Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June 2024 – Valerie Duffey has joined Ontario Health | Santé Ontario as the new Chief Human Resources Officer. With a rich background in human resources, Duffey brings valuable expertise to the team, aiming to enhance the organization’s HR and organizational development frameworks.
Duffey’s most recent role was at the University Health Network, where she served as a Special Advisor, Talent & Leadership (Interim Executive) for approximately one year. In this position, she provided strategic and operational oversight of the UHN talent, leadership, and learning portfolio to accelerate organizational transformation and address the post-pandemic healthcare HR crisis. She successfully restructured the recruiting function, re-engineered new hire onboarding, and led the adoption strategy for new ATS and LMS systems. Additionally, Duffey provided design input into a new leadership development program for the top 150 leaders and facilitated an interdisciplinary team focused on nurse attraction and retention, including ethical international recruitment and an optimized nursing student talent pipeline.
Prior to this, Duffey was the Chief People Officer at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP for approximately six months. She led a comprehensive talent management and engagement strategy to differentiate Cassels as a destination for lawyers and professionals of all backgrounds. Duffey engaged senior partners in a review of organizational and talent priorities to develop an HR business plan, facilitated a review of the HR operating model, identified priorities for a two-year HR technology build plan, and led the redesign of the firm’s benefits program to be market competitive and incorporate best practices.
From 2019 to 2022, Duffey ran her own HR consulting practice, Reimagine Work – Canada, where she provided interim executive and strategic advisory services to organizations embracing HR transformation. As an Interim CHRO / Strategic HR Advisor, she acted as a fractional CHRO to private equity-backed, scaling companies across multiple sectors, built leadership and organizational capabilities, developed HR strategies, and shaped future-focused cultures. Duffey also designed bespoke hybrid work strategies for financial and professional services firms to sustain and enhance culture, productivity, and employee experience.
Duffey also held the position of Chief Human Resources Officer at Greater Toronto Airports Authority for approximately three years. In this role, she was a trusted advisor to the CEO, C-suite, and GTAA Board, and built a five-year HR strategy to achieve the vision of Pearson becoming a global mega hub airport. Duffey led HR and Corporate Services teams, facilitated a holistic review and redesign of executive compensation, delivered the annual executive succession plan, and brokered the CEO succession process. She also led workforce restructuring and talent investments, partnered with labor leaders to deliver innovative workplace programs, and achieved transformational gains in employee engagement.
Earlier in her career, Duffey held several other significant roles, including leadership positions at Torys LLP, Aviva Canada, KPMG Canada, and BMO Financial Group. Throughout these roles, she consistently demonstrated her expertise in HR strategy, talent management, leadership development, and organizational transformation.
About Ontario Health | Santé Ontario:
Ontario Health is a government agency responsible for ensuring Ontarians receive high-quality health care services where and when they need them. The organization believes in patient-centered care, health equity, and learning from the diverse communities across Ontario. Their highly skilled team applies world-class experience, knowledge, and expertise to support health care professionals and benefit all Ontarians.
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