This speaker session will explore the growing pressures facing the nursing workforce particularly retention challenges, workplace well-being, and staffing constraints. Grounded in a Two-Eyed Seeing approach, the discussion will examine how integrating Indigenous and Western knowledge systems can strengthen relationship-centred leadership, foster cultural safety, support more sustainable workforce models and manage health care delivery costs. Participants will gain insight into how relational approaches to leadership can enhance workforce resilience, improve staff experience, and ultimately support high-quality, patient-centred care in increasingly complex healthcare environments.
Featured Speakers:
Annj Ridsdale-Weddell, Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Association of Nurses (AAN)
Annj Ridsdale-Weddell is a registered nurse and healthcare leader with more than 30 years of experience spanning clinical practice, government, academia, regulatory and health system leadership. In June 2026, Annj will graduate from the University of Calgary’s Doctor of Nursing program where her research focus was on solutions to Canada’s nursing retention challenge. Currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Alberta Association of Nurses (AAN), Annj brings both frontline experience and strategic policy expertise to the role. She continues to practice as a registered nurse in palliative hospice and continuing care, and embraces every opportunity to speak directly with nurses, ensuring her leadership remains grounded in the realities of patient care and the working environments faced by nurses across Alberta. Prior to joining AAN, Annj served as Director, Home and Community Care with Alberta Health, leading provincial direction for the integration of home and community services across the system. Previously, Annj served as Director of Health Workforce Data Analytics and Reporting with Alberta Health. Her work has included leadership roles on national initiatives, including chairing Health Canada’s Retention and Mental Health of the Health Workforce Working Group and consulting with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) to develop the Personal Care Provider National Occupational Standard. Throughout her nursing career, Annj has developed a strong understanding of how policy decisions impact care delivery at the bedside and she has a realistic view of what it takes to strengthen clinical care and the nursing workforce needed to deliver care. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes collaboration, evidence-informed decision-making, and amplifying the voices of nurses and patients within healthcare system conversations.
John Larmet, CHE
John is a healthcare leader with over 27 years of clinical and leadership experience. His work has spanned acute care, ambulatory care, cancer care, and most recently professional practice and learning. He has a passion for operational excellence, innovation and transformation, patient safety and quality improvement. John is a Registered Nurse and is focusing on completing his doctoral studies in nursing at the University of Calgary. He holds a CHE designation within the CCHL, and an EXTRA fellowship in quality improvement with HealthCare Excellence Canada. John is joining us today to discuss values based leadership and why relationships matter.
FEES:
CCHL Member: $10
Non-Member: $15
