2026 Employer Relations Forum - Call for Session Proposals Survey

Session Proposal & Event Details

Thank you for your interest in submitting a session proposal for the 2026 Employer Relations Forum. All presenters will receive a free registration to the event and a registration discount to share with their network.

As a thank-you for contributing your ideas:

Accepted speakers will receive a complimentary registration to attend the Forum.
All proposal submitters, whether selected or not, will receive a $50 registration discount.

Why Present
If something worked in your employer relations role, it can help someone else.

The Employer Relations Forum prioritizes practical, experience-based sessions that reflect the realities of building and sustaining employer partnerships in post-secondary education. We value real-world examples, tested approaches, and lessons learned—whether you’re sharing a new strategy, a refined process, or an honest reflection on what you’d do differently next time.

Sessions are designed to be interactive and peer-driven, creating space for shared problem-solving, discussion, and takeaways participants can apply right away.

Need to Know

Event dates: May 12–13, 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET (to support coast-to-coast participation)
Session length: 45 or 60 minutes (including Q&A)
Format: Virtual (Zoom)
Session types: Interactive workshops, facilitated discussions, panels, and case-based examples of employer relations best practices

Brainstorm Point Person
If you have questions or would like feedback on a draft idea, please contact: Julie Rahmer at julie@brainstorm.ca

Vendors / Service Providers
To ensure a balanced and practitioner-focused program, vendor- or service provider-led sessions must include a co-presenter from a post-secondary institution unless the session is based on independent research or instructional content that does not rely on a specific product or service.

This approach helps maintain the educational integrity of the Forum and ensures sessions reflect diverse, real-world perspectives.

Proposal Submission

1.Session Title
Tip: Aim for a brief and catchy title that will entice the reader to want to learn more. Make it action-oriented (e.g., "5 Templates for Better XYZ" or "How We Automated Our XYZ Workflow").(Required.)

2.Session Format
Before selecting, consider which format(s) would best convey the topic you are proposing if you were an attendee.(Required.)

Case Study (the story of a project, the data behind it, lessons learned and results)

"How-To" Workshop (deep dive into a specific skill, process or tool)

Interactive Panel (a facilitated discussion, typically includes 2-3 peers)

Fails & Fixes (a candid look at a project that didn't go as planned and the specific adjustments made to turn it around)

Live Tech Demo (a practical screen-share style walkthrough of a specific software or workflow)

Facilitated Discussion (a moderated peer-to-peer "problem-solving" circle for a specific niche)

Combination (please provide details in the "Other" field below)

Other (please specify):

3.Session Interaction & Resources
Our attendees appreciate the opportunity to meet one another, share ideas, and obtain post-session tools. Will your session include any of the following?(Required.)

Downloadable Resources (i.e. - checklist, workflow, template, process map)

Interactive Elements (i.e. - polls, breakout rooms, quizzes, group discussions)

Both

Unsure

4.Session Description
Provide a compelling description of your session for the conference program. This text should provide readers with a clear understanding of what they can expect to learn from attending your session. If your session is selected, it will be included on the conference website. (Required.)

5.Learning Outcomes
Indicate the 3 primary learning outcomes you anticipate attendees will gain from attending the session. Please complete in bullet point format; if selected, these will be included on the conference website.
(Required.)

Learning Outcome 1

Learning Outcome 2

Learning Outcome 3

6.Is there anything else the event organizers should know about your session idea?

Session Audience

7.Target Audience
Who do you expect will benefit most from this session? (select all that apply).(Required.)

Novice / new to the topic (under 2 years experience)

Intermediate (2-4 years experience)

Experienced (5 or more years experience)

All levels of experience.

Other (please specify)

9.Past Presentations
Have you presented this session before, or do you expect to present it before the event? If so, please provide further details below.