This week I had the opportunity to be in Ottawa to attend a national stakeholder committee meeting for Supporting Canadians to Navigate Learning and Work. This project, which is supported by a grant to the Canadian Career Development Foundation (CCDF) and the Canadian Council for Career Development (3CD) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), is reviewing and updating the competency framework for Career Development Practitioners. We are also looking at a possible national certification model and reviewing the code of conduct and ethics for Career Developers. If you attended one of our stakeholder sessions during last year's ASPECT Summit and ASPECT Conference, please know that your feedback was received and is an integral part of the work undertaken by the committee and project leaders.

What struck me is how vital career development services are to the clients and what a rewarding career it can be for those who chose to practice the profession. It astounds me to see the courage of those career development professionals in the room to look at the current model and re-imagine it for the future of work. Everyone strived for the betterment of the profession and put jurisdictional "empire-building" aside. A truly collaborative environment!

I was delighted to be sitting next to Lubica Keighly, Executive Director, and Natalia Bussard, President, from the BC Career Development Association (BCCDA). We discussed ways in which ASPECT can continue to, and further support the BCCDA. Our philosophy is that we are always stronger together, working to build excellence in career development.

More information about the work of the National Committee will be released in the coming months. It's an exciting time for the future of work as well as the profession of career development practitioners who take up the mantle of this important work.

Janet Morris-Reade
ASPECT CEO