Diversity & Inclusion Symposium

While leaders have long recognized that a diverse workforce confers a healthy workplace environment, a severe gap continues to persist between recognising the lack of and actually working to eradicate the gap.

Join this event to deep dive into the conversation where experts discuss the differences and importance between diversity and inclusion, the crucial connections that attract diverse talent, and how to encourage this participation and mindset.

Keynote Session:

"Autism & Neurodiversity in the Workplace"

Speaker: Dr. Karen Bopp - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration in Autism (CIRCA), UBC

Description:

There is a pool of talented and skilled autistic and neurodivergent employees out there that are capable and ready to work. However, many neurodivergent people face barriers to getting and maintaining a job. The barriers are often no fault of their own, but can occur due to entrenched traditional recruitment and retention practices. This keynote will introduce the learner to “Autism and Neurodiversity in the Workplace” - a free on-line self-paced pro-d program designed for HR professionals. You will learn practical strategies to adjust HR practices and create inclusive work environments that will help all employees to be successful on the job.

Learning Outcomes:

Learn where to find and use practical, easily accessible resources to help create successful inclusive work environments.
Learn about the range of skills that autistic and neurodiverse employees bring to the job.
Learn how to adjust common HR strategies to support autistic employees and all employees to be successful.

Keynote Session:

"Making the Invisible Visible: Transgender Issues in the Workplace"

Speaker: Kai Scott - TransFocus Consulting, Inc.

Description:

For many, transgender issues in the workplace may feel overwhelming. Kai brings an open and friendly approach to a highly engaging session. Attendees are introduced to language related to gender diversity along with insights into the often-invisible workplace challenges faced by transgender people. The session delves into HR considerations unique to transgender people during recruitment, onboarding, retention, as well as training other employees about transgender issues (such as misgendering and mistake recovery).

Increased awareness and understanding of key terminology and framework related to gender diversity;
Greater understanding and appreciation of the challenges and barriers that transgender employees face; and;
Tips and tools for how to be respectful and supportive of transgender employees;

Super Session:

"Innovation and Diversity of Thought"

Speaker: Cristina Chavez - LHH

Description:

A diverse and inclusive workforce is necessary to drive innovation, foster creativity, and guide business strategies. Multiple voices lead to new ideas, new services, new products, and encourage out-of-the box thinking that challenges the status quo. Recognizing and encouraging an inclusive and diverse workplace helps increase creativity, agility and loyalty. It establishes new attitudes, skills, global understanding, processes and new solutions to difficult problems. This experience will explore the rationale behind how diversity drives innovative thinking.

Learning Outcomes:

Understanding the value of innovative thinking in organizations
Understanding the layers of diversity and how they contribute to the diversity of thought
Reviewing organizational culture traits that drive innovation
Exploring Common Barriers to Innovative Thinking

Super Session:

"The Brutal Realities Stalling DEI&B Efforts"

Speaker: Dr. Jarik Conrad - UKG

Description:

Despite the recent flurry of activity regarding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B), women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups continue to experience significant inequities at various levels of the employee experience in Corporate America. These disparities won’t be overcome without acknowledging and boldly addressing some inconvenient but foundational challenges resulting from past and present systems, structures, and behaviors.

Learning Outcomes:

Review the current state of DEI&B.
earn the Brutal Realities stalling DEI&B efforts.
Explore strategies to overcome these challenges.

Keynote Session:

"A Mindset of Invitation: A Journey through Cultural Fluency"

Speaker: Pauline Greenidge - Upward HR

Description:

The world is changing rapidly. Change is impacting our daily lives and our workplaces. HR professionals have a tremendous responsibility to create clarity in the midst of constant change. Organizations know they need to be more inclusive, but are they culturally fluent? Using a Mindset of Invitation™, Pauline reveals the 3 key things that will help you as an HR professional, transform your cultural fluency at work.

Learning Outcomes:

Discover what cultural fluency is and why it’s important in today’s workplace.
Raise your game and discover what you can do as an HR pro to become more culturally fluent at work and beyond.
Learn practical ways you can empower others in your organization and increase their cultural fluency.

Dr. Karen Bopp

Dr. Karen Bopp has worked extensively with autistic individuals and their families for over 25 years. She received her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology in 1995 and her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 2006. Following her studies, she completed a 2-year interdisciplinary post-doctoral fellowship in the faculties of Medicine and Education at UBC. Dr. Bopp is currently on a secondement from the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development until April 2022 and is now the Director of Provincial Outreach at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration in Autism (CIRCA) at UBC. She is the lead author of the e-learning professional development program – Autism and Neurodiversity in the Workplace. She is also creating a series of on-line, sustainable professional development opportunities for interdisciplinary professionals to improve access to effective, evidence-based services and promote acceptance and inclusion for autistic individuals and their families across British Columbia and beyond.

Kai Scott

Kai is a social scientist who has devoted his 15-year career to solving complex social issues, especially related to vulnerable and resilient populations. He uses a blend of discovery and reflective approaches to bring greater understanding and clarity to issues of gender diversity.

Pauline Greenidge

Pauline Greenidge is the founder and principal of Upward HR. She is passionate about the improvement of people’s capabilities and their engagement at all levels of the organization. As a seasoned HR Professional and published author with over 20 years of experience, she has worked with executives and front-line leaders in diverse industries including oil and gas, manufacturing, professional services, non-profits and education. In her book A Grand Dinner Party: Setting the Table for Employee Engagement Through Mergers and Acquisitions she shares her insights on navigating the employee experience during corporate disruption. In addition to working with corporate clients and individuals, she is an Instructor in Continuing Education at the University of Calgary. She is also on the Government of Alberta’s Anti-Racism Advisory Council. Pauline holds designations as a Chartered Professional in Human Resources through CPHR Alberta and is a Senior Certified Professional through the Society of Human Resource Management.