Speaker Series Speaker
Speaker
Michael Bach Founder & CEO
Canadian Centre for Diversity and InclusionMichael Bach is nationally and internationally recognized as a thought leader and subject matter expert in the fields of diversity, inclusion and employment equity, bringing a vast knowledge of leading practices in a live setting to his work. He’s encouraging and direct, entertaining and insightful in sharing his insights with audiences across the country. His book, Birds of All Feathers: doing diversity and inclusion right is used as guide for numerous non-profits and fortune 500 companies on how to better understand and practice Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace.
Under his leadership, the Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion (CCDI) – which operates in eighteen cities across Canada and around the world – has received numerous awards for its ongoing support and consultation work, including Canadian HR Reporter’s Readers’ Choice Award in the category of Diversity/Employment Equity Consultant in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Prior to founding CCDI, Michael created and held the role of National Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for KPMG in Canada. He was responsible for the overarching diversity strategy for the firm’s operations in Canada, including the development and implementation of all diversity related programs and initiatives. During his tenure, KPMG received several prestigious diversity related awards – including being named one of Canada’s Top Employers for Diversity and one of Canada’s Best Employers for New Canadians. KPMG is the only organization that has won both awards in all five years they have been awarded.
In addition, the firm was named one of Canada’s Top Family Friendly Employers (2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2013) and the Top 40 Places Gen Y Wants to Work (2009). Regionally, they have received the Best Workplaces for Diversity as part of the Alberta’s Best Workplaces Award (2010), the Recognizing Immigrant Success in Edmonton Award (2010), and the SFU Nancy McKinstry Leadership in Diversity Award (2010).
Michael has deep experience in strategy development, stakeholder engagement, training and development, research, solution development and execution, employee engagement, data analytics, measurement and diversity scorecards, targeted recruiting strategies, marketing and communications, Employee Resource Groups, Diversity Councils, and diversity related legislation (Employment Equity Act, AODA, etc.) among other skills and experiences related to field of diversity and inclusion.
Over the course of his career, Michael has received repeated recognition for his work, including the 2009 KPMG CEO Community Excellent Award, and the 2010 IS Award Canadian HR Reporter Individual Achievement Award. In 2011 he was honoured as the Diversity Champion with the Catalyst Canada Honours Human Resources/Diversity Leader award. He also received the Women of Influence’s 2011 Canadian Diversity Champions, the 2011 Inspire Award as LGBTQ Person of the Year, the 2011 Out on Bay Street Leaders to be Proud of LGBT Advocate Workplace Award, and was named as one of the Women of Influence’s 2012 Canadian Diversity Champions.
Michael has a Post Graduate Certificate in Diversity Management from Cornell University and also holds the Cornell Certified Diversity Professional, Advanced Practitioner (CCDP/AP) designation.