Cristal Glass-Painchaud

Chief Human Resources Officer & Executive Director, People & Culture

Leadership Team Member

Biography

Cristal Glass-Painchaud is the Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Director of People & Culture at Red Deer Polytechnic. In this dual role, she leads RDP’s people strategy and oversees inclusive, future-focused HR practices that support employee engagement, operational excellence, and the Polytechnic’s 2030 Strategic Plan.

Cristal brings leadership experience across post-secondary education, health sector, and industry, grounded in a career that began in teaching and is driven by a passion for people development. She has held a variety of academic and leadership roles, including faculty member, PLAR Facilitator, Continuing Education Consultant, and Director of the Centre for Minerals Innovation at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. A temporary role as a Training Advisor at a remote uranium mine with AREVA Resources sparked her lasting interest in workforce development and human resources.

She later held senior HR roles in British Columbia, including Director of Human Resources at Baptist Housing and Associate Vice President, Human Resources at Royal Roads University. Her expertise includes workforce strategy, labour relations, leadership development, and organizational change.

Education

Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR)
HRM Post-Grad Certificate, Simon Fraser University
Graduate Certificate in Leadership, Royal Roads University
B.Ed., University of Saskatchewan