Nicole Picton

Nicole Picton is a Human Resources leader with 12 years of experience across the public and non-profit sectors. Nicole joined Ottawa Tourism in 2021, and serves as the Director, People & Culture, where she leads transformative HR strategies focused on the future of work, succession planning, employee wellbeing, and organizational change.

A trusted strategic business partner, Nicole brings deep expertise in performance management, talent acquisition and retention, and cultivating inclusive, high-performing workplace cultures. Her commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion has helped Ottawa Tourism earn notable recognition, including nominations as one of the Best Places to Work in the National Capital Region (2022 & 2024) and the BambooHR Employee Experience Maker of the Year (2024).

Nicole holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from the University of Guelph and the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation. She also teaches in the Human Resources Graduate Certificate program at Algonquin College, empowering the next generation of HR professionals. Additionally, she serves as a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) Course Facilitator for the Human Resources & Culture Transformation elective.

Nicole has presented on topics such as human resources and culture transformation, hybrid work, talent pool redefinition, and career development at prominent events including Destinations International, the International Congress and Convention Association, and media outlets like CTV Ottawa Morning Live, CBC, and Slice.ca.

A lifelong learner passionate about innovation, Nicole embraces adaptability and collaboration as core leadership values. She has recently explored daring leadership principles to foster resilience, openness, and intentionality within teams. Her vision is grounded in shaping workplaces that are future-ready, equitable, and deeply human.