Events & Speakers
RIE Toronto Fall Symposium 2026
Title: Resilience by Design: Strengthening Workforce, Third-Party and Operational Resilience in an Interconnected World
September 22, 2026
WSIB Conference Center, Toronto - 200 Front Street W
11:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Lunch and refreshments provided
Free for RIE members
Not a member yet? Join RIE today!
Registration is Now Open
Join resilience, risk, continuity, and emergency management professionals from across the Greater Toronto Area for an afternoon of learning, discussion, and networking.
REGISTER HERE
Symposium Overview: The Human Element of Resilience
Disruptions rarely occur in isolation.
A workforce shortage becomes a third-party issue. A supplier problem impacts critical operations. A cyber event quickly becomes a people and business continuity challenge.
As organizations become increasingly interconnected, resilience programs must evolve to reflect that reality.
Join RIE Toronto on September 22 as we explore where workforce resilience, third-party resilience, and operational resilience converge, and how organizations can strengthen preparedness when disruption crosses traditional boundaries.
Technology supports resilience. Processes guide resilience. But people make resilience possible.
From critical employees and recovery teams to contractors, partners, and service providers, people are the thread that connects plans to action when disruption occurs.
Through two complementary presentations featuring Terry Lampropoulos Director, Operational Resilience, Canada Life and Zahra Remtulla Pardhan
President, RiskPro followed by a moderated panel discussion, attendees will explore real-world challenges, emerging risks, industry perspectives, and practical approaches to strengthening resilience in an increasingly interconnected environment.
Whether your focus is business continuity, operational resilience, risk management, emergency management, HR, technology, or third-party risk management, this symposium will explore the people, partnerships, and operational dependencies that shape resilience in today's interconnected world.
Reserve your spot today and join the conversation.
REGISTER HERE
Featured Presentation
Building Workforce Resilience: Strengthening the Foundation of Business Continuity and Operational Resilience
Presented by Terry Lampropoulos
Director, Operational Resilience, Canada Life
Workforce resilience is a cornerstone of organizational preparedness and operational resilience. In this session, Terry will explore leading practices for identifying critical personnel, developing people-focused recovery strategies, and integrating workforce considerations into broader business continuity and operational resilience programs.
Attendees will examine:
- Identifying critical personnel and essential functions
- Developing effective people-focused recovery strategies
- Integrating workforce considerations into BCM and operational resilience programs
- Aligning workforce planning with facilities, technology, and other operational dependencies
- Creating practical and actionable resilience plans
Through real-world examples and lessons learned, participants will gain insight into how organizations can better prepare for disruptions that affect their people and operations.
Featured Presentation
Beyond the Organization: People Risk, Third-Party Workforce Dependencies & Interconnected Operational Resilience
Presented by: Zahra Remtulla Pardhan
President, RiskPro
Organizations increasingly depend on contract personnel, managed services, outsourced operations, and strategic partners to deliver critical services. As these relationships become more complex, organizations must better understand and manage the dependencies that exist beyond their own workforce.
This session challenges the assumption that organizations have complete control over their workforce and explores how resilience planning must evolve to address external staffing and third-party dependencies.
Topics include:
- Third-party workforce resilience considerations
- Contractor dependency management
- Strengthening relationships with external service providers
- Operational impacts of workforce disruptions within third parties
- Practical strategies for enhancing organizational resilience across interconnected ecosystems
This session will challenge traditional assumptions about workforce control and highlight practical considerations for building resilience across an increasingly interconnected ecosystem of people, partners, and service providers.
Interactive Panel Discussion
Connecting the Dots: Workforce, Third-Party and Operational Resilience
To conclude the day, our speakers will participate in a moderated panel discussion exploring the intersection of workforce resilience, third-party resilience, and operational resilience.
Audience members will be invited to submit questions in advance, helping shape a conversation focused on current challenges, emerging risks, and leading practices.
Discussion topics may include:
- What organizations commonly overlook when planning for workforce resilience
- Balancing internal and external people dependencies
- Practical lessons learned from real-world disruptions
- Regulatory expectations and future resilience trends
- Building resilience programs that reflect today's operating reality
Join Us
Resilience is built through preparation, collaboration, and shared experience. Join fellow practitioners and industry leaders as we explore the people, partnerships, and operational dependencies that shape resilience in today's interconnected world.
Registration is now open.
REGISTER HERE
Meet the Speakers
Terry Lampropoulos, Director, Operational Resilience, Canada Life
Terry Lampropoulos is an experienced risk management professional and educator. With extensive expertise in fraud, insurance, business continuity, and a broad range of risk disciplines, including operational resilience, he is committed to delivering strong, risk-driven value across financial services.
He holds an HBSc from the University of Toronto, an MBA from Dalhousie University, and professional certifications in Risk Management, Business Analysis, and Project Management. Terry also holds the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) and Associate Business Continuity Professional (ABCP) designations.
Zahra Remtulla Pardhan, President, RiskPro Advisory Inc.
Zahra Remtulla Pardhan is an experienced Risk Management Leader and seasoned consultant at RiskPro Advisory Inc. She partners with organizations to design and implement robust risk management frameworks that drive resilience and long-term success.
With deep expertise in enterprise risk management, governance, regulatory compliance, operational resilience, and third-party risk, Zahra helps clients navigate complex regulatory landscapes while seamlessly integrating risk management into corporate governance. By working closely with boards and executive teams, she ensures that risk strategies enhance transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making, ultimately strengthening organizational integrity and performance. She also holds the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designation.