Inside the C Suite: Wes Hall & Justice O'Bonsawin on Leadership & Inclusion

Following the conversation, we invite you to join us for a meet-and-greet with the speakers and refreshments.

Speakers:

Wes Hall, Executive Chairman and Founder of Kingsdale Advisors and Chancellor of the University of Toronto

The Honourable Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin, Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada

In Conversation with: Susan Christoffersen, Dean, Rotman School of Management

Event Synopsis:

In today’s business and legal landscape, leadership must be both bold and inclusive to navigate complexity and drive meaningful change. Join us for a special Inside the C-Suite conversation featuring Wes Hall, Executive Chairman and Founder of Kingsdale Advisors and Chancellor of the University of Toronto, and the Honourable Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin, Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. In discussion with Susan Christoffersen, Dean of the Rotman School of Management, they will explore the evolving expectations of leadership, the role of diversity and equity in decision-making, and how leaders can foster more inclusive organizations.

Wes Hall and Justice O’Bonsawin share building their impressive careers from humble beginnings. Hall, born in Jamaica, started in a law firm mailroom before founding Kingsdale Advisors. O’Bonsawin, from Hanmer, Ontario, is a member of the Odanak First Nation and overcame early challenges to reach Canada’s highest court.

As a champion of racial equity, Wes Hall has transformed corporate governance and pushed for greater representation in business. Justice O’Bonsawin has advocated for human rights and access to justice throughout her distinguished legal career. Together, they will share unique perspectives on leadership, resilience, and systemic change.

About our Speakers:

Wes Hall is a prominent leader in Corporate Canada and is known globally for his leadership, entrepreneurial enterprises, innovation, and being a notable champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In 1985, he immigrated to Canada from Jamaica and from the start, he has been dedicated to his success with an impressive range of six honorary degrees. Wes is the Executive Chairman and Founder of WeShall Investments, Founder and CEO of Kingsdale Advisors, and Chairman of the BlackNorth Initiative. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his outstanding leadership, philanthropic efforts, and his commitment to education. In 2021, he was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and named the Canadian Business Leader of the Year by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and in 2023, he received the Nation Builder's Award from the Empire Club of Canada. The Globe and Mail noted Wes as one of Bay Street's 40 most influential figures and one of the nation’s “most influential powerbrokers”. The Canadian Business magazine named him one of the “most powerful businesspeople”, the Toronto Life magazine named him among the “50 most influential Torontonians”, and the International Association of Business Communicators (Toronto) named him its “2020 Communicator of the Year”. In addition to this, Maclean’s magazine ranked him number 18 on its Power List of the “50 most powerful people in Canada in 2021.

Wes was appointed the 35th Chancellor of the University of Toronto in July of 2024 – this prestigious honor that made Canadian history. Wes' impact extends far beyond the business world, and he is passionate about his responsibility as a prominent change leader. He is a highly sought-after change leader and public figure and often featured as a guest on BNN Bloomberg, sharing his astute insights and expertise on various business and economic topics. In addition, Wes Hall is well known as an Investor on CBC’s hit television series ‘Dragon’s Den’.

The Honourable Michelle O’Bonsawin was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada on September 1, 2022, and served as a justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Ottawa from 2017 to 2022. She holds a Doctorate in Law from the University of Ottawa where she also taught part-time. She is the author of various publications and a frequent guest speaker on Gladue principles, Indigenous issues, as well as mental health, labour, and privacy law. Justice O’Bonsawin grew up in Hanmer, Ontario, a small Francophone town near Sudbury. She is a fluently bilingual Franco-Ontarian and an Abenaki member of the Odanak First Nation.

Susan Christoffersen is the Dean at Rotman, and the William A. Downe BMO Chair, Professor of Finance. From 2015 to 2020, Professor Christoffersen served as the Vice-Dean, Undergraduate and Specialized programs. Her research focuses on mutual funds and the role of financial institutions in capital markets. She has published in top finance journals and cited inThe New York Times, International Herald Tribune, Bloomberg News Service, and The Wall Street Journal. Susan has received grants from SSHRC, IFM2, and FQRSC and research awards from Q-Group, Bank of Canada, BSI Gamma Foundation, INQUIRE, and the Swiss Finance Institute.

Event Logistics:

This event is available to attend in-person only.

Complimentary registration is available to current subscribers of the Rotman Events Newsletter. If you are not already subscribed, please register for the event and you will be automatically added to the Newsletter. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Rotman Events is committed to accessibility for all people. If you have any access needs or if there are any ways we can support your full participation in this session, please email [events@rotman.utoronto.ca] no later than 2 weeks in advance of the event and we will be glad to work with you to make the appropriate arrangements.

General Admission: In-Person Ticket Details

• The event will be hosted in Desautels Hall at the Rotman School of Management (105 St. George St., Toronto, ON M5S 3E6). Your registration fee includes a seat at the session and the networking reception.
  

Cancellation & Refund Policy

• Refunds will only be issued for cancellations received in writing NO LATER than 24 hours prior to the event. Please email events@rotman.utoronto.ca for processing.

Questions: events@rotman.utoronto.ca