« Return to Canada’s Challenge: Workforce Skills for Global Competitiveness

Evie DoCouto

Director of Learning and Development, Program Development Division, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) of Ontario

Evie DoCouto is the Director of Learning and Development in the Program Development Division of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) of Ontario. Evie has an honours degree in Microbiology from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor degree in Social Psychology as well as a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation.

Evie joined the WSIB in 1985 as a summer student working as a Counsellor, Translator and Claims Adjudicator. She then moved on to become a Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor in 1989 and later a Learning and Development Specialist in 1991. In 2004, Evie moved into management in Learning.

Evie has led several strategic and leadership initiatives within the WSIB and, most recently, is involved in obtaining her professional designation in Return on Investment methodology.

Herman Hansen

Manager, Employee Relations & Training and Development, Boeing Canada

Herman Hansen graduated in 1982 from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and he has held a variety of Human Resources positions in the public, construction and retail/wholesale sectors. Employed with Winnipeg-based Boeing Canada Technology since 1997, Herman began his career at the company as the Manager of Employee/Labour Relations and Recruitment. Since that time, he has assumed the responsibilities for Training & Development and Security & Fire Protection.

Herman is a strong supporter of workplace literacy, essential skills and English as a Second Language (ESL) training for the last several years and continues to develop and implement initiatives to promote and increase the level of literacy among Boeing’s workforce. In addition to pursuing the Mature Students Diploma (MSD), he spearheaded the development of Certificate in Management/Bachelor Degree Program in Management with the University of Winnipeg, which incorporated both essential skills and prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR). Other initiatives include the development of a Computer course with literacy embedded for deaf employees, implementation of an intensive essential skills training program, incorporation of the TOWES Test in the recruitment process, and implementing a working-together initiative called Employee Involvement.

Boeing has won several awards for its innovation and commitment to training, including the 2007 Canadian Council on Learning Sharing the Flame award for its Mature Student Diploma.

Herman regularly receives requests to speak on Boeing’s training initiatives and has participated on several advisory committees on the Federal Government’s Workplace Skills Strategy as well as roundtables on the development of literacy and Essential Skills Training.

Herman is an executive member on the Western Canada Workplace Essential Skills Training Network (WESTNET), Vice President, Literacy Partners of Manitoba and is the President of the Manitoba Aerospace Human Resources Co-coordinating Committee (MAHRCC).

Scott Murray

President, DataAngel Policy Research Inc.

Scott Murray currently holds the post of President, DataAngel Policy Research Inc. DataAngel is a full-service policy research company serving a broad range of national and international clients.

Prior to assuming this position, he was Director, Education Outcomes at the Unesco Institute for Statistics (UIS) where he was responsible for their programs of adult and student skill assessment. Prior to taking up that post in March, 2005, Scott was Director General, Social and Institutional Statistics.

Scott also spent roughly 23 years in the Special Surveys Division at Statistics Canada, including a period of five years as Director. He has specialized in the design and conduct of large-scale ad hoc surveys to meet emerging public policy issues. His own work has included studies of volunteer activities, child-care usage, longitudinal labour market activity and international comparative work in the area of the assessment of adult skill and participation in adult education and training. He is currently International Study Director for the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) and the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (ALL).

Scott holds an Honours B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario and is overly fond of claret.

Bryan Neath

Co-ordinator, National Training and Education Department, UFCW Canada

Bryan has more than 30 years experience within the labour movement. He started with Zehrs Markets in the 1970s and was instrumental in the formation of UFCW Canada Local 1977 which is currently located in Cambridge, Ontario. Bryan started with the local as the Recorder and in 1979 became the Secretary-Treasurer. He was also a founding trustee of the UFCW Canada Local 1977 Education, Training and Trust Fund.

Holding this post until 1989, Bryan was then hired by the UFCW International office as an International Representative for the Canadian region. In 1993, he was appointed Ontario Assistant to the National Director and later appointed Special Assistant to the National Director in 1999.

Currently, Bryan is serving as the Coordinator of the National Training and Education Department. This position has him overseeing the development of UFCW programs and initiatives for youth, labour education, health and safety training, and government funding programs, such as literacy. Bryan also serves as the Administrator of the National Defence Fund. Established in 1986, this fund has been serving and assisting members across Canada during strikes and lockouts.

Bryan has been a prominent labour voice at the Ontario Federation of Labour as a past vice-president, as well as serving on various Canadian Labour Congress committees. He is now sitting as Labour Co-Chair of the Canadian Food Industry Council and is a trustee of the Ontario Commercial Workers Dental Trustee Fund.