Thursday, November 21, 2024, from 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM PST – This in-person paid leadership event is open to all who wish to register and has a limited number of participants.
Find inspiration. Leave with a new perspective. Spark impactful change.
SPARK is a transformative half-day symposium bringing together Senior Executives, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) leaders, and Talent Acquisition professionals for shared learning, networking, and innovation.
This Year’s Theme: Elevating Talent Acquisition for the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community.
We know that Two-Spirit, queer, and trans communities are a wealth of creativity, innovation, and have a dynamic impact in workplaces. Yet, employees and job seekers from these communities are often overlooked, deemed unconventional hires, or stagnate in their careers.
SPARK aims to break barriers and shine a spotlight on the untapped talent within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community with a specific focus on newcomers, refugees and migrants, both in the workplace and the job market.
Key Highlights:
- Inspiring Insights: Dive deep into the talent acquisition process, exploring attraction, selection, and development strategies.
- Dynamic Discussions: Engage in lively keynote presentations and thought-provoking discussions led by driven LGBTQIA+ newcomer, refugee and migrant leaders.
- Strategic Networking: Foster intentional connections to fuel organizational change and create workplaces where everyone, including LGBTQIA+ newcomer, refugee and migrant individuals, thrives.
LOCATION
BDC
BDC Square
1133 Melville Street, Suite 1500 (15th Floor)
Vancouver, BC V6E 4E5
Agenda:
- 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Keynotes, lively discussions, and engaging other DEI and talent acquisition leaders
- 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Networking Reception with LGBTQIA+ newcomer, refugee and migrant leaders and talent
Learning Objectives:
- Understand how to attract and retain LGBTQIA+ newcomer and refugee talent.
- Discover the experiences of LGBTQIA+ newcomer, refugee and migrant talent.
- Cultivate a relationship with fellow DEI leaders and 2SLGBTQIA+ talent.
Discussion Groups:
- Building Newcomer Programs with Shelly-Ann Skinner (they/them, she/her), President and Founder, UPlift Black Canada
- Barriers to Selection with Alex Ash (they/them), Executive Director, Chroma NB
- Building Your DEI Strategy with Adeline Huynh (she/her), CEO & Principal Consultant, The Commons Consulting
- Supporting Refugees with Norma Lize Rhayem (she/her), Communications Manager, Rainbow Refugee
- Developing Newcomer Talent with Clea Arrieta (she/her), HR Consultant, DEI Specialist, Bright + Early
Audience:
- Senior Leaders
- DEI professionals
- Talent Acquisition Professionals
REGISTRATION & PRICING
LIMITED SEATS – Purchase your tickets as soon as possible. Registrations are open on Eventbrite, and the participation fees are:
Partner tickets
Senior leaders of Pride at Work Canada’s Proud Partners & Community Partners
$525.00 (+ tax) – Regular Price
$425.00 (+ tax) – Early Bird Price (until October 20)
General tickets
For senior leaders of other companies & organizations (non-partners)
$825.00 (+ tax) – Regular Price
$725.00 (+ tax) – Early Bird Price (until October 20)
On Eventbrite, participants will be asked to inform some personal & professional details, accessibility requests, food restrictions & and allergies. For any additional questions, reach out to us at events@prideatwork.ca.
SPEAKERS
Aleks Selim Dughman Manzur (they/them)
Co Executive Director: Programming & Advocacy
Rainbow Refugee Society
Keynote SpeakerAleks Selim Dughman Manzur (J.D., LL.M.) is a transgender Palestinian born and primarily raised in Santiago, Chile. As a Chilean lawyer, Aleks specializes in human rights, reproductive and sexual health law, LGBTQI+ rights, and refugee rights. They hold an LL.M. from the University of Toronto and currently serve as the Co-Executive Director of Rainbow Refugee. Aleks is also the past President of the Canadian Council for Refugees and currently holds a position as an Executive Committee member. Additionally, they are the co-chair of From Borders to Belonging, a Canada-wide coalition in solidarity with LGBTQI refugees and asylum seekers.
Previously, Aleks worked as the Director of LGBTQ+ Refugee Programs and SAH representative for the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto. Their past roles also include positions at LEAF (Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund), the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID), and the International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Programme at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law.
Their work focuses on facilitating pathways for refugee protection and co-creating communities of belonging for individuals with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, expressions, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). Aleks designs programs and services for LGBTQI+ asylum seekers, refugee claimants, and refugees, and advocates for refugee rights at various levels of government both locally and internationally. Additionally, they provide advisory and expert opinions, represent Canada at international forums on refugee protection, and conduct webinars and workshops for numerous local and international organizations.
Ky Sargeant (she/they)
DEI Consultant
and Comedian
EmceeKy is a EDI consultant known for her engaged approach to facilitation, where she leverages 8 years of public speaking and performing arts experience to communicate complex DEI topics in an accessible way for all audiences. Previously the assistant to the Senior Dean of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the UBC Sauder School of business & currently an EDI Scholar in Residence at UBC Library, she brings a deep understanding of academic frameworks of EDI and how to translate that knowledge into practice. She has since co-developed a first-of-its-kind index and training program for business funders and is the Vice-Chair of the board for QMUNITY. Outside of work, she regularly hosts a 2SLGBTQIA+ Open-Mic Comedy night and performs stand-up comedy around the city.
Discussion Group Facilitators
Shelly-Ann Skinner (they/she)
President and Founder
UPlift Black Canada
DG: Building Newcomer ProgramsShelly-Ann Skinner is an Award winning activist, anti-oppression educator, mentor, community builder and multi-disciplinary artist. With her lived experience of intersectional discrimination and gender-based violence, Shelly, carries a story of inspirational perseverance, resiliency, and dedication to the betterment of her community. In 2020, amid a global pandemic, Shelly founded UPlift Black; the first social service agency based in Simcoe County, Ontario dedicated to increasing the visibility and socio-economic development of local Black communities. Shelly believes, in order to achieve true equality and liberation for Black people in Canada, the movement for systemic change must include a transfeminist approach that challenges both homophobia and misogyny and fights for disability justice. With Shelly’s fresh new take on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, she is using a Social Justice Framework to ensure fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all.
Alex Ash (they/them)
Executive Director
Chroma NB
DG: Barriers to SelectionAlex is a passionate advocate for community, grassroots movements for change, building connections, and the power of learning. They have a background in education, coaching and facilitation, and have worked in both the public and not-for-profit sector . They are actively working to cultivate and support collaborative networks through knowledge sharing and capacity building, in order to create new systems of care and imagine futures for Queer and Trans folks across the country and beyond. They are currently pursuing a Masters in Justice Studies at Royal Roads where they hope to gain valuable insight into the Social Justice landscape across so-called Canada. Alex strives to collaborate in all areas of their life and is driven by a desire to create safe space for all members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Adeline Huynh (she/her)
CEO & Principal Consultant
The Commons Consulting
DG: Building Your DEI StrategyAdeline has 15 years of leadership in the field of workplace diversity, inclusion and equity. Her most recent experiences come from leading organizational change initiatives, including training programs at UBC and SFU, as well as, with non-profit, healthcare, settlement organizations, and the private sector. Currently, she is the CEO & Principal Consultant of The Commons Consulting, an equity and inclusion strategy firm. As a consultant, she has supported the development and implementation of equity and inclusion strategy frameworks; provided leadership coaching; and designed training programs to build the capacity of leaders and employees. Adeline also has lived experience as a racialized 2SLGBTQIA+ cis-woman living and working on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish), Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam) Peoples. This lived experience and community connections inform her intersectional and culturally safe approach to DEI and change management.
Norma Lize Rhayem (she/her)
Communications Manager
Rainbow Refugee
DG: Supporting RefugeesNorma Lize Rhayem, a transgender activist and advocate from the Middle East. Her activism started when she was studying journalism and communication arts, leading to her involvement with LGBTQIA+ organizations in the SWANA region and worldwide. Her lived experience, and work in Media and the Non-profit sector helped her to raise the voice about LGBTQIA+ issues around the world. Since relocating to Vancouver, she continues to fight for the rights of the trans community. She worked as a Sponsorship Coordinator at Rainbow Refugee, a Peer Facilitator at Mosaic, and a co-trainer at QMUNITY. Norma is currently working as a Communications Manager at Rainbow Refugee Society and is working on developing training materials to help raise awareness in workplaces and communities.
Clea Arrieta (she/her)
HR Consultant, DEI Specialist
Bright + Early
DG: Developing Newcomer TalentClea is a first-generation Canadian, a queer woman of color, and a proud big sister. With experience in the tech, non-profit, and civic organizing sectors, she has a passion for creating meaningful employee experiences. As a strategic and collaborative people operations professional, she focuses on developing policies, processes, and systems that empower teams to reach their full potential. Clea leads with empathy, embedding DEI values into every project, whether in her day job or her work in the community.
This in-person paid leadership event is open to all who wish to register and has a limited number of participants.
Do you have any questions about SPARK? Please send an email to events@prideatwork.ca.
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