2026 CPA Assist Virtual Wellness Conference Speakers

When teams face burnout, change fatigue, and diminishing engagement, Jessica Janzen delivers the spark they need. Jessica is an in-demand motivational speaker, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and expert in resiliency whose high energy keynotes unlock a clear pathway from adversity to achievement. 

An entrepreneur and a fierce advocate for mental health, rare disease, and all things joy, Jessica co-founded The Love for Lewiston Foundation in 2017, which has raised over $3 million for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) research and medical care. It was also pivotal in implementing newborn screening for SMA in Alberta and continues to support the Alberta Children’s Hospital today.  Jessica is an Avenue Magazine Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 alumni and the bestselling author of Bring the Joy, a book, which encourages readers to reconnect with themselves and find joy even during the most difficult times. 

Jessica Janzen empowers audiences to shift from a problem to a possibility mindset, making her an essential voice for navigating today’s challenging business landscape. She doesn’t just inspire — she equips audiences with actionable strategies to re-wire their thinking, get curious, and bring on the joy. 

Change is constant. Uncertainty is unavoidable. And the leaders who thrive aren’t waiting for things to get easier—they’re building the capacity to handle hard better. 

After an unimaginable personal loss, Jessica Janzen learned that resilience isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build; and joy is a tool many leaders overlook. In this session, she’ll use powerful storytelling and practical, science-backed strategies, to show attendees how to move from feeling overwhelmed and stuck to energized and ready for what’s next. 

Attendees will learn how to: 

• Use joy as a strategic tool, not a reward earned after hardship is over. 
• Build resilience before adversity hits —not just in the middle of it. 
• Shift from a problem mindset to a possibility mindset. 
• Create daily habits that increase energy, optimism, and capacity. 
• Build forward momentum—even in uncertainty. 

Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is an organizational psychologist with over 25 years of experience as a thought leader in workplace psychology, the future of work, and career development. Dr. Laura is passionate about creating cultures that attract top talent and where people stay and thrive.     

She is the international bestselling author of I Wish I’d Quit Sooner, and host of the highly acclaimed podcast Where Work Meets Life. She is a thought leader on workplace psychology, the future of work and career development, with 25 years of experience. Dr. Laura is passionate about creating cultures that attract top talent and where people stay and thrive.     

Dr. Laura is the founder of Canada Career Counselling, where psychologists help Canadians navigate their career and workplace challenges and supports organizations to develop thriving leaders and cultures. Dr. Laura is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Calgary, where she oversees research on toxic leadership in North America.  

In today’s fast-paced workplaces, the pressure to “stay positive,” “keep your head up,” and “don’t complain” has become a cultural norm — but at what cost? This powerful and thought-provoking session explores the growing phenomenon of toxic positivity in the workplace: what it is, why it matters, and what leaders and teams can do about it. 

Positivity itself is not the problem, but when it is used to dismiss, minimize, or silence the real emotional experiences of employees, it becomes toxic. In this session, attendees will explore and learn to address what happens when toxic positivity is allowed to ripple across organizations.  

Attendees will learn how to: 

• Distinguish toxic positivity from healthy optimism. 
• Recognize the subtle ways toxic positivity shows up in everyday workplace language, leadership responses, and organizational culture. 
• Examine the real impact on employee well-being, psychological safety, trust, and productivity. 
• Apply practical, evidence-informed strategies to replace forced positivity with authentic, empathetic, and solution-focused  optimism. 

Michael Kerr is a Canadian Hall of Fame speaker who inspires workplace cultures, leadership, and businesses to leverage their humour resources to drive extraordinary results.  

He is the author of nine books, most recently, Small Moments, Big Outcomes: How Leaders Create Cultures That Fuel Extraordinary Results.  

Michael lives in spectacular Canmore Alberta, so yes, for those of you old enough to remember The Royal Canadian Air Farce, he’s another “Mike from Canmore!” 

Get ready to laugh, learn, and look at your workplace through a whole new lens! In this fast-paced, high-energy, humour-filled presentation, Michael Kerr shares why laughter really can be the best medicine when it comes to creating a more inspiring workplace, delighting those you work with, and surviving those inevitable bad hair days!  

Michael will share hilarious real-world examples, practical ideas, and his “Three R’s” of humour and stress management to help you become more resilient, resourceful, and effective—even when the pressure is on.  

Attendees will learn: 

• Practical ways to use humour to boost your energy throughout the workday. 
• How humour can help strengthen workplace relationships and build connections. 
• Strategies for using humour to enhance productivity and engagement. 
• Simple ways to create a more positive, enjoyable, and supportive work environment. 

Serena Benali is a Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist. Her approach to nutrition is both practical and enjoyable, focusing on creating a positive relationship with food that promotes lasting, healthy habits. She is dedicated to empowering her clients with customized strategies that fit their unique lifestyles and preferences, helping them feel confident and capable on their journey toward better health.

Food is one of the small, everyday ways we care for ourselves. This workshop takes a realistic look at how food can support joy, energy, mood, and overall wellness without turning nutrition into another pressure-filled project. 
 
In this session, attendees will learn practical ways to make nourishment feel more enjoyable and less stressful, including how to reframe cooking, planning, and feeding yourself as acts of care that can provide energy, ease, and joy.  

Attendees will learn how: 

• Nourishment supports energy, mood, and the way we show up in daily life 
• Eating well can help us feel better, move better, think more clearly, and experience more capacity for joy 
• Food, mood, and the gut-brain connection: a light look at how gut health impacts mental well-being 
• Shifting from pressure and perfection when it comes to cooking and planning will lead to more ease, flexibility, and realistic rhythms 
• Simple supports, comfort foods, easy meals, low-energy options, and habits can make food feel more nourishing and enjoyable