The 2025 Employer Impact Conference: The power of change makers brings together future-focused leaders, organizations and innovators. Together they explore strategies that drive growth, foster collaboration and create impactful change.
This conference covers key topics like mentorship, intergenerational workplaces, co-op hiring and recruiting strategies and how to build your company’s visibility on the Waterloo campus.
Learning outcomes:
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Learn strategies for navigating and fostering collaboration in intergenerational workplaces, especially with Gen Z.
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Gain actionable insights on building simple and easy to manage mentorship programs that deliver ROI and strengthen talent roadmaps.
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Discover how co-op students can fill critical skill gaps and drive innovation within your organization.
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Master best practices for using WaterlooWorks to streamline recruiting and attract top talent.
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Learn practical ways to develop a strong brand presence on campus.
Join us to empower your organization with the tools, strategies and connections needed to thrive in today’s ever-evolving workplace landscape.
Sessions and speakers
Keynote: Navigating the future of work with collaboration and innovation
Speaker:
Join Mark Chapeskie for an inspiring keynote on building collaboration and fostering change within your organization and community. Drawing from his unconventional career path, Mark will share insights on bridging education and industry, cultivating a change-maker mindset and navigating the future of recruitment in a world shaped by technology (including artificial intelligence (AI)).
Student panel: Change makers in action: student stories
Speakers:
- University of Waterloo co-op students
- Jess Lang, Associate Director, Centre for Career Development (moderator)
Discover the stories of remarkable co-op students from diverse industries who were change makers during their work terms. In this session, each student will deliver a powerful three-minute presentation, showcasing their problem-solving mindset and how they were empowered to drive innovation.
Innovate together: Leveraging generational strengths
Speakers:
- Judene Pretti, Director, CEE Strategic Enablement Team, CEE
- David Drewery, Associate Director, Work-Learn Institute
- Ann-Marie Weber, Supervisor, Contracts and Service, Region of Waterloo
This session presents key research findings and practical strategies to foster collaboration, bridge generational gaps and create a more cohesive and productive work environment for teams of all ages.
Employer branding: How to drive student engagement using on campus branding
Speakers:
- Kate Dal Castel, Senior Development Officer, CEE
- Jeff Chamberlain, Account Manager, CEE
- Chris Tung, Recruiting Program Specialist, Rippling
In this session, we’ll share proven strategies for building your brand and fostering meaningful engagement opportunities with students, alumni and faculty.
Insider hacks to help you recruit the talent you want
Speakers:
- Emily Burgess, Co-op Operations Manager, CEE
- Melissa Prospero, Account Manager, CEE
- David Hill, Product Manager, Habtech
- Joanne Hrvatin, Recruiter, Steelcon Group of Companies
Discover what truly captivates top talent, stay ahead with the latest recruitment updates and master our recruiting system.
The secret sauce for a productive work term
Speakers:
- Julie Hartley, Account Manager, CEE
- Minami Alguire, Manager of Campus Talent Acquisition, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
- Amitoj Sandhu, Manager, Global Early Talent, Dayforce
In this session, we’ll explore how onboarding, check-ins, mentorship and offboarding combine to create the perfect recipe for a productive and meaningful work term that benefit both employer and student.
Closing the skills gap: The impact of co-op talent on your business
Speakers:
- Marg Johnston, Business Developer, CEE
- Alyssa Kuron, Industry Strategist, CEE
- Gaurav Shah, Global Business and Digital Arts co-op student
- Chris Oka, Engineering co-op student
In this session, we’ll highlight how co-op students bring fresh perspectives, innovation, and a strong work ethic to help businesses achieve success.