Presented by Blaise The Trail Inc.


 

Why Attend?

• Gain insight into a rarely addressed but critical equity issue
• Learn how to transform HR practices to better support your workforce
• Connect with fellow professionals and business leaders over lunch
• Take away practical strategies to implement in your workplace
• Be entered into our Business Card Draw for a gift set + logo placement at the Women of Influence Nanaimo Awards Gala (Feb 11, 2026)

Topic: The Missing Link in Workplace Inclusion
Reproductive Health, HR Transformation, and the WIN Movement
Many organizations publish inclusion statements and equal opportunity policies, yet few address reproductive health—a critical gap impacting employee well-being, retention, and true equity. Pregnancy loss and infertility remain largely invisible in HR practices, leaving employees unsupported.
Blaise Hunter will share how to:
✔ Recognize why reproductive health must be part of equity conversations
✔ Understand the risks of ignoring this workplace reality
✔ Lead with courage and compassion
✔ Take practical steps to integrate reproductive health into HR policies


About the Speaker
Blaise Hunter – JEDI Master & Communications Expert
Blaise Hunter is a global speaker, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) consultant, and an award-winning reproductive health rights advocate. Her journey through three miscarriages inspired her to found Footprints Infertility & Pregnancy Loss Support Society, turning personal loss into a lifeline for others.
Blaise is a changemaker, driving conversations that bring reproductive health into workplace inclusion policies. Her innovative approach to equity and reproductive rights earned her the honour of representing Canada at the United Nations in Turkey (2022).
Closer to home, Blaise is the visionary behind the Women of Influence Nanaimo Awards—the only gala of its kind in BC—drawing sold-out crowds of 700 and elevating Nanaimo as a destination for gender equity leadership.

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New Addition-

Doane Grant Thornton’s Women in Business 2025

Timing: Right before our keynote presentation

Anna Jones, Principal, Assurance Services at Doane Grant Thornton LLP, will deliver a focused 10–15 minute Insight Spotlight on the firm’s Women in Business 2025 report. The data shows progress is slow: in Canada’s mid-market, women hold just 34.7% of senior roles, and at the current pace, true parity could be 25+ years away. Anna will distill the key findings and share practical steps leaders can action this quarter.

You’ll learn:

• What the 2025 data says about women in leadership (Canada + global context)

• The barriers and enablers shaping progress in mid-market businesses

• 3 actionable moves employers can implement this quarter to advance parity

About our Speaker
Anna Jones — Principal, Assurance Services, Doane Grant Thornton LLP
Based in Nanaimo, Anna specializes in tax compliance, financial planning, and assurance services for small- to mid-sized businesses across real estate, retail, hospitality, and not-for-profit sectors. With 20+ years in public practice, she helps clients align financial systems with strategic goals.
Community leadership includes serving as Treasurer, Rotary Daybreak Nanaimo; former President; Rotarian of the Year; and a Top 20 Under 40 Business & Community Achievement Award recipient.
 

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