14 th Annual ™ www.iep.cawww.iep.ca 2017 CONFERENCE REPORT PUBLISHED BY LEVERAGING GLOBAL SKILLS TO CREATE A MORE COMPETITIVE CANADA PROGRESS CAREER PLANNING INSTITUTE Presents THEIEPCONFERENCEREPORT IEP Conference Report Copyright © 2017 — Progress Career Planning Institute (PCPI) Leveraging your Global Skills for Professional Success in Canada IEPIEP CONFERENCECONFERENCE Table of Contents Preamble ............................................................................................................................1 About PCPI and the IEP Conference ......................................................................................2 Executive Summary .............................................................................................................4 Key Themes and Observations .............................................................................................7 Employer, Delegate and Exhibitor Feedback ........................................................................10 Delegate Profiles & Demographics .................................................................................12-15 Conference Proceedings Welcome and Opening Remarks ..............................................................................16 Keynote Speaker -- Zaib Shaikh ...............................................................................18 Skill-Building Presentation— LinkedIn .......................................................................19 Panel: IEPs’ Journeys to Success ...............................................................................20 Concurrent Sessions | Morning Sector Hub Presentations Regulatory, Accreditation, Academia & Associations Engineering and Related Professions ...................................................................24 Finance & Accounting ........................................................................................38 Healthcare and Related Professions .....................................................................44 Information Technology ......................................................................................54 Sales, Marketing & Communications ...................................................................60 Concurrent Sessions | Afternoon Sector Hub Presentations Employers and HR Professionals Engineering and Related Professions ...................................................................68 Finance & Accounting ........................................................................................82 Healthcare and Related Professions .....................................................................88 Information Technology ......................................................................................98 Sales, Marketing & Communications .................................................................104 Marketplace Exhibitors ....................................................................................................110 Thank You to Our Sponsors ..............................................................................................111 Acknowledgements..........................................................................................................112 LeveragingLeveraging GlobalGlobal SkillsSkills toto CreateCreate aa MoreMore CompetitiveCompetitive CanadaCanada IEPIEP CONFERENCECONFERENCE PREAMBLE The purpose of this report is to offer a comprehensive summary of the information and opinions shared by various speakers, panellists, and delegates who attended the 14th annual Internationally Educated Professionals (“IEP”) Conference on Friday, March 3, 2017, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The conference report author and sector hub scribes have taken great care to detail the proceedings as accurately as possible. Opinions and advice shared by various speakers and panel members, as well as those from the delegates themselves are unabridged. Furthermore, Progress Career Planning Institute (“PCPI”), conference sponsors, exhibitors, and the report author accept no liability whatsoever for any errors that may be contained herein. 2017 | 14 th Annual IEP Conference Report | 1 LeveragingLeveraging GlobalGlobal SkillsSkills toto CreateCreate aa MoreMore CompetitiveCompetitive CanadaCanada IEPIEP CONFERENCECONFERENCE About PCPI and the IEP Conference LEVERAGING The IEP Conference is a signature annual event produced by Progress Career Planning Institute, a not for profit, business focused workforce development organization that GLOBAL SKILLS builds communities by empowering people to pursue their potential. TO CREATE Headquartered in Toronto East (and with two new locations in Brampton and North York), Progress Career Planning A MORE Institute is a highly respected hub of key stakeholders invested in employment and labour market optimization. For over 20 COMPETITIVE years, PCPI has successfully served tens of thousands of clients in achieving their career dreams, as well as spearheaded the CANADA collaboration of government, private sector and community partners to support its innovative programming. Now in its 14th year, the IEP Conference continues to deliver respectful, pragmatic and inspirational assistance to hundreds of skilled Internationally Educated Professionals seeking to enter the Canadian workforce or improve their job prospects within it. The Conference’s interactive design, up to date occupational sector information, and free access to a variety of career support providers contribute to the high degree of delegate satisfaction, year over year. Additionally, PCPI benefits from the ongoing, generous partnership of governments, professional associations, regulatory bodies, academia, private sector employers, the media, and dozens of volunteers – many who have supported the Conference since its inception in 2003. PCPI believes that settling IEPs quickly into meaningful employment related to their skills, experience, and potential, contributes directly to healthy economic development – and a prosperous Canada for all. 2 | 2017 | 14 th Annual IEP Conference Report LeveragingLeveraging GlobalGlobal SkillsSkills toto CreateCreate aa MoreMore CompetitiveCompetitive CanadaCanada IEPIEP CONFERENCECONFERENCE Conference Highlights include: KEYNOTE SPEAKER An accomplished Canadian professional, frequently a prominent entrepreneur and/or IEP, shares their career journey replete with challenges and sage advice intended to enlighten and inspire delegates. SUCCESSFUL IEP PANEL Immigrants who have successfully integrated into the Canadian labour market participate in a moderated discussion showcasing their unique paths to achieving full employment and career satisfaction. FIVE PROFESSIONAL SECTORS Delegates can tap into a wealth of information, including regulatory and employer consultations specific to pursuing current and emerging positions in Engineering; Finance and Accounting; Healthcare and Related Professions; Information Technology and Sales, Marketing and Communications. SKILL BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES Both plenary and breakout sessions regularly include facilitated opportunities for individual, partner and group practice in applying requisite job search skills such as networking, goal setting, workplace communication, and Canadian cultural adaptation/integration. INFORMATION AND RESOURCES MARKETPLACE Exhibitors representing accreditation services, education and training, employment counselling, and settlement services offer information as well as individual guidance to delegates. IEP DIRECTORY: AN EMPLOYMENT RESOURCE GUIDE This specialty magazine, produced and published by PCPI, is a comprehensive compilation of wide-ranging career and employment resources for IEPs and Newcomers, conveniently organized by professional sector. Organizations and individuals alike utilize this resource long after the event, especially conference delegates who receive a free copy in their registration package. 2017 | 14 th Annual IEP Conference Report | 3 LeveragingLeveraging GlobalGlobal SkillsSkills toto CreateCreate aa MoreMore CompetitiveCompetitive CanadaCanada IEPIEP CONFERENCECONFERENCE Executive Summary Seven hundred forty-three delegates representing multiple professions attended the 14th annual IEP Conference, held at Toronto’s Metro Convention Centre on Friday, March 3, 2017. As one of Canada’s leading forums advancing job and career opportunities for internationally educated professionals, the Conference once again presented a comprehensive program of speakers, employers, and resources sharing the latest in labour force trends and information presented in a highly accessible, interactive format. Reflecting its ongoing commitment to showcasing IEP talent throughout this event, Conference producer Progress Career Planning Institute (PCPI) secured a record number of business, academic, and public sector leaders, many who are IEPs themselves. This impressive array of over 40 IEPs (complementing the efforts of all speakers) conveyed to the audience a special authenticity, and further inspired a sense of community within the delegates, reinforcing a theme expressed in the keynote remarks of Toronto’s Film Commissioner and Entertainment Industries Director. Delegates frequently commented that receiving job search strategies and success stories directly from those who had once shared their ‘journey’ was especially meaningful and inspirational. In fact, many of these same IEPs joined other panellists who extended their accessibility after the formal proceedings ended, generously networking