UCN Linkages
Thompson
February 25-27, 2025
Thompson Regional Community Centre, 274 Thompson Dr, Thompson, MB R8N 0C4
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Presented by
Reimagine the North
With a focus on innovation, people and partnerships, as well as language and culture, Linkages will explore not only the challenges but also the opportunities and applications within each area. The event will highlight the strengths of Northern Manitoba and demonstrate how together, we can thrive.
Objectives + Outcomes
Discuss the economic landscape and opportunities of Northern Manitoba
Explore resource development in the region and building capacity in response
Develop strategies to support regional growth
Highlight the role of reconciliation in fostering economic development

Conference Schedule

Monday, February 24th - Pre-Conference Programming - Click on the event for more information and registration.
NCN Northern Mining Workshop (Invitation Only)
Blanket Exercise Session (Registration Required)
Tuesday February 25
Registration + Coffee
Conference Opening
Keynote: Blueprint to the Future – Eric Termuende
Economic Development Winnipeg
Lunch
Northern Economic Development – Christian Sinclair
Panel Discussion: Skills + the Economy
Keynote: Imagining a New North: How Can Technology, New Ideas and Rediscovered Confidence Revitalize Northern Manitoba? – Dr. Ken Coates
Daily Closing
Networking Reception
Wednesday February 26
Networking + Breakfast
Daily Opening
Deputy Ministers Panel
Break
Rooted in Listening, Growing Through WIL: Building Manitoba’s Workforce for Tomorrow – Janet Westbury-Swain, CEWIL CANADA
Keynote: Imagining a New North: Lessons from Sápmi and Northern Norway
Lunch
Site Tours
Networking Reception
Network Dine Around Dinner
Thursday February 27 | Province of Manitoba - Mining Day
Networking + Breakfast
Daily Opening
Indigenous Nations Chiefs Panel
Break
Ministers + Mayors Panel
Lunch
The Manitoba Geological Survey + The Mineral Occurence Database Update – Dr. Tafa Kennedy & Marc Rinne
Chadwick Consulting Ltd. – Jamie Dumont Principal/Owner
Alamos Gold
Conference Closing
Our Speakers

Ken Coates
Historian
Ken Coates is a rare public commentator who brings deep understanding of past and present realities together with compelling ideas about Canada’s future. His passionate and highly engaging talks have captivated diverse audiences across the country, from college administrators and economic development officers to Aboriginal entrepreneurs and community activists.
Ken was previously professor of Indigenous Governance, Yukon University and Canada Research Chair in Regional Innivatiin, University of Saskatchewan. Ken combines irreverence, insight and a sense of humour in his conversations about the issues that matter most to Canadians.

Eric Termuende
Co-Founder of NoW of Work
Eric Termuende is the Co-Founder of NoW of Work, author of Rethink Work, trusted advisor, and award-winning speaker on leadership, culture, and the future of work. His research into the DNA of top performing workplaces reveals the secrets of exceptional leadership and building resilient, forward-thinking teams.
Eric has worked with leading brands like Amazon, Coca-Cola, IBM, Zoom, and Toyota, helping them embrace the future with confidence and optimism. His expertise has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and Inc., cementing his reputation as a global thought leader shaping the future of work.
As co-founder of NoW of Work, Eric drives workplace innovation and has been recognized as one of American Express’s Top 100 Emerging Innovators. His influence extends beyond the stage, helping organizations navigate change and build thriving cultures.
Eric’s keynotes combine entertainment, actionable insights, and practical strategies. Audiences consistently praise his talks as inspiring and immediately impactful, leaving them equipped to create and excel in the workplaces of tomorrow.

Christian Sinclair

Todd Gursky
Director of External Relations, Federated Co-operatives Limited

Sven-Roald Nystø
Retired Special Advisor
Sven-Roald Nysto (born 1956) has worked on Sámi and other Indigenous peoples’ issues in various capacities for more than 40 years. He was appointed to the Norwegian Government’s Sámi Rights Committee 1984-1997. Elected to the Sámi Parliament in Norway in 1993 representing Norwegian Sámi Association (NSR), he was appointed as President for two subsequent four-year terms, 1997-2005. Among several tasks, it included internationally being a member of the Standing Committee of the Parliamentarians for the Arctic Region, participating in Norway’s delegation to the Arctic Council, Barents Euro-Arctic Council and take part in governmental bilateral meetings particularly with other Nordic Countries, Canada, and Russia.
Nysto started to work at Árran Lule Sámi Centre (situated in his community Ájluokta/Drag, Northern-Norway) in 2006 as Special Adviser, where Arctic- and High North Affairs became his main responsibility. By virtue of this, he became a member of the Norwegian Government’s Expert Committee on High North Affairs 2007- 2009. Nysto worked at Árran until Spring 2022, when he retired. He is a member of Norwegian Mineral Industry’s TSM Community of Interest Panel, was a member of the Advisory Council at the Centre for the Ocean and Arctic, UiT the Arctic University of Norway 2020-2024. He became a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Group in the “Consolidation of Four Responsible Mining Standards” collaboration process between The Copper Mark, International Council on Mining and Metals, The Mining Association of Canada’s Toward Sustainable Mining Standard and World Gold Council, 23 June 2023.
Since 2006 he has given 69 lectures and addresses and published 57 feature articles. He held an MPhil in Polar Studies from Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, UK. Nysto’s expertise is related to Arctic Indigenous peoples’ communities and their rights and opportunities in terms of governance, resource extraction, sustainable development, and business.

Alberto Velasco-Acosta
Foreign Direct Investment and Talent & Workforce Development Teams, VP International, Economic Development Winnipeg
Alberto Velasco-Acosta (VP International) leads the Foreign Direct Investment and Talent & Workforce Development teams. He has spent the past six years focusing on strategic initiatives to elevate Winnipeg’s status as a desirable destination for foreign investments. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to fostering international partnerships and enhancing the city’s global economic presence through roles including Chair of the Business Development Committee of the Consider Canada City Alliance, Director of Trade Services at the World Trade Center Winnipeg, and as the inaugural Executive Director of International Business Development at CentrePort Canada.

Ashley Dunlop
Director of Talent & Workforce Development, Economic Development Winnipeg
Ashley Dunlop (Director of Talent & Workforce Development) works with her team to attract, relocate and retain skilled jobseekers to boost the province’s workforce and enhance Winnipeg’s global competitiveness. Ashley has been promoting Winnipeg and Manitoba within local, national and international markets for more than a decade, previously as Director of Student Recruitment, Admissions and International, Immigrant & Refugee Student Services at The University of Winnipeg.

Janet Westbury-Swain
Regional Associate Director – Central, CEWIL CANADA
Janet Westbury-Swain has built her career in academia with close to 30 years of undergraduate and graduate course design, delivery, and logistics. While teaching at a university in Ontario Janet always blended theory and practical application through experiential and work-integrated learning in each of her courses. With her commitment to students applying their theory into real world experiences and her extensive community partnerships, Janet transitioned into a staff role that focused on developing experiential learning within health sciences at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Here she worked closely with students, constantly collaborated with faculty and colleagues across the institution, while building community connections locally and globally.
Currently, Janet is Central Canada’s Regional Associate Director for CEWIL Canada. Supporting post-secondary institutes, students, and industry in Ontario and Manitoba to deliver quality work-integrated learning. She is truly honoured to work with CEWIL as it constantly is striving to reduce barriers for students engaged in work-integrated learning.
Janet’s leadership roles have ranged from President of a non-profit Board of Directors to Executive in multiple organizations servicing individuals with a wide range of ages and abilities. She has been a lead planner of 11 major events at the local, regional, and national levels.
Her international work began as a contributing author for an Education project in Dubai. She has been instrumental in leading an intensive WIL experience to South Africa and Namibia. Through Academics Without Borders, Janet has collaborated with the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda to help design an excellence centre focusing on teaching and learning.
All of these experiences culminated in Janet being selected for the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. After an intensive work-study experience in the Northwest Territories she and her team returned to Ottawa to present their findings to, Her Excellency, Mary Simon, Canada’s Governor General in 2022.
Janet truly believes that with leadership comes the responsibility to take action that will create positive change.

Dr. Tafa Kennedy
Director, Manitoba Geological Survey
Dr. Tafa Kennedy is the Director of Manitoba Geological Survey, with over 20 year’s experience in the exploration and mining industry, in South Africa, Tanzania, Quebec and Ontario. Tafa obtained her B.Sc from Rhodes University, M.Sc from Pretoria University and Ph.D. from the University of Quebec in Chicoutimi. She has worked as a Nickel and PGE deposit geologist in Raglan and Kabanga for Xstrata Nickel and as a consultant geologist in Quebec, roaming in and around the Abitibi greenstone belt dealing with gold and base metal deposits. After a time in Industry, her call to the public service began in 2017 with the Resident Geologist Program and the Mining Lands Division in Ontario.

Marc Rinne
Precambrian Geologist, Manitoba Geological Survey
Marc Rinne is a Precambrian Geologist with the Manitoba Geological Survey, with field experience in many types of mineral deposits. He obtained his Masters in Geology at Lakehead University, and his PhD in Geology at the University of Tasmania. His most recent work with the survey involves fieldwork in parts of the Canadian shield in eastern Manitoba, as well as updates to the provincial Mineral Deposits Database.
Book Your Stay!

Days Inn & Suites
21 Thompson Drive North
Thompson MB R8N 2B5
Phone: 204-778-6000
Reservation Deadline:
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Group ID: UCN Linkages

Super 8
180 Thompson Drive North
Thompson MB R8N 1Y8
Phone: 204-778-0040
Reservation Deadline:
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Group ID: UCN Linkages
For information on registration, please contact Kelly Watters: [email protected]
CONTACT US
Kelly Watters
Kelly Forgala Events
[email protected]
204 391 4419