[WEBINAR] Breaking Boundaries: Integrating DEIB into STEM Organizations and Events

Join Destination Canada and CESSE for an insightful webinar on "Breaking Boundaries: Integrating DEIB into STEM Organizations and Events." This dynamic session will provide valuable knowledge and contribute to the ongoing conversation on DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) in the STEM industry.

Attendees are eligible to receive 1 Certified Association Executive (CAE) and 1 Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credit.

Register for the Webinar

• Organizational: Learn how DEIB can be integrated into a comprehensive sustainability strategy, secure senior leadership’s commitment, and overcome common challenges with real-world examples showcasing the impact of diverse perspectives.
• Business Events: Discover how business events can catalyze change in DEIB, balance destination selection to align with organizational values, and enhance psychological safety while fostering a sense of belonging at events.
• Individual Impact: Gain insights into actionable DEIB practices, personal learnings, and inspirations that can be implemented in professional settings.

About the Speakers

Sheri Moore, Partner, Creative Director, Moore Carlyle Consulting and MCC Destination Management

Sheri Moore is a distinguished event management professional, and the Partner and Creative Director at Moore Carlyle Consulting (MCC) and MCC Destination Management. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Sheri has been instrumental in designing and managing high-profile events across various sectors, including finance, technology, and hospitality. Her expertise is particularly noted in business event design and production, as well as creative, local DMC programming in Ontario, Canada. Whether a DMC program or a full business event, she seeks to offer innovative and sustainable approaches to create memorable experiences for guests while it showcases local talent and products.

Sheri is also a co-founder of the mesh conference, an influential event focused on innovation and digital transformation. The conference is renowned for its unique format, eschewing traditional presentations in favor of interactive discussions that foster connection and inspiration among media, marketing, and business leaders. Sheri’s passion for technology and innovation is evident in her work with the mesh conference, where she integrates her keen interest in inclusive digital advancement with the events world.

Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University, which has significantly shaped her approach to communication and event execution. Sheri's leadership and creative vision have been pivotal in the success of numerous complex programs, making her a respected figure in the event management community.

 

Lara Mahal, Professor of Chemistry, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Glycomics and Director of the Glycomics Institute of Alberta, University of Alberta

Lara K. Mahal is the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Glycomics,  a Professor of Chemistry and the Director of the Glycomics Institute of Alberta (GIA) at the University of Alberta. An expert in glycomics and chemical glycobiology, she developed lectin microarray technology, which provides a high-throughput method for glycomics now widely applied to understand systems from clinical cancer research to host-pathogen interactions. More recently, her work on microRNA regulation of glycosylation is overturning dogma on how these non-coding RNA work.  She obtained her Ph.D. in Chemistry at UC Berkeley (2000) with Professor Carolyn Bertozzi and was Jane Coffin Childs Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Professor James Rothman at Sloan-Kettering Institute (2000-2003). She started her first independent position as an Assistant Professor in Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin in 2003.  Post-tenure in 2009, Professor Mahal moved to New York University, where she was faculty member from 2009-2019.  In September 2019, she joined the faculty of the University of Alberta as the CERC in Glycomics. In 2022, she founded the Glycomics Institute of Alberta. She has published >100 papers and received numerous awards including the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Fellowship (2004), NSF Career Award (2007), Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship (2008), National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award (2008), the Horace Isbell Award for Carbohydrate Chemistry from the American Chemical Society (2017).

 

Bobbie Racette, Founder, CEO, Virtual Gurus

Bobbie Racette, a trailblazing Métis-Cree tech entrepreneur, epitomizes innovation and social change as the Founder & CEO of Virtual Gurus. Her visionary approach has redefined the remote work sector, advocating for inclusivity and equitable opportunities for historically marginalized communities. Under her leadership, Virtual Gurus has become one of North America's premier Talentplace platforms. Bobbie's numerous achievements include being named Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year in 2022, EY Winning Woman 2022 and receiving the Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year award from the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business in 2023. Her commitment to social equity and community extends beyond her business, as evidenced by her role as the inaugural Chair of the Board for the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation and as a Telus Friendly Future Foundation Board member. Through her initiatives, Bobbie not only opens doors for diverse talent but also instills a belief that "no" is not an answer, paving the way for groundbreaking success stories.