Virtual Event
Opioids in the Workplace
January 31, 2024 at
1:30pm EST
On DEMAND VIDEO
Panel Discussion: Advice for Employers
Speakers: Lilian Riad-Allen of the LCBO; Mike Russo of WorkBright; Dr. Bill Howatt of Howatt HR; and Candace Plattor, Love With Boundaries. Our expert panel will discuss how employers can help workers with substance abuse issues recover long-term and discuss policies and programs.
Lilian Riad-Allen
Lilian Riad-Allen
Senior Director, Workplace Health, Safety and Wellness
LCBO
A Masters prepared Neuroscientist, and ACC ICF certified Coach with over 20 years of experience in the fields of Health Promotion, Harm Reduction, and Mental Health and Addictions, Lilian has supported a number of organizations in developing workplace programs, and initiatives that foster a healthy, safe, and inclusive workplace culture. With prior experience leading large transformational change efforts at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), and most recently as the Senior Director, Workplace Health, Safety, and Wellness at the LCBO; Lilian brings thoughtful and collaborative approaches to fostering measurable improvements that support holistic wellbeing, safety, and inclusion while driving operational outcomes with a human-first approach. In her spare time, and as a personal stretch goal, Lilian is also the host of a podcast called “Lil on Life”.
Mike Russo
Mike Russo
WorkBright
Mike Russo is a seasoned occupational hygienist and health and safety professional with 15+ years of experience advising workplaces on OHS strategies and compliance to reduce risk of harm to workers.
As the owner of WorkBright™, an occupational health and safety (OHS) consulting firm, Mike helps organizations develop and implement strategic OHS initiatives and specializes in training development solutions. He also provides occupational hygiene support to workplaces. Mike previously worked with the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA) as the corporate occupational hygienist and held several management roles overseeing training development, quality assurance, and marketing. At IHSA he worked closely with senior health and safety policy advisors and inspectors with the Ontario Government, where he was actively involved in amendments to OHS legislation. More recently, Mike has advised workplaces on strategies for complying with Ontario’s new naloxone requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Mike is active in the OHS community. He has contributed to CSA technical committees to help shape national standards for hard hats, noise, respiratory protection and more, and served as a BCRSP reviewer for candidates applying to challenge the CRSP exam. Beyond his professional work, Mike teaches OHS at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and enjoys mentoring students and helping them navigate OHS career options and strategies.
Dr. Bill Howatt
Dr. Bill Howatt
Howatt HR
Dr. Bill Howatt, founder and CEO of Howatt HR, refers to himself as a behavioural scientist with a keen curiosity for how employees and employers can work together to reduce mental harm and promote mental health in the workplace. He is known internationally and is one of Canada’s top experts in workplace psychological health and safety.
Dr. Bill is on the CSA Group’s OHS Standards Steering Committee and Chair of the CSA Standard Z1008: Management of Substance Related Impairment in the Workplace. He is the co-creator of the Psychologically Safe Workplace Awards.Dr. Bill regularly contributes to workplace mental health research such as Canada Pandemic Pulse Check: COVID-19’s Impact on Canadians’ Mental Health with the Mental Health Commission of Canada; Moving to Action: Implementing the Workplace Safety & Prevention Services’ Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap; and the CSA Group’s investigating employers’ practices in response to COVID-19 for safeguarding employees’ psychological health and safety in the workplace. He has 30 years’ clinical experience in mental health and addictive disorders.
Dr. Bill is the former Chief of Research, Workforce Productivity, at The Conference Board of Canada, and the former Chief of Research and Development, Workforce Productivity, at Lifeworks. Dr. Bill has created the senate approved Certificate in Psychologically Safe Leadership and Certificate in Management Essentials, Pathway to Coping and Mental Fitness through the University of New Brunswick. He is the co-creator of the Psychological Health and Safety Facilitator Certificate.
Dr. Bill is a regular contributor and co-authors a blog with the CEO of the Mental Health Commission of Canada for WSPS Ontario CEO Health and Safety Leadership Network. Dr. Bill has published over 50 books, such as The Globe and Mail bestseller, The Cure for Loneliness, and Stop Hiding and Start Living. He is a regular contributor to Talent Canada, OHS Magazine, and The Chronicle Herald and has published over 350 articles with The Globe and Mail.
Candace Plattor
Addictions Therapist
Love with Boundaries
Candace Plattor, M.A., R.C.C. is a professional speaker, TEDx speaker, Addictions Therapist in private practice, and a sought-after leader in the field of addiction. Candace is the author of the award-winning book “Loving an Addict, Loving Yourself: The Top 10 Survival Tips for Loving Someone with an Addiction.” Candace also has 35+ years of personal recovery from a devastating 15-year opioid addiction that resulted from physician-prescribed medications for her Crohn’s Disease.
In her unique and signature Family Addiction Counselling and Therapy Program, she specializes in working with families and other loved ones of people who are struggling with addiction. The results Candace achieves have been astounding: addicts stop using and families regain their lives from the ravages of addiction.
