POST: People Outside Together Safely

POST: People Outside Safely Together
 

As COVID-19 restrictions ease and businesses look to reopen their doors, organizations representing over 100,000 companies have launched a Canada-wide campaign aimed at keeping customers, employees and communities safe, and to build trust as the economy recovers.The POST Promise (short for “People Outside Safely Together”) is a pledge business owners and managers take by adopting five key steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19.  This campaign is a business-led initiative, and is being championed by business organizations across the country – including the Ottawa Board of Trade.

Join us as we chat with Laura Hearn, President & Executive Director at POST Promise, and special guest, Goldy Hyder, President & CEO of the Business Council of Canada.

Laura Hearn is President & Executive Director of the POST Promise Not-for-Profit Corporation. The POST Promise is a private sector-led initiative, in collaboration with various levels of government, designed to help Canadians confidently and safely take the first steps back into public spaces and the workplace. Participating businesses receive training and education on how to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and voluntarily commit to following these practices, helping to restore consumer confidence across the country.

Prior to this role Laura was Vice President, Corporate Partnerships, Marketing & Events for True Patriot Love Foundation and held a variety of progressive positions at top tier advertising agencies, as well as one of Canada’s largest telecommunications providers. She has particular expertise in the areas of not-for-profit management and operations, integrated brand building, loyalty and retention marketing, corporate philanthropy and cause marketing.

Laura also sits on the Board of Directors for Lumenus Community Services – an agency that supports families with children and youth with special and complex needs. Laura holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Honours) from Queen’s University School of Business.
 
Goldy Hyder is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of Canada. Founded in 1976, the Council is a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing the chief executives and heads of 150 leading Canadian businesses, employing 1.7 million Canadians and composed of every major industry across the country.
 
From July 2014 to October 2018, Mr. Hyder was President and Chief Executive Officer of Hill+Knowlton Strategies (Canada), providing strategic communications counsel to the firm’s extensive and diverse client base. Prior to joining Hill+Knowlton in 2001, he served as Director of Policy and Chief of Staff to The Right Honourable Joe Clark, former prime minister and former leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party.
 
In addition to his achievements in business and public policy, Mr. Hyder has a long track record of service on behalf of several charities and non-profit organizations. He is a past co-chair of the United Way of Ottawa’s Campaign Cabinet and a former member of the Board of Governors at Carleton University. Currently, he serves as chair of the Ottawa Senators Foundation, vice chair of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council, and as an executive committee member of the Century Initiative. In addition, he sits on the advisory boards of two leading organizations promoting advancement of women leaders, Catalyst Canada and the 30% Club (Canada).
 
Mr. Hyder is a regular commentator in the Canadian media on business, politics and leadership. He is the host of the recently launched “Speaking of Business” podcast, which features interviews with Canadian innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders. In 2013, he received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contributions to Canada. He holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Calgary.