Micro-credential Forum 2025

Amrit Ahluwalia is the Executive Director of Continuing Studies at Western University, overseeing post-degree professional programming, professional development and corporate programming, and the Western English Language Centre. 
 
Ahluwalia joined Western in 2024 after founding and serving as Editor-in-Chief of The EvoLLLution, an online newspaper developed by Modern Campus to create a conversation hub focused on non-traditional higher education and the transforming postsecondary marketplace. He also served as Senior Director for Marketing at Modern Campus, ensuring thought leadership assets align with industry trends. 
 
He regularly speaks on topics related to the changing higher education environment at conferences across Canada and the United States, and hosts the EdUp PCO podcast focused on innovation and transformation in Professional, Continuing & Online Education. 

Michael Burt leads several knowledge areas at The Conference Board of Canada, including economics, education and skills, and health. In his role, Mr. Burt oversees the convening and research activities that these knowledge areas undertake, and The Conference Board’s contributions to the Future Skills Centre. Mr. Burt has 25 years of experience conducting and leading research activities and has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Toronto, an MBA from the University of Windsor, and has also completed the Chartered Financial Analyst program.

Mary Butler has worked in the public and private education sector in multiple jurisdictions. Central to her values and practice is her commitment to every individual’s right and opportunity to reach their full potential. Mary has been with New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) since 2011 and the President and CEO since 2019. She initiated, and continues to champion, the transformation of NBCC’s long-standing academic model to better meet the needs of students, employers, and communities.   

Mary is an active volunteer with Meals on Wheels and currently serves as a member of NBBC (New Brunswick Business Council), BHER (Business + Higher Education Roundtable), TEC Canada (The Executive Committee), as well as partner with C2R2 (Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery). She is also an active board member with ECN (Education Computer Network) and ACA (Atlantic Colleges Association). In 2023, Mary was named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs by Atlantic Business Magazine. 

Michael Crowe brings over 20 years of experience in the post-secondary sector in Canada, and is currently serving as the Vice President, Academic at Bow Valley College in Calgary, Alberta. Under his leadership, Bow Valley College has recently launched Pivot-Ed, a transformative approach to competency-based upskilling and reskilling. Through this initiative, Bow Valley College is bridging the emerging skills gap by strengthening ties between academia and industry and ensuring that learners have a seamless path from classroom to career. This innovative work is shaping the future of college education and how employers can address current workforce development challenges. 

A distinguished leader in the automotive and mobility sector, Mona Eghanian is Assistant Vice-President at the Ontario Centre of Innovation and Deputy Head of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), Ontario’s flagship initiative on the future of automotive and mobility. Her leadership is pivotal in catalyzing the growth of Ontario-made automotive technologies and cultivating a future-ready workforce set to meet the sector’s evolving demands. Through her leadership on key initiatives around research and development, piloting and demonstration, and talent development, Mona ensures that through OVIN, Ontario is at the forefront of safer, cleaner, and more efficient transportation solutions, thereby driving economic growth and solidifying its position as a global automotive and mobility leader. 

Rob Greenwood is Deputy Minister, Rural and Regional Development and Engagement, and Chief Economic Development Officer, for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). He is leading NL Futures, an initiative to support labour market strategy, productivity and rural / regional development capacity in NL.  

Previously, he served as Associate Vice President (Public Engagement and External Relations) at Memorial University and was founding Director of the Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development. Rob also served as a Director and Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy in economic development departments in NL and in Saskatchewan. In Saskatchewan he led the development of the provincial economic strategy and served as VP Corporate Development for Information Services Corporation. In NL, he was Director of Research and Principal Author of the 1995 Report of the Task Force on Community Economic Development and led the process to establish Regional Economic Development Boards in 20 Economic Zones. He also led the development of a strategy for small-scale manufacturing in NL. Rob holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Business Studies from the University of Warwick, England. 

Val Walker leads the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that brings together some of Canada’s largest companies and leading post-secondary institutions. As CEO, Val drives BHER’s strategic direction, steers member and stakeholder relations, and leads a high-performing team committed to creating opportunity through collaboration in Canada’s skills, talent, and innovation ecosystems.  

Val was inaugural co-chair of the Future Skills Council, a group established by the Government of Canada to advise on national and regional skills development and training priorities. She has also served as a member of the Guiding Coalition to the Government of Alberta’s Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs initiative and of Employment and Social Development Canada’s Advisory Committee on Learning.  

Prior to leading BHER, Val was Vice President, Innovation and Skills, at the Business Council of Canada where BHER was founded, and was Director of Policy at Mitacs. She holds a PhD from McGill University and is an alumna of the Government of Canada’s Recruitment of Policy Leaders Program. 

Dr. Jagdish Yadav is a skilled professional specializing in post-secondary education, workforce development, and economic development at the City of Toronto. He promotes collaboration among institutions, industries, and communities, leveraging innovative strategies to enhance student experiences and bridge academia with industry. His outstanding contributions to international student support have received global acclaim. Dr. Yadav holds a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh, a Master of Biotechnology from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Science from Kurukshetra University, India. He has been a Commonwealth Fellow (1993-1997).