Technology with Curves

ITAC Presents an

Executive Forum on Gender Diversity

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Program

and

Sponsorship Opportunities

Allstream Centre

104 Princes’ Blvd., Exhibition Place

Toronto, ON M6K 3C3

Introduction

The ICT industry is fundamentally dependent upon a rich talent pool. The complexity of the problems that it solves requires a broad diversity of experience, knowledge and skill. It simply cannot afford to ignore any under-represented sector of its labour pool. Yet female engagement in the industry workforce has hovered at 25% for over a decade. Clearly interventions are required to make sure the industry effectively engages, retains and rewards women. The industry is rich with examples of companies that have understood the benefits of diversity, established strategies for inclusion and are reaping the business benefits of this approach.

The Executive Forum is designed to share lessons learned and best practices as the industry tries to engage more women in its workforce. This Forum is targeted at senior executives and human resource strategists. Its objective is to deepen our understanding of the business imperative on gender diversity and to provide “how to” information on designing appropriate diversity strategies for large, medium and small companies.

For future information on how your company can participate in this forum, contact Lynda Leonard ().

Program

8:00 amRegistration, Continental Breakfast and Networking

8:30 amWelcome and Opening Remarks

Jim Muzyka, ITAC Diversity Champion and Vice President Xerox Global Services (confirmed)

8:40 amThe Business Case forGender Diversity in ICT

Knowledge-based businesses that do not exploit the fullest range of experience, expertise and points of view from the available labour market seriously reduce their capacity for innovation, effective problem-solving and efficient project management. A gender-diversity champion from a leading ICT company will explain why ICT companies need to do a better job of engaging women in every aspect of their business.

Speaker:

TBD

9:10 amGlobalization and the Diversity Imperative

RIM has been a global company pretty much since its inception. The need to respond to global markets and a global workforce has created a distinctive perspective on diversity, which may be the model for 21st century technology companies.
Speaker:
Rebekah Steele, Global Lead Diversity and Inclusion, RIM (confirmed)

9:40 amWomen’s Networks from the Top Down and from the Bottom Up

At 25% of the ICT population, women can often feel isolated in the workforce. One instrument for overcoming that isolation is women’s networks that provide networking, professional development seminars, mentoring and other forms of support. This panel discusses the outcome of effective networks, how to get one going if your company does not have them, and how to derive personal benefit from them.

Panelists:
TBD

Catherine Perry Robertson, VP Sales Alliance, SAP Canada (invited)

Sharon O’Shaughnessey, Senior Account Officer Manager, IBM Canada (confirmed)
Moderator:
Sandra Saric, ICTC (confirmed)

10:15 amNetworking Break

10:30 amBuilding a Diverse Board of Directors

Governance is a critical component of enterprise success. Building a diverse board that engages the expertise and insights of women can be challenging for ICT companies. But a surprising array of resources is available to help.

Speakers:
Stephanie Mackendrick, President and CEO of CWC

Karen Best, Leader Women on Boards Initiative, CWC

11:15 amWomen on Boards Initiative – Keynote Address:

What Will Success Look Like When We Achieve Full Inclusion?

Speaker:

Eric Gales, President Microsoft Canada (confirmed)

12:00pmNetworking Lunch

12:45 pmDiversity … for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced
Creating a fully diverse workplace and achieving the benefits diversity presents different challenges to companies at various stages of their evolution. This panel explores these challenges, including attraction, retention, succession planning and governance, from the perspective of an emerging company, a mature mid-sized company and a larger firm.

Panelists:
Fred Boulanger, Macadamian Software Engineering (confirmed)

TBD

Carolynne Warner, SaskTel (confirmed)

Moderator:
Karen Wensley (confirmed)

1:30 pmStrategies for Improving the Supply of Women in the ICT Labour Market

One of the greatest challenges we face as the ICT industry aims to increase the size of itsfemale workforce is a critical shortage of women graduates from computer science, engineering, and business/technology programs. This session will explore current issues inenrollment and describe what Canada and other jurisdictions are doing to achieve change.

Speaker:

David Ticoll, Executive Director, CCICT (Confirmed)

1:45pmChallenging the Culture of Technology Companies
In spite of the fact that many of the barriers to full inclusion in ICT companies are not deliberately intentional they can nevertheless be very deeply entrenched. This panel looks at various aspects of ICT culture and discusses successful measures for creating change.

Panelists:
TBD, Dell

Sally Daub, ViXS Systems (confirmed)

Moderator:
TBD

2:30 pmClosing Remarks

Bernard Courtois, President and CEO, ITAC

Sponsorship Levels

Sponsorship opportunities are available on a first come, first served basis. If your organization wishes to raise its profile within the industry, you may wish to consider the following sponsorship options.

1.Co-host Sponsor (2 opportunities only)Cdn. $2,500 + GST

As the Co-host Sponsor, you benefit from maximum visibility during the Forum, as well as in all promotional and related material.

Benefits:

• Top line visibility in all conference marketing and communications collateral
• A banner with your logo on display as a backdrop to the podium throughout the entire conference
• Inclusion of the co-host’s organizational profile on all event materials, as well as web pages

• Recognition on event signage and in all Forum materials
• Opportunity to introduce keynote speakers or panelists in a plenary session. (Where it is appropriate, the Co-host Sponsor may be invited to nominate a plenary speaker, or participate as a panel member of speaker.)
• Complete contact information for all delegates, guests and speakers

• Two complimentary registrations to the Forum

2.Gold Sponsor (up to 4 sponsors)Cdn. $1,000 + GST

As a Gold Sponsor, you receive prominent visibility in all marketing and communications material.

Benefits:

• Your logo on all event material, as well as the event web pages
• Recognition on event signage and all Forum materials
• Opportunity to introduce a keynote speaker or panel of speakers in a plenary session.

(Where it is appropriate, Gold Sponsors may be invited to nominate a plenary speaker or participate as a panel member or speaker.)

• Complete contact information for all delegates, guests and speakers

Additional Information:

For program updates, please visit the web site:

For general information on this event,please contact:

Micheline Lepage, Manager, Programs and Events

E-mail:

Telephone: 613-238-4822, ext. 245 Fax: 613-238-7967

ITAC Presents an

Executive Forum on Gender Diversity

Sponsorship Commitment Form

Contact Information

Company Name:

Contact Person:

Phone:Fax:E-Mail:

Sponsorship Options (GST # R107506693)

Please select the category of your choice:

Co-Host Sponsorship (2 only) – Cdn. $2,500 + GST

Gold Sponsorship (4 only) - Cdn. $1,000 + GST

Method of Payment:

Cheque enclosedPlease invoice

Credit Card AMEXVisaMaster Card

Credit Card Number:Exp. Date:

Signature:

Authorized Signature for Sponsorship

Please return this form by fax to: For more information:

ITACMicheline Lepage

Fax: (613) 238-7967Tel:(613) 238-4822 x 245

E-mail:

Thank you for your support!

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