Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Josh Davies

Josh Davies

Speaker | Thought Leader

Sareena Hopkins

Sareena Hopkins

Career Development Expert

Sean Lessard

Dr. Sean Lessard

Writer | Researcher | Community Advocate

Conference Emcees

Ahmad Majid

Ahmad Majid

Saskatchewan Intercultural Association

April Sora

April Sora

City of Saskatoon

Call for Presenters

We invite you to submit your proposal to present at the 20th Annual Contact Conference.
 
With a gathering of over 250 professionals, Contact serves as a unique platform that unites individuals from the fields of education, workforce, and economic development. This conference is an incredible opportunity to delve into the latest labour market trends, discover best practices for engagement, and foster a deeper understanding of our role in shaping the future of Saskatchewan. Throughout the event, you will have the chance to network with colleagues, exchange ideas, and share your experiences, creating an enriching atmosphere for knowledge sharing and professional growth. 
 
We encourage presenters to have interactive or hands-on activities when possible. Sessions range from 60 – 75 minutes in length.
 
The Contact Conference Planning Committee may accept multiple proposals from a single presenter/group. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis, given the number of presentation proposals available and the mix of topics submitted.
 
Deadline for submissions is November 1, 2024. 
 
*As a presenter, you are eligible for the reduced “Presenter Registration Fee” to attend the conference.
Submit a Proposal

Session Speakers

Marc Okihcihtaw

SIIT Career Centres

Jill Panahon

Public Service Commission 

Chandra Pratt

Nutrien 

Daniel Price

Melcher Studios

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Ahmad Majid

HR & Employee Engagement Manager, SIA

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Ahmad Majid is of Iraqi descent, and his family came to Canada from Kuwait to escape the unrest during the First Gulf War in 1990. Ahmad has worked and volunteered at various settlement organizations throughout Saskatoon such as the Saskatoon Open Door Society, SAISIA, and currently at Saskatchewan Intercultural Association. He has held many positions within the settlement sector including Youth Employment Counsellor, Team Lead, Executive Director, and currently as the HR and Employee Engagement Manager at SIA. He is extremely passionate about supporting newcomers to Canada, and has dedicated his personal purpose and professional career to contributing to successful newcomer settlement and integration. 

April Sora

Immigration, Diversity, and Inclusion Consultant, City of Saskatoon

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April Sora has spent the better part of her career working and volunteering in the immigrant and refugee sector both in Toronto and Saskatoon. She has also worked for the federal government in various roles including Senior Development Officer, Human Resources Advisor and Employment Equity Consultant. She now works for the City of Saskatoon as the Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant.

Both April’s mother and father were sent to internment camps in BC during WW2, their possessions confiscated and sold to pay for their own internment.. After the war they were forced to move east or go ‘back’ to Japan even though they were born in Canada. All because of the colour of their skin. April is proud of her Japanese Canadian history and the legacy of the resilience and strength of her ancestors. This is the background that informs her work and her life.

On the fun side, every Sunday and Monday night you can find April practicing taiko (Japanese drumming) with the Saskatoon group, Living Sky Taiko.

Marc Okihcihtaw

SIIT Career Centres

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Marc Okihcihtaw, a proud member of the Cree Nation from Sturgeon Lake First Nation, is currently making his home in Saskatoon. As a dedicated father, husband, relative, and friend, Marc is driven by a passion for leveraging his lived experiences to support others in achieving success. Marc holds a bachelor’s degree with a major in Indian Studies, earned from the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College. Beyond his academic pursuits, Marc finds joy in engaging in physical activities and cherishing quality moments with his family.

Jill Panahon

Public Service Commission

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Jill Panahon is a seasoned professional with a proven track record of driving strategic talent acquisition initiatives across diverse industries. Jill holds a Certified Talent Management Practitioner (CTMP) certification and an Executive Certificate in Strategic Talent Acquisition.

As an Associate Member of CPHR Saskatchewan, Jill is dedicated to fostering excellence in human resources. Her academic foundation includes a B.A. in Philosophy with a cognate in Psychology from the University of the Philippines.

In her current position as Talent Acquisition Manager at the Government of Saskatchewan, Jill leads the corporate Talent Acquisition function, shaping and executing recruitment strategies that align with the organization’s objectives.

Prior to her current role, Jill held key positions at the City of Saskatoon and Lowe’s Companies, Inc., where she played instrumental roles in driving talent acquisition strategies and fostering employee engagement. Noteworthy achievements include expanding the Talent Acquisition Team at the City of Saskatoon from 2 specialists to a team of 7 and successfully launching commercial and installation services for Lowe’s in multiple locations.

Jill’s expertise extends beyond talent acquisition to encompass HR leadership, project management, and process improvement. Her tenure at Allegis Global Solutions and IBM Global Process Services equipped her with invaluable experience in building high-performing teams, implementing recruitment technologies, and driving operational excellence.

Chandra Pratt

Director, HRBP, Potash at Nutrien

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Chandra Pratt, B. Comm (Hon), currently works for Nutrien as their Director, HRBP, Potash, and has been the chairperson of the HR committee of the Saskatchewan Mining Association (SMA) for the past 2 years. She has worked in HR for more than 25 years with 18 of those years in the mining industry. Chandra has seen the peaks and valleys of the mining industry and has had to react in creative ways to meet the ever-changing HR landscape. During her time as the SMA HR committee chairperson, she had the opportunity to participate and advocate for the SMA to participate with the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) in a Labour Market Study specific to the labour demands in the mining sector in Saskatchewan. This study will help the mining industry generate HR solutions to attract and retain the next generation of employees and continue to provide the products the world needs!

Daniel Price

Melcher Studios

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Daniel (he/him) is a seasoned Project Manager with a decade of experience driving transformative initiatives across diverse industries in Canada. His journey in project management has taken him through the dynamic landscapes of Construction to the cutting-edge realm of Technology.


In the last few years, Daniel has dedicated his skills and expertise to the non-profit sector, where he helped champion the use of Immersive Virtual Reality in Career Exploration. This approach aims to empower jobseekers by providing them with a unique tool to make informed decisions in their quest for a fulfilling career.
Daniel’s commitment to these innovative projects is fueled by a profound passion for facilitating positive change. He thrives on the challenges of collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams, recognizing that the true magic of project management lies in the diverse perspectives and skills each team member brings to the table.

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