2022 Breakout Session Abstracts
BREAKOUT SESSIONS #1
Social Justice Work or Hobbyism: Which are we doing?
Career work as justice work is a common refrain in the career development profession. There is ambiguity around what is meant by social justice work. As a result, we are prone to performing social justice "hobbyism", which has little to no impact, and not actually creating change that leads to more justice in the world (of-work). Frustration, conflicting actions, and fatigue are predictable outcomes. This presentation will provide a detailed roadmap for the types of activities and investment that lead to systemic change; and more justice with a focus on career development.
Dr. Brian Hutchison - Global Career Guy, Principle |
Breakout Session Sponsored by: |
BAM and the Bioscience Sector Panel
The Manitoba bioscience sector is more thriving and diverse than ever before. Our industry continues to find new and innovative ways to create solutions and contribute toward the sustainable economic growth of our province
As an industry association, we are the hub and advocate for the innovators, entrepreneurs and established companies in Manitoba’s growing bioscience industry. Our member companies belong to one – often more than one – of three subsectors – Health biotech, Ag biotech, and Clean biotech.
BAM panel to address career opportunities in the Bioscience sectors from this perspective.
The panel will be moderated by Kim Kline, President of BAM and will include representatives (TBD) from the Bioscience sectors (Clean Biotech, Ag Biotech, Health Biotech).
As an industry association, we are the hub and advocate for the innovators, entrepreneurs and established companies in Manitoba’s growing bioscience industry. Our member companies belong to one – often more than one – of three subsectors – Health biotech, Ag biotech, and Clean biotech.
BAM panel to address career opportunities in the Bioscience sectors from this perspective.
The panel will be moderated by Kim Kline, President of BAM and will include representatives (TBD) from the Bioscience sectors (Clean Biotech, Ag Biotech, Health Biotech).
Kim Kline - President of Bioscience Association of Manitoba (BAM) |
Breakout Session Sponsored by: |
Five Most Valuable Investments for Your Career Success
Whether you're a job seeker or career practitioner, this interactive session is for anyone who's ever felt that they're doing all the right things, yet still aren't able to get where they want to go in their career. If you're open to the possibility that career success can be achieved in non-traditional, low-cost and even fun ways, this is the place to be! This energetic, feel-good session will walk you through the five most important investments for your career and will provide you with a bunch of ideas that you can access TODAY to help you, your team, or your clients experience success.
Anna Gordon - Owner Strut4Success |
Breakout Session Sponsored by: |
BREAKOUT SESSIONS #2
Preventing the Spin Cycle: In Motion & Momentum+
IM&M+ was created in 2015 to create a bridge between social and career development programming. IM&M+ is for everyone and especially those who feel stuck and unable to move forward with their life in a meaningful way. The program has been adapted for a range of audiences including people living with a disability, Indigenous peoples, refugees, immigrants, and returning citizens. Learn about IM&M+’s participant-centred experiential and community-building approach and how it has been transformative for participants, organizations, communities and governments.
Donnalee Bell - Managing Director, the Canadian Career Development Foundation

Donnalee is the Canadian Career Development Foundation's Managing Director. She has created and led many pan-Canadian career initiatives, programs and tools, including the featured project in this presentation: In Motion & Momentum+.
Trina Stanford - Project Associate, Canadian Career Development Foundation

Trina has worked as a passionate front-line service provider in employment and career development in both Canada and the United States for over 15 years. She is a Project Associate at the Canadian Career Development Foundation and works closely with the In Motion & Momentum program supporting its delivery nationwide.
The Candidate to Company Connection
The world of work has not only changed but so has the world of finding work. Candidates and companies are continuing to face the impacts of “the Great Resignation”. Some of these changes are positive and even efficient, but others are a step back. This can be frustrating for candidates and equally challenging for companies wanting to hire for their teams. What can we do? In this session we’ll talk about how Career Development Professionals can ease some of the major pain points in the candidate to company connection.
Jaysa Toet - CPHR |
Breakout Session Sponsored by: |
Building Bridges to Create Employment and Career Opportunities for Newcomers in Winnipeg
This session will provide a general overview of the work of our Local Immigration Partnership. Immigration Partnership Winnipeg. Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs) are multi-sectoral collectives that bring a new form of collaboration, at the community-level, to newcomer settlement and integration. As part of our strategic work and multisector collaboration we coordinate a Multi-Stakeholder Employment Sector Table.
The Employment Sector Table is composed of employment stakeholders from various sectors that analyze, prioritize, build awareness around and act on key issues that influence the success and inclusion of newcomers in Winnipeg workplaces.
The Employment Sector Table is composed of employment stakeholders from various sectors that analyze, prioritize, build awareness around and act on key issues that influence the success and inclusion of newcomers in Winnipeg workplaces.
Reuben Garang - Director, Immigration Partnership Winnipeg

Reuben Garang, Director. Before joining the Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, Reuben previously worked for the Province of Manitoba as a Policy Analyst and Community Outreach Advisor. He has also worked with Winnipeg Harvest as the Coordinator for African Refugee and Immigrants Empowerment Project. As a community-based researcher, he has skills in organizing focus groups, facilitating community discussions and meetings as well as promoting an inclusive partnership. He holds a Master’s Degree in sustainable Development Practice from the University of Winnipeg.
Erika Frey-Morote - Project Manager at Immigration Partnership Winnipeg

Erika Frey-Morote, Project Manager. Before joining IPW Erika worked as a settlement worker and most recently as the Director of Settlement and Community Development at the West Central Women's Resource Centre, walking alongside newcomer women and their families as well with gender diverse folks. Erika is passionate about settlement, immigration, food security, community economic development and social justice issues. Erika is committed to building and strengthening connections with Indigenous Peoples.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS #3
Career Development Across Canada & Around the World
What is happening right now in the world of career development? Interested in the idea of a Professional Institute for our field? What about our new competency framework, code of ethics, or national certification? Keen to learn about the next International Symposium on Career Development and Public Policy? Come and find out about the latest national and international initiatives, learn how you can get involved, and share your ideas about what our profession needs next.
Sareena Hopkins - Executive Director, the Canadian Career Development Foundation |
Breakout Session sponsored by: |
SAFE Workers of Tomorrow
SAFE Workers of Tomorrow offers information sessions on Workplace Safety & Health, Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba and Employment Standards to new and vulnerable workers including high school students, newcomers and employment groups across Manitoba, free of charge. Here we discuss what specific presentations we offer, who exactly our target audience are and how you can book our workshops/presentations. The target audience are educators, career development teachers, nonprofits, social workers and anyone interested in safer workplaces across our province.
Bashir Ahmad - Community Liaison at SAFE Workers of Tomorrow; |
Breakout Session Sponsored by: |
CANCELLED - How Starting Career Development Early Builds a Foundation for Future Success
Unfortunately, Jeff's flight got cancelled at the last minute. We look forward to having Jeff at a future conference.
Is there such a thing as starting too early? When preparing for the future, the answer is no. Developing these skills early helps young learners build self-awareness, and bolsters knowledge about goal setting and career planning as they transition through school.
Is there such a thing as starting too early? When preparing for the future, the answer is no. Developing these skills early helps young learners build self-awareness, and bolsters knowledge about goal setting and career planning as they transition through school.
Jeff Harris - President & Co-Founder, XELLO

Graduating from university without a clear sense of career direction sparked the idea for Xello, as well as Jeff's lifelong passion for career development. Helping to build a business from three founders and no customers to an organization with over 170 staff, serving thousands of school systems across Canada, the United States and around the world.
Jeff has had an opportunity to contribute to many aspects of Xello’s growth and he has personally worked hand-in-hand
with educators for almost 25 years. While creating software that engages and empowers each and every student to create their successful future has always been the goal, Jeff understands the value of relationships and has worked to make Xello a true partner that schools and districts can count on to ensure their career development aspirations
become reality.
Jeff is the proud father of three teenagers and he’s enjoying suddenly not knowing anything about anything.
Jeff has had an opportunity to contribute to many aspects of Xello’s growth and he has personally worked hand-in-hand
with educators for almost 25 years. While creating software that engages and empowers each and every student to create their successful future has always been the goal, Jeff understands the value of relationships and has worked to make Xello a true partner that schools and districts can count on to ensure their career development aspirations
become reality.
Jeff is the proud father of three teenagers and he’s enjoying suddenly not knowing anything about anything.