HR Consultants in Toronto to Watch for in 2025

Toronto HR Experts to Know in 2025

Toronto is a city that builds—and the people who power that building are more important than ever.

As Canada’s business capital and one of North America’s fastest-growing hubs for tech, financial services, healthcare, and creative industries, Toronto is a talent-driven economy. Its employers face complex challenges: recruiting across a competitive, multicultural labour market; navigating hybrid work and employee well-being expectations; building equitable and inclusive cultures; and staying compliant with evolving labour laws.

That’s where today’s best HR consultants come in.

In 2025, Toronto’s HR leaders are doing much more than writing handbooks. They’re shaping the culture of the city’s most innovative companies and most respected institutions—helping them attract top talent, support employee well-being, scale effectively, and build workplaces that reflect Toronto’s spirit of diversity and inclusion.

At Digital Reference, we’ve spent months researching this space. Our team looked beyond basic credentials to spotlight consultants who are strategic partners for their clients—people whose work makes a lasting difference across talent, culture, leadership, and operational outcomes.

Our methodology included:

• Analysis of consultant leadership approach and client impact
  
  
• Review of public testimonials and work examples
  
  
• Mapping of ecosystem influence across sectors (tech, professional services, healthcare, nonprofit, education, etc.)
  
  
• Alignment with future-facing HR priorities: DEI, employee well-being, hybrid work strategy, HR tech integration
  
  

Before we dive in, check out:
👉 HR Consultants in the USA to Watch
👉 What HR Consultants Actually Do

Meet the HR Consultants Shaping Toronto’s Workplaces

Tom Nickalls

Founder, Castle HR
LinkedIn | Website

For Tom Nickalls, founding Castle HR wasn’t just a career pivot—it was a mission born out of personal experience. After spending decades in high-growth leadership roles, building a sales team from 0 to 40 and generating over $50M in sales, Tom faced a professional setback that many experience but few talk about: an unprofessional and deeply unsettling termination in 2018.

That moment became a catalyst. Through candid conversations with his network, Tom saw that this wasn’t an isolated story—in fact, it reflected a larger cultural shift underway in the world of work. Power was moving toward employees, and people expected more from the companies and leaders they chose to work with.

Recognizing this, Tom became obsessed with one question: How can HR strategy evolve to meet the new expectations of a modern workforce?

In 2019, he launched Castle HR, determined to build a firm where Modern HR Strategies weren’t just buzzwords—they were operationalized and scalable. Tom and his team spent years rigorously researching the HR market, testing solutions, and building proprietary frameworks from the ground up. The result: a repeatable, customizable HR model that helps companies build cultures where people thrive.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 Designing modern HR strategies aligned with today’s employee expectations
 📈 Implementing performance review frameworks that fuel engagement and accountability
 📊 Leveraging HR data tracking and technology integrations for continuous improvement
 🤝 Building talent pipelines and scalable employee referral programs

Castle HR’s growth has mirrored its impact. The firm has expanded from two people to a team of 23+ (with plans to exceed 30+ in 2024), supported over 100 client companies, and become a destination employer for senior HR leaders—with a waitlist of professionals eager to join.

Tom’s leadership is grounded in the belief that business success depends on culture: attracting top talent, onboarding them intentionally, and investing in their development. His mission today is clear: help 1,000 companies build high-performance teams using the modern HR strategies that employees now expect and deserve.

Paola Accettola

CEO & Principal Consultant, True North HR
LinkedIn | Website

At True North HR, Paola Accettola leads with a core belief: prioritizing employee well-being is the surest path to long-term organizational success.

With over 25 years of HR leadership experience, Paola has honed an approach that seamlessly blends analytical rigor with human-centered strategy. Known for her razor-sharp critical and analytical skills, she excels at identifying hidden opportunities in an organization’s HR practices—and turning them into innovative, sustainable solutions.

Every engagement at True North HR begins with deep listening and a comprehensive business analysis. Rather than offering off-the-shelf answers, Paola works closely with leadership to understand their unique context, then designs HR strategies that foster employee well-being, equitable practices, and strong financial performance.

Her philosophy is simple yet powerful: happy employees create healthy workplaces—and healthy workplaces drive profitability. This ethos informs every project she undertakes, from policy design to leadership coaching to cultural transformation.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 Conducting comprehensive HR assessments to identify gaps and opportunities
 🌱 Designing equitable policies and practices that enhance engagement and retention
 ⚖️ Building inclusive, sustainable workplace cultures grounded in diversity, equity, and well-being
 📈 Driving results with data-backed HR solutions aligned to business performance

Paola’s leadership style is rooted in trust, empathy, and excellence. She fosters genuine partnerships with clients—empowering them to achieve HR independence while continuously elevating the experience of their workforce.

At True North HR, she champions sustainable solutions, knowing that employee well-being is not just an HR initiative—it’s a cornerstone of a company’s competitive edge. And she does it all while infusing the process with joy: Paola believes that when HR work is approached with passion and positivity, it fosters creativity, collaboration, and a true sense of belonging.

Her clients trust her not just for her deep HR expertise, but for her unwavering commitment to building progressive, people-first workplaces where both employees and businesses thrive.

Effie Tsergas

Founder, TSERGAS Human Capital
LinkedIn | Website

For over 30 years, Effie Tsergas has been a force for positive organizational behavior—bringing energy, expertise, and deep integrity to every engagement.

In 2014, she founded TSERGAS Human Capital, a boutique HR consultancy grounded in the belief that every company deserves customized, practical, and results-driven HR solutions. Effie and her team serve clients across Canada and the U.S., from global tech companies and law firms to nonprofits and growth-stage businesses.

Effie is especially known for her impact in the legal sector—where she has supported some of Canada’s top firms through strategic HR planning, culture transformations, and complex workplace investigations. But her expertise spans far beyond legal: with a background in HR, employment law, public relations, marketing communications, and organizational behavior, she brings a truly multidisciplinary lens to her work.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 Targeted recruitment & full-cycle talent acquisition
 🧭 Strategic HR planning aligned with leadership vision & mission
 ⚖️ Workplace investigations & legal-risk mitigation
 📋 Employee relations, engagement, and affective commitment coaching
 🌱 Change management & growth-stage transformation
 🤝 Leadership coaching, training & special project HR management

What sets Effie apart is her effervescent personality and her unwavering dedication to HR best practices. She’s more than a consultant—she’s a trusted advisor to CEOs, Managing Partners, and leadership teams navigating complex HR landscapes. Whether designing workplace efficiency models, coaching senior leaders, or conducting workplace investigations with rigor and empathy, Effie brings both strategy and heart to the table.

At the core of TSERGAS Human Capital’s work is a values-driven approach: transparency, agility, accountability, and authentic partnership. Effie believes that HR done well isn’t about process alone—it’s about building cultures where people and businesses thrive together.

Her long list of clients, repeat partnerships, and glowing testimonials speak to a simple truth: when you work with Effie, you’re not just hiring an HR consultant. You’re gaining a seasoned strategist and a true champion for organizational excellence.

Cierra James‑Hahn

Senior HR Management Consultant, TSERGAS Human Capital
LinkedIn | Website

Cierra James‑Hahn brings a refreshing blend of rigor, compassion, and versatility to her role as Senior HR Management Consultant at TSERGAS Human Capital. With deep expertise across nearly every dimension of HR, Cierra is driven by one clear purpose: helping both employers and employees reach their full potential.

Known for her exceptional ability to deliver thoughtful, high-impact human capital solutions, Cierra takes a highly personalized approach to every engagement. Whether she’s designing recruitment and onboarding systems, refining compensation and benefits frameworks, or guiding companies through complex compliance and legal matters, Cierra always operates with integrity, empathy, and excellence.

She advises clients across a wide range of industries—including energy, healthcare, IT, legal, logistics, non-profit, manufacturing, mining, real estate, sports, startups, supply chain, and technology—and is valued for her ability to quickly understand each company’s unique HR needs and organizational dynamics.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 Full-cycle recruitment & onboarding strategy design
 📋 HR management & strategic workforce planning
 ⚖️ Policy development & compliance leadership with a strong ethics-first approach
 🤝 Compensation & benefits design + payroll administration
 🌱 Health & safety program development and administration
 🧭 Fractional HR leadership for scaling organizations and complex projects

Cierra is especially known for her extraordinary commitment to ethics and legal compliance—an essential asset in today’s fast-evolving HR landscape. Whether navigating sensitive HR challenges or proactively designing best-in-class programs, she brings clarity, confidence, and trusted guidance to every project.

Her industry versatility, paired with her genuine desire to help others succeed, makes Cierra an invaluable resource to TSERGAS Human Capital’s clients. Time and again, organizations turn to her not just for technical HR expertise, but for her collaborative spirit, human-first mindset, and unwavering dedication to fostering positive, high-performing workplaces.

Ashley Thiel

Principal HR Consultant, AugmentHR
LinkedIn | Website

Ashley Thiel brings more than 17 years of hands-on HR leadership, strategic insight, and a true educator’s spirit to her work as a Principal HR Consultant at AugmentHR. Known for her dynamic expertise in employee relations, organizational development, and leadership coaching, Ashley is the type of HR partner who helps clients not only meet today’s challenges—but build stronger cultures for tomorrow.

Ashley began her career in New York City at a Fortune 500 company, managing HR operations across the U.S. Her career path since has included senior leadership roles at powerhouse brands like Foot Locker Inc., Ralph Lauren Corp., Aritzia, and Hudson’s Bay Company—building a track record of success in talent management, organizational strategy, and leadership development across both U.S. and Canadian markets.

Today at AugmentHR, Ashley serves clients in a consultative and flexible model—helping startups, scaling firms, and mature organizations access high-impact HR expertise on demand. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Conestoga College, where she teaches Human Resource and Organizational Behaviour courses, empowering the next generation of HR leaders with practical insights from her own extensive experience.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 Leadership training & development for managers at all levels
 📋 Organizational strategy & culture transformation
 ⚖️ HR compliance guidance across U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions
 🤝 Recruitment & onboarding strategy for scaling organizations
 💼 Compensation benchmarking & market competitiveness analysis
 📈 Fractional HR leadership for startups & fast-growth environments

Ashley is particularly passionate about leadership development—helping organizations build strong, capable leaders through thoughtful training, coaching, and alignment of leadership practices with company values and culture.

She is also well-versed in HR compliance, bringing a nuanced understanding of federal, provincial, and local employment regulations to her work with both U.S.-based and Canadian clients—a vital asset for today’s increasingly cross-border organizations.

As part of the broader Humanis Advisory Group, AugmentHR offers clients access to one of Canada’s most extensive Total Talent Solutions networks—enabling Ashley and her colleagues to support clients not only with core HR strategy, but also with executive search, recruitment, outplacement services, and innovative team-building experiences.

What truly sets Ashley apart is her educator’s mindset and human-first leadership style. Whether advising C-suite leaders, building training frameworks, or guiding new HR practitioners in the classroom, Ashley is consistently focused on one thing: helping people and organizations unlock their full potential—and do it in a way that fosters sustainable, inclusive, and high-performance cultures.

Doren Barak

Founder, FocusHR
LinkedIn | Website

Doren Barak is one of Toronto’s most trusted HR leaders for businesses navigating change, growth, and complexity. As Founder of FocusHR, she brings more than 20 years of proven success across Canadian and U.S. markets—offering clients highly customized, flexible HR solutions designed to fit the pace and stage of their business.

Doren’s HR career began with GE Capital Canada, where she graduated from GE’s prestigious HR Leadership Program and honed her skills in strategic HR planning and leadership development. She later led HR initiatives at major organizations like Whirlpool Corporation and Bentall Kennedy (a Sun Life Financial company), building a reputation for leading people strategy through fast-paced environments and organizational change.

In founding FocusHR, Doren recognized a critical need: many small to mid-sized businesses—and cross-border companies—require expert HR leadership, but can’t always justify adding full-time headcount. FocusHR fills this gap, providing affordable, tailored HR services through both on-site and virtual engagements.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 Cross-border HR expertise (Canada-U.S.)—bridging legal & cultural landscapes
 📋 HR policies, compliance, and fundamentals for scaling companies
 ⚖️ M&A, acquisitions & post-merger HR integrations
 🤝 Interim HR management & part-time HR leadership
 📈 Talent management & leadership development strategy
 🌱 Culture & employee engagement frameworks for evolving organizations
 💼 Compensation & benefits design, benchmarking, and HR technology enablement

Doren is particularly known for her expertise in cross-border HR—helping U.S.-based companies expand into Canada and Canadian firms manage U.S. operations. She is highly adept at navigating the differences in employment law, compliance requirements, and cultural expectations across both markets—an increasingly valuable skillset in today’s global economy.

Beyond her technical expertise, Doren is valued for her process-focused mindset and collaborative leadership style. Whether guiding companies through post-merger integrations or coaching executives on talent strategy, she builds productive business relationships that enable real organizational change.

At its core, FocusHR is about helping clients achieve human capital goals—without the overhead of permanent hires. Under Doren’s leadership, the firm delivers experienced, high-impact HR solutions that scale with clients’ needs—whether through project-based consulting, interim leadership, or part-time HR management.

For companies navigating change-driven industries, growth stages, or international expansion, Doren is the kind of calm, strategic partner you want by your side.

Lynn Brown

Founder & Senior Consultant, Brown Consulting Group
LinkedIn | Website

Few HR leaders bring the depth of experience and versatility that Lynn Brown offers. As Founder and Senior Consultant of Brown Consulting Group, Lynn has spent more than 30 years at the forefront of human resources strategy—building a practice grounded in practical advice, innovative thinking, and measurable results.

Since founding her Toronto-based firm in 1999, Lynn has led countless organizations—ranging from small entrepreneurial ventures to large multinational corporations—through the evolving landscape of HR strategy, compliance, and organizational development. Her passion? Helping companies maximize their most valuable asset: their people.

Brown Consulting Group operates with a clear philosophy: no one-size-fits-all solutions. Lynn and her team take a deeply consultative approach—delving into each client’s business model, culture, and goals to craft tailored HR strategies that drive both engagement and performance.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 Organizational effectiveness & process improvement
 📋 Job evaluation, pay equity, and compensation & benefits design
 ⚖️ Legislative compliance & policy development
 🤝 Employee relations & strategic HR leadership
 🧭 HR diagnostics and full-scale program assessments (HRDiagnostic™ proprietary tool)
 🌍 Industry expertise across NFP, professional services, tech, transportation, manufacturing, and more

One of Lynn’s standout innovations is her proprietary HRDiagnostic™ tool—a comprehensive framework designed to assess an organization’s HR programs, processes, and practices. This tool has helped countless organizations gain visibility into what’s working well and where improvements can be made—ultimately helping them align HR more strategically with business outcomes.

Lynn is also widely recognized for her thought leadership in the HR space. A Certified Management Consultant (CMC) and Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP), she is a frequent contributor to major publications like Workspan, HR Professional, Toronto Star, Profit Magazine, and more. Her insights on HR trends, compliance, and culture have made her a go-to expert for national media.

Prior to founding Brown Consulting Group, Lynn held several senior HR leadership roles in corporate environments—building HR strategies aligned with business needs, leading national recruitment campaigns, and managing complex HR integrations during M&A activity.

Today, through Brown Consulting Group, she partners with clients across a diverse range of industries—including financial services, professional services, NFP, insurance, media & entertainment, construction, transportation, and high tech—helping them build stronger, more resilient organizations.

At her core, Lynn is a pragmatic strategist who believes that HR excellence is about actionable insights, not just theory. Whether coaching senior leaders, redesigning compensation structures, or conducting comprehensive HR assessments, she brings a wealth of knowledge, an eye for innovation, and a deep commitment to empowering organizations to thrive through their people.

Adriana Scali

Founder & Chief Human Resources Officer, LinkHR Inc.
LinkedIn | Website

For Adriana Scali, helping organizations create great workplaces is more than a profession—it's her mission. As Founder and Chief Talent Strategist at LinkHR Inc., Adriana is passionate about delivering customized, flexible HR solutions that allow small and mid-sized businesses to thrive—regardless of size or budget.

A Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) with the Human Resources Professionals Association, Adriana brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience to her consulting practice. Before launching LinkHR in 2015, she led the HR function for organizations large and small, driving strategic HR planning, talent acquisition and retention, compliance, performance management, and leadership development across a wide range of industries.

Adriana’s expertise spans technology, healthcare, finance, retail, construction, manufacturing, warehouse and distribution, social services, and the not-for-profit sector—giving her a broad lens on what it takes to build sustainable people strategies across diverse environments.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 Fractional and on-demand HR leadership for growing companies
 📋 HR strategy, policy development, and compliance leadership
 🤝 Talent acquisition, retention, and performance management
 ⚖️ Emotional intelligence coaching (EQ-i Certified)
 🌱 Leadership training and coaching for first-time and seasoned managers
 📈 HR support for scaling organizations across varied sectors

At LinkHR, Adriana leads a team of consultants who serve as an extension of each client’s business—delivering on-demand, fractional HR expertise tailored to the specific needs and pace of each organization. Her personal commitment is to make HR strategy accessible and impactful, helping organizations achieve great results without the need for a full-time HR department.

Adriana is also a certified EQ-i coach and experienced corporate trainer, with a particular passion for developing leadership capabilities across organizations. She believes that emotional intelligence and people-first leadership are critical ingredients for modern organizational success, and her coaching helps leaders at all levels grow in these areas.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Adriana brings heart and humanity to everything she does. A nature lover and avid outdoorswoman, she enjoys hiking with her family and competes in dragon boat racing on lakes across Ontario. And yes—she’s also a lifelong Disney fan (finally fulfilling her dream of meeting Minnie Mouse in person!).

Whether coaching leaders, designing strategic HR frameworks, or building out scalable talent processes, Adriana is a trusted partner to organizations that want to build workplaces where people and business thrive—together.

Chantal Williamson

HR Consultant, iHR Advisory Services
LinkedIn | Website

Chantal Williamson knows exactly what it takes to build modern HR programs that drive both business outcomes and positive employee experiences—and she brings that expertise to every client she partners with at iHR Advisory Services.

With a background that spans premium consumer brands, high-growth startups, and corporate leadership roles, Chantal offers a rare blend of strategic insight and hands-on operational experience. Before moving into HR consulting, she led HR functions for BMW Group Canada and Starbucks Coffee Canada, and later scaled the HR department at a high-growth electric vehicle startup—overseeing a headcount increase of more than 165 employees while supporting the opening of 10 new retail locations and 3 corporate offices.

At iHR, Chantal partners with business owners and leadership teams across industries—helping them modernize HR, improve culture and employee experience, and stay ahead of compliance and risk. She’s known for her strategic mindset and her ability to design HR programs that align tightly with organizational goals and values.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 Building and operationalizing HR programs, policies, and processes
 📋 Performance management, organizational development, and talent strategy
 🤝 Employee experience design & culture enhancement
 ⚖️ Compliance leadership & risk mitigation for scaling companies
 🌱 Compensation, total rewards, and wellness program development
 📈 Strategic HR consulting for fast-growing organizations & startups

Chantal is passionate about helping leaders create a culture that supports both productivity and employee well-being—and she brings a practical, people-centered lens to everything from HR strategy to day-to-day process design. Clients especially value her ability to bridge business priorities with modern HR practices, helping organizations attract and retain top talent while safeguarding compliance and fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture.

At iHR, Chantal also embodies the firm’s ethos of being an accessible, trusted HR ally—available when clients need her most. She understands that HR challenges aren’t always predictable—and is known for her responsiveness, clarity, and collaborative style.

And while she brings deep rigor to her work, Chantal also makes the process fun and engaging—encouraging clients to actively participate in shaping their HR strategies, and helping leaders feel confident and supported throughout the journey.

For companies navigating growth, transformation, or cultural evolution, Chantal is exactly the kind of strategic HR partner and trusted advisor that today’s business leaders need.

Tova Bar‑Dayan

Founder, Sage HR Consulting & BD Investigations
LinkedIn | Sage HR Consulting | BD Investigations

Tova Bar‑Dayan is a powerhouse HR consultant and licensed workplace investigator with a rare ability to balance rigorous compliance and human-centered leadership. As Founder of both Sage HR Consulting Inc. and BD Investigations (a division of Sage), Tova brings more than 15 years of senior-level HR and labor relations expertise to her consulting practice—along with a deep passion for helping businesses create workplaces that are legally sound, fair, and people-first.

Tova’s career spans HR leadership in both public and private sectors—including large manufacturers, public healthcare organizations, service industries, and a major Canadian public agency. Her experience includes both unionized and non-unionized environments, and she has partnered extensively with executive teams to lead strategic HR programs and navigate sensitive workplace issues.

In 2017, recognizing that many businesses lack the internal resources to proactively manage complex HR matters, Tova launched Sage HR Consulting. Since then, she has advised companies of all sizes—especially private and family-owned businesses—on everything from policy development and labor relations to compliance, workplace culture, and proactive risk management.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 Licensed workplace investigations (harassment, violence, discrimination, and more)
 📋 Employee & labor relations strategy across unionized and non-unionized environments
 ⚖️ Compliance leadership & policy development for proactive risk management
 🤝 Mediation, progressive discipline, and restorative workplace practices
 🌱 HR program design for private and family-owned businesses
 📈 Strategic HR partnering with C-suite & executive leadership

Tova is particularly well known for her work in workplace investigations and restorative programs—an area where her expertise is both highly sought after and deeply needed. In 2021, recognizing the increasing demand for trustworthy, impartial, and trauma-informed investigations, Tova founded BD Investigations to offer a specialized service line for organizations navigating sensitive issues such as harassment, workplace bullying, racism, misconduct, and more.

Her investigations work is informed by real-world experience conducting cases that could have resulted in significant litigation or reputational risk—and she takes great pride in ensuring that her processes are thorough, impartial, and people-first.

Beyond investigations, Tova provides comprehensive HR consulting through Sage HR Consulting—helping companies proactively strengthen policies, modernize practices, and build cultures of accountability and respect. She is also passionate about educating the next generation of HR leaders, having served as a part-time course instructor at York University.

For organizations seeking an HR leader who can navigate complexity, mitigate risk, and champion human-centered culture, Tova offers a level of depth, rigor, and strategic partnership that is truly exceptional.

Aline Ayoub

President & CEO, Aline Ayoub HR Consulting
LinkedIn | Website

Aline Ayoub brings a rare blend of corporate HR leadership, entrepreneurial savvy, and coaching expertise to every client engagement. As President & CEO of Aline Ayoub HR Consulting, she has spent the past 14+ years helping small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) navigate complex HR issues and build high-performing, people-first workplaces—without the overhead of a full-time HR department.

Aline founded her Toronto-based firm in 2011 after a long career leading HR strategy, hiring, and team development at some of Canada’s largest and most respected national retail brands. Along the way, she developed a proprietary approach—“The Power of Ayoub HR”—which combines best-in-class HR practices with a wide range of customized tools and advisory services to help SMBs solve real-world HR challenges.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 Strategic HR consulting for growing SMBs
 📋 Recruitment, hiring, and team development
 🤝 HR policy design, employee relations, and compliance leadership
 ⚖️ Risk mitigation and proactive HR issue prevention
 🌱 Leadership development, coaching, and culture building
 🧘 Wellness-minded HR leadership, integrating mindfulness and holistic practices

Aline has a deep understanding of the unique pressures facing small business owners—from managing labor shortages to navigating compliance, to simply finding the time to address HR needs while running a growing company. Her mission is simple: to help business leaders cut through complexity, build great teams, and focus on growing their business with confidence and peace of mind.

Through her firm, Aline delivers flexible, high-impact HR solutions—supporting clients with everything from recruitment and hiring to compliance, employee productivity, and HR manual development. She has helped thousands of business owners achieve significant savings and reduce risk by addressing HR issues proactively—before they become costly problems.

Aline also brings a wealth of experience as a speaker, educator, and advisor. She developed the curriculum for the HR Management Certificate for Small Business, which she delivers through the Human Resources Professionals Association. She serves on the advisory board of the Canadian Association of Marketing Professionals and previously chaired the HR Committee for the Mississauga Board of Trade.

In her personal life, Aline is a passionate advocate for holistic wellness—integrating yoga, meditation, and spinning into her daily practice. This same mindfulness-driven philosophy informs her consulting work, where she helps clients build cultures of well-being, resilience, and high performance.

For small business owners seeking a trusted, practical HR partner—someone who can help them build the kind of company that attracts talent and thrives in a competitive market—Aline is a standout choice.

Sara Maenhaut

Founder, North Star HR Solutions
LinkedIn | Website

Sara Maenhaut is the type of HR consultant who meets business owners where they are—and helps them go further than they thought possible. As the Founder of North Star HR Solutions, she brings more than 20 years of progressive HR leadership experience to her consulting practice, working with small to mid-sized companies across Canada.

Sara is passionate about helping businesses align their people strategies with business goals. A high-energy HR professional and trusted business partner, she is known for her ability to translate business challenges into actionable HR programs that improve compliance, drive engagement, and boost retention.

Before founding North Star HR, Sara built a career spanning the Financial Services, High Tech, Professional Services, HVAC, and Consumer Packaged Goods sectors—giving her the cross-industry perspective that many clients value today. She’s a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) and a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), with deep expertise in compliance, compensation strategy, and talent management.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 HR compliance and risk mitigation for growing businesses
 📋 Performance management and employee engagement
 🤝 Talent acquisition and retention strategies
 ⚖️ Organizational change leadership and culture transformation
 🌱 HR outsourcing and project-based consulting for small & mid-sized companies
 📈 Partnering with overworked HR departments to ease day-to-day workload

Through North Star HR Solutions, Sara supports both business owners without in-house HR and overstretched HR departments looking for expert support. Her services cover the full employee lifecycle—from attracting and hiring top talent, to driving performance and retention, to ensuring companies stay ahead of evolving labor laws and risk factors.

Sara’s consulting style is grounded in exceptional customer service, a results-driven mindset, and a genuine passion for helping clients succeed. She is known for her positive outlook, pragmatic approach, and problem-solving abilities—and for building lasting relationships with her clients.

Outside of her consulting work, Sara is committed to giving back to the HR community and beyond. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Peel Chapter of HRPA and volunteers with Springboard, a nonprofit that supports at-risk youth and adults through critical life transitions.

For companies across Canada—whether navigating rapid growth, regulatory complexity, or cultural change—Sara provides an invaluable guiding hand. Her clients trust her to help them build workplaces where both people and business can thrive—and to do it with both precision and heart.

Margaret Evans

Principal Consultant & Founder, Pobl Human Resource Consulting
LinkedIn | Website

Margaret Evans is the kind of HR consultant you want in your corner if your business is scaling fast, facing complex challenges, or building for the long term. As the Founder and Principal Consultant of Pobl Human Resource Consulting, she brings 20 years of strategic HR leadership to clients across the Greater Toronto Area—working primarily with small, early-stage, and rapidly growing businesses.

Margaret founded Pobl to deliver flexible, highly customized HR solutions that adapt to each client’s evolving needs. Her approach is grounded in a simple philosophy: HR should be an accelerator for business success, not a roadblock. Whether a client is navigating performance management issues, designing better internal communications, or building an HR strategy to support growth, Margaret provides both the vision and hands-on support to make it happen.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 Strategic HR leadership for small, early-stage, and scaling businesses
 📋 HR diagnostics and organizational assessments
 🤝 Workplace investigations and risk mitigation
 ⚖️ Legislative compliance and policy development
 🌱 Performance management and culture-building
 📈 M&A support, immigration guidance, and HR due diligence

Margaret’s background is as impressive as it is versatile. She holds a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation, a Bachelor of Commerce, a Master’s Degree in Industrial Relations and Human Resources, and additional advanced certifications in HR law and workplace investigations from Osgoode Hall Law School. She is also trained as a Private Investigator—giving her a unique edge when managing sensitive investigations and compliance matters.

Over the years, Margaret has built a strong network of specialized HR consultants and subject matter experts—from legal advisors and corporate communications pros to M&A consultants and career coaches. This allows Pobl to offer clients deep expertise on-demand, without the overhead of a large firm.

Clients appreciate Margaret’s ability to meet them where they are—whether that means stabilizing a young company’s HR foundation, building programs to support rapid growth, or guiding leadership teams through sensitive cultural or organizational shifts. Recent clients include brands across industries like tech, financial services, healthcare, design, construction, and nonprofit—and her client list reads like a who’s who of modern Canadian innovators (Neal Brothers, Propeller Coffee Co., Open Farm, Pure Industrial, and more).

At her core, Margaret is an advisor, coach, and strategic thought partner who believes that great HR drives great business. Through Pobl, she helps founders and leadership teams build the kind of workplaces where people thrive and performance follows.

Aileen Edwards

Founder & Principal Consultant, AME Consulting
LinkedIn | Website

Aileen Edwards is not just an HR consultant—she’s a leadership architect. As the Founder of AME Consulting, Aileen brings more than 30 years of HR consulting experience and over 8 years as an ICF-certified leadership coach to the table, helping organizations transform their people strategies into lasting impact.

Her passion? Developing resilient, inclusive, and high-performing leaders who don’t just manage—they inspire. Aileen partners with clients across sectors to deliver everything from strategic HR consulting to workforce planning, but her true superpower lies in her ability to coach leaders through the complexities of today’s workplaces.

💠 Signature Strengths:
 📍 Executive and leadership coaching for impact and presence
 🧑🏽‍🤝‍🧑🏽 Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy and facilitation
 🛠️ Workforce planning, succession management, and talent acquisition
 🗂️ Dispute resolution and workplace investigations
 💬 Communication and team dynamics coaching
 🤝 Employee and labour relations optimization

Aileen’s coaching style is direct yet supportive—she challenges leaders to think differently, build confidence, and take intentional action toward their goals. Whether helping executives navigate complex workplace dynamics, strengthening emotional intelligence in leadership, or driving engagement across teams, Aileen approaches each engagement with a deep focus on human connection and growth.

Her background is equally impressive. Aileen is a seasoned HR strategist, certified coach, and experienced facilitator in DEI conversations. She works with both individual leaders and leadership teams, blending strategic insight with a people-first lens to foster cultures of inclusion, engagement, and high performance.

Through AME Consulting, Aileen offers a wide array of services, including leadership coaching, talent acquisition, succession planning, employee relations, and workplace investigations. Her workshops on DEI and communication effectiveness help organizations navigate bias, improve team dynamics, and create healthy, thriving work environments.

What sets Aileen apart is her deep belief that leadership is a lifelong journey. She partners with clients to build leadership capabilities that not only drive business results but also elevate the human experience within organizations. Her mantra? “Is your talent thriving, or just surviving?”—a question she helps her clients answer with clarity, compassion, and action.

Toronto's HR: Builders of Sustainable & Inclusive Workplaces

Toronto's HR professionals aren’t just plugging gaps—they’re designing systems that scale with purpose, speed, and inclusivity. They help align leadership, embed equity, build remote readiness, and create cultures that stand the test of growth—and time.

These consultants represent Toronto’s best-learning, adapting, strategically-led HR leadership.

A Note from Digital Reference

At Digital Reference, we surface the operators who quietly and consistently drive organizational outcomes. We don’t just list capabilities—we spotlight people who build real culture, coach real leaders, and design real systems.

Our mission is to build a visual talent intelligence platform where credibility and proof matter. We help HR consultants showcase their real-world impact—so that clients can find partners, not providers.

Want deeper context or stories about the people you saw here? Our site has more:
👉 HR Consultants in the USA to Watch
👉 How Digital Reference Works

If you know a Toronto HR consultant doing amazing work—we’d love to meet them. If you’re one of them? You’re already in the right place.