Lara Speirs, ICD.D, GCB.D

I am a fluently bilingual legal executive and ICD.D and GCB.D (ESG) designated board member, with a 25-year legal career that has spanned several industries and multiple jurisdictions including: professional services, human resources, digital solutions, financial services, public broadcasting & media, crown corporations and government. In addition to serving as CLO, my other areas of expertise include public affairs, HR governance and controls, talent management, risk & compliance and data governance (privacy & responsible AI).  Through multi-stakeholder collaboration and a high EQ leadership style, I seek to drive growth and innovation while protecting the business by anticipating and mitigating risks and developing business-first and practical solutions.

As a multi-award winning Chief Legal Officer, I have been recognized for my dedication in promoting purpose-driven executive strategies, creating sustainable & equitable workplaces and elevating and connecting the Canadian women general counsel community.  My recent awards include:
- the inaugural Vanguard Award & WGCC Hall of Distinction awarded by the Canadian General Counsel Awards (2025), 
- the North American Top 50 Women Chief Legal Officers of 2025 (Women We Admire), 
- the General Counsel Award issued by the Women's Law Association of Ontario (2024), and
- WXN Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the c-suite executive category (2023).  

I am an active board member of Women General Counsel Canada, serving as it past Chair (2023-2025).   My other board and advisory experiences include:  Human Capital Council of CD Howe Institute, chair of the Randstad Charity Foundation; board member of the Side Launch Brewery, governance advisor to the Board for Club de Jeunesse des Lac Inc and former Chair of the HR Committee and board member of Boost Youth & Child Advocacy Centre.

Before serving as Chief Legal Officer & EVP Public Affairs at Randstad Canada, I was in-house counsel, with expertise in HR governance, compliance, policy development, data privacy, labour & employment and enterprise risk management. After graduating from McGill University with both common law and civil law degrees, I started my career as a constitutional litigator with the Department of Justice. I obtained my BAH (psychology and health) magna cum laude from Queens University.

As a multi-award winning Chief Legal Officer, I have been recognized for my dedication in promoting purpose-driven executive strategies, creating sustainable & equitable workplaces and elevating and connecting the Canadian women general counsel community.  My recent awards include:
- the inaugural Vanguard Award & WGCC Hall of Distinction awarded by the Canadian General Counsel Awards (2025), 
- the North American Top 50 Women Chief Legal Officers of 2025 (Women We Admire), 
- the General Counsel Award issued by the Women's Law Association of Ontario (2024), and
- WXN Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the c-suite executive category (2023).  

McGill University Law School