JUDGES
For any awards, carrying out fair, consistent, and accurate judging is key to ensuring the true winners are recognized. To deliver this, we have assembled a diverse and unbiased judging panel of experts. The judges are assigned categories which reflect their expertise and are asked to recuse themselves from voting in any category in which there is a conflict of interest
All Judges are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement for the purpose of preventing the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. This includes the sharing of the information contained within the submission forms with any third parties and communicating with shortlisted nominees in any way.
2021 JUDGES
Barbara Benoliel lives in Toronto Canada. She received her Ph.D. in Human Services from Walden University in 2006. She holds a M.Sc. in Organizational Behaviour from University of Tel Aviv, and a B.A. (honors) in Psychology from the University of Toronto. She is a Licensed Private Investigator, for workplace investigations, a Professional Mediator and Mitigation Specialist. She is an award-winning faculty member and Ombuds at Walden University. She is the President of Preferred Solutions; a Conflict Management Consulting and Mediation Services organization that provides solutions to conflicts in businesses, governments and institutions. She was the 2015 McGowan award winner for contribution to alternative resolution services in Ontario. Barbara is engaged in continuing research in the areas of:
- Workplace Harassment
- Restorative Justice Applications
- Workplace Violence
- Conflict in Family Business,
- Shame, Apology, and Remorse in Resolving Disputes
Professional Associations:
Barbara is a member of several professional organizations; Past President of the ADR Institute of Ontario, mwmvweNational Organization of Human Services (NOHS), and She is a regular contributor to HR and ADR Journals and presents at professional conferences.
Peter Elmar Bordo is the Principal of Careers360 and at the same time serves as the Student Affairs Manager of AOLCC-Vancouver.
He has over a decade of strong experience in recruitment and selection, training and development, and employee relations. He has gained his human resources management experience in business process outsourcing (BPO) and education sectors. He is passionate in helping start-up, small organizations grow by making sure that their teams adhere with the allotted budget and be creative and wise in using it as well as by fostering a culture of learning, growth, and professionalism.
Moreover, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 2007 and has recently received his Master of Arts in Education degree.
Nita Chhinzer is currently an Associate Professor of Human Resources at the Department of Management, University of Guelph. She also co-authors Canada’s best-selling post-secondary Human Resource Management textbook.
Dr. Chhinzer serves on the Advisory Board for Canadian HR Reporter and the Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC). She is a member of the Board of Directors at the Toronto Centre for Learning and Development. Dr. Chhinzer was the recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Paper Emerald Literati Award (Education +Training) and the University of Guelph Fellowship in Leadership, HRM, and Work (2012-2017). In 2016, she was recognized as one of the top 25 HR Professionals in Canada.
Cathy is the principal of CGL Consulting, a management consultancy that helps organizations improve performance through a strategic focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. Cathy also serves as a Professor at the Centennial College Certificate in Leadership and Inclusion, and a faculty member at the University of Toronto’s Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability Graduate Diploma. She is also the co-editor of the newsletter for the Centre for Global Inclusion, and one of 8 Canadians on the global group of Expert Panelists who create the Global Diversity and Inclusion Benchmarks.
With over 15 years focused on diversity, equity and inclusion and corporate social responsibility, Cathy has extensive experience in executive development, strategic planning, and organizational change within corporate, government, and non-profit organizations.
Cathy worked with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (“CCDI“) for over 7 years, where she led the consulting, research and cultural competence portfolios. She has delivered over 450 speaking/learning engagements, over 300 executive coaching sessions, and has lectured at multiple colleges, universities, and conferences across Canada.
As the leader of CCDI’s research and knowledge services portfolio for four years, Cathy authored five of CCDI’s toolkits, and she authored or co-authored 25 major research and benchmarking reports including the only national benchmarking study on supplier diversity in Canada. Her work has also appeared in multipole trade publications across Canada and internationally.
Tim Morton (he/him/his) is Managing Partner and founder of Prompta, proudly Canada’s first certified diverse consulting firm the 2018 Canadian LGBT+ Business Enterprise of the Year by the Canadian LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC).
Tim’s a global leader in successfully leading business and cultural transformations. This transformational leadership experience includes mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, cultural and business transformations, enterprise restructuring, digital transformations, and IT, CRM & ERP implementations and diversity, equity, and inclusion culture change. Tim has helped over 25 organizations across 12 industries to successfully implement transformational change and has enabled M&A’s valued at $32 billion in aggregate.
Under Tim’s leadership, these transformational efforts have allowed Prompta clients to achieve their program goals, deliver business benefits and realize an earlier return on investment. Tim’s transformational expertise encompasses global, regional, and national initiatives.
Erin Polcyn Sailer is responsible for Communication and Member Services with the Civil Service Superannuation Board. Her passion is engaging people, systems and technology to meet member needs and explore better ways of working.
Previously she led the total compensation program for the Manitoba government as the Director of Public Sector Compensation. With the Manitoba government she has led human resource operational, specialist and policy areas, and as a Senior Advisor to the Clerk of the Executive Council was responsible for guiding whole of government initiatives focused on public service excellence and innovation. Erin’s experience also includes human resource roles with Viterra, Wolseley Canada Inc., and Manitoba Hydro.
Erin has a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the University of Manitoba, and holds the CPHR, the Compensation Management Specialist and the Group Benefits Associate designations. Erin currently serves on the CPHR Canada Board.
Sharon Robinson is the Director of Human Resources with Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation. In this role, she provides strategic leadership for talent management, total rewards, labour relations, learning & development, employee engagement and health, safety and wellness. Everyday Sharon is inspired to contribute to the financial well-being of Nova Scotians by strengthening their retirement futures.
She is a graduate of Dalhousie University and holds an Advanced Diploma in Human Resources Management and a certificate in Strategic Human Resources Management. Sharon is a long-time volunteer and a past Board Chair with CPHR-NS, the professional and credentialing association for Human Resources Professionals in Nova Scotia.
Peter Tzanetakis has served as the President of The Canadian Payroll Association since July 2018. In this role, Peter engages Association members, students, instructors, government stakeholders, key business partners and the academic community to advance the strategic objectives of the organization — ensuring its continued growth and success.
Previously, Peter held the position of Vice-President of Government and Corporate Relations at The Financial Advisors Association of Canada (Advocis) and has nearly 30 years of experience in government relations, public policy and business development in both the private and not-forprofit sectors.
Peter received his Bachelor of Arts, Honours Economics, from the University of Western Ontario in 1989, and earned his Master of Arts in Economics from Queen’s University in 1991.
Robin Yap has deep expertise in performance and talent management and the intersection of social data analytics, AI/Robot ethics, organizational culture and applied technology in business and entrepreneurial practices. He is the Canadian Head of Delegation for the International Standards Organisation (ISO) 29993 Learning Services in Switzerland. He has an interdisciplinary academic background (double BAs, MSc Ed Technology in Education, Juris Doctor, Doctorate in Management, and post-doctorate in Data Science) coupled with a global corporate experience working with Fortune 500 companies spanning three decades. His academic background, social data research, three authored textbooks in Human Resources and Business, two compendiums in Training and Performance Management, and over three dozen articles in professional and peer-reviewed journals gained him featured guest spots in various media channels including CNN-Asia and CBC-Metro Morning. Robin’s extensive portfolio make him a Human Resources expert referenced in media like Canadian Press and Globe and Mail as well as speakerships at over four dozen conferences in Europe, Asia and North America throughout his career. Robin’s current research focus is on the intersection of newcomer/immigrant country of origin work ethics, AI/Robot Ethics, stellar leadership practices, optimal learning landscapes, transformative performance, strong collaboration networks, and sustained employee engagement.
Please visit RobinYap.ca for more information.

