MARK I. SAVICKAS, PH.D.: Opening Keynote                                            Monday, January 25: 9:00 – 10:00 AM

Video: Opening Keynote

Career as Story: Using Life Themes in Counselling

Abstract:
Many counsellors are creating an innovation in their practices by shifting concentration from fostering career development to fostering development through work and relationships. This shift in practice has been prompted by changes in the social organization of work and occupations. To respond to these changes, some counsellors have turned to narrative models and methods because this approach emphasizes life design rather than occupational choice. Looking at lives as novels being written focuses attention on the themes that activate and characterize individuals in both the work and partnership/family domains. From this narrative perspective, vocational interests are solutions to problems that people have experienced and work is an opportunity to actively master what has been passively suffered. This narrative approach to career counselling enables clients to fit work into their lives, rather than fit themselves to jobs. Thus, psychosocial mattering replaces occupational congruence as the goal of advising and counselling. This presentation will discuss and demonstrate practical techniques for using stories and articulating life themes to foster educational and career decision making. Participants will learn how to integrate these techniques into their ongoing practice and may even use the techniques to better understand why they became advisors and counsellors and how their own occupations allow them to advance their own life stories.

His 80 articles, 40 book chapters, and 500 presentations to professional groups have dealt with vocational behavior and career counseling. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance and President–Elect of the Counseling Psychology Division in the International Association of Applied Psychology.

He has served as editor for the Career Development Quarterly (1991-1998) and is currently editor for the Journal of Vocational Behavior (1999-to the present). He edited Convergence in Career Development Theories (1994 with R. Lent), Handbook of Career Counseling Theory and Practice (1996 with B. Walsh), Vocational Interests (1999 with A. Spokane), and the Handbook of Vocational Psychology -3rd ed (2005). He has received the John L. Holland Award for Outstanding Achievement in Career and Personality Research from the Counseling Psychology Division (17) of the American Psychological Association and the Eminent Career Award from the National Career Development Association. He is a fellow of the American Counseling Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, and the National Career Development Association. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Lisbon (Portugal) and the University of Pretoria (South Africa).

DENISE BISSONNETTE: Keynote Address                                       Tuesday, January 26: 8:30 – 10:00 AM

Title: Beyond Barriers to Passion and Possibility

Abstract:
Imagine the difference in working with a person who is asking, “What does this program have to offer me given all of my problems and challenges?” to working with someone engaged in the question “What do I have to offer the world and how do I go about finding the best place to utilize my strengths and gifts?” In this thought-provoking and inspiring keynote, Denise will inspire us to change our focus from “barrier removal” to “igniting the spirit” and assist individuals to move towards their potential rather than away from their problems and challenges. In her characteristic manner, Denise will weave poetry, parables and real life stories in a way that brings home key learning points that will change the way we see the individuals we serve as well as the person in the mirror!

DENISE BISSONNETTE: Biography
After completing her Masters Degree in Multicultural Education at the University of San Francisco, Denise began to work in ESL programs. Her early literacy work with political refugees drew her to the difficulties that they faced in trying to establish themselves in the American workplace. In response, she made a career change and became a Job Developer – working with employers to secure jobs for people from groups that were not traditionally part of the workforce. Denise's job search curriculum, Pathways, became a cornerstone for the placement services of many social service agencies and educational systems. Her book Beyond Traditional Job Development stands as the definitive text for job development professionals throughout the continent. Denise's early program Crossroads and the later Cultivating the Spirit to Work respond to the “motivational” issues encountered in clients of placement services. Her revolutionary concept of “activity-based placement” led to the development of the comprehensive Cultivating True Livelihood curriculum. Concurrent to her work in the arena of Human Services, Denise has worked closely with the corporate sector. Companies like Oracle, EDS, Hyatt Hotels and the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) have drawn on her expertise to enhance their Workforce Diversity efforts. In recent years, Denise has also been called upon to design training programs and manuals to enable companies to effectively engage the talents of employees emerging from welfare-to-work initiatives. These are primarily tools for Managers and Supervisors to deal skillfully with the diverse backgrounds and experiences that these individuals are bringing to the workplace. Developing the New Employee (training curriculum) and Helping the New Employee Succeed (supervisor handbook) are exciting products that have emerged from this work.

LINDA DUXBURY, PH.D.: Closing Keynote                                        Wednesday, January 27: 9:00 – 10:00 AM

Title: Managing a Changing Workforce

Abstract:
We are currently in an unusual position in Canada in that we have four generations in the workforce at the same time. Each of these generations has different attitudes and values with respect to work and life. Managers in organizations today need to understand key generational differences in order to attract, motivate and retain good employees. The upcoming century will see a fundamental shift in the nature of the employer-employee relationship as organizations seek to attract and retain good employees in a declining labour market. Dr. Duxbury describes why certain demographic groups behave the way they do. She discusses everyone from those born during WWII; to those who grew up during the freedom of the '60s; to those who grew up in the shadow of downsizing, recession and the threat of terrorism. She explains the impact these issues have on the work ethic of different demographic groups and what this means for companies trying to find ways to retain people from each demographic group. Her keynotes illustrate how talent has become a source of real power for workers.

LINDA DUXBURY, PH.D.: Biography
Linda Duxbury is a Professor at the Sprott School of Business, Carleton University and the Director of Research at the Centre for Research and Education on Women and Work.

Dr. Duxbury has published widely in both academic and practitioner literature and is an accomplished trainer and speaker in the area of work-family conflict/balance, change management, supportive work environments, stress, “telework”, the use and impact of office technology, managing the new workforce, supportive management, gender and communication and the communication process.

One of Canada's leading workplace health researchers and workplace demographic experts, she has influenced government policy-making and significantly advanced the practices and attitudes toward work-life balance. Her governmental report, Voices of Canadians: Seeking Work-Life Balance, is a compilation of comments by Canadian workers regarding how they feel about the stresses they face in their daily lives as they seek to balance work and family. It is one of the largest research studies of its kind.

Dr. Duxbury has been the recipient of many prestigious awards including: the Carleton University Student’s Association 2002-2003 Teaching Excellence Award, the Smartlink Fellowship, a Community Policing Award by the Ottawa Police Services for her leadership on the Ottawa Police Outreach Recruitment Advisory Board and the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Award. In 2004 she was asked to deliver the Don Woods Lecture at Queens University the purpose of which is to “bring to Queens University distinguished individuals who have made an important contribution to industrial relations in Canada and other countries”.