The Canadian Marine Careers Foundation (CMCF), in partnership with Master Mariners of Canada (MMC), will be hosting its inaugural IMAGINE MARINE CONFERENCE 2024 for the marine shipping industry from October 2-3, 2024, in Ottawa, Ontario. This national workforce development conference will bring together marine sector stakeholders, speakers and HR/EDI experts and resources to share best practices, inspire ideas and develop strategies and solutions to Elevate Marine’s Recruitment and Retention Game in the face of increasing talent shortages in Canada’s competitive labour marketplace.
This 1.5 Day Conference will:
- Share the latest marine workforce development research from across the country.
- Facilitate sharing of pilot projects, best practices, and resources on improving training, attraction and retention of talent on vessels, in ports, shipyards, government agencies, marine services and suppliers.
- Include sessions with external experts and speakers centered around better understanding the workforce needs of underrepresented groups and focused on sharing perspectives and learning practical steps, resources, and strategies.
- Help inform future workforce related programs for the marine sector.
- Provide networking and collaboration opportunities.
- Feature sponsorship exhibits
The conference welcomes attendees from all segments of the marine sector, including education and training organisations, vessel operators, ports, shipyards, government agencies, marine services and suppliers, along with workforce development experts and other stakeholders.
Conference Agenda
Please note that all sessions will be in English
Day 1: Wednesday, October 2nd
Day 1: Wednesday, October 2nd
08:00 AM
Conference Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:10 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks from Julia Fields, Executive Director at the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation
9:10 – 9:30 AM
Keynote Address by Angela Splinter, CEO of Trucking HR Canada
As CEO of Trucking HR Canada, Angela Splinter has tackled many challenges similar to those faced by the marine sector, including critical labour and skills shortages. Under her leadership, Trucking HR Canada has significantly increased workforce diversity and brought thousands of new workers to the industry. Her insights and experiences offer valuable lessons that the marine sector can leverage to build its own strong and resilient future.
9:30 – 10:30 AM
Opening Panel
Leadership in Action: Confronting Marine Skills Shortages for a Sustainable Future
Leadership in Action: Confronting Marine Skills Shortages for a Sustainable Future
This panel will discuss how current shortages and the upcoming wave of retirements are impacting organizations’ abilities to provide services, expand, and/or decarbonize. Industry leaders will address the real-world costs for their organizations and the Canadian economy, the actions being taken, and the major barriers impeding progress in recruitment, training, and retention.
Speakers:
Speakers:
- Gregg Ruhl (CEO, Algoma Central Corporation)
- Mario Pelletier (Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard)
- Discussion to be moderated by Stéphanie Aubourg (Chief Human Resources Officer, CSL)
10:30 – 11:00 AM
Coffee Break/Networking
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Program 2
Moving the Needle on Advancing Gender Diversity at Sea and On Shore
Moving the Needle on Advancing Gender Diversity at Sea and On Shore
Exploring strategies and initiatives to increase the representation and advancement of women and gender diverse individuals in both seafaring and shoreside roles.
Speakers:
Speakers:
- Susanne Justesen, Director Human Sustainability, Global Maritime Forum
- Lonita Judge, WISTA Canada; VP-Atlantic and Chief Operating Officer, Horizon Maritime.
12:00 PM – 1 PM
Buffet Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 PM
Program 3 (Option A: Main Room)
Creating New Pathways into the Marine Sector
Creating New Pathways into the Marine Sector
This session highlights programs that have been developed to bring second career seekers and new entrants into the marine industry, as well as proposals for new initiatives that could be undertaken.
Speakers:
Speakers:
- Christy Griffin (Executive Director, Tall Ships Canada)
- Julia Murphy (Director of Seafarer Certification, Transport Canada)
- Discussion to be moderated by Paul Hilder (President, Council of Marine Carriers)
1:30 – 2:30 PM
Program 3 (Option B: Breakout Room)
Workplace Wellness
Workplace Wellness
Best practices and initiatives aimed at improving psychological safety, physical health, and mental health support in the marine work environment.
Speakers:
Speakers:
- Dr. Jason Zuidema, (Executive Director, North American Maritime Ministry Association)
- Patti Merrigan (Vice-President of Human Resources, Marine Atlantic)
2:30 – 3:00 PM
Coffee Break/Networking
3:00 – 4:30 PM
Program 4
Level Up: Next Steps in Building a Vibrant Indigenous Marine Workforce
Level Up: Next Steps in Building a Vibrant Indigenous Marine Workforce
Introducing two new programs for training and transitioning Indigenous workers into the marine sector, along with practical strategies to enhance recruitment and retention.
Speakers:
Speakers:
- Sarah Thomas (Director of Indigenous Programs, Clear Seas)
- Tanna Pirie-Wilson (Director of Strategic Initiatives, Workforce Warriors)
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Reception for Delegates & Speakers
Day 2: Thursday, October 3rd
08:00 AM
Conference Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:45 AM – 8:55 AM
Day 2 Opening Remarks by Captain Ebenezer March, National President of Master Mariners of Canada
8:55 - 9:15 AM
Keynote Address by Kendra MacDonald, Chief Executive Officer at Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Kendra MacDonald is CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, which accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions. The OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 - a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. Recognized as one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs and a Top Sustainability Leader, Kendra will share insights about building awareness, and creating pathways, for inclusive talent development, attraction, and retention in the ocean economy through OSC investments, share key insights from the career pathways research; and discuss the successful "On the Job" campaign, which already reached over 1 million views on social media.
9:20 – 10:30 AM
The Future Marine Worker
Examining the evolving skills and training required by employers and marine workers as the sector incorporates AI, machine learning, autonomous, and decarbonization technologies. How do we meet workforce expectations and integrate sustainability into future marine employment strategies?
Speakers:
Speakers:
- Dr. Sherry Scully, Director of Workforce Development at The PIER
- Donald Roussel (Founder and Board Member of the Intelligent Maritime Corridors International Council)
- Fred Varkaris (Dean, Owen Sound Campus & Centre for Marine Training and Research
10:30 – 11:00 AM
Coffee Break/Networking
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Program 6 (Option A)
Level Up Workshop: Inclusive Recruitment, From Job Ad to Onboarding
Level Up Workshop: Inclusive Recruitment, From Job Ad to Onboarding
How can the marine sector enhance recruitment to attract more equity-deserving groups? This practical workshop, led by Natasha Jeshani, CEO of Career Contacts, covers interview process best practices (including inclusive job descriptions and recruitment marketing), the liabilities and results of a poor interview process, and how to avoid hiring biases.
* Session participants will also be able to register for a free 60-minute follow-up workshop that will be held virtually at a later date.
* Session participants will also be able to register for a free 60-minute follow-up workshop that will be held virtually at a later date.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Program 6 (Option B)
Increasing Seafarer Training Capacity and Accessibility
Increasing Seafarer Training Capacity and Accessibility
Canada needs to hire 19,000 new seafarers in the next 10 years, but obstacles exist to increase the training of Canadian mariners. This session delves into these challenges and what solutions can be deployed to improve the ability to access training, including the required sea time for certification.
- John M Schmidt (President, Federal Fleet Services Inc.)
- Barry Shepherd (Chief Operating Officer, Federal Fleet Services Inc.)
- Anthony Patterson (Managing Director, Training, Virtual Marine)
- Discussion to be moderated by Captain Jim Parsons of Master Mariners
Special Hotel Conference Rate
Will you be travelling to Ottawa for the conference? Take advantage of our preferential conference rate through the link below at the DoubleTree by Hilton, conveniently located a 2 minute walk from the Shaw Centre in Downtown Ottawa.
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Imagine Marine, a CMCF Initiative. © 2024, Canadian Marine Careers Foundation, all rights reserved.
