Event

Careers Outside of Academia (Grad Career Month)

Monday, March 8, 2010toWednesday, March 31, 2010
Thomson House 3650 rue McTavish, Montreal, QC, H3A 1Y2, CA

If you are open to explore or pursue a career path outside academia, Grad Career Month showcases over 100 careers that capitalize on graduate training. Here is your chance to get your questions answered, build job search strategies that work and get the career mentoring you need. This series of panels, presentations and roundtable discussions (café) offers career options in industry, government and the non-profit sector. Networking starts here.

To view our panelists' biographies, click here.


Communications Careers Panel
March 8, 12:00-1:30

Learn how our panelists put their research, writing, editing and critical analysis skills to work in this panel/roundtable discussion (café). Panel mentors have experience in a wide range of careers including research analyst, media relations agent, medical analyst, grant writer, public affairs analyst, communication advisor and corporate social responsibility manager. Collectively they hold graduate degrees in History, Neurogenetics and Biochemistry.

Panelists include:

  • Isla Ogilvie, Medical Writer/Analyst, BioMedCom (CRO)
  • R. Michel Gagnon, Advisor, Communications, Public Affairs, Bombardier
  • Dr. Robert Annan, Analyst and Senior Writer at Don't Leave Canada Behind; Founder and Head Writer at CanadaResearchFunding.org; Grant Writer, Scientific Editor, and Consultant at Rob Annan Scientific

Science Careers Panel Part 1
March 9, 12:00-1:30

Learn from McGill alum about how to build careers in preclinical research, intellectual property, project management or biomedical ethics.Find out more about what you can do with your graduate degree in Microbiology and Immunology, Human Genetics, Biochemistry and Experimental Medicine. A panel discussion will be followed by a Q & A and café.

Panelists include:

  • Emma Saffman, Patent Agent / Intellectual Property, Ogilvy Renault
  • Sonya Cyr, Head of Preclinical RSV, GSK North America
  • David J. McLauchlan, Quality Assurance and Education Coordinator, McGill University Health Centre's Research Ethics Office
  • Judith Caron, Project Manager, AnrthroLab Inc.
  • Dr. Nancy Detich, Senior Scientist in Clinical Research, CATO
  • Cliff Pavolic, M.Sc., Ph.D., Technology Transfer Specialist, Co-Founder of BioTech Montreal

Engineering-Physics Careers Panel
March 9, 2:00-3:30

Hear from PhD’s who are now working at Hydro Quebec, Ericsson and NSERC. Find out how they used their graduate training in Computer & Electrical Engineering as a scientist, a research analyst and research outside academia.

Panelists include:

  • Marthe Kassouf, Researcher, Hydro Quebec
  • Fariba Heidari, Services Professional, Ericsson
  • Francois Santerre, Acting Manager, Quebec Regional Office , Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

Gov’t & Public Sector Panel
March 12, 12:00-1:30

Thinking about working for the federal government as a Policy Analyst, Scientific Evaluator or perhaps a Research Chemist? Wondering if a post-doc will help build your career? if the government is the right work culture for you? Bring your questions and have them answered.

Panelists include:

  • Rania Mouchantaf, Ph.D., Scientific Evaluator, Marketed Health Product Directorate, Health Canada
  • Julie McKenzie, Senior Policy Analyst, Citizenship and Immigration Canada
  • Simon Sauvé, PhD, Research Chemist, Centre for Biologics Research, Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate, Health Canada

Science Careers Panel Part 2
March 15, 12:00-1:30

Interested in knowing more about the work world of a Clinical Research Associate, Project Manager, Team Leader, Research Scientist, Project Leader and Account Executive? Want to know how collaborations with university based researchers are generated in industry and government? This panel will demonstrate how graduate training in Epidemiology, Biology (molecular genetics), organic Chemistry, cellular biology and molecular neuroscience led to careers in the private and public sectors.

Panelists include:

  • Adele H. Marshall, M.Sc. , Senior Manager, Early Research, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
  • Lara Fallon, Fellow, Research and Development Alliances, Pfizer Canada
  • Judy Snider, Manager of Surveillance, Office of Drugs and Alcohol Research and Surveillance, Health Canada's Controlled Substances and Tobacco Programme, Health Canada
  • Gurvinder Kenth, Ph.D. Experimental Medicine, Account Executive, Roche Diagnostics
  • Hannah Hoag, Science Journalist


Environmental Careers Panel
March 16, 12:00-1:30

Want to learn more about what it takes to manage environmental impact studies, conduct climate change assessment and environmental audits, evaluate and manage sustainable and rural development programs, manage projects and research in areas such as nutrition, water and sanitation, food security, utilize computer modeling and implement wind energy systems or work as a nature parks naturalist?

Our panel will explain how their graduate training in environmental studies, geographic information studies, agriculture and mining engineering opened the doors to these varied career paths.

Panelists include:

  • Isabelle Normandin, B.Sc.bio, M.Env, Environmental Biologist, Environment, Permits & Authorizations, Energy Division, Axor
  • Travis Logan B.SC. MGIS Spécialiste, Scénarios-hydroclimatiques, Ouranos - Consortium sur les changements climatiques
  • Santiago D’Alba, Coordinator, Technical and Research Department, Action Contre la Faim Canada
  • Kevin Bourque, Project Officer, CANMET Energy Laboratory, Natural Resource Canada

CEGEP Fair
March 22, 12:00-3:00

Attending CEGEPs include: Vanier, Champlain, Dawson, College Lionel Groulx, John Abbott and Sainte-Jean-sur-Richelieu.


Industry Canada Presentation
March 23, 2:00-3:30

The Risk, Perils and Adventures of an "Employee of Fortune"

Many people ask themselves: Should I pursue an Academic Career? Maybe the Private Sector? What about Government?

Why limit yourself?

Mr. Dan Duguay, currently a Director with Industry Canada (and X-Nortel, X-Start-up, X-Academia, X-Start-up #2...), will share his experiences and thoughts on what it takes to be an "Employee of Fortune". Playing off the "Soldier of Fortune" theme, Dan will share his views on what it takes to be an "Employee of Fortune", someone with the skills, abilities and knowledge necessary to easily make the move between the Academic, Government and Private Sector throughout their career.

With numerous career and sector transitions under his belt, Dan will discuss the risks, perils, advantages and highs that arise when you embrace your career path as one of endless opportunities - and not limit yourself.


Arts Careers Panel
March 30, 12:00-1:30

Our diverse panel have graduate training in Architecture, Education, International Development, Linguistics and Knowledge Management. Their collective work experience includes research and advocacy consulting, running teen education programs in museums, website content management and editorial assistance in industry, NGO’s and research institutes.

A panel discussion will be followed by a café.

Panelists include:

  • Andrea Tsang Jackson, Production and Editorial Assistant, CCA Website, Canadian Centre for Architecture
  • Christine Gibb, Research and Advocacy Consultant, United Nations Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and Development and Peace
  • Erica Wiseman, Strategic Technical Information Analyst/Competitive Technical Intelligence, National Research Council B.A. in History and a Ph.D. in Knowledge Management
  • Marc Fabiani, MA Linguistics, Product Manager, Nuance Network TTS
  • Paulanne Jushkevich, M.A., CFRE, President, Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation

Consultancy Careers Panel
March 31, 12:00-1:30

This panel-café will showcase the careers of 8 consultants in both management consulting and the not-for profit sector.

Panelists include:

  • Lise Palmer, Not-for-Profit Consultant, Lise Palmer Consulting
  • Audrey Davis, Senior Consultant, Consulting Dept., Corporate Strategy, Deloitte Inc.
  • Mr. Georges Bryson, Co-Founder & VP - Senior Business Analyst, MontGuide Inc.
  • Mr. David Oswald, Designer and Environmental Scientist, President, DE Design & Enviro
  • Normand de Montigny, Executive Director, CQIB

Public Health Agency of Canada
March 31, 2:00-3:30

The Public Health Agency of Canada’s primary goal is to strengthen Canada’s capacity to protect and improve the health of Canadians and to help reduce pressures on the health-care system.

Presented by:

  • Crystelle Bourget, CRHA, Human Resources Advisor, Public Health Agency of Canada
  • Marie-Line Gilbert, Regional Coordinator, Canadian Public Health Service
  • Marie-Josée Champagne, d.m.v., MSc., Veterinary Bacteriologist

To register for these events, please login to myFuture. Click on the "Events" tab and then the "Workshops/Panels/Events" tab. Keyword search "GCM" to bring up a listing of events.

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