HCM Excellence Conference 2027

David Forry is a Senior Vice President and Principal Analyst at Brandon Hall Group, where he has spent nearly ten years shaping the future of Human Capital Management through research, advisory services, and thought leadership. With 15 years of experience in the HCM industry since 2010, David has authored numerous research papers, conducted executive briefings for Fortune 500 companies, and provided strategic counsel to C-suite leaders navigating complex workforce transformations.

As a recognized voice in the HCM industry, David specializes in translating data-driven insights into actionable strategies across learning and development, talent management, leadership development, DEI, talent acquisition, and HR transformation. His research focuses on emerging trends, best practices, and innovative approaches that enable organizations to build more agile, engaged, and high-performing workforces.

David’s unique perspective combines deep analytical expertise with practical business acumen, helping organizations bridge the gap between HCM strategy and measurable business outcomes. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and executive forums, where he shares evidence-based insights on the evolving workplace and the future of work.

Based in Boca Raton, Florida, David brings passion and dedication to advancing the HCM field while maintaining a strong commitment to work-life balance with his wife and three daughters.

James Spearing, originally from Bermuda, built his career internationally after earning a BA in Economics from McGill University and a Masters in Management & Professional Accounting from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. A CPA, CA, James began as an Auditor specializing in the Entertainment and Media industry before transitioning into Human Capital, Marketing, and Sales roles at PwC Canada and Australia. At Scotiabank, he has held global leadership positions heading up Talent Acquisition and as the HR Business Partner for Corporate Functions, and in March 2025, he became Chief Learning Officer. Passionate about mentorship, diversity, and employee engagement, James is also the executive sponsor of the Family Employee Resource Group. Beyond his career, he is a devoted father of nine-year-old twins and actively supports education and the arts, serving on his children’s school council and the board of Canadian Stage, a leading non-profit contemporary theatre company.

A business leader who specializes in maximizing business results through people, Lisa Calicchio leads the award-winning human resources function for WCG Clinical, one of the world’s leading professional services organizations supporting clinical research. As Chief Human Resources Officer of Human Resources, Lisa translates WCG’s business strategy to people strategies and tactics that power the workforce and culture. Her decades of global business experience – alternating between business operations and HR roles – across a diverse array of companies helps ensure WCG’s people practices help maximize the business value of the Company while promoting a high-performance, high-collaboration culture. She is relentlessly focused on turning talent into performance to drive business results and make organizations work better. Lisa’s experiences in business and HR leadership span leading public and private companies including Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Covance, Wyndham Worldwide and GAF. She holds a B.A. degree in Communications from Kean University and an MBA in Human Resources Management from Seton Hall University. She is a member of the Executive Education faculty of Rutgers University and is a guest columnist for ThriveGlobal. Lisa’s other job? Turning life experiences and into life lessons and applying them to business circumstances, helping leaders and non-leaders everywhere make their respective organizations work better. Her life is her laboratory, and she shares learnings from life lessons major and minor to help people bring their best selves to the world every day.