For over 50 years, Frank Newman has been a driving force in Canadian Human Resources, shaping compassionate, high-performance workplaces where people thrive.

Since beginning his career in 1975, Frank has worked with organizations across Canada to build environments where the best people want to come to work every day. His pioneering advocacy for compassionate leaves helped influence the creation of Canada’s Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Leave—a vital support for thousands of Canadians caring for critically ill loved ones.

As a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), Frank has coached and developed leaders at all stages of their careers. He is one of ten consultants in Canada certified in the Great Place to Work® methodology and has helped certify numerous organizations using employee engagement and survey strategies.

Frank brings extensive leadership experience from his roles at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Texaco Canada, Semtech-Gennum Products, and Manulife, where he held progressive HR leadership positions spanning Talent Management, Labour Relations, Total Rewards, Organizational Development, Employee Communications, and Health & Wellness. His leadership helped GSK earn “50 Best Employers in Canada” status for over a decade.

Frank’s work has been especially impactful during times of change, including mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, and downsizings. His practical, values-based HR strategies have helped organizations remain people-focused while navigating significant transitions. He also led the creation of a shared HR services model at GSK and contributed widely adopted best practices in employee engagement and compassionate offboarding.

Today, Frank and his expert team of HR advisors and coaches service a diverse roster of small and medium-sized businesses across Southwestern Ontario, from manufacturing and agri-business to veterinary clinics, accounting firms, musicians, and even a magician. He is a trusted advisor to leaders in IT services, trucking, brewing, professional associations, legal practices and medical clinics.  His not-for-profit clients include a wide range of charities and educational services. 

A respected speaker and community leader, Frank is:

• An HR mentor for the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
• Facilitator for the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber HR Peer to Peer Meetings
• An HR subject matter expert at Wilfrid Laurier University
• A past Board Director with the Alzheimer Society of Waterloo-Wellington

He has delivered presentations for Disrupt HR, the Canadian Institute, the Ecology of Working Life Conference, the Canadian Compensation Association, and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, the Human Resource Professional Association as well as several Chambers of Commerce and community groups. Frank has been featured on CTV Kitchener News and is a regular commentator on 570 News Radio Kitchener, where he brings clarity and context to the evolving world of work.  His upcoming book, Your Best Ten Minutes – the 5 Cs of Creative Leadership, will be published in 2026.

Beyond work, Frank enjoys writing songs on one of his many guitars, and spending time with his family and four grandchildren.  He savours his hikes along the majestic Grand River in Kitchener.  These moments of music, family, and connection with nature support the optimism and practical focus on continual development he aims to share with others.