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Agenda Overview

November 18, 2026
Chateau Lacombe
10111 Bellamy Hill Rd NW, Edmonton, Alberta

All activities take place in the Alberta Ballroom unless otherwise stated. 

Time Agenda Item
8:15 a.m. Task Force Members Meeting (members only)
9:00 a.m. Doors Open
Registration & Networking
9:30 a.m. Welcoming Remarks
9:35 a.m.

Panel: Talent Priorities in Alberta: A Collaborative Conversation 
 – Christopher McPherson, Deputy Minister, Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration
 – John Alho, Executive Director, Alberta Post Secondary Network
 – Margeaux Maron, MBA, Director, Defence and Industry Development, Edmonton Airports
– Shannon Marchand, Deputy Minister, Advanced Education
– Moderator: Shauna Feth, President & CEO, Alberta Chambers of Commerce
10:30 a.m.

What’s Working in Alberta? Talent Solutions & Success Stories

  • Talent Pipeline Management in Action
    – Jeff Griffiths, Talent Pipeline Management Program Director, Alberta Chambers of Commerce
  • Opportunity Populations
    – Heather Hicks, Vice President of Mission Impact, Goodwill Industries of Alberta
    – Kristen Harrison, Program Delivery Manager of Goodwill Cares, Goodwill Industries of Alberta
  • Post Secondary Connection to Work
    –     Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
11:25 a.m. Mitacs Featured Session: WIL That Works at Scale
11:55 a.m. Networking Lunch
Mitacs Showcase & Business Showcase
12:35 p.m.

Alberta’s Talent Future – What’s Next?
– Michele Evans, Assistant Deputy Minister, Alberta Region, Prairies Economic Development Canada
– Stephen Harrington, Partner and Global leader, Workforce Strategy & Insights, Deloitte Canada 
– Dr. Annette Trimbee, President & Vice-Chancellor, MacEwan University
– Moderator: Janine Nel, Partner, Consulting, Deloitte Canada
1:25 p.m. Transition Break
1:35 p.m.

Breakout Round 1: Deep Dive Working Session
Choose one of four facilitated discussions focused on opportunities, barriers and practical solution for Alberta’s talent ecosystem.

  • Connecting K–12 to Post-Secondary & the World of Work  
    – Ministry of Education and Childcare
  • Work-Integrated Learning That Works at Scale  
  • Building Alberta’s Data Advantage  
  • Engaging Opportunity Populations
    – Centre for Newcomers
    – Jessica Butts Scott, MBA, Associate Vice President, Online Learning & Continuing Education, University of Alberta
2:45 p.m. Transition Break
2:55 p.m. Breakout Round 2: Solution Exchange & Cross-Pollination
Choose a second topic and bring a fresh perspective to the ideas generated in Round 1. Together, participants will strengthen recommendations and identify opportunities for action. 
3:30 p.m. Transition Break
3:40 p.m. Alberta’s Talent Takeaways: What We Hear & What’s Next
4:00 p.m. Program Concludes
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Talent Networking – Bellamy’s Lounge

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Password: chateau

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