Building a Bridge: How Employers and CDPs Can Collaborate to Address Workforce Needs in 2022

Leah Nord is the Senior Director of Workforce Strategies and Inclusive Growth at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. In this capacity, Leah leads the Chamber’s policy and projects related to industry 4.0 and the future of work and talent, employment standards and compliance and immigration. She also oversees the Canadian Chamber’s inclusive growth initiative, including the Council for Women’s Advocacy, the Indigenous Policy Committee and the Chamber’s work to support mental health wellness and accessibility. Leah will address the talent needs of Canada’s employers with a focus on small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Jim Stanford is an Economist and Director of the Centre for Future Work. He divides his time between Vancouver, B.C., and Sydney, Australia. Jim is one of Canada’s best-known economists. He served for over 20 years as Economist and Director of Policy with Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector trade union (formerly the Canadian Auto Workers). He is quoted frequently in the print and broadcast media. He has provided research and advice through numerous federal and provincial government panels and inquiries on economic policy, innovation, jobs, and social policy. Jim is recognized for his ability to communicate economic concepts in an accessible and humorous manner. Jim will address how the employment landscape has evolved in the wake of the pandemic and what decent works looks like today.

As Director of Partnerships & Experiential Learning for the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), Andrew Bieler manages all aspects of research project development and delivery. Andrew joins from the Conference Board of Canada, where he led national consultations on work-integrated learning and managed a research portfolio on experiential learning. He previously held senior research roles at Ryerson University and The Sustainability and Education Policy Network. Andrew will address the role of both post-secondary institutions and Corporate Canada in building technical and human skills.

Brien K. Convery (He/Him) is a purpose-driven, people-centric executive with over three decades of diversified and progressive global experience. As a talent leader, his work spans a wide range of industries and disciplines, in both public and private sectors. From his start in Consumer Products with The Dannon Company, Inc. and Colgate-Palmolive; to Technology, Consulting Services and Human Resources with Coopers and Lybrand, PwC and IBM; to Financial Services and Banking with the Royal Bank of Canada; and to Construction (Infrastructure, Industrial, and Concessions) with the Aecon Group, Inc., Brien has built a robust career portfolio. Brien will address innovations in recruitment and managing the employee experience. 

Dr. Candy Ho is proud to serve as Vice-Chair of CERIC. She is the inaugural Assistant Professor, Integrative Career and Capstone Learning in the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada. In this unique capacity, she teaches courses that help students consider their educational and life experiences, and how these experiences can help them achieve their short- and long-term goals, ultimately helping them design the life they want to live. She also holds teaching positions in Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Educational Studies department and in Douglas College’s Career Development Practitioner Program.

Timothy Lang is President & CEO of Youth Employment Services YES, Canada’s leading youth employment service provider, and is an accomplished leader in the private and not-for-profit sector with a record of inspiring organizations to achieve results and growth. At YES, Tim lead’s a strong team who annually empower and inspire thousands of youth through training and skills development to become contributing members of society through employment. Tim previously held senior management and executive positions with Xerox Corp., Bell Canada, Energy Savings Income Fund, and St. Francis Xavier University. Tim will address how to engage employers in hiring and supporting disadvantaged youth.

Jake Hirsch-Allen works with North America’s governments, workforce development organizations, colleges and universities, to leverage LinkedIn’s Learning Solutions and Economic Graph data to close skills gaps. Jake is a Director on the Boards of the Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity, Information and Communications Technology Council, and the Canadian Club. Jake founded Lighthouse Labs, Canada’s foremost software development bootcamp, taught Global Health at McMaster University in addition to practising international criminal law. Jake will address labour market trends, reskilling/upskilling and credential recognition

Surranna Sandy is the Chief Executive Officer of Skills for Change (SfC), a registered charity and non-profit multi-service agency in Toronto, Ontario serving 14,000 immigrants and refugees annually. Prior to becoming the CEO of SfC, Surranna enjoyed a successful career as President and founder of Surcorp Group, a career management firm with offices in Toronto and Ottawa. Having the first-hand perspective of an immigrant in a new country, Surranna found her calling in advocating for and advancing the needs of immigrants and refugees. Surranna will address the continued untapped potential for employers to recruit skilled newcomers.

Dr. Deirdre Pickerell is a nationally recognized, award-winning, industry thought-leader with close to 30 years’ experience as a career development specialist, human resource professional, and adult educator. Deirdre led Team Canada at the 7th International Symposium on Career Development and Public Policy, is co-developer of the Career Engagement model, was instrumental in establishing the Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF)-Canada credential and has designed many organizational career development initiatives. Deirdre will address the opportunity for CDPs to support not only individuals to thrive but also the organizations that employ them.

Dr. Candy Ho is proud to serve as Vice-Chair of CERIC. She is the inaugural Assistant Professor, Integrative Career and Capstone Learning in the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada. In this unique capacity, she teaches courses that help students consider their educational and life experiences, and how these experiences can help them achieve their short- and long-term goals, ultimately helping them design the life they want to live. She also holds teaching positions in Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Educational Studies department and in Douglas College’s Career Development Practitioner Program.