TESS 2024

Dr. Jennifer
Wemigwans, PhD

Associate Professor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and President at Invert Media

Transforming Indigenous Education Online

Reflecting Indigenous Knowledge online has the potential to transform education across Canada. In this talk, Dr Wemigwans explores how to ethically present Indigenous Knowledge online through the creation of Digital Bundles. FourDirectionsTeachings.com is an example of a Digital Bundle, an online site where Elders’ Teachings from five distinct First Nations are presented. Digital Bundles represent a way to transform education by using new technologies to articulate Indigenous Teachings and introduce Canadians to Indigenous epistemologies.

Dr. Rob Power, PhD

Assistant Professor, Education,
Cape Breton University

Collaboration and Co-Creation to Transform Access to Learning

In this presentation, Canadian Network for Innovation in Education (CNIE) President, Dr. Rob Power, will discuss his recent experiences with the transformation of how educators and learners collaborate on the co-creation of digital learning spaces and resources. These experiences include his research and collaboration with higher education faculty and support teams to prepare educators to transform how they teach and the tools they use. Dr. Power will also discuss how he has collaborated with learners to transform how he leverages Open Educational Resources (OER) in the form of “OER as Pedagogy.” He will highlight his latest initiative to leverage OER to reduce barriers to Accessibility, and to co-create an open resource focused on raising awareness of Digital Accessibility barriers and solutions across the Canadian education landscape.

Dr. Marilyn Herie,
PhD RSW

(Former) Vice President
Academic and Chief
Learning Officer,
Centennial College

With over two decades as a leading educator and professional trainer, Marilyn brings a passionate focus to inspiring transformational, experiential, and inclusive leadership and learning. She is a member of the international Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and has published widely on evidence-based practice approaches, including leadership, motivation and positive behaviour change, and is an in-demand mentor, TEDx speaker and keynote presenter. Through her 20+ years of academic teaching and administration, she has mobilized positive leadership and outstanding results and accomplishments and identified keen insights into the essential strategies that lead to institutional success. Marilyn leads with her values: inclusion, compassion, integrity and joy.

Hon. Nolan Quinn,

Minister of Colleges
and Universities

Nolan Quinn was born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario. He has been deeply involved in community service which led him to run for MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry in 2022.

Shortly after being elected, Nolan was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services where he served until appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health in 2024. In June of 2024, Nolan was appointed Associate Minister of Forestry and was most recently promoted to Minister of Colleges and Universities.

Prior to being elected, Nolan hit the ground running into his career at Saint Elizabeth Health Care, where he specialized in human resources management. Looking to fulfil his entrepreneurial ambitions, he later returned to the private sector to manage a locally owned business for the last 15 years.

Nolan recognizes the important role the postsecondary education sector plays in educating and training the next generation workforce that will contribute to Ontario’s economic prosperity. Nolan is a graduate of St. Lawrence College, receiving a diploma in Business Management and Human Resources.

Nolan, his wife Kimberly and three young children reside in St. Andrews West.

Deputy Minister
David Wai,

Ministry of Colleges
and Universities

David Wai became Deputy Minister of Colleges and Universities in June 2023.

He was previously the Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, a role he began in October 2021.

David has held a number of executive positions in the OPS, including the Assistant Deputy Minister of Health, Social, Education and Children’s Policy at Cabinet Office where he supported the Health and Social Policy Cabinet Committee as well as the Central Coordination Table. As the Assistant Deputy Minister of Financial Services Policy at the Ministry of Finance (MOF), he led the creation and launch of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario and led regulatory policy in financial services sectors such as capital markets and insurance.

He has also held senior positions in economic development, trade and pensions. He is passionate about building a more diverse and inclusive workplace and led the MOF Inclusion Committee during his time at MOF.

Prior to joining the OPS, David worked in the capital markets industry with Fiera Capital and RBC and in management consulting with Deloitte. He holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) and holds degrees in Engineering Physics and Economics

Rebecca Jamieson,

President and CEO, Six Nations Polytechnic

Rebecca Jamieson, Tuscarora Nation, Eel Clan, is the President-CEO Six Nations Polytechnic. Rebecca is a distinguished and recognized leader in Indigenous education in Ontario and Canada, and an influential champion for the preservation of Indigenous languages. As CEO and President of Six Nations Polytechnic since 2009, she has had a transformational impact on her institution, her community and on post-secondary education in Ontario. Rebecca has been involved at all levels of First Nations education in a wide range of roles including teaching, counselling, policy, curriculum and institutional research and development.

Rebecca holds an undergraduate degree in psychology and philosophy from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Education from the University of Toronto. Rebecca is a member of the College of Teachers and holds Supervisory Officers Qualifications. She is trained in mediation and alternative dispute resolution and is a Graduate of the Carver Institute, Policy Governance.

Rebecca serves as Chair of the Indigenous Institutes Consortium (Ontario), the National Association of Indigenous Institutes and the Six Nations Language Commission. She is a board member of National Indigenous Accreditation Board, the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium Board of Accreditation and CICan (Colleges and Institutes Canada). Acknowledgements of Rebecca’s contributions include honorary doctorates from Western University and Laurier University, Honorary Applied Degree from Niagara College, Six Nations Community Treasure, Dreamcatcher Foundation Education Award, David Baxter Memorial for Outstanding Individual Achievement, Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada.

Dr. Steven Murphy,

President and Vice-Chancellor, Ontario Tech University

Dr. Steven Murphy joined Ontario Tech University as its fourth President and Vice‐Chancellor on March 1, 2018 and was reappointed for a second term beginning July 1, 2023. He envisions the university as an active space to reinvent learning while championing diversity in all its forms. He believes experiential and co‐operative learning opportunities are fundamental training for successful careers.

Dr. Murphy is renowned for his organizational and human behaviour expertise across business and industry. Even more notably, his dedication to equity, diversity and inclusiveness underscores every facet of how he lives his life. Beyond the lens of race and gender, he believes firmly in the diversity of thought and ideas that underpin civil society.

Dr. Murphy’s vision for positive change influenced Ontario Tech’s Strategic Research Plan, supported the creation of the Integrated Academic Research Plan, the establishment of the President’s Equity Taskforce, and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to Indigenous Reconciliation. Dr. Murphy also rapidly guided the university’s evolution toward a distinct and bold new identity, a process that included renaming the university, and refreshing the brand and accompanying university and spirit logos.

He earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Human Resource Management, a Master of Management Studies (with Distinction) in the Management of Technology, a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Toronto, and his Doctorate in Management, Organizational Behaviour from Carleton University.

Dr. Murphy champions the notion of tech with a conscience – imbedding technology with strong human values for the betterment of society and the planet. He is an ardent supporter of ethically driven, artificial intelligence and its transformative power on higher education.

Dr. Murphy currently serves on the Board of Directors of Lakeridge Health, the Board of Directors of the National Research Council of Canada; as Past Chair of eCampus Ontario; as Chair of Ontario University Athletics; as a Director of U Sports; and as a member of the Universities Canada Education Committee.

Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan

President and CEO, Humber Polytechnic

Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan is the President and CEO of Humber Polytechnic and the first woman to hold the position in Humber’s history. Dr. Vaughan is a highly distinguished senior executive with nearly 30 years of success in the postsecondary sector. She joined Humber from Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario where she served as President and CEO since 2016. Prior to that, she served as President and CEO of the College of the North Atlantic, in Newfoundland and Labrador, from 2011-2016. In 2015, she was recognized as a Top 50 CEO in Atlantic Canada.

Dr. Vaughan also dedicates her time by serving on many external boards. In her role as Chair of eCampusOntario’s Board of Directors, Dr. Vaughan is helping to pioneer the sector’s micro-credential movement. In addition, she serves as Chair on the Board of Directors for Ontario Genomics, a non-profit organization that is focused on nurturing genomics innovation in Ontario. She is also a Member of the Board of Directors for Skills Ontario. Dr. Vaughan has earned numerous accolades nationally and internationally, including being selected as a participant in the 2004 Governor General Canadian Leadership Conference. Dr. Vaughan is actively engaged in the college community and serves as Chair of the Management Board for the College Employers.

Dr. Vaughan holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from Memorial University; certificates in Public Administration and Business from Memorial University; a Master of Arts in Higher Education from the University of British Columbia, and a Masters Certificate in Project Management from York University/Memorial University. In 2015, Dr. Vaughan received her doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of Calgary.