Positioning for the future: OCIC Symposium 2025
January 30 – 31, 2025
Welcome to OCIC’s Symposium 2025: ‘Positioning for the Future’, organized in partnership with Humber Polytechnic on the traditional and treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit. Known as Adoobiigok, the “Place of the Alders” in Michi Saagiig language, the region is uniquely situated along Humber River watershed, which historically provided an integral connection for Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Wendat peoples between the Ontario Lakeshore and the Lake Simcoe/Georgian Bay regions. Now home to people of numerous nations, Adoobiigok continues to provide a vital source of interconnection for all.
We are delighted to kick off International Development Week (IDW) 2025 with this two-day gathering for OCIC members, associates, partners and youth with interest in positioning for and co-creating our collective future.
This Symposium presents an important and strategic opportunity to:
- Take time for reflection and learning, taking into consideration key principles, values, trends, priorities and drivers of change shaping the international cooperation and global education sectors in Ontario and globally;
- Draw insights from Strategic Foresight work undertaken through the Cooperation Canada and International Development Research Fund (IDRC) ‘Futures Initiative’, Red Argentina para la Cooperación Internacional (RACI) and other relevant initiatives such as the Inter-Council Network (ICN) research focused on More Decolonial, Feminist, Anti-Racist Public Engagement;
- Reflect upon, reconsider and help to refine OCIC’s current Theory of Change and Strategic Objectives to better align with the changing context and emerging needs; and
- Celebrate our community and collective accomplishments
Date and Time
January 30, 2025 from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm ET
January 31, 2025 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm ET
Location
Humber College – Lakeshore Campus
3199 Lake Shore Blvd W Etobicoke ON, M8V 1K8
This initiative is undertaken with financial support from the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, in partnership with Humber Polytechnic and with support from thought leaders from Aid Watch Canada, Cooperation Canada, the Inter-Council Network of Provincial and Regional Councils for International Cooperation (ICN), and Red Argentina para la Cooperación Internacional (RACI).
FULL PROGRAM, AGENDA & BIOS
Preliminary Program
Thursday, January 30, 2025 | |
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Participant Arrival, Registration & Fair Trade Café |
| 9:30 – 10:30 | Welcome |
| 10:30 – 12:30 | Future Scenarios for International Cooperation: Learning from Global Strategic Foresight Processes |
| 12:30 – 1:45 | Networking Lunch |
| 1:45 – 2:15 | Building from OCIC’s Theory of Change & Impact |
| 2:15 – 4:15 | Thematic Think Sessions Part 1 |
| 4:15 – 5:00 | Plenary |
| 5:00 – 7:00 | Networking Social |
Friday, January 31, 2025 | |
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Participant Arrival, Registration & Fair Trade Café |
| 9:30 – 10:00 | Welcome |
| 10:00 – 12:00 | Parallel Dialogues
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| 12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00 – 3:00 | Thematic Think Sessions Part 2 |
| 3:00 – 3:30 | Closing |
Contributor Bios
Guillermo Correa, Executive Director, Red Argentina para la Cooperación Internacional (RACI)
Lic. Guillermo Correa holds a degree in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations, graduating with honors from the University of Buenos Aires. With extensive experience in both academia and practice, he has taught at the university level, focusing on international relations and civil society engagement. His expertise includes resource development, fundraising, and moderating focus groups. As the Executive Director of RACI, Guillermo has led initiatives to enhance international cooperation and expand access for civil society organizations. He is also a member of both CIVICUS and IAVE Global Boards. In addition, he is an active public speaker, panelist and contributor to publications on topics related to democracy and international cooperation.
Shannon Kindornay, Chief Operations Officer, Cooperation Canada
Shannon Kindornay serves as Chief Operations Officer at Cooperation Canada. Previously she was Director of Research, Policy and Practice, and Interim CEO since joining the organization in 2019. With an enthusiastic commitment to feminist and human rights-based development, Shannon has worked at the research-policy nexus in international development for 15 years. Prior to joining Cooperation Canada, Shannon built a successful independent consultancy business and served as an Adjunct Research Professor at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. Shannon also worked for the Canadian International Development Platform, the North-South Institute and the Canadian International Development Agency. In her community, Shannon is part of the global movement of Girl Guiding.
Susan MacGregor, Program Coordinator, Humber Polytechnic
Susan is an International Development/Humanitarian Assistance specialist with over 15 years experience in the International Relief and Development Industry. She spent 12 years based overseas providing direct logistics services to victims of natural disasters and conflict. Upon returning to Canada, Susan worked on a consultative basis with World Vision, the Canadian Red Cross, Pearson Peacekeeping Centre, Air Serv International, and the Department of National Defense helping to analyse and improve internal processes and to create in-house manuals and training materials. Since 2009, Susan has been in charge of the International Development Graduate program at Humber Polytechnic, which trains the next generation of community and international development professionals to respond to needs both internationally and in Canada’s underserved communities.
Judyannet Muchiri, Policy Officer, Inter-Council Network for Provincial and Regional Councils for International Cooperation
Judyannet’s (she/her) political and intellectual interests include gender justice, participation, digital rights, feminist foreign policy, and knowledge generation processes. She has worked on these areas as a policy analyst, researcher, writer, and community advocate. Her most recent work has been in Canada’s international cooperation sector and the non-profit sector in Eastern Africa. Currently, Judyannet is leading policy work at the Inter-Council Network, co-leading the Africa Community Engagement Hub and completing a doctorate at Memorial University.
Andy Ouédraogo, Research and Program Officer, Cooperation Canada
Andy Ouédraogo (she/her) is a Research and Program Officer at Cooperation Canada and is currently navigating the exciting realms of strategic foresight and international development. With a foundation in international relations and global political economy, Andy leads the Global Cooperation Futures Initiative funded by the International Development Research Centre and aimed at reimagining next generation global cooperation.
James Parsons, Executive Director, Canadian Partnership Division, International Assistance Partnerships and Programming, Global Affairs Canada
James Parsons joined the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in 2000 and has spent his career in international assistance focused on bilateral programs in Africa and Asia, as well as in the Peace and Stabilization Operations Programs. He previously served as Head of Cooperation at the Office of the High Commission of Canada in Kigali, Rwanda, and has lived and studied in Thailand and Indonesia, focusing on Indigenous Peoples’ issues. James holds a master’s degree in environmental studies from York University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Resource Studies with a Minor in Native Studies from Trent University. In October 2023 James began his new role as Director General, Engaging Canadians at Global Affairs Canada.
Brian Tomlinson, Executive Director, Aid Watch Canada
Brian Tomlinson is the Executive Director of AidWatch Canada , based in Nova Scotia. AidWatch Canada focuses on issues related to Canadian and global aid priorities as well as global trends in the development effectiveness of civil society organizations (CSOs). Brian is an adjunct professor in the Department of International Development Studies at Dalhousie University. He facilitates several civil society Working Groups with the OECD Development Assistance Committee’s CSO Reference Group focusing on issues relating to donor policies and practices for Official Development Assistance (ODA). Along with Marlen Mondaca, they facilitate Cooperation Canada’s Working Group on Localization.
Brian has been working with international civil society organizations in international development since 1973. He retired in June 2011 as Senior Policy Analyst (Aid Policy) at the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC), the platform for Canadian CSOs in development cooperation, where he worked for 16 years.
He is widely published on Canadian and global international cooperation, with particular emphasis on issues related to trends in international assistance and climate finance. He has also written extensively on enabling conditions for civil society organizations as development actors. He closely monitors and follows Canada’s international climate finance for the CSO Coalition on Climate Change and Development (C4D). He also follows closely and analyzes data on development cooperation and the financing of the SDGs through a new metric, Total Official Support for Sustainable Development.
Jacquelyn Wright, Chair, OCIC Board of Directors & CEO, Canadian Feed the Children
Jacquelyn Wright (she/her) brings a depth and breadth of international development and humanitarian experience to the role of President & CEO for CFTC, where she has been working to support a Board of Directors and to manage the strategic and governance processes of the organization. A keen advocate for women and children throughout the world, she believes in upholding human rights and working towards diversity, equity and inclusion. Jackie is passionate about reconciliation, anti-racism, anti-oppression, protecting and upholding Indigenous Peoples rights in Canada and globally, and supporting Indigenous communities and nations in the area of food security and food sovereignty.
For five years at CARE Canada as the Vice President, Partnerships for Global Change, and before that in International Programs, Jackie built a diversified program portfolio by strengthening strategic partnerships and growing revenue through evidence-based best practices, innovation and future-ready programming. Prior to joining CARE in 2013, Jackie spent more than 25 years in humanitarian response and international development with the Canadian Red Cross, and with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) internationally.
Strongly committed to the study and practice of leadership, Jackie has a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC, where she is past co-chair of the Advisory Council of the School of Humanitarian Studies. She currently serves as Chair of the OCIC Board of Directors.
Getting There
We look forward to seeing you at the Humber Polytechnic Lakeshore Campus!
Day 1 will be at the Humber College – Longo Center for Entrepreneurship / G Building
(17 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr, Etobicoke, ON M8V 4B6), at Study Hall A & B / BMO Innovation Commons / G Commons).
Day 2 will be at the Humber College – Robert A. Gordon Learning Centre / K Building
(29 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr, Etobicoke, ON M8V 4B6).
Download this Map of Humber Lakeshore – our venues and nearest transit stops are indicated
Commuting via the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) | The Humber Polytechnic Lakeshore Campus is best accessible by the 44/944 Kipling South bus from Kipling Station on the Bloor-Danforth Subway Line (Line 2; Green). You can get off at the Colonel Samuel Park at Humber College stop. The Lakeshore Campus is also accessible by bus from different parts of the city and the following bus lines have routes that pass near it: 110C and 110S. The nearest bus stops are:
The Lakeshore Campus is also accessible via the TTC streetcars which have stops at the intersection of Lake Shore Blvd West and Kipling Ave./Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive:
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Commuting by GO Transit (GO Bus and GO Regional Train) | The closest GO regional train station is Long Branch Station on the GO Lakeshore West line. This train station is about 3.5 kilometres away and you will still need to travel by transit or car to the venue. |
Traveling by VIA Rail | The closest VIA station is Toronto Union Station which is about 17 km away. You will still need to travel by transit or car to the venue. |
Vehicle Parking | The Lakeshore Campus visitor parking is available in Lot 1, which is west of Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive, with the parking lot entry off of 23rd Street South. Lot 1 is closest to Humber College Buildings A and B. The method of payment is via tap debit and credit card only; coin payments are no longer accepted in Lot 1. There is also a limited number of visitor spaces available each day at the Student Welcome and Resource Centre on 2 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive. As the spaces are very limited, it is best to find parking in Lot 1. For more information, please check the Lakeshore Campus Daily Parking page. |
Accessibility | Both the G and K Buildings (our primary venues) have accessible front entrances and have accessible washrooms. Please view the Humber Lakeshore Campus – East Main Floor Plan to view other accessibility information mapped out. |
Code of Conduct & Health and Safety
The event will be a mask-friendly environment for all participants. While not mandating the use of masks, we ask all participants to review the most recent Government of Canada and provincial guidance on COVID-19 and other communicable illnesses and kindly request that you refrain from attending should you have any symptoms or related concerns.
All participants are also requested to review the OCIC Anti-Oppression and Anti-Racism Policy, and the OCIC Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment Policy available on the About Us page of the OCIC website in advance of the event, and to act accordingly throughout the event and in all following engagements with the Council and its members.
Questions? Contact Mishka Watin, OCIC Membership and Administration Coordinator, by email at mishka@ocic.on.ca
Relevant Reading & Resources
Click and explore the links below for background readings and other relevant and related resources and recordings related to our Symposium themes this year.
OCIC’s Current Strategic Plan
‘Futures Initiative’ Cooperation Canada and IDRC
- A Landscape Analysis of the International Cooperation Sector: A Tale of Crises, Contestations and Transformation
- The Global Cooperation Futures Initiative: 2023 Reflections Report
- The Post 2030 Landscape: A World of Asymmetry and Realignment
Decolonial, Anti-Racist and Feminist Practices
Funding Transparency
- Aid Watch Canada: Preliminary Analysis of 2022-23 Canadian ODA
- Cooperation Canada: 2023 Canadian Aid Trends
