Faculty & Staff

Craig Dowden is an award-winning speaker who delivers interactive, evidence-based workshops that translate the science of leadership, team, and organizational excellence into everyday practice. He is also a highly respected member of the Forbes Coaches Council.

His latest book, A Time to Lead: Mastering Your Self… So You Can Master Your World, was written with Alan Mulally, the legendary former CEO of Ford Motor Company and Boeing and Sarah McArthur (co-Editor in Chief of Leader to Leader). Internationally renowned executive coach, Marshall Goldsmith, wrote the Foreword. It made the bestseller lists for both the Wall Street Journal and USA Today while also hitting #1 in 8 different categories on Amazon. His first book, Do Good to Lead Well: The Science and Practice of Positive Leadership, was also an Amazon bestseller in multiple categories. Both books were endorsed by over 60 CEOs and global thought leaders, including Adam Grant, Daniel Pink, and Doug Conant.

His podcast, Do Good to Lead Well, which is based on the title of his first bestseller published by Forbes, has been ranked in the top 0.5% of podcasts in the world. Each week, Craig speaks with top CEOs, fellow bestselling authors and global thought leaders to share their experience and expertise with a global audience. He routinely draws on these insights during his keynotes.

Craig also facilitates several CEO Mastermind Forums where members meet on a biweekly basis to share questions, challenges and support with one another. In addition to the regular meetings, Craig organizes VIP Speaker sessions, where global CEOs and bestselling authors share their expertise with a live, interactive audience. The expanded forum has a total of over 250 Chief Executives, which provides Craig with extraordinary access and insight into the current and future business landscape.

Craig has been a regular contributor to, and featured expert in, top-tier leadership and business publications including Forbes, Fast Company, the Financial Post, the Huffington Post, Financial Times, the Globe and Mail, and Psychology Today. His webinars and in-studio sessions for the Financial Times were endorsed as follows: “Craig combines professional wisdom with factual case studies and research-driven data to deliver lectures that are engaging, informative, and entertaining. These workshops encompass the best form of professional development.”

Brad has had a meaningful career as an executive leader, expert in human resources and board member. He is Principal at 96 west consulting inc., which he founded. His professional time is balanced between his personal clients with 96 west and as a Principal and Client Manager in Mercer Canada’s Ottawa office.

Brad is an experienced HR executive and advisor, with more than 30 years in industry. He has deep expertise in governance, board management, strategic HR development, executive succession and compensation, total rewards, talent management, transformation, and HR operations with a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion and mental health. Mentoring emerging leaders and giving back to the community are priorities that Brad is excited to share. 

Brad earned an Executive MBA from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Finance and Marketing from the University of Manitoba. He has earned the Human Resources and Compensation Committee Certified (H.R.C.C.C.) designation from The Directors College and Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) from Dalhousie University.

John is a seasoned executive with over 40 years’ experience in technology industries including Ontario Centres of Excellence, Nortel, and Mitel. He has held senior management positions dealing with business development, strategic relationships and mergers and acquisitions ranging from small (less than 100 persons) to large (several billion-dollar investments).

In 2020 John started his own company focused on delivering transformative solutions in the disinfectant market. His passion is working with entrepreneurs and start-ups, and he has mentored and worked with hundreds of start-up companies over the last 16 years.

Hal has over 23 years’ professional experience, with the last 19 years devoted to operations management.  His professional experience is complemented by solid proven leadership and people management skills.  Hal has worked in different industries such as sheet metal fabrication, fibre optics, contract manufacturing, telecommunication, printing and, most recently, health care.

Hal is focused on developing business systems, process re-engineering, warranty services, contract negotiations, proposal development, client management and process waste elimination, using Six Sigma and Lean principles and tools.  He is a results-driven, strategic thinker with the ability to manage long-term goals in conjunction with the immediate needs of the business. 

Hal received a BSc and an MSc in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of Dayton, in Ohio.  He also holds a MBA (Executive) from the Telfer School of Management.

Currently, Hal is responsible for running the operations team at Thermo Fisher Scientific — Microbiology Canada, located in the nation’s capital.  He is responsible for the entire Canadian operation of manufacturing and distributing prepared media (considered as a medical device) that allow health-care laboratories and hospitals to culture and identify micro-organisms.  The product offers solutions to diagnose infectious diseases and tests for potential bacterial contamination in food.

Hal’s responsibilities include all aspects of the business, including quality assurance, human resources, finance, planning, engineering, practical process improvement (PPI), facilities and supply chain management.  He is accountable for all areas of the site’s business operations, budget, throughput, supply chain, site P&L, site goals and objectives and alignment of the operational performance with the corporate strategy and long-term vision.  Continually influencing positive culture change throughout the organization by fostering an environment of honest and open dialogue, trust, and ownership, and is safety, quality and cost focused to deliver the best performing products at competitive pricing to the customer.

Paul Butler has over 30 years of experience in management consulting to public and private sector organizations. Following early experience in the UK shipbuilding industry, he worked for Touche Ross (now Deloitte Touche Tomatsu), DMR Fujitsu, Bell Canada and the Government of Canada. He is a Certified Management Consultant.

His focus has been strategy development, the introduction of innovative technologies and overseeing the implementation of frameworks to manage large and complex projects and programs, including multi-agency and multi-government initiatives. Notable engagements include CN Rail Privatization, advising Canada’s Kyoto negotiation team, and developing a program management framework to guide investments, mergers and acquisitions for Bell Emergis.

In his role as a consulting practice lead, he has addressed staff recruitment, professional development and knowledge transfer to support practice and team professional growth. He brings to this class extensive hands-on experience of what works, and what does not – and the reasons for project failures, recognizing that a failure is the first step on the road to learning.

Sanabel is a certified change management and business transformation leader with 22 years of rich and diverse experience, including 16 years in business leadership. Her experience is unique in blending a deep understanding of issues and solutions at various levels of the business transformation, including people, organizational challenges, business processes, and IM/IT challenges and opportunities.

She is currently leading the change management practice at Nav Canada, where she oversees the change management activities for various strategic transformation initiatives as well as operational projects. Prior to that, she served eight years as a leader at Export Development Canada (EDC).  Before joining EDC, she had 16 years of management consulting experience at Deloitte and working independently.

Sanabel was a consultant for world-class organizations such as Nissan, SC Johnson, Irving Oil, the U.S. government, the Canadian government and international banks. Her assignments allowed her to work across North America, Europe and the Middle East. Working for these organizations, she developed solid experience in change management, leadership, team building and communications.

Sanabel holds an Executive MBA from Cornell University (USA), and Queen’s University (Canada). She is a Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP) in Prosci-ADKAR, and a Certified SCRUM Master.