May 27, 2025 | Toronto, ON

Campus Recruitment Forum

Discover What Works Now in Early Talent Attraction.

Stay Ahead of Campus Recruitment Trends

Discover the latest insights on student preferences and strategies to engage early talent effectively.

Practical Strategies for Real Results

Get actionable tactics to optimize your campus recruitment efforts — even when resources are limited.

One-Day, High-Impact Learning

Join industry professionals for a focused, practical conference designed to help you succeed today and in the future.

Register Now

Tuesday, May 27 2025

Are you up on the trends and changes that impact your success on campus?

Are you implementing proven best practices to attract and engage the best young talent for your company?

Students & grads are always changing.

The risks of not staying up-to-date are many:

  • Misalignment of your messaging with the preferences of today’s students
  • Inefficient recruitment processes that waste resources and fail to convert candidates
  • Competitors attracting the top talent that you should be hiring
  • Failure to attract the diverse talent your workforce needs
  • Students reneging on accepted offers
  • Hiring managers not impressed with the talent you attract

9:00 - 9:30 am

Registration & Breakfast

9:30 - 9:50 am

Welcome & Introductions

Graham Donald

Brainstorm Strategy Group Inc.

9:50 - 10:15 am

Campus Recruitment Outlook: Insights & Benchmarks in Student Hiring

Discover the latest insights from the 2025 Campus Recruitment Outlook Report, based on a survey of employers across Canada...

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Discover the latest insights from the 2025 Campus Recruitment Outlook Report, based on a survey of employers across Canada.

In addition to an analysis of recent hiring trends and the forecast for the year ahead, this presentation will share key student hiring benchmarks; the top challenges employers face when recruiting; preferred marketing tools and channels; and, insights into employers’ views and experiences with today’s students.

In the quickly evolving world of campus recruitment, you won’t want to write your next strategy without these insights!

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Graham Donald

Brainstorm Strategy Group Inc.

10:15 - 10:45 am

Boosting Career Readiness: Aligning Paths Early for Future Candidates’ Success

In lean business environments, there’s increasing pressure to ensure that new hires are able to contribute quickly and effectively. That’s why it’s more important than ever for employers to...

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In lean business environments, there’s increasing pressure to ensure that new hires are able to contribute quickly and effectively. That’s why it’s more important than ever for employers to invest in early engagement and career readiness. By building strong partnerships with university career centres, employers can help shape programming that better prepares students for real-world challenges—making the transition from classroom to contribution more seamless.

Join us to explore why this alignment matters and how you can take practical steps to make an impact today.

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Stéphanie Joseph

Marsh, US&C, Bermuda

10:45 - 11:00 am

Break

11:00 - 11:30 am

Building your Brand on Campus through Key Student Organizations

Lindsay Dow

Arcadis

11:30 - 11:45 am

Break

11:45 - 12:30 pm

Cracking the Code: Boosting Student Engagement in Employer Events

This panel brings together experienced career services leaders to share front-line insights on what’s driving — and hindering — student engagement today...

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This panel brings together experienced career services leaders to share front-line insights on what’s driving — and hindering — student engagement today. From standout employer strategies to common missteps, they’ll offer practical, field-tested advice for connecting with students in a challenging engagement landscape.

You’ll gain insights on:

  • What’s Working Now: Strategies that are breaking through and capturing student attention
  • Common Pitfalls: Mistakes employers make — and how to avoid them
  • Diversity & Inclusion: Approaches that reach and engage underrepresented student populations
  • The Career Office Partnership: How employers can collaborate with career teams to drive engagement
  • What’s Next: Emerging trends and predictions for campus recruitment in Canada

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Tammy Kim-Newman

York University

Lauren Starr

Ivey Business School

Additional Panelists

TBA

12:30 - 1:30 pm

Lunch

1:30 - 2:00 pm

Hot Topic Roundtables

These interactive roundtables are designed to spark in-depth conversations on the most pressing issues and emerging trends in campus recruitment...

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These interactive roundtables are designed to spark in-depth conversations on the most pressing issues and emerging trends in campus recruitment. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences, exchange ideas, and explore practical strategies for connecting with student talent in a rapidly evolving landscape.

We'll explore topics such as:

  • Creating Impactful Events & Activities
  • Navigating AI and automation in early talent recruitment
  • Creating inclusive and accessible recruitment experiences
  • Rethinking events: virtual, in-person, hybrid—what works now?
  • Leveraging data to drive smarter campus strategies

Join us for candid, solutions-focused discussions with peers who get it.

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2:00 - 2:30 pm

Student Advocates: Boost Your Organization's Brand on Campus

Building a sustainable brand on campus can be challenging. It requires strategic planning, consistent effort, and effective engagement with the campus community...

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Building a sustainable brand on campus can be challenging. It requires strategic planning, consistent effort, and effective engagement with the campus community. This workshop is designed to address these challenges by bringing together individuals to discuss and exchange ideas on brand-building strategies. Acquire valuable insights and practical skills to navigate the complexities of brand building and create a strong, authentic, and resilient presence on campus.

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Janie Pelletier

WSP

2:30 - 2:45 pm

Break

2:45 - 3:45 pm

Employer Panel: Building Connections, Driving Results – Strategies for Campus Recruitment Success

Campus recruitment continues to evolve—students are more intentional in their choices, expectations are shifting, and employers must...

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Campus recruitment continues to evolve—students are more intentional in their choices, expectations are shifting, and employers must work harder to create meaningful, authentic connections. Attracting top student talent today takes more than visibility; it requires thoughtful, student-centered strategies that reflect your brand, values, and opportunities.

This panel of experienced campus recruiters and employer brand leaders will share practical insights and real-world strategies to navigate today’s key challenges and opportunities in campus recruitment.

We'll explore questions such as:

  • How do you communicate your organization’s culture, values, and growth opportunities to stand out and connect with students?
  • What strategies have you found effective in adapting to student expectations and reducing offer declines or reneges?
  • How is your organization closing the gap between diversity goals and outreach efforts?
  • How are you setting new grads up for success during the transition from student to employee, and what role does early development play in building strong engagement?

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Carly Suter

Intact Financial Corporation

Libbie Davies

Labatt Breweries of Canada

Melissa Robertson

CIBC

Natalie Rutkowski

KPMG Canada

3:45 - 4:00 pm

Break

4:00 - 6:00 pm

Future Workforce Top Employer Awards: Recognizing Employer Brand Performance Through the Eyes of Students

Join us as we close out the day with an engaging look at what Canada’s university and college students are telling us about the employer brands that resonate most. Based on responses from over 24,500 students...

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Join us as we close out the day with an engaging look at what Canada’s university and college students are telling us about the employer brands that resonate most. Based on responses from over 24,500 students, the Brainstorm Top Employer Rankings offer the most authoritative view of brand strength in campus recruitment today.

This session will break down what students value most in potential employers, how expectations are shifting across disciplines, and what the latest data reveals about emerging opportunities and areas for improvement. We’ll also recognize the standout organizations making a measurable impact with student talent—across categories including Business, Engineering, Computer Science, and more.

Celebrate Canada’s top student-rated employers and walk away with actionable insights to strengthen your brand and strategy in the year ahead.

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Graham Donald

Brainstorm Strategy Group Inc.

Jay Kipps

Flint & Steel Inc.

The Campus Recruitment Forum is focused on helping employers implement the latest best practices in student recruitment – and that's exactly why schools should be there!

The program provides a full-day of sharing and interacting with leading employers. You will:

  • Learn what top employers are doing now to recruit students effectively
  • Connect with other employer relations professionals and peers
  • Gain valuable insights into emerging trends and best practices in campus recruitment

Walk away with fresh ideas, actionable strategies, and new employer connections to enhance your employer partnerships.

Nicole Furnia

ABB Inc.

Director - University Relations, Early Talent and Employer Branding, US & Americas

Graham Donald

Brainstorm Strategy Group

Founder & President

Natalie Rutkowski

KPMG

National Campus & Early Talent Leader

Stéphanie Joseph

Marsh, US&C, Bermuda

Senior TA Consultant

Lindsay Dow

Arcadis

Campus Programs Lead

Carly Suter

Intact Financial Corporation

Manager, Talent Acquisition - National Future Talent

Libbie Davies

Labatt Breweries of Canada

Manager, Talent Attraction & Programs

Melissa Robertson

CIBC

Senior Director, Early Talent Programs and Strategy, People, Culture and Brand

Janie Pelletier

WSP

Responsable recrutement campus et professionnels en début de carrière / Campus and Early Career Lead

Tammy Kim-Newman

York University

Associate Director, Employer and Alumni Engagement, Career Centre

Lauren Starr

Ivey Business School

Associate Director, Corporate Recruiting, Ivey Career Management

More Presenters Will Be Announced Soon

Recent testimonials for Campus Recruitment Accelerator:

"The program is a must for University Relations leaders. The perfectly curated program not only tackled the fundamentals of this profession, but it also offered great insights into current trends and opportunities in the industry. The Forum served as a great networking event, as I was able to meet great peers and share best practices with them. This was, by far, the most well-rounded conference about campus recruiting I have ever attended, and I strongly recommend it!"

Ruben Colon Velazquez

Early Careers Program Lead, Mondelez International

"The Campus Recruitment Accelerator was a fantastic opportunity to network with other early career professionals, discuss strategy and challenges, and learn actionable ways to make our programs better. I highly recommend this to anyone who is starting a campus recruiting strategy or scaling your program. There is something for every program. It was a great two days of learning and connecting!"

Ashley Silva

AVP, Early Career, Global Atlantic Financial Corp.

“I took so many insights from the program! I was able to bring back a lot of ideas to my team. I would highly recommend this program to individuals who have experience in campus recruitment and are looking to enhance their existing (or new) Early Careers/Talent program at their workplace.”

Veronica Santos

Talent Acquisition Lead, Early Careers, Questrade Financial Group

"The Campus Recruitment Accelerator is an innovative program where you learn about various types of campus recruiting strategies, brainstorm, network, and knowledge share with peers and thought leaders. The program focuses on how to support various campus recruiting clients including internal stakeholders, hiring managers, career services, student groups, candidates, professors, and your own campus recruiting teams! You will leave the forum feeling more knowledgeable, rejuvenated, motivated, and inspired to elevate your campus recruiting initiatives."

Michelle Kelley

Campus Talent Acquisition Manager, Langan

Recent testimonials for Campus Recruitment Trends & Best Practices:

“It was an incredibly enriching experience. The intensive program was specifically tailored for early talent professionals, providing deep insights into the latest trends shaping the landscape of early talent recruitment. I gained valuable insights into emerging trends and best practices, equipping me with the knowledge needed to elevate my recruitment strategy, particularly when it comes to hiring Gen Z candidates. I would highly recommend this workshop to my colleagues and fellow professionals in the early talent community. It's a fantastic opportunity to stay ahead of the curve, gain meaningful insights, and enhance your recruitment strategy in today's competitive market.”

Amitoj Sandhu

Manager, Global Early Talent, Dayforce

“The Campus Recruitment Trends & Best Practices is an excellent event that provides campus recruitment professionals with the opportunity to network with and learn from peers across the country!”

Maria Khan

Head of Campus Recruitment, Canada, CGI

“Attending the Trends and Best Practices Session was an eye-opening experience! The insights shared were not only current but also actionable. The session provided a comprehensive understanding of emerging technologies, changing student expectations, and what employers are doing to adapt to the gen Z workforce. Moreover, the best practices shared by industry experts were invaluable . I highly recommend this session to anyone looking to stay ahead of the curve and drive success in their campus engagement strategies.”

Nancy Sammon

Relationship Manager, Career Advancement Centre, Smith School of Business, Queen’s University

“Campus Recruitment Trends & Best Practices is an excellent professional development and industry networking opportunity. I especially appreciate the data insights and relevance to our particular market reality.”

Mai-Gee Hum

Senior National Manager, University Relations and Early Careers, AtkinsRéalis

Registration Rates

Regular rate valid until April 25th, 2025.

Individual

$595$695

per person

Group of 2 to 4

$476$556

per person

Group of 5 or more

$416.50$486.50

per person

The event is taking place at Labatt Brewery, 207 Queens Quay West, Toronto ON. Only 10 minutes from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) and 30 minutes from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). The venue is also just a short walk from the Union Station TTC and GO transit stops.

Paid public parking is available under the venue building at 207 Queens Quay West.

There is no “official” hotel for the conference. Delegates requiring accommodation are welcome to choose a hotel that suits their preferences.

Interested in exploring Toronto while you’re in the city? Check out Destination Toronto.

Contact Julie Rahmer, Learning, Research & Engagement Lead at julie@brainstorm.ca
with any questions or concerns you may have.

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