Catherine Chambers

B.A., M.Ed., MT(OCT), PhD Student

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 anti-oppressive practice, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability. She’s worked with organizations in a variety of industries and 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, learning and development facilitator, 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 FACILIATOR

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

2015-Present – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Facilitator with senior leadership teams, staff and graduate students at various organizations, including: Microsoft USA, BASF, CBC-Radio Canada, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Town of Whitby, City of Toronto, University of Toronto, and the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association; Anaheim, CA; Atlanta, GA; Freeport, TX; Florham Park, NJ; Mobile, AL; New York City, NY; Saskatoon, SA; Seattle, WA; Toronto, ON; Winnipeg, MB

2012 – Digital Learning Strategies for Teachers at Kawartha Pine Ridge School Board, Cobourg

2011-2012 – Training for Employment Supports Facilitator for Ontario Settlement Workers with Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, London, North Bay, Ottawa, Windsor

2011 – Leadership in Child Welfare Facilitator with Simcoe Muskoka Children’s Aid Association

2009-Present – Remote Employment and Virtual Learning with various municipalities and Indigeneous communities across Ontario and New Brunswick

2009-2012 – Supportive Approaches to Innovative Learning (SAIL): A professional development program for human services practitioners with Ontario Municipal Social Services Association in Kingston, London, Mississauga, Ottawa, Perth, Stratford

2005 – Implementing Cooperative Learning Strategies, Seneca College, Toronto

2004 – Leadership Development, Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago

2003 – Electronic Learning Tools and Techniques, University of Calgary (Asynchronous)

1998 – Implementing Strategic Performance Measurement using the Balanced Scorecard™ – Schulich School of Business, Toronto

1997-1998 – Implementing Strategic Performance Measurement using the Balanced Scorecard™ – Institute of Management Accountants, Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago

Education

Degree in Progress: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Education – OISE/University of Toronto
Master of Teaching (MT), Secondary School – OISE/University of Toronto
Master of Adult Education (M.Ed.), Popular Education and Organizational Learning – OISE/University of Toronto
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), English and History – 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

January, 2022 – Micro-science in Arts and Humanities: Strategies for Decolonizing STEM – Canadian Black Scientists Network BE STEMM Conference (Virtual)

February, 2022 – Keynote Address: Master of Teaching Research Conference, University of Toronto (Virtual)

2021 – Shaping Child Care and Early Childhood Education in Ontario Post-Pandemic and Beyond: OMSSA Policy Conference (Virtual)

2021 – Crossing the Digital Divide: Ontario Municipal Social Services Association Leadership Conference (Virtual)

2021 – Anti-Black Racism: Examining Practices Across Sectors – Ontario Municipal Social Services Association Leadership Conference (Virtual)

2021 – Black Representation in STEM Education: Ontario Association of Black School Educators (ONABSE) (Virtual)

2020 – Representation in STEM: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Centre for Leadership and Diversity Conference (Virtual)

2019 – MakeHERspace: Equity Issues in School Makerspaces – Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Master of Teaching Research Conference, Toronto

2018-2019 – Employment Re-imagined: Ontario Municipal Social Services Association Employment Forum, Kingston and Toronto

2018 – Employment Re-imagined: Chippewas of the Thames First Nation Employment Forum, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation

2013 – Alternative Employment Strategies for Career Development: New Brunswick Career Development Action Group Conference, Moncton

2012 – Remote Employment for Social Assistance Recipients: Ontario Native Welfare Administrators Association Conference, Thunder Bay

2006 – HomeBased Employment for Social Assistance Recipients: Ontario Municipal Social Services Association (OMSSA), Toronto

2003 – eLearning for College Instructors: George Brown College, Toronto

2003 – Electronic Performance Support Systems for Just-in-Time LearningL Association for Media in Technology and Education in Canada (AMTEC), Montreal

2003 – Embedding Electronic Performance Support into Course Development: University of Calgary, (Virtual)

2003 – Electronic Performance Support Systems: Seneca College, Toronto

2003 – Electronic Performance Support for Just-in-Time Learning: Canadian Society for Training and Development, (Virtual)

2002 – eLearning in Corporate Training: Canadian Society for Training and Development, Toronto

1998 – Implementing Strategic Performance Measurement using the Balanced Scorecard™: Hyperion (Formerly Sapling, Corporation), End-User Conference, Toronto

Workshops

EMPLOYMENT RE-IMAGINED

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

2021 – Present Addressing anti-Black Racism in Social Science Education (1.5-hour presentation) – Master of Teaching Program, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

2020 – Present – Teaching Environmental Sustainability (1.5- hour presentation) – Master of Teaching Program, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

2006-2007 – Leadership in Higher Education, Course Development and Instruction – Bachelor of Adult Education Program, Brock University

2002-2010 – Introduction to Adult Education, Facilitation and Evaluation, Teaching with Technology, Online Teaching, Cooperative Education Theory and Practice – Teacher of Adults Certificate Program, Centennial College, Toronto