Featured Speakers

Monday, June 2, 2008 8:30am- 9:30am		Preparing Our Grads for a Mentally Healthy Career Mark Swartz, MBA, M.Ed.
		The latest Ipsos-Canada study results: Fully 25% of our nation's workforce is being treated for, or otherwise lives with, clinical depression. Mark too. He knows first hand the challenges of this potentially debilitating condition, Which is why he discusses workplace mental health with such candor and insight. Join us for this eye opening talk on a subject some still consider taboo. You will take away strategies to help you assist grads and young employees prepare for the psychic rigors of the today's demanding workplace. Job, life, family and finances â.. a recipe for possible stress. What can each of us do to assist the new generation in preventive self-care?
		Mark is a recognized Canadian authority on career and worklife issues. For the past two and a half years his advice has been seen by millions as the Workopolis.com National Career Advisor. Before that his thought provoking column appeared in the Toronto Star from 2002 â.. 2005. As an author Mark wrote the best-seller â..Get Wired, You're Hired,â. just updated to its 4^th edition since 1997. His corporate experience includes marketing and strategic planning positions with such companies as The Royal Bank and Kodak. He has served as a university professor in Business Communication. Followed by six years as a Senior Consultant with Drake Beam Morin, a world leading career transition firm. Academically he has a B.A. from the University of Western Ontario, an M.B.A. from Yorkâ..s Schulich School of Business, and an M.Ed from U of Tâ..s OISE. Mark has lived with Dysthymia, a lower level though long-term form of clinical depression, for more than 15 years. His website is www.CareerActivist.com.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008 9:00am- 10:15am		Branding and The Green Collar Career Alan Kearns, CareerJoy
		According to Monster.ca 78% of the 3,660 Canadians that were surveyed would leave their job for a "More environmentally friendly" employer, yet only 18% of employees think their employers are "extremely green" Alan is currently writing his second book "The Green Collar Career; The fair trade between your talents employer and the planet" Alan will be sharing the most recent research based upon his upcoming book on the greening of the workplace, emerging green opportunities and roles. Alan will also be talking about some practical ways that you can green your workplace and some practical strategies to be develop your green employer brand.
		Alan, Canada's career coach is the Head Coach and founder of CareerJoyâ.¢. He is one of Canada's foremost experts on all things relating to careers. Alan was educated as an Optician and made a career transition into the recruitment industry. He was one of Canada's most successful recruiters and founder of TalentLab. Having made a career transition himself, and recognizing the gap in the market for professionals who were looking for unbiased professional advice and tools for their career, he founded CareerJoy. Alan has more than 17 years of experience coaching professionals, with major career decisions . He hosts Canada's top rated career Podcast CareerJoy conversations. His guests have ranged from John Stanton founder of The Running Room, to Jim Citrin best selling author of The 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers. He has a weekly column in Workopolis and speaks to organizations and conferences across Canada, on topics related to professionals and their career . Alan was voted one of the Top 40 entrepreneurs under the age of 40. He is interviewed regularly in the media about the latest issues and trends within the Canadian workforce. He has been featured on Venture, The National Post and The Globe & Mail and is the career expert for Workopolis Canada's number 1 career site. Alan is the author of Get the Right Job Right Now! published by Harper Collins and is currently writing his second book.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008 9:00am- 10:00am		Media in Transition/Culture in Transition Mike Farrell, Partner and Chief Strategic Officer- Youthography
		The past five to ten years represent some of the most significant changes in media that North American culture has ever witnessed. These changes in the mediascape have been born from, and adopted by, North America's younger generations. Join Mike Farrell as he provides a perspective on these changes and how media transition is fundamentally affecting the way younger Canadians are starting to challenge traditional models associated with organized religion, government, entertainment, brands and, yes, corporations and career path. They are increasingly demanding, and receiving, more control. This no-holds barred presentation will start with a look at today's young culture from a macro perspective (demographics, psychographics, values and attitudes, historical context) and end with some learned and experienced perspective on how all of this is percolating down to teen and young adult attitudes regarding careers and the workplace.
		Mike has been deeply involved with youth trends and values studies for 12 years and is one of North Americaâ..s leading lights on this broad and ever-changing topic. As a founding partner and CSO at Youthography, Mike is frequently called upon for his insight on the media level. Over the past number of years his work and perspective has been cited in a wide number of nationally and internationally significant periodicals, television programs and radio shows. Topping this all off, Mike speaks regularly to various business groups and participates in industry panels throughout Canada, the U.S. and the E.U.