EWO is pleased to announce the keynote speakers for the Emerging WIL and EL Trends Virtual Conference—an unmissable event for educators and professionals in experiential and work-integrated learning taking place over three half days November 19-21, 2024. View the full program here.
Our Opening Keynote: Interests, Intentions, and Experiences – WIL Students in Canada will be delivered by Graham Donald, Founder and President of Brainstorm Strategy Group Inc. Graham is a leading expert in helping students transition from school to the workforce, working with top universities and employers across North America. With over 20 years of experience, Graham’s insights into recruitment and student engagement will offer invaluable perspectives for educators and employers alike.
Dr. Elka Walsh, Associate Vice President of Learning and Teaching at Microsoft Canada, will present the Closing Keynote: Emerging WIL and EL Trends. A passionate advocate for education transformation, Dr. Walsh has led major innovations in the field, working with educational institutions across Canada to drive digital transformation and prepare students for the future.
Learn more by reading their bios below. Register now to hear these inspiring speakers live.
Opening Keynote Presenter Biography:
Graham Donald, Founder & President – Brainstorm Strategy Group Inc.
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 to focus on improving students’ school-to-work transition by advising both the employers that hire students and the educators who support their career development on campus. His clients have included McGill University, Sheridan College, University of Toronto, Simon Fraser University, UBC, Rutgers University, George Brown College and many others as well as corporate clients including KPMG, Deloitte, and CIBC.
He chairs several conferences and training programs annually including the Strategic Enrolment Marketing & Management Forum (SEMM Conference), the Campus Recruitment Academy, and the Employer Engagement Academy. He also speaks regularly at conferences across the US and Canada. Graham Donald is the lead researcher on Brainstorm’s annual survey of students which has gained insights from more than 300,000 participants over the past twenty years. He received both his BA and MBA from the University of Toronto.
Closing Keynote Presenter Biography
Dr. Elka Walsh, Associate Vice President, Learning and Teaching, Microsoft Canada
Passionate about student success and preparing Canadians to thrive in the digital future, Dr. Elka Walsh leads Microsoft’s pan-Canadian education sector transformation strategy, collaborating with higher education and K12 organizations to achieve the art-of-the-possible for the future of learning and teaching. Elka is a leader in education with over 20 years of experience ranging from executive positions at colleges and polytechnics, to Chief Education and Learning Officer at one of Canada’s largest science centers, as founder of UDiscover Learning Inc, and currently as Associate Vice President, Teaching, Learning and Digital Transformation, Education Industry with Microsoft Canada. Dr. Walsh has also advised provincial and federal governments and international organizations on education and skilling strategy and policy. With an earned reputation for leading innovative change initiatives at scale that result in tangible outcomes, Dr. Walsh holds a PhD and Master’s degree from McMaster University and an Honours Bachelor of Arts from University of Toronto and has taught at Humber College and McMaster University.
Don’t miss the opportunity to learn at this must-attend conference! Register now to hear these inspiring speakers live here.