OCASA’s 2025 Leaders and Innovators Conference is Going Virtual!

We are excited to announce the first confirmed sessions for OCASA’s 2025 Virtual Conference series! These sessions, hosted by OCASA and featuring leading experts in change management, AI, EDI, and other key topics, will be free for OCASA members. Each session will be recorded and shared.

Read on for more information on our upcoming virtual conference sessions!

The following sessions will be open to non-members:

(Apr 10, 2025 12:00 PM) Navigating the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) Landscape: Embracing VUCA Prime (Vision, Understanding, Clarity, and Agility) in Higher Education with Rob Elkington (complimentary)
(Jun 25, 2025 12:00 PM) Strategic Management in Unionized Settings with Jordan Rodney (complimentary)
(Oct 9, 2025 12:00PM) A Look Ahead for the College Sector with Alex Usher ($25 for non-members)

If you are not an OCASA member and wish to become one, please fill out and submit this membership application!

Apr 10, 2025 12:00 PM

Navigating the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) Landscape: Embracing VUCA Prime (Vision, Understanding, Clarity, and Agility) in Higher Education with Rob Elkington

In this can’t-miss session, hosted by OCASA and featuring Trent University professor Rob Elkington, participants will explore how VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) shapes academic leadership in Canadian colleges — and how VUCA Prime (Vision, Understanding, Clarity, Agility) can help leaders adapt and thrive. Through real-world case studies and practical strategies, participants will develop a resilient, future-ready mindset to lead through change.

Register for Rob Elkington’s Session!

May 21, 2025 12:00PM

AI in the Post-Secondary Sector: Practical Applications for Efficiency & Decision-Making

AI is reshaping post-secondary operations, streamlining processes, reducing workload, and improving decision-making. But where does it truly add value? Join Sara Munroe, M.Ed., for a practical look at AI tools that enhance enrollment, student support, HR, finance, and compliance. Learn how to implement AI strategically without major investments while keeping human connection at the heart of education. Discover actionable ways to: optimize operations and reduce manual tasks, leverage AI in key administrative areas, and pilot AI solutions effectively.

Register for Sara Munroe’s session!

Jun 4, 2025 12:00 PM

Prioritizing EDI Impact with Michael Charles

Join Michael F. Charles, lawyer, organizational change strategist, and Associate Vice President, Innovation, Inclusion, Reconciliation & Healing at Centennial College for an insightful session on how colleges can center Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in a changing college sector. This session is open to those enrolled in the College Leadership Excellence Certificate program, offered through The College Centre (CEC/Colleges Ontario), and a credit is available to enrollees .

Register for Michael Charles’ Session!

Jun 25, 2025 12:00 PM

Strategic Management in Unionized Settings with Jordan Rodney

Strong leadership in a unionized college environment requires clear communication, a solid grasp of labor relations strategy, and proactive relationship-building with stakeholders. In this session, Jordan Rodney, VP HR & Legal Services for MaxPeople and Rodney Employment Law, will share practical strategies to help administrators manage effectively, resolve issues early, and foster productive working relationships in a unionized environment.

Register for Jordan Rodney’s Session!

Oct 9, 2025, 12:00PM

Key Trends and Insights into the Landscape of Canadian Postsecondary Education (Open to Non-Members – Fee $25)

Join Alex Usher, President of Higher Education Strategy Associates and internationally renowned higher-education expert, as he offers his outlook for Canada’s post-secondary education sector, with emphasis on the Ontario college system.

Register for Alex Usher’s Session!

Dec 3, 2025 12:00 PM