About Us

Why Choose Leaders Forums?

We develop, enhance and promote the lives of leaders.

Being a leader isn’t just about job titles – it’s about your capacity to thrive and be the best version of yourself. But the pursuit of excellence has a cost and it takes a toll. With the support of your cohort and the Leaders Forums Community, you’ll learn how to effectively manage all that comes with the responsibility of leadership.

The most important aspect of our forums is that they are completely confidential. We strive to ensure you can be open and honest with the demands of your journey as a leader.

Meet Our Facilitation Team

Our facilitators come from diverse professions, sectors and backgrounds. What they share is a desire to help the people they care about, and expertise and insights that can help you achieve your goals.

ROBERT ZED

For over 25 years, I have coached, mentored, and facilitated cohorts of business executives to take their careers and personal lives to the next level.

Our system is based on the Buckets of Life learning model, where individuals learn, practice, and master the art of finding solutions and balance in life’s critical moments.
If you are ready to grow personally and professionally, thrive on achieving excellence through a peer-coaching environment and crave accountability for results , the LF program may be right for you!

Robert Zed

ALEX MCCALLUM

Alex has led a diverse and successful career within the startup community and now the Chief Operating Officer at QRA Corp, an enterprise software company that calls fortune 100 companies its customer. As QRA’s COO, Alex shares responsibility for crafting vision and strategy, leading the company, and ensuring execution excellence in support of QRA’s success.

Alex has been active on a cross-border basis through the provision of consulting services and the brokering of deals between Asia Pacific companies and North American startups.

He has served as Mentor to the University of Waterloo’s Velocity Incubator, recognized as the most productive university-linked incubator in Canada. And he has given generously of his time to serve and advance the interests of Co. Labs (Saskatchewan’s Technology Incubator), Venture for Canada programs and the Leaders Forums.

MIKE BARDSLEY

A Communication and Strategy veteran, with two decades of experience building some of this regions’ leading brands.

Formerly the Vice President and Partner at Revolve Branding Inc., Mike is a go-to resource to launch new ventures, merge brands, articulate strategy, identify and implement priority tactics to help build strong brands and strong cultures. Those skills carry over to Triangle Strategies where Mike is tasked with managing existing business, developing new opportunities, and plays a lead role facilitating Leaders Forum cohorts.

Mike is an executive on the Board of Directors for the Nova Scotia Salmon Association, has represented Nova Scotia twice at the Brier for curling, and is a proud husband and father of two children and lives in Fall River. Mike is a graduate of Saint Mary’s University and is an avid golfer, fisher and proud community leader.

SANDENN KILLORAN

Sandenn is a third-generation entrepreneur and owner of his own management consulting firm based out of Northern New Brunswick.

Sandenn has been a leader for his entire life, holding elected office for the past four years while managing the growth and scalability of his family’s Software company. In 2019 with his wife, infant son, and ELF forum mates, he embarked on his own entrepreneurial journey with Dockyard Consulting.

Sandenn got his Bachelors Degree from Mount Allison in 2009 and is in the process of attaining his E.M.B.A.. His expertise in multiple sectors allows him to provide valuable insights and advice to his peers and clients.

His role as a facilitator is to listen to and help you achieve your goals and bolster the support and value you receive from your participation.

KALEENA LAWLESS

Coordinator

Kaleena is the Leaders Forums Coordinator. She enjoys problem solving, research, and organizing information, and also thrives on community and social events whether it is networking with the leaders forums members or promoting the benefits of joining the program. She is a fan of self-development and enjoys being part of a movement that promotes professional and personal growth. She enjoys meeting and getting to know others, and is always available to offer friendly support to members, facilitators, and her team.

Kaleena hikes with her two dogs, has a keen interest in plants and gardening, and a passion for fitness and dance. She teaches dance classes on weekend

Malcolm Fraser

Malcolm is the Managing Partner of NPC Ventures. This venture capital fund invests in Canadian companies that develop naturally derived solutions that benefit people, animals and the planet. A proven innovation leader in Canada, Malcolm Fraser has founded and exited companies, managed acceleration and incubation programs, and led one of Canada’s most successful early-stage venture capital funds.

Through his career, Malcolm has demonstrated to investors and entrepreneurs that he knows what it takes to launch world-class companies from humble beginnings. During his tenure at Innovacorp, he focused the entire team on supporting companies to successfully commercialize early stage technology to globally competitive businesses. This success was recently recognized by achieving the 2022 Canadian Venture Capital Associations Deal of the Year for the $101 M gain on its Metamaterials Inc. holdings.

Prior to Innovacorp, Malcolm was a career entrepreneur, focused mainly on opportunities in the digital sector. Through companies like ISL and eplicity, he has been recognized for his leadership in the practice of digital transformation. A committed community leader, Malcolm participated in governance roles locally and nationally in the areas of the visual arts, medical research, and youth sport. He currently sits on the board of Credit Union Atlantic.

Born in Nova Scotia, Malcolm attended Mount Allison University, earning a Bachelor of Commerce in marketing and economics. He lives with his family in Chester.

Steve Stairs

A seasoned sales coach, leader and mentor who ‘retired’ 3 years ago after an over 40-year senior sales career and now ‘retooling’ and enjoying life! A Certified Sales Leader (CPSA) experienced in sales,business development, marketing & general management at the senior executive level. Adept at building solid client relationships; penetrating Regional, National & North American markets and delivering results.

Born and raised in Halifax, with a BSc (Acadia) and an MBA (DAL) whose career progressed from various management roles at the City of Halifax, through to IBM (NS Manager), Corporate Communications (VP Corp Dev), Maritime Travel (VP Business Travel Management) and finally 10 years at Colliers Project Leaders (VP, BD). Today – an ‘Expert in Residence’ at Innovacorp coaching various Start Ups, as well as mentoring Acadia Business students,facilitating/coaching ELF 12, TPC2 and soon TPC3, plus assisting Ronald McDonald House with their new facility campaign.

Personal :

Married to Janice
Two adult kids – Jocelyn and Matt
Two ‘Grand dogs’ – Freyja and Tillie
Hobbies: hockey, skiing, yoga, biking, golf and racing my ‘Bluenose’ sailboat

Holly Bond

Holly Bond has more than twenty years of experience in franchising entrepreneurship, sales management, marketing, economic development, and business start-ups. In 2005, Holly founded the Bulldog Interactive Fitness Inc ® franchise system where she combined interactive video games with exercise to make fitness fun for kids. Bulldog Interactive received international attention, with franchise applications coming in from countries around the world including: Dubai, Portugal, Singapore, Columbia, and Australia.

Franchises were sold across Canada and Florida. In 2008, bulldog was successfully acquired by DHX Media (Wildbrain). Holly went on to work in sustainable energy as the Vice President, Sales for Canada for Bullfrog Power. She has spent time in economic development and recently wored with a local tech start-up on their expansion and series A strategy. You can find Holly now leading the creation of a new concept in recruiting, as she starts a new division of Royer Thompson Management Consulting.

Holly has been featured on CTV National News, CBC Venture, Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Canadian Business, Today’s Parent, Prevention Magazine® Franchise Business and Canadian Marketing Magazine to name just a few. She was chosen as one of Atlantic Canada;s five most interesting business people, and one of the top seven to watch in 2007. Holly is the past recipient of The Nova Scotia Export Achievement Award, The Women of Excellence Award, and Innovative Business of the Year, Holly serves as a Board Member on the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission and is coach and advisor to several businesses.

Caroline Wolfe-Stewart

A senior executive with over 25 years of experience in strategic planning and operations, Caroline has lead successful transformational change in both the private and public sector. Currently Caroline is Senior Director Strategy & Operations with the Nova Scotia College of Nursing and previously held the roles of Vice President, The Berkeley Retirement Residences, and Vice President Crothall Services Canada

Caroline is driven by creating exceptional customer experiences and continually strives for innovative strategies to create client delight and exceed results.As an executive strategist and systems-thinker she has achieved exceptional outcomes for organizations in the areas of finance, issues management, communications, human resources, information technology and Project Management.

Caroline’s passion for community is evident in her volunteer work as an Officer and Chair of the Membership Committee with the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Dartmouth General Hospital Capital Campaign Cabinet. In her spare time Caroline and her husband bike, camp and canoe and love home renovations. Their daughters join in too when not at University.

David Rudderham

Dave Rudderham is a native of Syndey, NS but currently lives and operates out of Halifax. With 10 years of experience focusing on touring audio technology, Dave now serves as the Vice President of Technology at Beckman Vidcom, with a focus on Audiovisual system design and integration. Dave lives with his wife Donna, their two children Darian and Daniel, and their Alaskan Shepherd Angel. Dave enjoys biking, going on hikes, exploring and gaming.

Katie MacDonald

Katie graduated from STFX University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Majoring in Management and Leadership. After graduation she started working in the Insurance Industry however, made a quick career change which landed her in the Real Estate Industry.

Katie is the Director of Operations at Royal LePage Atlantic in Halifax, NS. She is responsible for the Operations side of the business which currently consists of 5 departments; Marketing & Design, IT, Office Support, Agent Services and Client Services.

The main function of her role is to provide leadership, manage and hold her team accountable, deliver a variety of high quality services, innovate and implement new services and ensure that processes and services are consistent across all offices.

Outside of work Katie can be found spending time with her family- her husband Josh, one-year-old son Brooks and their Portugese Water Dog, Murphy. Together they enjoy spending lots of time outside. In the summer, you can pretty much guarantee most weekends they are headed to Cape Breton to spend time on their boat and at the beach with family & friends!

Patsy Henneberry

Patsy Henneberry is the Business Administrator/Executive Assistant for Triangle Strategies Consulting Ltd., responsible for the organization of the CEO’s schedule and matters related to invoicing and the daily operations for all the Zed Group of companies.

As a seasoned professional with more than 25 years in administrative roles, Patsy is known as the go-to person who is a master of multitasking.

Patsy has worked with the Zed Group of companies for 14 years, working virtually (long before Covid) for over eight of those has provided a balanced home/work life that Patsy cherishes. Patsy is a natural organizer, enjoys cooking, crafting, spending time outside, living a naturally healthy lifestyle in a rural community and cherishes time with her husband and fur-children.

Wendy Luther

Wendy Luther is a leader in economic and export development, with vast experience promoting Nova Scotia and its assets globally.

Before joining Halifax Partnership, Halifax’s public-private economic development organization, as CEO in 2019 Wendy was President & CEO of EduNova, a co-operative association of public and private-sector education providers committed to promoting Nova Scotia’s knowledge economy internationally. Under her leadership, EduNova was honoured with the prestigious international PIEoneer Association of the Year Award in 2017.

Prior to that, Wendy led export development initiatives with the Atlantic Canada World Trade Centre and Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) where she led trade missions to over twenty countries and mentored and advised over 300 Nova Scotian exporters on how to be competitive in international markets.

At NSBI, through her role as Nova Scotia’s first Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO), she was appointed by the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank to connect entrepreneurs and institutions to opportunities funded by International Financial Institutions.

Wendy has served on and led numerous boards and committees including advisory boards for two private sector companies (Canada and U.S.-based), co-chair of the Education and Training/Formation Atlantic Sector Advisory Group, and member of the Board of Directors for the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron (RNSYS). Currently, Wendy serves on the Long Range Planning Committee for the RNSYS, Nova Scotia Community College’s Sensing, Engineering & Analytics Technology Access Centre (SEA-TAC) Advisory Board, the Board of Directors and the Management Resources and Compensation Committee of Canadian-owned LED Roadway Lighting and the Board of Directors and Governance Committee of Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization focused on increasing Canada’s innovation competitiveness.

Born in Vancouver, Wendy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA from Saint Mary’s University. She holds a Certified International Trade Professional designation (CITP) and is an alumna of the Caribbean Canada Emerging Leaders Dialogue and Royal Canadian Navy Canadian Leaders at Sea (CLaS) Program, as well as a current member of the International Women’s Forum – Atlantic Chapter. Wendy is looking forward to beginning the Institute of Corporate Directors, Director Education Program in February 2023.