November 19 & 20, 2025 | Online

Career Development Forum

Learning and collaboration for professionals supporting
student career development.

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Live presentations by industry experts

Collaborative roundtable discussions

Engaging discussion boards

Interactive networking opportunities 

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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.

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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

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2025 presenters will be added soon.

Blessie Mathew

University of Alberta

Assistant Dean, Student Success, Careers, and Experiential Learning

Brenda Badgero

Simon Fraser University

Career Education Manager, Career & Volunteer Services

Cara Krezek

The Talent Strategy Collective

Chief Purpose Officer & Founder

Dr. Jennifer Browne

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Director, Student Life

Graham Donald

Brainstorm Strategy Group

Founder & President

Graham Donald

Brainstorm Strategy Group

Founder & President

Graham Donald is one of North America’s leading experts on attracting, recruiting, and engaging students and graduates.

He founded Brainstorm Strategy Group in 2003 where he supports major employers and post-secondary institutions’ success through research, training, and strategic consulting. His clients include KPMG, University of Toronto, Deloitte, GE, McGill University, HSBC, UBC, Rutgers University, PwC, and many others.

Each year he is invited to speak at numerous national and international conferences on topics related to attracting and engaging future generations. He also hosts numerous annual conferences and training programs including the Campus Recruitment Forum, the Strategic Enrolment Marketing & Management Forum (SEMM Forum), the Employer Engagement Academy, and the Post-Secondary Leaders Academy.

He was Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE) and the founder of Canada’s first job board for students, Campus WorkLink. He has also held leadership roles at Workopolis, Simply Hired, and Day Communications.

He received both his BA and MBA from the University of Toronto.

Greta Heathcote

University of Calgary

Associate Director, Work-Integrated Learning & Neurodiversity Initiative, Taylor Institute for Teaching & Learning

J.J. Kemlo

Ontario Tech University

Strategic Partnership Officer & Program Manager, Student Enrichment Program - Partnership Office

Jeanelle Desjarlais

University of Saskatchewan

Indigenous Experiential Learning Coordinator

JP Michel

SparkPath

Founder

Katherine St. Louis

Wilfrid Laurier University

Associate Director, Operations & Experiential Learning – Career Development Centre

Kimberley Rawes

UBC

Manager, Career and Professional Development

Matt Purdey

RRC Polytech

Career Advisor, Work-Integrated Learning and Career Services

Melanie Richardson

Centennial College

Coordinator, Cooperative Education Career Services & Cooperative Education

Melissa McNown-Smith

Conestoga College

Manager, Career Services

Roberta Braid

University of Saskatchewan

Career Educator, Career Services, Teaching, Learning and Student Experience

Shenelle Payne Cuffy

Ontario Tech University

Manager, Career Centre

Sheri Browne

University of Toronto Mississauga

Assistant Director, Career Development, Career Centre

Stephanie Harper

McMaster University

Associate Director, Centre for Career Growth & Experience, Faculty of Engineering

Tristyn Sachkowski

University of Saskatchewan

ScotiaRISE Indigenous Student Employment Readiness Program Lead

We’re currently building the 2025 program—stay tuned for updates!

To give you a sense of what to expect, here’s a sample of last year’s sessions:

  • Understanding the Career Interests and Intentions of Today’s Students
  • Guiding and Supporting Students from the Front Line
  • Indigenous Career Education
  • Incorporating Diversity and Equity Principles into Front Line Service
  • Understanding Employers’ Challenges and Goals
  • Supporting Neurodivergent Students

This year’s program will continue to focus on practical, collaborative approaches to student career development—and may include new topics such as:

  • Making AI Work for Career Services
  • Innovative Programming on a Shoestring Budget
  • Employer Engagement Without a Dedicated Team
  • Strengthening Career Conversations Across Campus
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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

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Have something to share?

We’re now accepting proposals for sessions, panels, or case studies that offer useful tools, fresh insights, or creative campus collaborations.

FAQs

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.

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

$95$195

per person

Rates increase after June 20th

Group of 3 to 4

$75$165

per person

Rates increase after June 20th

Group of 5 to 7

$65$145

per person

Rates increase after June 20th

Group of 8 to 10

$55$125

per person

Rates increase after June 20th

Group of 11 to 20

$695$1,395

per group

Rates increase after June 20th

Group of up to 50

$1,495$2,295

per group

Rates increase after June 20th

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.

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