Leadership Without Limits – Lessons from Women Who Lead First

  • October 23, 2026
  • 12:00pm-1:00pm
  • Hilton Garden Inn -- 1870 Matheson Blvd, Mississauga, ON L4W 0B3
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Join us for this general session over lunch as accomplished women leaders from diverse backgrounds, many of whom have been among the first women to step into their roles, share their experiences, lessons learned, and perspectives on leadership, resilience, breaking barriers, and creating meaningful change while helping pave the way for those who follow.

Captain (Ret'd) Sandra Perron (CAF), Deputy Chief Michele Fitzsimmons (FDNY), and Battalion Chief Dena Ali (Raleigh Fire Department) will be joined by other inspiring women leaders for this engaging and thought-provoking conversation.

Lunch will be served during the session at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Following the panel, delegates will board shuttles to FESTI for the afternoon's hands-on (HOT) training and in-class educational sessions.

Sandra Perron

Sandra Perron is a retired Canadian Armed Forces officer, author, and advocate for women veterans. As Canada's first female infantry officer, she broke barriers while serving in one of the military's most demanding leadership roles, paving the way for future generations of women in the Armed Forces.

Following her military career, Sandra founded Pepper Pod, a retreat centre dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of women veterans. She is also the bestselling author of Out Standing in the Field: A Memoir by Canada's First Female Infantry Officer, and her remarkable journey has been brought to the screen in the feature film Out Standing.

Throughout her career, Sandra has demonstrated exceptional resilience, courage, and leadership in the face of adversity. Her work continues to inspire others through her commitment to service, supporting veterans, and advancing women in leadership.

Dena Ali

Dena Ali is a Battalion Chief with the Raleigh (NC) Fire Department. She also serves as the program manager of Behavioral Health for the First Responder Center for Excellence. Ali holds a degree from North Carolina State University and an MPA from the University of North Carolina—Pembroke, where her research focused on firefighter suicide. She is an Executive Fire Officer Program graduate through the National Fire Academy. Throughout her career, she has received several awards, one of the most notable being the NC Office of State Fire Marshal Honor, Courage, and Valor Award. She earned this award for her steadfast efforts to bring awareness to firefighter mental health through her vulnerability. Dena is the author of the Fire Engineering bestselling book Hope out of Darkness ~ A Guide to First Responder Mental Wellness

Michele Fitzsimmons

Deputy Chief Michele Fitzsimmons is the highest-ranking female in FDNYs Fire Operations. She is the first female firefighter to reach the rank of Deputy Chief in the history of the FDNY. She joined the FDNY May of 2021. During her career she has been an instructor at the Fire Academy, a member of the Family Assistance Unit, a Peer Fitness Firefighter Trainer, a part of the FDNY’s Mental Performance Initiative and a Cohost of the JoinFDNY Podcast.

Chief Fitzsimmons is a graduate of the FDNY Officers Management Institute, an FDNY program collaboration with Columbia University. She has lectured at Wharton Business School and University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate Program. She was a guest on Leadership Under Fire’s Optimizing Human Performance Podcast and the FDNY Pro Podcast. She has instructed classes at Fire Service Women of Ontario, Women in Fire and Fire Service Women of NYS’s annual conferences.