CPKC Women In Leadership Summit

See you in Edmonton!
Championing Change
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Fairmont Hotel Macdonald | 10065 100 St NW, Edmonton, AB
For ticket purchasing or any inquiries on the 2026 event, please contact cpkcwls@golfcanada.ca.
Event Details
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Fairmont Hotel Macdonald | 10065 100 St NW, Edmonton, AB
We are thrilled to announce the 2026 CPKC Women in Leadership Summit will be taking place in-person on Tuesday, August 18 at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald.
Hosted by Lindsay Hamilton, the Summit is a one-of-a-kind experience bringing together influential leaders from across sport and business for a powerful day of connection, inspiration and meaningful conversation. From thought-provoking panels to candid discussions on leadership and driving change, this is an opportunity to learn from and network with some of the most impactful voices in the industry.
The event will feature multiple speaker panels, a seated lunch, a charity and cheers networking session, plus an “any day” ticket to the CPKC Women’s Open at Royal Mayfair Golf Club.
- Table for eight guests – $2,750.00 + HST
- Individual tickets – $343.75 + HST
To purchase your table, individual tickets, and for event inquiries please contact: cpckwls@golfcanada.ca.
Event Schedule
Event schedule coming soon.
Confirmed Speakers
-
Lindsay HamiltonEvent Moderator, Anchor, SportscentreLindsay Hamilton joined TSN in September 2016 and is currently an anchor for SportsCentre, bringing viewers the most up-to-date news from the world of sports.
Hamilton started working in broadcasting at a young age, becoming the first host of the Family Channel in 2008. For more than five years she interviewed some of the biggest entertainment icons, athletes, and musicians across North America.
In 2012, Hamilton hosted events during the 100th Grey Cup Anniversary Week and by 2014 she joined Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment as a host for Toronto Marlies, IIHF World Juniors, and Toronto Maple Leafs games and team events.
She’s also hosted a variety of major events during her time on TSN including: The Masters, CPKC Women’s Open, FIFA Women’s World Cup, The Grey Cup, Queen’s Plate and Curling Day in Canada.
Hamilton competed in a variety of sports while growing up in Mississauga, Ontario, including playing varsity lacrosse at McMaster University and competing on Team Ontario. Today, Hamilton keeps busy with golf, squash, tennis, water-skiing, and running.
-
Craig KesslerLPGA CommissionerCraig Kessler was elected the 10th Commissioner of the LPGA in May 2025, bringing extensive leadership experience and a lifelong passion for the game of golf to one of the sport’s most influential roles.
Prior to the LPGA, Kessler served as Chief Operating Officer of the PGA of America — a 30,000-member organization known for growing the game of golf, hosting the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup. Craig was charged with overseeing all operations of the Association and the PGA’s non-profit foundation.
Before his time at the PGA of America, Kessler served as COO and Head of Emerging Concepts at Topgolf from 2016 to 2021. He played a key role in the company’s expansion, growing it from 25 to 70 locations and leading a workforce of over 25,000 employees.
Previously, Kessler also served as Chief Executive Officer of Buff City Soap, a fast-growing, experiential retail company based in Dallas. Buff City grew from 100 to 260 locations after Kessler joined as CEO. Today, the brand has stores in 32 states.
Kessler currently serves on the boards of the National Golf Foundation and the UT Southwestern hospital system. He has also served on the Dallas Mavericks Advisory Board.
Kessler earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University. He began his career with the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. He then went on to become an operating partner at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) and Providence Equity Partners, two private equity firms. During this phase of his career, Kessler worked to evaluate potential investment opportunities, and he worked side-by-side with company management teams to improve company performance.
Kessler, with the support of 40 fellow dads, authored a national best-selling book titled The Dad Advice Project. The book is a collection of stories and advice for new fathers. Kessler lives in Dallas with his wife, Nicole, and their three sons.
-
Elizabeth HuckerVice-President Sales & Marketing, BulkElizabeth Hucker became Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Bulk in February 2026. In this role, she is responsible for commercial customer relationships and product marketing for CPKC’s Bulk portfolio including grain, ethanol, potash, coal and sulphur — across Canada, United States and Mexico.
Hucker joined CPKC in 2001 and has held several positions in Marketing and Sales and Customer Service, touching all the commodities CPKC ships. Most recently as the Assistant Vice-President, Sales and Marketing for Canadian Grain. In 2026, she was recognized with a Women of Influence in Rail, Leadership by Progressive Railroading.
Hucker holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours, Marketing from the University of Ottawa.
-
Dr. Colleen NorrisLeader in Women’s Cardiovascular HealthDr. Colleen Norris is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in women’s cardiovascular health. Her career has spanned decades of research, advocacy, and system level change to improve heart health outcomes for women. A Professor and Associate Dean of Research in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta, she is a registered nurse by training and holds the Cavarzan Chair in Women’s Health Research.
In 2023, Dr. Norris made history as the first woman to receive the CIHR ICRH/Canadian Cardiovascular Society Distinguished Lecturer Award in Cardiovascular Sciences, one of Canada’s highest honours recognizing an individual’s outstanding and sustained contributions to cardiovascular research. The award acknowledges the profound impact of her work in advancing evidence informed care and policy change in Women’s cardiovascular health.
Dr. Norris’s research focuses on how biological sex and gender factors influence cardiovascular disease starting in women in their late 30’s and across the lifespan, addressing long standing gaps that have left women under diagnosed and under treated. She is a founding member and past Chair of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance Health Systems and Policy Working Group and has played a central role in elevating women’s heart health onto the national agenda.
Over her career, Dr. Norris has published more than 400 peer reviewed articles, mentored over 90 trainees, and is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, European Cardiovascular Society, and the American Heart Association. As a Heart & Stroke Prov. Advisory member, Dr. Norris was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her advocacy and mentorship in women’s heart health research. Her leadership continues to shape research, policy, and practice — ensuring that women’s heart health is recognized, understood, and prioritized.