HRmatters www.cphrmb.ca 14 O THE NEW FELLOW CPHR IN MANITOBA On April 4, 2019, we had the honour of recognizing and celebrating our newest Fellow CPHR, Roma Thorlakson, at the HR Excellence Awards 2019. Upon being presented with the certificate recognizing her as an FCPHR, Thorlakson took a moment to thank key individuals in the room for their supportive role in her journey and the collective efforts of CPHR Manitoba members, HR professionals and advocates in supporting the advancement of the HR profession in Manitoba. Thorlakson’s journey began in 2011 when she became a Board member with the Human Resource Management Association of Manitoba Inc. (HRMAM), which was rebranded as CPHR Manitoba in 2017. When she joined, the Association was at a key point in its life cycle, facing a financial crisis and a critical turning point in its vision. “At my second meeting, the Board had to face the fact that the Association was in financial strain and had a six- month window to turn things around,” says Thorlakson. “Ron Gauthier (CEO of CPHR Manitoba) presented us with a deficit reduction plan that focused on reducing expenses and increasing revenue in key areas. With a plan in place, the Board decided to meet every week during this turbulent time. Once things were stabilized, we turned our attention to reviewing the governance model, and as Chair Elect I was tasked with moving this project forward. This involved developing clearer roles for the Board, officers and CEO to establish the governance model that is still used to this day. Thorlakson, along with Gauthier and then-Chair Yvonne Thompson, worked with the Board to ensure that each person’s diverse views could be shared, each person felt By CPHR Manitoba supported and that the Board collectively worked together under one voice. After the Association moved past the financial crisis and good governance had been established, the Board went to work on a new five-year strategic plan that focused on elevating the profile of the HR profession and Association. Then on a cold, Sunday afternoon, amongst stacks of unread reports, Thorlakson came across a professional practice analysis document that outlined the HR profession and what makes the industry and an industry- specific designation credible. “This report ignited passion around what our designation (now CPHR) means – it’s all here and I could see what we needed to do to elevate our HR profession. We just needed a champion to reinforce credibility and build on the importance of self-regulation.” As Chair of CPHR Manitoba, Thorlakson championed the Association’s goal to become self-regulated. She developed the Terms of Reference for the self-regulation steering committee; led the committee, Board and staff away from any uncertainties; and guided them harmoniously onto a path that was committed to the strategic goals. Meanwhile, at the national level, the Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations (CCHRA) – rebranded as CPHR Canada in 2017 – was also at a crossroads. In 2014, Ontario left the national body and launched a three-tiered designation model; the other provinces had to decide to either follow suit or stay with CCHRA. As the Board Chair of HRMAM and Board Member of CCHRA, Thorlakson played a key role in helping other Board members decide