Our conference manager, Lesley Patten, and I have been pouring over conference presentation proposals to create a fabulous ASPECT Conference this year. The challenge is always to find innovative and inspiring workshop topics while at the same time avoiding duplication of what has been done elsewhere. Our program is about 80% there so we've decided to open up registration today.  We still have work to do to update the bits and pieces missing from the program and to make room for special guests who can't confirm quite yet.  

This year we have four streams of opportunities: Leaders and Emerging Leaders, Career Developers, Something for Everyone, and Something for Almost Everyone. We couldn't decide on a unifying theme for the conference, likely since I couldn't think of one that made sense, but you can expect the great things this year.

Our opening keynote speaker is Eric Termuende who is a globally-recognized thought leader, author, and international speaker on the future of work and building teams that thrive.  As co-founder of NoW Innovations, he advises industry-leading organizations, institutions, and associations on future-proofing their teams, talent management, and rehumanizing the workplace. Eric has a deep understanding of the next generation of work and how to attract and retain the right talent. 

We’ve also confirmed that there will be a Ministry Update from the Ministry of Advanced Education & Skills Training (AEST) as well as the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (SDPR). Thanks to Assistant Deputy Minister Bindi Sawchuck of AEST and Assistant Deputy Minister Chris Brown of SDPR for once-again agreeing to present. For those delegates who may not be interested in their update, we will have a facilitated discussion/networking opportunity at the same time. As always, our aim is to program something for everyone, no matter where you are in your career path. 

Thanks to the many ASPECT members and others who took the time to prepare and submit presentation proposals. Thank you also to Lesley Patten, our conference manager, for handling all the details and leading the effort.  If you have a conference or meeting coming up in which you are the part of the organizing committee, please consider hiring Lesley and the ASPECT Events Management team for your event. She’s an expert and what might take your staff many hours to do, she can do it in a fraction of the time and no post-event staff burnout to deal with!