is grateful to pay it forward in a learning capacity.

Regina L. Ross is a dynamic communicator and seasoned leadership expert with over 30 years of experience unlocking individual and organizational potential. In addition to her current full-time ‘day job’ as EVP and Chief People & Culture Officer at Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), Regina equips others as a transformational strategist, coach, pastor, speaker & author.

Regina previously was Chief People Officer at Khan Academy and held senior leadership roles in Operations, Human Resources, and Change Management at Target, Amazon, and Pitney Bowes. A business leader at heart who thrives in HR, Regina’s unique superpower is translating ambitious business visions into actionable, people-focused strategies that deliver measurable results.

Whether through her Walk on Purpose coaching & consulting business or through her work as an HR executive and ministry leader, Regina integrates her multidisciplinary background with professional certifications in Executive Coaching, Change Management, Human Resources, and Lean Process Improvement to inspire individuals and teams to excel. Her holistic approach aligns people strategies with business objectives to create adaptive and resilient organizations, driving operational excellence and sustainable growth.

Khatuna Bazhitashvili is Head of Human Resources, responsible for recruiting, diversity, learning, talent development, benefits, compensation and employee relations. Prior to joining CXI, she worked for Bank of Ireland’s FCE as well as a major Orlando international law office specializing in international business law.

Khatuna is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), and Board Member of ACAMS Central Florida Chapter. She graduated suma cum laude in economics (1999) from the Technical University of Georgia, earned a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Rollins College in 2005, and attained her MBA from Webster University in 2011.

Mardi brings decades of experience as an HR Executive to her role as Executive Counselor at McLean & Company, where she supports and guides CHROs to be strategic business partners in achieving organizational and professional success.

Prior to joining McLean & Company Mardi led Human Resources for high-profile, growth-oriented companies in sports, media, entertainment, hospitality, manufacturing, and high tech. As a member of senior executive teams, she participated in setting strategic organizational direction, ensuring goals were aligned to the company’s vision, values, and priorities. Mardi is passionate about creating and sustaining a best-in-class culture where employees can thrive and grow. She has extensive experience with organizations undergoing change, particularly through growth and acquisition, and oversaw a successful HR transformation in an organization that more than quadrupled its value in 15 years.

Tamara Heimonen brings over 20 years of experience as an HR leader to her role as Senior Executive Advisor at McLean & Company, where she supports and guides HR leaders to map out their HR strategy and prioritize HR initiatives that will have a measurable impact on the business.

Tamara has deep experience in moving organizations forward in Culture, DEI, and Leadership & Learning, and has previously worked for national and multinational corporations in the finance, retail, and grocery industries. She is a results-driven leader with a passion for innovation and aligning talent strategies to drive engagement and performance in complex and changing environments.