Tickets are now on sale for Women Who Lead Huron, the inaugural signature event of the Huron Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, bringing women from across Huron County together for an afternoon focused on leadership, connection and shared learning.
The event takes place Thursday, October 1, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the White Carnation Banquet Hall in Holmesville. Tickets are $65, and space is limited.
Women Who Lead Huron is the new name for the annual event first announced in March as part of the Chamber’s broader Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI). The initiative was created to strengthen and support women in leadership roles across Huron County, as well as women who are considering or working toward leadership opportunities in business, non-profit organizations, public service and community life.
“From the beginning, we wanted the Women’s Leadership Initiative to be shaped by the experiences of women in Huron County and by the kinds of opportunities they told us would be useful,” said Heather Glenister, Membership Services Coordinator with the Huron Chamber of Commerce, who is leading the initiative. “Women Who Lead Huron gives us an opportunity to bring those conversations into one room, learn from women with very different leadership experiences, make new connections and create an afternoon that is relevant whether someone has been leading for years or is just beginning to see herself in that role.”
The program combines a keynote address with interactive breakout sessions and opportunities for conversation and networking. The speaker lineup includes Inspector Laura Lee Brown, Genny Smith, Vanessa Kee, Nadine VandenHeuvel, Dyna Dizon, Carole Lee Foster and Heather Glenister.
Inspector Laura Lee Brown to deliver keynote address
Inspector Laura Lee Brown, Detachment Commander for the Huron County OPP, will deliver the afternoon’s keynote address, “Leading Together: Redefining Leadership Through Connection, Courage, and Community.”
Brown was appointed Detachment Commander for the Huron OPP in April 2025 after serving in a range of roles with the OPP, including assignments in Perth County and Wellington County and at West Region Headquarters in London.
Her keynote will draw on the voices and experiences of women across Huron County to explore leadership through connection, courage and collaboration. The presentation will consider resilience, overcoming barriers and developing the confidence to lead, along with the importance of supporting others, bringing different perspectives to leadership and creating pathways for future women leaders.
“Insp. Brown brings a perspective that fits very naturally with what Heather and the committee have been building through this initiative,” said Colin Carmichael, Executive Director of the Huron Chamber of Commerce. “Leadership takes many forms across Huron County. We see it in businesses, farms, community organizations, public institutions and around board and council tables. Women Who Lead Huron is an opportunity to bring some of those experiences together, strengthen connections and help more women see opportunities to contribute their own leadership.”
Breakout sessions explore practical leadership challenges
Following the keynote, Women Who Lead Huron will move into a series of breakout conversations addressing challenges that leaders encounter in workplaces, organizations and community roles. Topics include decision-making under uncertainty, with a focus on exercising judgment when information is incomplete or circumstances are changing, and leading through change and transformation, including the role of communication, adaptability, self-awareness and personal capacity.
Other sessions will examine managing competing priorities, leadership presence through communication, and turning setbacks into strength. Participants will also have opportunities to discuss workplace well-being and burnout prevention, including decision fatigue and the pressures that can accompany leadership responsibilities.
The afternoon has been designed to create opportunities for participation and conversation rather than relying solely on traditional presentations. Registration and networking begin at 12:30 p.m., followed by opening remarks and Brown’s keynote before the program moves into the breakout portion of the afternoon.
Building on the Women’s Leadership Initiative
The Chamber launched the Women’s Leadership Initiative in March with a commitment to listen to women across Huron County and develop programming around the needs, gaps and opportunities they identified. At the time, Glenister emphasized that women were already providing leadership throughout the county, from businesses and farms to community organizations and municipal government. The goal of the initiative is to strengthen the connections, supports and opportunities available to those leaders while encouraging women who may be considering their own next steps.
Women Who Lead Huron is the first major event to emerge from that work and is intended to become an annual part of the initiative. Beyond the October event, the WLI is being developed to include a broader mix of opportunities for connection, learning and mentorship over time.
Women Who Lead Huron takes place October 1 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the White Carnation Banquet Hall, 79867 Parr Line. Tickets are $65, and light refreshments will be provided by the White Carnation.
The Huron Chamber of Commerce is one of Canada’s fastest growing Chambers, connecting community leaders since 1990. Representing businesses across Huron County, the Chamber focuses on growing the local economy, supporting business success, and strengthening our towns and villages. As an independent, non-profit organization, the Chamber advocates for business and community interests, facilitates collaboration, and convenes stakeholders to develop and support a vibrant and thriving county.
