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Workshop Facilitator: Heather Fraser, MBA, PMP (she/her) | 

I began my career in print media and publishing upon graduating from Saint Mary’s University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Commerce. I spent several years working as a project manager, developing project management, product management and supervisory skills. After a decade in private publishing and IT firms, I returned to Saint Mary’s University as an employee, starting as a project manager and building a Project Management Office over a period of a few years where I managed a team of project and technical professionals.

I joined »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ in 2017 as the Director of Project Portfolio Management. Through a leadership restructure I took on my current role as Director of Enterprise Applications, managing a team of roughly 45 people spanning technical development and systems administration, project management, enterprise architecture, and other technical and business roles. I am PMP and ITIL certified, and achieved an MBA-Leadership through »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ in 2022. In 2024 I took on the additional role of Deputy CIO where I support our CIO and our ITS department with central responsibilities in that portfolio.

I live just outside of Halifax with my husband and 3 kids, and have a busy volunteer life in our local community and sports associations.

Workshop Facilitator: Barbara Roberts | 

Barbara Roberts, MSW, RSW is a seasoned social worker, educator, and communication specialist with over 15 years of clinical experience supporting individuals, students, and communities across Nova Scotia. She is known for her dynamic facilitation style, her ability to foster meaningful dialogue, and her commitment to helping learners strengthen their communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.

Grounded in an Afrocentric, community-centered approach, Barbara’s work emphasizes cultural awareness, relational connection, and the importance of inclusive communication practices. She integrates these principles into her teaching and facilitation, creating learning environments that are respectful, empowering, and responsive to diverse lived experiences.

Barbara’s academic background includes research at York University on accessibility and the experiences of graduate students with disabilities, as well as research at Saint Mary’s University on academic achievement gaps affecting African Nova Scotian students within Nova Scotia’s P–12 education system. She has also worked as a student services professional at the Nova Scotia Community College for more than 14 years.

With extensive experience in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work, Barbara has contributed to curriculum development, organizational training, and collaborative initiatives with the Department of Justice, the Department of Community Services, and Service Canada. She has also taught several courses at the postsecondary level.

In addition to her academic and clinical work, Barbara is the owner of Roberts Wellness Services, where she provides coaching, education, and skills-based workshops. She also leads several community initiatives that support personal growth, entrepreneurship, and educational success within African Nova Scotian communities.

Barbara is excited to bring her communication expertise, facilitation experience, and learner-centered approach to the »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ Sexton Leaders Program as a workshop facilitator for the 2025–2026 cohort.

Workshop Facilitator: Sarah L. Manley Robertson, ABC, Prosci (she/her) | 

Meet Sarah L. Manley Robertson, ABC, Prosci®, a highly accomplished Thought Partner and Business Communications Strategist. With a career spanning over two decades, Sarah’s work drives alignment, engages stakeholders, and accelerates transitions for North American organizations. As a former executive leading engaged teams of 20+ and effectively contributing on commercial and corporate leadership teams, her expertise is tailored for those navigating the complexities of corporate environments, large firms and regulated industries, making her insights particularly valuable for aspiring leaders like you.

Sarah’s approach is rooted in purposeful communication and transformational leadership strategies drawn from positive psychology, psychometrics, proven leadership models and evidence-based change management principles. She has a proven track record of addressing and overcoming significant challenges such as leadership transitions, corporate culture transformations, trust gaps, and reputational crises.

Recognized as one of PR News’s Top Women: Industry Champion 2024 and Ragan Communications & PR Daily’s Top Women in PR: Crisis Navigator 2021, Sarah has built high performing teams who deliver corporate communications and social responsibility mandates for organizations with global or national reach. Her clients trust her to enhance their leadership in sectors like global digital business services, life sciences, healthcare, not-for-profit, global standards, and manufacturing.

Sarah most recently completed a certificate in Building Positive Workplace Cultures from »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ and achieved certification with Lumina Learning and Prosci®; Sarah volunteers as an advisor to local and national social service charities, is President of the Canadian Public Relations Society Nova Scotia, and is a Registered Research Panelist with the Commission on Public Relations Education. She has also shared her expertise as part-time faculty at Nova Scotia Community College and through international publications and workshops. 

Workshop Facilitator: Carla Britten (she/her) |

Carla Britten (she/her) is an MSW graduate from »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ and is currently working as the Director, Residence Life at the Halifax campus. In her 18-year professional career at »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥, she has worked in Residence Life, Student Accessibility, and most recently as the Ombudsperson for »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥. Carla has also worked in research roles with Capital Health and Mount Saint Vincent University, in addition to serving as Principal Investigator for Halifax’s Community Action on Homelessness.

These roles have provided opportunities to explore the transformative experience for students as they leave academia to pursue their professional careers. Post-secondary education provides educational learning and growth as well as opportunities for skill development that are transferrable to future professional lives.

As an Ombudsperson, she focused on supporting students through their concerns and complaints. In many situations, conflict was at the heart of these concerns and complaints and required resolution and consideration of approach. Conflict happens all around us and in all facets of our lives, so it is essential that we understand our role in conflict and more importantly how to effectively resolve conflict.

Carla’s experience and engagement in conflict resolution will provide participants with insight into understanding conflict but also tools to utilize to manage and resolve conflict.

Workshop Facilitator: Sue Oland, MBA (she/her) | 

Sue Oland is an MBA graduate and former corporate executive with over 20 years of experience with brands such as Alexander Keith’s, Empire Theatres, Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation and NS Power. She has developed business, brand and customer strategies, led digital roadmaps, broken down silos, integrated cross functional teams, and has both created and developed high performing teams. 

She began her consulting business, Good People, in 2020, and works to develop strong foundations in leadership for both business and individuals.  She is currently the Executive in Residence in the Marketing Department at the Schwartz School of Business at St. FX University. Her role with the Department is to bring the business industry to the School of Business, bridging theoretical course work with practical application and real world expectations in today's business landscape.

Throughout her career, Sue has had the good fortune of collaborating with many large corporations, gaining broad experience in engaging with professionals at all levels.