Career Development Forum
Online | November 19 & 20, 2025

Learning and collaboration for professionals supporting
student career development.
Gain Insights and Build Meaningful Connections
Live presentations by industry experts
Collaborative roundtable discussions
Engaging discussion boards
Interactive networking opportunities
Affordable professional development for anyone who talks to students about their future.
The Career Development Forum offers a virtual conference and collaboration platform for professionals in co-op, WIL, EL, career services, and other campus departments that respond to students’ career questions and concerns.
With a particular focus on individuals and teams who are newer to the field or working directly with students, the Career Development Forum provides an affordable learning and networking opportunity for all.
Register NowWhy should I attend?
Grow your confidence when addressing students questions and concerns
Discover the “big picture” when it comes to students’ career development
Understand co-op, WIL, EL and students’ other developmental options
Participate in discussions with like-minded individuals
Hear about new approaches to help students discover their future
Build a network of peers at schools across Canada and the US
Discover areas of the profession for your own career growth
Learn techniques and practices to improve your work
Access resources and session recordings for six months
2025 Presenters
Additional presenters will be added soon.

Amber Nicholson
University of Alberta
Career Development Officer

Blessie Mathew
University of Alberta
Assistant Dean, Student Success, Careers, and Experiential Learning

Cara Krezek
The Talent Strategy Collective
Chief Purpose Officer & Founder

Dimple Rai
Humber Polytechnic
Associate Director, Advising & Career Services

Gwen Roemer
University of Cincinnati
Assistant Professor, Computer Science, College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies

Holly Fosher
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Employer Outreach & Engagement Manager

James Lowe
University of Connecticut
Associate Vice Provost, Executive Director, Center for Career Development

Jana Forsyth
Durham College
Employment Coach

Laura Kerslake
University of Alberta
Career Development & Work-Integrated Learning Officer

Leneque Wilson-Carson
University of Toronto
Student Learning & Professional Development Coordinator

Mary Scott
Scott Resource Group
Founder and Managing Consultant

Megan Hamilton
NorQuest College
Career Education Manager

Miguel Hahn
Queen's University
Senior Career Consultant, Career Services

Nadia Ibrahim-Taney
University of Cincinnati
Professor

Nancy Bilmes
University of Connecticut
Director, Center for Career Development

Natalie Jachyra
NorQuest College
Academic Specialist

Niels Melis-De Lamper
University of Victoria
Accessibility and Inclusion Co-op and Career Coordinator

Suzanne Helbig
University of California Irvine
Associate Vice Provost, UCI Division of Career Pathways
2025 Sessions
This year’s program focuses on practical, collaborative approaches to student career development—and includes the following topics:
- AI is Not the Enemy: Helping Career Educators Thrive in the Age of Disruption
- Making Global Career Readiness Happen: Without Travel or Big Budgets
- Adapting Active Learning Techniques for Enhanced Student Outcomes
- Empowering Students to Explore Careers With Impact using UN SDGs
- Courageous conversations to pave the path for Accessible WIL
- Integrating Project Management into Career Development: A Case Study
- Training WIL Employers to Support Student Career Readiness
- Deconstructing Career Identities: Creating a Path for Arts Students to Thrive
- Empowering Career Conversations Across Campus: The UConn Career Champion Program
- Hot Topic Roundtables
- Helping Students Identify and Articulate Their Skills: A Case Study
- Panel: Supporting Students with Disabilities Through Self-Advocacy
- Panel: Rethinking Career Development - Scaling Support for Today’s Students
Stay tuned for the full program agenda and session descriptions!
Register NowMore than a Virtual Conference
Virtual conferences offer the benefits of being more affordable and more accessible,
but the Forum offers even more than that.
For six months, all registrants will have access to:
A networking platform to connect with other participants
A discussion board for posting topics, engaging in conversations, and sharing
A resource centre for accessing materials and presentation recordings
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Who is this for?
If you interact with students who are trying to figure out their future, then this event is for you. Whether you want a better understanding of how career development works; what all the available options are for students; or what techniques, tools, or programs, schools are using to support students' successful transition into careers, then this will be a great place to start.
(Note: if you’re already an “expert” in the field or working at a manager level or higher, then much of this program may be a review/refresher for you. Everyone is welcome.)
Can we share one registration?
No. The Forum is priced, and the learning platform is designed, to make it accessible for everyone and for each participant to have their own profile. The discussion boards, networking, and chat functions are all dependent on each participant having their own registration.
If you choose to watch sessions as a group, please ensure that everyone in the room has registered to attend.
Why is it SO inexpensive?
Post-secondary institutions in Canada and the US are under some level of financial pressure right now and in many cases student support offices have been hit the worst. Brainstorm’s mission is to support the people who support student success. We hope this program will help you do that.
What happens after the event dates?
The Forum will take place in our interactive learning platform. While the actual sessions will be hosted in Zoom (because almost everyone is accustomed to Zoom), the learning platform will offer a means to network with all of the participants; a discussion board to continue the conversations and sharing; and, a resources section where we will post recordings of all the sessions and other materials.
All registrants will have access to the platform to continue the learning and collaboration for six months after the event dates!
What if I have to miss my favourite session?
All sessions – with the exception of some roundtable discussions – will be recorded and available for access in the learning platform for all registrants for six months after the event dates.
Where is the Career Development Forum taking place?
The Career Development Forum is a fully online event taking place over two days.
As we get closer to the Forum, all registered participants will receive access to our online Learning Platform, which will include:
- Zoom links for all live sessions
- Session recordings and presentation slides
- Additional resources
- A discussion board to connect with other attendees
You’ll be able to join from wherever you are—no travel required!
Interested only in 2 or 3 sessions?
The Forum is priced to ensure you get great value for your investment even if you attend only a few sessions. Plus, recordings will be available for six months so you can catch up on what you miss.
Registration Rates
Discounts are available for small, medium, large and very large groups!
If you'd like to hold these rates while you secure the budget needed to attend,
please email Julie Rahmer at julie@brainstorm.ca.
Individual
$145$195
per person
Rates increase after September 12th
Group of 3 to 4
$125$165
per person
Rates increase after September 12th
Group of 5 to 7
$110$145
per person
Rates increase after September 12th
Group of 8 to 10
$95$125
per person
Rates increase after September 12th
Group of 11 to 20
$995$1,395
per group
Rates increase after September 12th
Group of up to 50
$1,995$2,295
per group
Rates increase after September 12th
No refunds will be provided within three weeks of the program. Cancellations three weeks or more before the event date will be refunded less a $100 administration fee.
Substitutions from the same organization are welcome at no cost up to three weeks before the event date.