What’s Next? From Full-Time Leadership to your Purposeful Third Act – Session 2

Date: September 15, 2026
Register Now!

Offered in partnership with Purposeful Third Act (P3A).

The series will explore how to leverage a lifetime of strategic insight and networks to build a meaningful ‘portfolio’ of engagement – ranging from board service and advisory roles to civic leadership – and the societal benefit that ensues from leveraging leadership capital. Participants will be encouraged to view this transition as a period of active discovery, exploring how to align their skills and interests with new opportunities for impact and personal fulfillment.

Designing your Purposeful Third Act: How Executives can build their next chapter through practical pathways

Building on the mindset shift from Session 1, this session focuses on how to begin shaping a next chapter in practical terms.

Through real-world examples and peer perspectives, participants will explore the different ways leaders are translating their experience into meaningful engagement—across sectors, roles, and types of contribution.

The session will introduce a simple framework to help participants begin connecting three elements:

  • Their experience, strengths, and networks
    Areas of interest, curiosity, or purpose
    Opportunities to contribute in ways that are both meaningful and sustainable

The discussion will:

  • Highlight diverse pathways, including advisory roles, board service, mentorship, civic engagement, and new ventures
    Emphasize that this phase is often built iteratively—through exploration, testing, and refinement
    Provide a practical tool to help participants begin designing their own approach

Participants will leave with a clearer sense of possible directions and a practical starting point for shaping their own Purposeful Third Act.

Event Details

Date & Time: September 15, 2026, 13:00 to 14:30 ET

Audience: All Public Service executives across Canada and internationally are invited to attend APEX’s learning events

Cost: Free

Language: This event will be bilingual. Simultaneous interpretation will be available via Wordly, an AI-based interpreting service.

Platform: Participants will attend our virtual event via Teams webinar. A meeting link will be sent once you are registered.

Meet the Panelists

Moderator: Zabeen Hirji
Founder, Purposeful Third Act Movement
Public & Private Sector Advisor | Board Director | Speaker
Former Chief Human Resources Officer, RBC

Zabeen Hirji is a strategic advisor to business, government, academia, and NGOs, and a thought leader in leadership, culture, purpose, the future of work, AI + human skills, and inclusion. She built a distinguished career at RBC, culminating in 10 years as Chief Human Resources Officer until her retirement in 2017.

Now in her Purposeful Third Act, she strives to create impact by activating her purpose – “to unlock human potential and build inclusive prosperity.” As Founder of the Purposeful Third Act movement, she champions this chapter as one defined by impact, learning, and joy. Her goal is to build an ecosystem that helps leaders design personalized Third Acts – leveraging their crystallized wisdom, skills, and social capital to make an impact that matters.

Her current business roles include being an Executive Advisor at Deloitte Canada, and a Senior Advisor to Knockri, an AI-enabled recruitment platform. She is Chancellor-Designate of Trent University and an Executive-in-Residence at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business. Zabeen was also Special Advisor on Public Service Renewal and values and ethics to the Clerk of the Privy Council, and Co-Chair of the City of Toronto’s Economic Development Advisory Panel.

Active in the not-for-profit sector, Zabeen serves as a Director on the Board of the Public Policy Forum, Junior Achievement Worldwide and Canadian Club Toronto. Zabeen’s honours include appointment to the Order of Ontario, the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal, the Canadian HR Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, and an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Trent University.

Learn more about Zabeen on her website or follow her on LinkedIn.

More to come.

MEMBERSHIPNot an APEX Member?