Anne-Marie Fannon
Director
Anne-Marie Fannon (she/her) is an internationally recognized leader in work-integrated learning (WIL). She is an expert in developing scalable and sustainable WIL ecosystems, which include effective industry engagement, higher education structures and the vital role of government support.
She plays a pivotal role in advancing WIL program development both nationally and internationally. In Canada, she expanded the mandate of the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE) to encompass all forms of WIL leading the association to evolve into Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada. Fannon was instrumental in launching CEWIL’s Government Relations Committee and co-leading the implementation of the multi-million dollar iHUB initiative. Recently, she co-led the revision of the national accreditation standards for co-op programs.
On the international front, Fannon has consulted on WIL projects in various countries, including South Africa, Senegal, Peru, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. She is a sought-after keynote speaker and addresses a wide range of topics, from effective industry engagement to preparing students for the future of work.
Dr. David Drewery
Associate Director
David Drewery, PhD (he/him) leverages over a decade of experience in teaching and research to enhance WIL programs. He collaborates with employers, post-secondary institutions and international scholars to optimize WIL practices, with a focus on creating mutually beneficial experiences for students and industry partners.
Drewery is an associate editor for the International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning (IJWIL), the only academic journal dedicated to WIL, furthering his commitment to advancing the field through impactful research and publications. He has received several national and international awards. Most recently he was awarded the CEWIL Canada's Dr. Graham Branton award (2024) for impact on scholarly research in WIL. In his teaching and research, Drewery is known for his expertise in social psychology and organizational behaviour, which he uses to provide insights into the complexities of WIL.
Dr. Katie Knapp
Research Associate
Katie Knapp, PhD (she/her) holds a PhD in Psychology from Massey University and has over a decade of experience working in higher education as both an educator and a researcher. Knapp specializes in quantitative research methods and has published over 10 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. The wide range of topics include memory, brain development and pedagogical partnerships. Knapp's research focuses on understanding the experiences of students and employers participating in work-integrated learning programs and is supported by a grant from the Cooperative Education and Internship Association (CEIA).
Idris Ademuyiwa
Research Associate
Idris Ademuyiwa, MA, PMP (he/him) has a wide-range of expertise, including: the labour market and WIL, WIL programs impact evaluation and assessments, equity-diversity and inclusion issues in WIL, talent development and the role of WIL stakeholders, topics in the future of work, and data governance.
Ademuyiwa specializes in qualitative and quantitative research methods, applied econometrics, policy analysis and program impact evaluation methods. He leads research projects on barriers to WIL experienced by students from equity-deserving groups, the Waterloo Experience Accelerate evaluation project and the WIL and international students retention project.
Notably, Ademuyiwa was the recipient of the World Association of Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (WACE) 2024 Best Paper Award and the CEWIL Canada Research Grant 2024. He has published over 20 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and policy and working papers. Ademuyiwa routinely presents his work at events such as WACE, Experiential and Work-Integrated Learning Ontario (EWO) and CEWIL Canada.
Islam Abu Jaber
Educational Developer
Islam Abu Jaber, MPA (she/her) is passionate about bridging work and learning to create meaningful opportunities for students. With over 13 years of experience in student advising, program management and employer relations, Abu Jaber designs curriculum and resources to advance WIL locally and globally.
A certified Career Development Facilitator with a master’s in public administration, she leads consulting projects with higher education institutions to expand WIL programs and co-create training initiatives like the Excellence in Supervising WIL Students certificate. Abu Jaber has shared insights at international conferences on topics including career guidance during COVID-19, engaging Gen Z learners and supporting students in their WIL journeys.
Carolyn Lee
Educational Developer
Carolyn Lee, MSc (she/her) is an experienced career and business professional focused on advancing WIL as a key practice in the future of work. Her areas of expertise include business development, industry relations, project management and the development of training and educational resources. Lee plays a key role in WxL consulting projects to develop and enhance WIL programs within higher education institutions around the world.
She leads a large WIL development project in the United Arab Emirates, working with multiple higher education institutions to support the enhancement of customized WIL programs including the training and upskilling of staff and faculty. With a solid foundation in WIL frameworks and programming, Lee also presents WxL research findings at events and conferences around the world.