Our Presenters

Denise Bukowski (she/her) is a leader in the field of volunteer engagement with over 35 years of experience that spans health care, tourism, recreation, education, childcare, fitness and sport administration, She is a lifelong learner with a voracious appetite to learn and try new things. Never satisfied with maintaining the status quo, you will always find her curious and committed to continuous quality improvement.

Denise holds a Bachelor of Recreation Studies from the University of Manitoba; a diploma in Health Care Services Management and certificate in Human Resource Management from Red River College. In 2020 received her international certification designation in Volunteer Administration (CVA). She is currently consulting in the Volunteer Management Field and an instructor for Volunteer Manitoba. Denise's past experience includes 11 years at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights responsible for the volunteer engagement program, and two decades working in a Volunteer and Recreation Management capacity in acute and long-term health care facilities.

Denise is currently on the advisory council for the University of Manitoba Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management and has held various board and conference committee positions on the Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada (VMPC), Manitoba Association for Volunteer Administrators ( MAVA) and other volunteer boards. She is also a past recipient of the Manitoba Association for Volunteer Administrators (MAVA) Leadership award and was recently received a national award as an Exemplary Leader in Volunteer Management by her peers.

Eric Robert (he/him), a partner with Rawluk & Robert Chartered Professional Accountants Inc., is a public practice accountant in Winnipeg, with 20 years of experience serving clients throughout Western Canada. Eric prides himself on making sure his clients fully understand their finances, leaving them more confident and informed.

Eric began his academic journey at the University of Manitoba, initially enrolling in the Faculty of Arts. During his studies, he discovered a natural talent for communicating concepts in a way that made people understand. This skill, combined with his strong affinity for mathematics and accounting, led him to a career in accounting and eventually to realize his dream to manage his own business. Today, he leverages his love of educating and expertise in accounting to help individuals and businesses achieve financial clarity and success. On a side note, this change of career made his father, an accountant himself, exceedingly happy.

Eric's specialty is working with Not-for-Profits Organizations and Charities throughout Winnipeg and Manitoba, serving as both an auditor and a volunteer on various boards. Through these roles, Eric has gained a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by Not-for-Profits and has used his expertise to help these organizations upgrade their bookkeeping and software systems, making them more streamlined and accessible for future members.

Heather Glor, CPA, CGA is the Director of Finance with Taylor McCaffrey Law Firm in Winnipeg. With over twelve years of experience in financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting Heather has worked in professional services, transportation, manufacturing and not-for-profit industries. She enjoys working alongside the stakeholders of an organization providing not only financial reporting but other financial tools that assist in the decision making process. Heather enjoys getting out into the community and promoting financial literacy skills by volunteering with CPA Canada's Financial Literacy program. When not busy with finances Heather enjoys traveling with her family and is an avid runner and cross country skier.

Jackie Wild (she/her/siya) is a trailblazing communications, marketing and business development leader with 15 years of experience shaping transformative initiatives across the public, private and non-profit sectors. As a racialized woman in business, she has become a strong voice for equity and anti-racism, championing inclusive opportunities for her kababayan and the broader Manitoba community.

In 2022, Jackie founded Tito Boy Restaurant, Winnipeg’s first south-end Philippine eatery, offering a blend of traditional and modern cultural cuisine. The business, named after her father Agustin “Tito Boy” Doming, represents the intersectionality of different generations and what it means to be a Filipino-Canadian in the modern era.

Her leadership extends far beyond entrepreneurship. As president of the Manitoba Filipino Business Council, she is driving a bold, collaborative and future-focused vision to support Filipino business leaders and professionals, strengthening their role in Manitoba’s economy. As chair of Mabuhay District, Manitoba’s first Filipino-led economic and cultural hub, she is advancing a landmark initiative that bridges culture and commerce, paving the way for a prosperous and connected future built on partnership, innovation and pride. Through her grassroots leadership, Jackie is proving how cultural capital can fuel growth, unite communities and inspire the next generation of leaders.

Her commitment to volunteerism spans some of Canada’s most respected institutions. She currently serves as chair of Manitoba Museum and a board member with Charities Aid Foundation of Canada, Health Sciences Centre Foundation and United Way Winnipeg. Through these roles, she continues to give her time and expertise to strengthen communities and create lasting impact.

Her leadership and community impact have been recognized through honours including the King Charles III Coronation Medal, Ace Burpee’s Top 100 Most Fascinating Manitobans, CBC Manitoba’s Future 40 and Filipino Journal’s 20 Filipinos to Watch.

A sought-after speaker, panelist, and host, Jackie has shared her insights and sparked meaningful conversations at conferences and community events including CreativeMornings Winnipeg, Winnipeg Women’s Conference, QNET’s Manitoba Conference for Leaders, RRC Polytech’s Directions Business Conference, WEOC’s Annual Summit and RRC Polytech’s Creative Communications: Garden of Growth Celebration.

Jane Helbrecht (she/her) is on a mission to shift leaders from reactive to proactive so they can adapt to the future of work and evolving expectations.  Jane is the founder of Uplift Engagement where she brings her expertise in leadership development and people and culture.

Jane's TEDx talk 'Your Team Doesn't Suck, You Do' was a 2024 Editors' pick.  As a sought-after consultant and dynamic keynote speaker, Jane shares insights on leadership, organizational culture, and the relationship between time & productivity. Jane is a Certified HR Professional and a Certified Leadership Coach who has honed her expertise over her time in tech, finance, manufacturing, and leadership consulting.

Josefina Bilotta, a senior consultant with over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector. Originally from Argentina and currently based in Winnipeg, Canada, I have had the privilege of working with a wide range of organizations, including international and national ones, both large and small. This includes Greenpeace Canada, the Swiss Red Cross, ICRC, UNICEF, BC Children's Hospital Foundation, and many others, helping them enhance their digital strategies and fundraising capabilities through CX journey mapping. I am deeply committed to helping non-profits maximize their impact.

My expertise lies in aligning organizational strategies with tailored digital strategies that address their unique needs and capacities. With a human-centered approach, I focus on helping organizations gain a deeper understanding of their supporters and stakeholders, enabling them to build more meaningful and effective relationships.

As a continuous learner, I stay at the forefront of industry trends and digital tools to ensure I provide the best possible guidance and solutions. I hold advanced certifications in marketing, communications, non-profit management, and fundraising.

My goal is to deliver actionable strategies that drive digital transformation and enable non-profits to achieve their missions with greater success.

Juanita DeSouza-Huletey (she/her) is a seasoned leader with 25+ years of experience in IT, project management, and governance. She is the Founder and CEO of Dynamic Solutions International Inc. and formerly served as Divisional Head of IT at the Winnipeg Police Service, leading major cost-saving transformations.

Juanita is a board member and advisor for organizations including the University of Manitoba, Red River College Polytechnic, and WiCyS Western Canada. She also teaches at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College, delivering leadership and EDIB-focused workshops across sectors.

With degrees from the University of Ghana and the University of Manitoba, plus multiple professional certifications, Juanita is a respected educator, mentor, and speaker. Passionate about equity and inclusion, she empowers immigrant professionals and women in STEM while remaining active in community initiatives like Folklorama and Africa Fest.

Kahla Evans is a Public Speaking + Confidence Coach, TEDx Speaker Coach, Event Emcee, Podcast Host, and Founder of Hey Kahla Media. She's also the high-energy in-game host for the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose, so yes, she’s comfortable on any stage.

With two decades of professional speaking experience, Kahla’s career spans broadcasting (CTV, CBC, Global), sports (Roughriders, Bombers, Jets), and education (University of Winnipeg). She's hosted stadiums, coached TEDx speakers, led sold-out workshops, and built a coaching brand that helps people show up boldly without losing themselves in the process.

Kahla’s signature approach blends mindset, skill-building, and a whole lot of fun. She helps people ditch perfection, speak with confidence, and feel like their favourite version of themselves on stage, in meetings, or anywhere they have something to say.

Kate Fane (she/they) is a Toronto-based writer, organizer, and communications specialist with nearly 15 years of experience directing communications for progressive causes, organizations, and political campaigns. A former journalist, Kate brings a sharp instinct for finding a compelling story. As a longtime consultant and communications leader, she has worked with dozens of organizations across Canada to hone their messaging to build public support and drive social change.

Kate specializes in issues of gender justice, community health, and income inequality, and has developed campaigns, facilitated strategy processes, and advised organizations ranging from grassroots groups to national coalitions on communications, media relations, branding, and public engagement.

Kate is a graduate of the University of Toronto, the Maytree Policy School, and the Institute for Change Leaders. Outside of work, she makes art, cycles around the city, and sings karaoke with more enthusiasm than skill.

Kevin Freedman (he/him) is a speaker, thought-leader, educator, and social entrepreneur who supports organizations across Canada with their leadership and governance. He is the founder and president of the Governance Guru, a boutique consulting firm that provides training, facilitation, and expert consulting services to non-profit organizations, cooperatives, and school boards. He has taught thousands of board members and executives from hundreds of organizations, has developed governance and leadership programming for MacEwan University, Volunteer Manitoba, and the Governance Professionals of Canada, and has helped hundreds of boards improve their policies, strategies, and processes.

A prolific board member, he has sat on more than a fifteen local and national boards, chairing six of them, and before launching his business, he spent several years in executive roles. Kevin has also been a member of the faculty with the Department of Business and Administration at the University of Winnipeg since 2015 as well as with the Redekop School of Business at Canadian Mennonite University where he teaches courses on governance, strategy, leadership, and business psychology.

An award winning leader and social innovator, Kevin has started and led numerous initiatives and  has been recognized for his community service and human rights work by the YMCA, the Mayor of Winnipeg, and the Governor General of Canada  He lives in Winnipeg with his family and is known for telling what has been called the most Canadian story ever, which was briefly featured on Saturday Night Live.