ASPECT 2025 Conference Call for Presenters
The submission deadline closed on April 4, 2025; however, we are leaving this form open for anyone who wants to submit a proposal. We are working on creating opportunities to add more presenters to the schedule.
This year, we invite presenters to deliver engaging, evidence-based sessions that align with the conference theme Reinventing Work: Resilience, Opportunity, and Community.
Our theme recognizes that workforce needs evolve due to economic changes, technological advancements, and shifting employment expectations. Many ASPECT conference delegates provide vital support to jobseekers—especially those facing barriers—ensuring clients can access meaningful work and contribute to their local economies.
Community-based employment services are economic engines, helping businesses find talent, supporting workforce development initiatives, and strengthening industries through collaboration. They are crucial in advancing workforce equity, diversity, and inclusion while adapting to and supporting entrepreneurialism and gig work. By championing community-driven solutions, they help build a more adaptable, connected, and inclusive labour market, ensuring sustainable economic growth for individuals, businesses, and entire communities.
Please take a moment to review the 2025 conference guidelines and priorities below before submitting your proposal.
New for 2025: Emphasis on Interactive and Experiential Learning
We encourage proposals that prioritize interactive and experiential formats. Sessions should incorporate hands-on activities, group problem-solving, role-playing, or other methods that engage participants and foster practical learning applications.
If developing interactive and experiential learning is new to you, here are some resources:
Incorporating interactive and experiential learning strategies can significantly enhance the effectiveness of in-person conference presentations. To assist presenters in adopting these methods, here are some concise and accessible resources:
- Engage, Connect, and Inspire: Interactive Techniques for a Powerful Presentation – Practical tips to improve presentation skills by incorporating interactive elements such as videos, which can liven up sessions and foster a deeper connection between presenters and attendees.
- 12 Interactive Presentation Ideas to Wow Audiences – Methods to engage audiences, including the use of polls, Q&A sessions, and encouraging physical movement among participants, all aimed at enhancing attendee engagement during in-person presentations.
- 5 Interactive Presentation Ideas that will Engage Students – Although focused on educational settings, this article presents interactive techniques such as storytelling, non-linear presentations, and group discussions, which can be effectively adapted for conference presentations to foster engagement.
Happy conference delegates also prefer sessions that provide tool kits, checklists, or digital assets that support what they are learning.
Suggested Topics & Content Priorities
Proposals should align with the conference theme and focus on delivering valuable ideas and actionable tools. Topics include but are not limited to:
- Career development practice tools, techniques, and skill-building
- Client assessment and training
- Reconciliation and Indigenous training
- Employer engagement
- Leadership, strategic planning, and board training
- Advocacy and public relations
- Tools for working with diverse client groups (immigrants, youth, Indigenous workers, etc.)
- Conflict resolution and de-escalation
- Self-care strategies for professionals
- Entry-level job development and job development skills
- Community partnership development & problem-solving
- Equity and inclusion topics in all areas of employment
Session Formats
Session Types:
- Workshops (90 minutes): Interactive and hands-on sessions, including breakout discussions.
- Presentations (60 minutes): Informational sessions with audience Q&A.
- Panels: Expert discussions with opportunities for audience interaction.
- Roundtable Discussions and Community Consultations: Collaborative problem-solving sessions.
Session Guidelines:
- Workshops should allocate at least 50% of the time to interactive or participant-driven activities. See resources for interactive and experiential learning.
- Sessions must avoid promotional content; product promotion is limited to exhibitor spaces.