Human Capital Panel: Heather Stockton, Wilma Vreeswijk, Harvey Weingarten, Gina Wilson
Our Most Important Resource: Why Canada Needs to Invest in Human Capital
Heather Stockton has more than 20 years of global experience supporting business transformation. Heather spent the first 10 years of her career in various leadership positions in customer service, marketing and distribution in life insurance. During that time, she played an active role in 3 acquisitions and the demutualization and transformation of distribution. Since joining Deloitte, Heather has helped build and lead one of the largest Human Capital advisory businesses in Canada. Heather is a Canadian Director and has chaired the Succession and Talent and Leadership Development & Reward Committee of the Board.
Heather Stockton specializes in financial services, developing and executing strategic plans and acting as a business advisor to align human resources, governance, business strategies and operations.
Through her work in developing and executing strategic plans, Heather has become an advisor to executives who are undertaking succession or leadership changes, business transformations, merger integrations, executing talent management strategies or changing their operating model.
Heather has worked with non for profit organizations focused on youth and women and industry.
On September 17, 2013, Wilma Vreeswijk was appointed Associate Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Vreeswijk had been with the Privy Council Office since December 2010 where she held the position of the Executive Director of the Administrative Services Review and subsequently that of Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Business Transformation and Renewal). Previously, Ms. Vreeswijk worked at the Treasury Board Secretariat as the Assistant Secretary, Social and Cultural Sector, and then Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector. She also worked in strategic policy functions at Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Environment Canada, as well as with the Government of Manitoba.
Ms. Vreeswijk is a graduate of Concordia University in Montreal where she completed a Bachelor of Science. She also holds a Master’s degree in Resources Management from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.
Dr. Harvey P. Weingarten is president and CEO of The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) — an agency of the Ontario government that conducts research and provides policy advice to government to improve the accessibility, quality and accountability of colleges and universities. Since joining HEQCO in 2010, Dr. Weingarten has expanded the agency’s advisory role and influence with government, with an emphasis on learning outcomes, system design, labour market alignment and access by under-represented groups. He is the former president and vice-chancellor of the University of Calgary (2001-2010) and provost at McMaster University (1996-2001). He received his B.Sc. from McGill University, and his M.S., M.Phil. and Ph.D. from Yale University.
Gina Wilson has been working over the past twenty-five years in senior-level and executive positions inside and outside of the federal government.
She worked directly with clients in her First Nation community of Kitigan-Zibi as Executive Director of Health and Social Services and as Director of the Wanaki Treatment Centre. Ms. Wilson was a Senior Manager with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), a national Aboriginal organization representing First Nation communities in Canada when she joined the Federal Government in 1997 as a Director General at Correctional Service Canada. In 2005, Gina led the renewal of the AHRDS which was the predecessor to the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy at Human Resources Skills Development Canada, before moving to the Privy Council Office (PCO) as Director General of Engagement, where she focused on multi-lateral, Aboriginal relations and a First Ministers Meeting.
Gina Wilson was appointed in 2005 as Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) with Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada and was a partner in the implementation of a settlement agreement for approximately 80,000 survivors of Indian Residential Schools in Canada. Her office oversaw the co-ordination of events leading to the Prime Minister’s historic Apology on June 11, 2008. She then was named Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Operations, at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and was responsible for the implementation of operations and programming in seven regions. Gina was also a participant in the Advanced Leadership Program (ALP) in 2009.
Gina was Assistant Deputy Minister of Emergency Management and Regional Operations at Public Safety Canada, where she lead a national emergency management system and strategies to reduce and mitigate disasters in Canada and then was Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Treaties and Aboriginal Government at Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada focused on reconciling Aboriginal and Crown interests through the negotiation and implementation of modern treaties.
Gina has recently been appointed as Associate Deputy Minister at Employment and Social Development Canada.
She has three children, Dylan 24, Kayla 19 and Royce 14.
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