Speaking engagements | Work-Learn Institute

The team of researchers at the Work-Learn Institute are well-known keynote speakers often asked to present at global and national conferences related to work-integrated learning, the future of work and lifelong learning, the future of recruiting, the values gap and more.

Find recorded events, presentation slides and additional resources from past webinars, research seminars and conference presentations.

Past events for educators

The Work-Learn Institute, formerly Waterloo Centre for the Advancement of Co-operative Education (WatCACE), speaks at national and global conferences around the world to share research and knowledge on work-integrated learning (WIL), the future of work and more.

For upcoming conferences, please visit the Work-Learn Institute events page to view the official calendar of events. To learn more about collaborating with our team of well-known keynote speakers and researchers, view our available services and contact us today.

2022

Research seminars

Part 1 Research Webinar Series 2022: Number of work experiences and student employability (July 21, 2022)
- Host: CEWIL Canada
- Speakers: Judene Pretti and Dave Drewery
Future Ready Talent Framework and Lifelong Learning (February 10, 2022)
- Host: The Art & Science of Learning
- Speakers: Anne-Marie Fannon

2021

Conference presentation

Student & Employer Engagement with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (May 2021)
Host: World Association for Cooperative Education (WACE)
Speakers: Dr. Norah McRae and Shabnam Ivković

2020

Conference presentations

Successful transitions for students and organizations: Research and applications (April 16, 2020)
- Host: Cooperative Education & Internship Association Conference (CEIA)
- Speakers: Judene Pretti, Dave Drewery, Katie Ashcroft and Anne-Marie Fannon
- Presentation slides (PDF)
Demystifying research in work-integrated learning (April 14, 2020)
- Host: Cooperative Education & Internship Association Conference (CEIA)
- Speakers: Judene Pretti and Dr. Sarah Burrows
Developing future-ready students through WIL: The role of competency frameworks (February 5, 2020)
- Host: Waterloo Experiential Learning Symposium
- Speaker: Judene Pretti

2019

Conference presentations

Developing future-ready students through WIL: The role of competency frameworks (August 2019)
- Host: 21st WACE World Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Speakers: Judene Pretti, Dr. Norah McRae, Anne-Marie Fannon
Operationalizing a quality WIL framework (August 2019)
- Host: 21st WACE World Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Speakers: Judene Pretti and Dr. Norah McRae

Research seminars

Lifelong learning mindsets and the connection to workplace success (November 14, 2019)
- Speakers: Judene Pretti, Dave Drewery and Robert Sproule
- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Seminar handout (PDF)

2018

Conference presentations

Scaling up experiential learning opportunities and challenges (October 12, 2018)
- Host: Educating for the Future: Learning Outcomes and Experiential Learning Symposium, Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance in Toronto, Ontario
- Speaker: Dr. Norah McRae

Research seminars

Understanding the perspectives of employers: Talent challenges, needs and recruiting practices (October 30, 2018)
- Speakers: Judene Pretti and Dave Drewery
- WatCACE (now Work-Learn Institute) seminar recording: Understanding the perspectives of employers: Talent challenges, needs and recruiting practices
A holistic approach to evaluating Macquarie University's institution-wide work-integrated learning program (August 28, 2018)
- Speaker: Dr. Kate Lloyd
- WatCACE (now Work-Learn Institute) seminar recording: A holistic approach to evaluating Macquarie University's institution-wide work-integrated learning program

2017

Conference presentations

Parameters of a "good" professional experience: Employer perspective (June 6, 2017)
- Host: 20th WACE World Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Speakers: Judene Pretti, Dave Drewery and Dr. Phil Gardner
Supervisor toolkit: Developing evidence-based tools and tips (April 3, 2017)
- Host: Cooperative Education & Internship Association Conference (CEIA) in Denver, Colorado
- Speakers: Judene Pretti and Dave Drewery
- Summary of key findings (PDF)
- Brainstorming activity (PDF)

Research seminars

The WatCV research study (November 29, 2017)
- Speakers: Jill Tomasson Goodwin, Katherine Lithgow and Joslin Goh
- WatCV rubric (PDF)
- The WatCV research study seminar recording
- Undergraduate degree level expectations (Word document)
- WatCV rubric demo (WatIAM credentials needed for login)
Diversity recruitment practices and workplace realities: A study of co-op students (November 8, 2017)
- Speaker: Edward Yeung (PhD student, Industrial/Organizational Psychology)
Sustaining partnerships and employer perspectives on work-integrated learning (October 11, 2017)
- Speakers: Judene Pretti and Dave Drewery
- WatCACE (now Work-Learn Institute) lecture recording
Lifelong learning (March 9, 2017)
- Speakers: Judene Pretti and Dave Drewery

2016

Conference presentations

Developing, maintaining and assessing WIL programs (November 18, 2016)
- Host: Work-Integrated Learning in Ontario’s Colleges and Universities Centre for the Study of Canadian and International Higher Education (CIHE), Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) and Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD)
- Speaker: Judene Pretti
WatCACE introduction (November 2, 2016)
- Host: CEWIL Canada Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Professional Development (PD) Event in Waterloo, Ontario (formerly CAFCE AGM/PD Event)
- Speakers: Judene Pretti, Dave Drewery and Colleen Nevison
Collaborating with WIL stakeholders: Success factors for sustainable relationships (September 29, 2016)
- Host: Australian Collaborative Education Network (ACEN) National Conference in Sydney, Australia
- Speakers: Judene Pretti, Dr. Jenny Fleming and Dr. Kath McLachlan
WatCACE co-op research sampler (August 7-10, 2016)
- Host: CEWIL Canada Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Professional Development (PD) Event in Moncton, New Brunswick (formerly CAFCE AGM/PD Event)
- Speakers: Judene Pretti, Lauren Cormier and Colleen Nevison
Unpacking supervisor experience (June 12-15, 2016)
- Host: WACE Second International Research Symposium in Victoria, British Columbia
- Speakers: Judene Pretti and Dave Drewery
Life-long learning and co-operative education (June 12-15, 2016)
- Host: WACE Second International Research Symposium in Victoria, British Columbia
- Speakers: Judene Pretti, Dave Drewery, Antoine Pennaforte, Anne Fannon and Erin Smith

Research seminars

Trends in work-integrated learning research (June 23, 2016)
- Speaker: Dr. Karsten Zegwaard
- Recent trends in WIL Relationships webinar recording
The co-op workplace support system (February 11, 2016)
- Speaker: Dr. Antoine Pennaforte
Looking back: WatCACE research in 2015 (January 11, 2016)
- Speakers: Colleen Nevison and Lauren Cormier
- WatCACE research in 2015 webinar recording

Past events for employers

The Work-Learn Institute conducts a series of events to share data-derived insights and engage in discussion with the work-integrated learning (WIL) community of employers, researchers, and other WIL advocates.

Past online events

January 31, 2024: The future-ready workforce series: Transforming workplaces for equity-deserving learners
September 20, 2023: The future-ready workforce series: Research-based tips for supervising emerging talent
May 10, 2023: The future-ready workforce series: Understanding Gen Z values in the workplace
September 1, 2022: The future-ready workforce series: The future of working together
June 1, 2022: The future-ready workforce series: A characteristic you need in your future workforce
January 7, 2022: Global Hiring Trends: How Gen Z Talent Thrives
November 17, 2021: The future-ready workforce series: Upskilling to prepare for the future of work
November 8, 2021: Reskilling and upskilling for the Future of Work
July 14, 2021: The future-ready workforce series: Converting and retaining the next generation of talent
April 28, 2021: The future-ready workforce series: Engaging the next generation of talent
February 3, 2021: The future-ready workforce series: Recruiting the next generation of talent
September 17, 2020: The future of work and your talent pipeline: What is COVID-19 teaching us?