June 21, 2022 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET
Canada’s Leading LGBTQ2S+ IT-Focused celebration during Pride Month
PRODUCED BY
IN COLLABORATION WITH
SUPPORTED BY
SPONSORED BY
Advancing LGBTQ2S+ Through Activism and Allyship
June 21, 2022 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET
ITWC returns in its second annual event to celebrate the IT accomplishments and talent in Canada’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/ Questioning, Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S+) community. Focused on allyship, the event will highlight the importance of inclusion and diversity and explore its impact in the larger technology community.
This digital celebration will take place on June 21, 2022, during Pride Month. Presented by ITWC in collaboration with HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan).
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The Format
Featuring panels, short presentations celebrating diversity within the IT space, personal storytelling, and the creation of a virtual checklist on creating a safe workplace and community, the event will speak to the LGBTQ2S+ journey in the IT workplace.
Who Will Attend
The LGBTQ2S+ Voices in IT is open to all of Canada’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S+) community in IT and allies to celebrate achievements, share stories and help advance LGBTQ2S+ development in the IT ecosystem.
Agenda
Welcome Remarks
Fawn Annan (She/Her) CEO, ITWC
Cynthia Fortlage, Event Host
Keynote Address: Breaking Down the Strength in Numbers
How to be an Active Ally is an engaging and informative look at the concept of allyship, and the key factors in being an active ally. Based on his new book Alphabet Soup: The Essential Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion at Work, Michael Bach focuses on the individual and how each person plays a role in creating an inclusive space for LGBTQ2+ people.
Michael Bach (He/Him), Author, Alphabet Soup: The Essential Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion at Work
Panel Session: Progress and the Path Ahead for the LGBTQ2S+ Community in IT
In this panel, we will be doing a brief presentation on the findings from the research study QueerTech conducted and discuss the results with our panelists
Moderator: Amanda Chalupa, McGill University
Panelists:
Ketra Schmitt, Centre for Engineering in Society, Concordia University
Robert-Paul Juster, Universite de Montreal
Katerine Lehmann, Concordia University
Samuel Villeneuve, Universite de Montreal
Live Q&A
Community Stories
Closing Panel: Intersectionality and the LGBTQ2S+ Community
The closing panel will look at the concept of intersectionality and how the LGBTQ2S+ community can collaborate with members of other equity seeking groups to further equity for all.
Live Q&A
Concluding Remarks
Speakers
Amanda Chalupa
(She/Her) McGill University; Imagine Ideation
Ketra Schmitt
(She/Her) Concordia University in the Centre for Engineering
Robert-Paul Juster
(He/Him) l’Université de Montréal
Michael Bach
(He/Him) Author, Alphabet Soup: The Essential Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion at Work
Samuel Villeneuve
(He/Him) l’Université de Montréal
Katerine Lehmann
(She/Her) Concordia University
Naoufel Testaouni
(He/Him) co-founder and CEO, QueerTech
Sandeep Nair
(He/They) Manager of Business Development, Pride at Work Canada
Cynthia Fortlage
(She/Her), Founder & Owner, CAF Services
Umang Choudhary
(He/Him), Senior Director, Marketplace Pricing, Convoy
Vanessa Thomas
(All pronouns), Senior Advisor, Technology Review, Government of of Canada
Helen Ahrens
(She/Her) Co-Chair of OUT at Shopify ERG
Tune in to the Virtual Platform
The virtual conference event will take place on ITWC’s proprietary TV, a platform that allows for the seamless integration of live and pre-recorded material. The platform also features live chat capabilities, the opportunity for downloadable assets and quizzes to facilitate networking opportunities.
