About
INSPIRED BY DIFFERENCE
Catherine is an organizational development practitioner and social researcher with experience in both private and public sectors. Her research is grounded in social change at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and anti-oppressive practice. She’s worked with organizations in a variety of industries and with various levels of government in Canada and abroad.
Catherine’s experiences in the private and social sectors, together with her work in Indigenous communities and K-University settings are among the highlights of her extensive professional career. She has worked as a consultant, executive coach, learning and development facilitator, elementary/secondary school teacher, and university and college instructor in organizations across Canada and the United States, and in South Africa, Trinidad, and the Dominican Republic. Her work in eLearning, Leadership, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Remote Work extends back to 1999 and includes assignments with Fortune 100 companies and academic institutions.
Competencies
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FACILITATOR
Catherine began studying the professions in 1996 while completing her Master’s in Adult Education at the University of Toronto. She has extensive knowledge of licensure requirements, regulatory practices, entrepreneurship and career progression for traditional and emergent careers. The range of professionals she has worked with include: accountants, nurses, physicians, social workers, teachers, lawyers, public media professionals, clergymen/women, data scientists, and engineers.
Professional Development Programs
Date: 2015 to Present
Role: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Facilitator with senior leadership teams, staff, and graduate students at various organizations
Organizations: BASF, City of Toronto, CBC-Radio Canada, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Google, Institute of Management Accountants, MaRS, Microsoft USA, Ontario Municipal Social Services Association, RBC, Telefilm Canada, Town of Whitby, University of Guelph, University of Toronto
Locations (Canada): Calgary, AB; Montreal, QC; Saskatoon, SA; St. John, NB; Toronto, ON, Winnipeg, MB
Locations (United States): Anaheim, CA; Atlanta, GA; Freeport, TX; Florham Park, NJ; Mobile, AL; New York City, NY; Seattle, WA;
Date: 2012
Role: Digital Learning Strategies for Teachers at Kawartha Pine Ridge School Board
Location(s): Cobourg
Date: 2011 to 2012
Role: Training for Employment Supports Facilitator for Ontario Settlement Workers with Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
Location(s): London, North Bay, Ottawa, Windsor
Date: 2011
Role: Leadership in Child Welfare Facilitator with Simcoe Muskoka Children’s Aid Association
Date: 2009 to Present
Role: Remote Employment and Virtual Learning with various municipalities and Indigenous communities
Location(s): Across Ontario and New Brunswick
Date: 2009 to 2012
Role: Supportive Approaches to Innovative Learning (SAIL): A professional development program for human services practitioners with Ontario Municipal Social Services Association
Location(s): Kingston, London, Mississauga, Ottawa, Perth, Stratford
Date: 2005
Role: Implementing Cooperative Learning Strategies
Location(s): Seneca College, Toronto
Date: 2004
Role: Leadership Development, Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago
Date: 2003
Role: Electronic Learning Tools and Techniques
Location(s): University of Calgary (Asynchronous)
Date: 1998
Role: Implementing Strategic Performance Measurement using the Balanced Scorecard™
Location(s): Schulich School of Business, Toronto
Date: 1997 to 1998
Role: Implementing Strategic Performance Measurement using the Balanced Scorecard™
Location(s): Institute of Management Accountants, Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago
Education
Degree in Progress: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Education
Institution: OISE/University of Toronto
Master of Teaching (MT), Secondary School
Institution: OISE/University of Toronto
Master of Adult Education (M.Ed.), Popular Education and Organizational Learning
Institution: OISE/University of Toronto
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), English and History
Institution: Western University
Technology
Catherine has been working with instructional technologies since 1998. She has developed organizational learning systems and she has taught courses on teaching with technology. She has extensive experience with:
Open-source learning applications, Electronic Performance Support Systems, Web-based Learning Platforms, Enterprise Collaboration Tools
Facilitation
CONFERENCES
Catherine has delivered presentations at conferences across North America since the late 1990s.
Key Topics: Strategic Performance Measurement, Instructional Technology, Entrepreneurship, Remote Employment, Innovation, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Date: May 2022
Keynote Speaker | Mitigating Unconscious Bias in Human Services, Ontario Municipal Social Services Association
Date: February 2022
Child Mental Health in K-12 Education, Simcoe County Children’s Aid Society
Date: February 2022
Keynote Address: Master of Teaching Research Conference, University of Toronto (Virtual)
Date: January 2022
Micro-science in Arts and Humanities: Strategies for Decolonizing STEM – Canadian Black Scientists Network BE STEMM Conference (Virtual)
Date: 2021
Shaping Child Care and Early Childhood Education in Ontario Post-Pandemic and Beyond: OMSSA Policy Conference (Virtual)
Date: 2021
Crossing the Digital Divide: Ontario Municipal Social Services Association Leadership Conference (Virtual)
Date: 2021
Anti-Black Racism: Examining Practices Across Sectors – Ontario Municipal Social Services Association Leadership Conference (Virtual)
Date: 2021
Black Representation in STEM Education: Ontario Association of Black School Educators (ONABSE) (Virtual)
Date: 2020
Representation in STEM: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Centre for Leadership and Diversity Conference (Virtual)
Date: 2019
MakeHERspace: Equity Issues in School Makerspaces – Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Master of Teaching Research Conference, Toronto
Date: 2018 to 2019
Employment Re-imagined: Ontario Municipal Social Services Association Employment Forum, Kingston and Toronto
Date: 2018
Employment Re-imagined: Chippewas of the Thames First Nation Employment Forum, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation
Date: 2013
Alternative Employment Strategies for Career Development: New Brunswick Career Development Action Group Conference, Moncton
Date: 2012
Remote Employment for Social Assistance Recipients: Ontario Native Welfare Administrators Association Conference, Thunder Bay
Date: 2006
HomeBased Employment for Social Assistance Recipients: Ontario Municipal Social Services Association (OMSSA), Toronto
Date: 2003
eLearning for College Instructors: George Brown College, Toronto
Date: 2003
Electronic Performance Support Systems for Just-in-Time LearningL Association for Media in Technology and Education in Canada (AMTEC), Montreal
Date: 2003
Embedding Electronic Performance Support into Course Development: University of Calgary, (Virtual)
Date: 2003
Electronic Performance Support Systems: Seneca College, Toronto
Date: 2003
Electronic Performance Support for Just-in-Time Learning: Canadian Society for Training and Development, (Virtual)
Date: 2002
eLearning in Corporate Training: Canadian Society for Training and Development, Toronto
Date: 1998
Implementing Strategic Performance Measurement using the Balanced Scorecard™: Hyperion (Formerly Sapling, Corporation), End-User Conference, Toronto
Workshops
EMPLOYMENT RE-IMAGINED
Reimagining Employment: Exploring Pathways for 21st Century Work
During this workshop, educators and human services practitioners will develop a nuanced understanding of a range of options associated with new ways of working. Catherine will share case studies and evidence-informed perspectives on opportunities that are consistent with 21st-century imperatives in such areas as innovation, ecological responsibility, and equity and inclusion. Participants will develop a deep understanding of how to assist members of marginalized groups to make meaningful connections with tools, technologies, and other resources that create sustainable work.
Crafting Economies and Communities of Practice
Options for Re-careering in a Post-Pandemic World
The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed changes that were already in progress before sectors were permanently affected by lockdowns. The gig economy, home-based employment, and micro-entrepreneurship achieved exponential growth due to necessity and the benefits associated with new ways of working.
With the knowledge that retirement is a start rather than an end, people are searching for new options for remunerative employment. This workshop will provide participants with an overview of a range of options associated with new ways of working. Participants will examine case studies and learn about new opportunities, and the associated tools and technologies.
Mitigating Bias in the Workplace
During this interactive workshop, participants will develop a nuanced understanding of a range of cognitive and structural biases. They will learn how to detect and mitigate the impact of bias on decision-making, relationships, and organizational performance. The workshop will also provide opportunities for participants to engage with a collection of curated resources that have been selected for human services practitioners.
Inclusive Leadership: Theory to Practice
Catherine offers a 2-hour workshop on recent shifts in career education. The session provides examples of collaborative ventures among parents, children and youth, and examples of opportunities that can be pursued by those interested in entrepreneurship. The workshop is based on over a decade of research, and contemporary examples.
Decolonizing STEMM
During this online learning program, participants will discover the criticality of enacting systems thinking and decolonization theories into practice in order to reduce historical inequities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine. They will learn about pragmatic, anti oppressive and culturally-safe approaches that can be incorporated in a variety of disciplines. Participants will leave the session with knowledge of STEM inequities and associated mitigation strategies that are relevant to a variety of fields, sectors, and industries.
This workshop is suitable for a range of professionals, including: diversity, equity and inclusion specialists, educators, policy analysts, and researchers.
Creating Interactive Digital Meetings and Online Learning Sessions
The necessity of virtual meetings and learning sessions during the lockdown catalyzed the adoption of online meeting and learning tools. Consequently, virtual tools will become a permanent feature in post-pandemic workplaces.
Screen fatigue is understandably one of the challenges that has been identified by facilitators and participants alike.
During this workshop, participants will explore a range of options to enhance learner engagement during meetings and learning sessions. A range of digital resources will be presented along with opportunities for hands-on learning.
Instructing
COURSE INSTRUCTOR
In addition to her extensive experience in private sector learning and development, Catherine has also developed and taught courses in academic institutions. She has taught corporate trainers, college professors, and adult educators from healthcare professions.
COURSES TAUGHT
Addressing anti-Black Racism in Social Science Education (1.5-hour presentation)
Date: 2021 to Present | Program: Master of Teaching, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Toronto, Ontario
Teaching Environmental Sustainability (1.5- hour presentation)
Date: 2020 to Present | Program: Master of Teaching, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Toronto, Ontario
Leadership in Higher Education, Course Development, and Instruction
Date: 2006 to 2007 | Program: Bachelor of Adult Education, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario
Introduction to Adult Education, Facilitation and Evaluation, Teaching with Technology, Online Teaching, Cooperative Education Theory and Practice
Date: 2002 to 2010 | Program: Teacher of Adults Certificate, Centennial College, Toronto, Ontario
RESEARCH TOPICS
Decolonizing STEM
Transdisciplinary Research in Higher Education
The Creative Economy
Social Prescribing
The Gig Economy
Pre and Post-Pandemic Home-Based Employment
The Future of Work
Career Education in Ontario Schools
Professional Development: Opportunities and Imperatives
The History and Present Day Status of Social Assistance Reform in Ontario
Organizations
SECTORS
Technology
Financial Services
Food Services
Chemistry
Media
Publishing
Social Services
Children’s Services
Child Protection
K-12 Education
Higher Education
Healthcare
