Don’t get left behind. In this fireside chat, Noel Baldwin, CEO of Future Skills Canada, shares the Canadian future workforce trends and priorities that the marine sector must be attuned to, in order, to remain competitive and meet workforce demands.

As Canada enters a new era of nation-building projects and trade diversification, the marine sector is facing both significant opportunities and growing workforce challenges. This session highlights practical initiatives and cross-sector collaborations that are strengthening workforce resilience and enhancing capacity. It will also identify areas where further strategic investment and coordinated workforce infrastructure are needed to support Canada’s economic goals.

Allyship is not a destination, it is a constant daily journey of understanding and showing up in solidarity with colleagues from underrepresented groups. This scenario based learning session is a combination of educational awareness and action steps for supporting colleagues in allyship.

AI is rapidly moving from buzzword to daily reality across the marine sector, reshaping port, shipyard and vessel operations. In this plenary discussion, industry leaders and technology experts will share how AI, automation and robotics are changing marine workplaces and training needs.

Attendees will learn:

• How AI tools can be used to better match applicants to careers and training and significantly decrease new entry turnover. 
• Human-centred strategies, training and guardrails to successfully incorporate AI into your marine workplace
• How technology can support safer and more efficient human–machine collaboration

Young Canadians face rising barriers to entry: high youth unemployment, growing concern over automation and AI displacing traditional entry-level roles, and a widening gap between the skills they possess and those the sector demands. Panelists, including early career professionals, will share their perspectives and innovative approaches to providing hands-on experience, from co-op programs and micro-credentials to mentoring and early career progression. The discussion will also highlight how the sector can reinvent entry points in an era where automation is reshaping work.

This moderated learning discussion will focus on practical strategies to improve student success in marine training programs, from learner support during training to transitioning into first jobs. The goal is to create a space for information sharing, best practice exchange, and discussion across institutions, students, and industry partners.

Participants will leave with ideas, examples of what institutions are testing, and a clearer sense of where collaboration between schools and employers could improve student success and workforce transition outcomes.

Government representatives will present updates on policies and partnerships that can enable future workforce development, training and resilience.