About Commonwealth Leaders Dialogue Canada

CCELD Group

Who We Are

Now more than ever, Canada and Commonwealth regions have a responsibility to cultivate ethical, analytical, and responsible leaders.

As a registered Canadian charity, we bring together diverse leaders from arts, education, environment, indigenous communities, unions, private and public sectors, public health, and civil society organizations.

Since 1962, Canada has hosted 10 conferences, establishing the template and cadence for other Commonwealth countries to follow. Led by a Board of  Canadian and Caribbean Directors which resurrected the global study tour format after a 17-year hiatus, The Duke of Edinburgh Commonwealth Study Conferences Canada Inc. helps enable leaders to make positive change within local and global communities.

Guided by Commonwealth values, a community of peers
  • Gain in-field experience working with diverse entrepreneurs and executives, learning about leadership strategies and management of major organizational issues
  • Collaborate in group challenges to test skills, assumptions and gain insights; and
  • Join a growing network of alumni members who act as mentors and funders
unique opportunities to develop professional competencies and learn from successful mentors, peers, and experiential tours

“I am enlivened to work toward advancing my community culturally, environmentally and economically. I feel emboldened to navigate the waters of the unknown because of my participation.”

Adonis Trujillo
2017 Alumnus

Board of Directors

Dr. Agnes Di Leonardi, CM

Agnes Di Leonardi, CM

President

Agnes is an alumna of the 1998 Canadian Duke of Edinburgh Commonwealth Study Conference, and the current President of Commonwealth Leaders Dialogue Canada. Agnes spent most of her career in the automotive industry, as former General Counsel of Sym-Tech Dealer Services and General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Mazda Canada Inc. As a member of the Executive team, she led its in-house Regulatory and Compliance team, with overall responsibility for Sym-Tech’s legal and compliance matters.

In June 2018, Agnes was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of her leadership in the automotive industry and for her commitment to mentoring and supporting Canadian women leaders through her work with the International Women’s Forum of Canada, a global organization with a mission to advance women’s leadership. In 2016, Agnes was recognized as one of Canada’s most respected GCs by The Legal 500 Canada GC Powerlist.

Hubert Sibre

Hubert Sibre

Secretary

Hubert is a business law partner in the Montréal office of Miller Thomson. His practice focuses mainly on commercial litigation, securities and restructuring. He has led multiple transactions and major projects with regard to real estate and infrastructure. His roster of clients includes all types of businesses which have to deal with high-risk situations. Entrepreneurs and executives constantly rely on him for his business acumen and to deal with important business and strategic issues.

In 2015, the Legal 500 ranking classed Hubert  amongst the best litigation lawyers in Canada. He has also appeared in Best Lawyers both in insolvency and in commercial litigation. Moreover, Hubert has been named as a Leading Lawyer Under 40 by Lexpert Rising Stars and Global Restructuring and Insolvency Review. Thereafter, Lexpert would name Hubert Sibre as a Canadian litigator to watch.

Having started his career as legal counsel with the National Bank of Canada and GMAC, Hubert has authored and co-authored books and articles pertaining to restructuring, insolvency, credit and civil procedure, including a publication on civil procedure and the enforcement of security interests in Quebec. He has also been frequently called to plead before courts and instances of all levels, including more than once before the Supreme Court of Canada. Furthermore, he has been a jury member for the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy with regard to trustee licensing.

Hubert is an alumnus of the 2008 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference.

Robert Taylor, LVO

Robert Taylor, LVO

Treasurer

Robert enjoyed a 30-year career with Shell Canada Limited. In 1990 he became a Director of the Company and Executive Vice President Shell Canada Resources and later President Shell Canada Products Ltd. He was Area Manager for Shell International Petroleum Company in London for three years where he was responsible for Shell operating companies in East and West Africa.

He was a Governor of the Glenbow Museum in Calgary and a Director of Alberta Theatre Projects located in the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts.

Bob served as a Director of Pembina Pipeline Corporation for 15 years, was a Director of Turbodyne Technologies Inc. and continues as a Director of McTAY Holdings Ltd.

He was a member in 1980 of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conference. In 1983 he participated in founding the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conferences and in 2009 he co-founded The Duke of Edinburgh’s Emerging Leaders’ Dialogues Canada, now known as Commonwealth Leaders Dialogue, where he continues to serve as a Director and Treasurer.

In 1999, Bob was recognized by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the award of a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO).

Sir Trevor Carmichael KA, LVO

Sir Trevor Carmichael KA, LVO

Director

Trevor is a member of the International Bar Association, the InterAmerican Bar Association, the International Tax Planning Association, the International Fiscal Association, a former Deputy Secretary General of the International Bar Association, a Life Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Legal Studies in the United Kingdom, and a Life Member of the commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association.

He serves as a Panel Member of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes of the World Bank in Washington, the Founder Chairman of the Barbados Youth Business Trust and the Chairman of the United World Colleges Selection Committee for Barbados. A former Visiting Professor of Caribbean Foreign Investment Law to the Florida State University Summer Programme at the University of the West Indies, he is a Trustee of Europhil in the United Kingdom, and sits on the Legal Affairs and Properties Committee of the International Council of Museums in Paris, France and is a Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Association.

Major David Clarke, CVO

Lt. Col. J W David Clarke G.A., CVO, CCM, ADC 

Director

David has been employed by The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation since 1988 and was appointed to his current role as Regional Director (Americas) of the Barbados Defence Force in 2000.

David holds the rank of Major in the Barbados Defense Force and is the special advisor to The Royal Barbados Police Force. He is one of the founding Trustees and chairman of the Barbados Youth Business Trust and chairman of the Jamaica Youth Business Trust. He served as chairman of the advisory committee to the Minister of Education Youth and Culture in Barbados from 1994 to 2000 and has been an advisor to several Caribbean Governments on youth developments.

He was appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) in  October 2003 by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth and promoted to a Commander (CVO) in the Queen’s birthday honours in June 2017. He was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Sandy Di Felice

Sandy Di Felice

Director

Sandy is an award-winning communications and public affairs executive with over 20 years of experience in government relations, corporate and public relations, stakeholder management, and marketing, Sandy has spent her career building, recovering, and protecting reputations for global brands, government agencies and world leaders.

Sandy spent 15 years as an executive in the North American auto industry and became the Chief Marketing Officer for the Canadian subsidiary of a global agency holding company.

Among other awards received, her Canadian-developed Brain on Board program was recognized by the United Nations  and adopted in Australia, Japan, US, Ukraine and the UAE.

Sandy runs a consultancy advising brand and is also an adjunct professor at the Centennial College School of Business and the Seneca College School of Marketing.

As a governance and regulatory leader, Sandy has built a corporate charitable foundation and served as Director and Executive member on various Boards and committes.

Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN

Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN

Director

Linda is retired from the Ontario Nurses’ Association after being involved since 1980, serving as Provincial President for 68,000 RN’s and Health Professionals. 

She has decades of experience in provincial bargaining, strategic planning and government liaison.

She is a past Board member for the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU), and The Table Soup Kitchen Foundation

She is a Distinguished Fellow Mohawk College, Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Registered Nurses Association Ontario (RNAO), and Honourary member Canadian Student Nursing Association (CNSA).

Linda has extensive experience working with policy and senior decision makers in Ontario and across Canada.

Kevin Howlett

Kevin Howlett

Director

Kevin is a recently retired executive from Air Canada, having held the position of Senior Vice President Regional Markets and Government Relations. During his 45-year career with the company, Kevin was the accountable executive for various departments including Human Resources, Government Affairs and Regional Operations, operating under the Air Canada Express brand.

Educated at the University of Prince Edward Island and Dalhousie, Kevin holds the CPHR (Chartered Professionals in Human Resources) designation.

He is the Chair of the CPHR BC & Yukon Association and is as well on the Board of Directors for the Vancouver Airport Authority and the NavCanada Board. Kevin holds the Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D) from the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University.

Hemi Mitic, MVO

Hemi Mitic, MVO

Director

Hemi recently retired from his position as Assistant to the President of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and is currently a Labour Relations consultant.

Hemi started as a welder at a Lear Corp. auto parts plant in Kitchener, Ont., in 1967. He became president of Local 1524 and eventually led the region’s labour council before joining the CAW staff in 1981. Appointed as national director of organizing in 1986 and then as an assistant to president in 1992 until his departure in 2009.

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