Habitat Canada invites you to the 2024 National Leadership Summit – Moving Forward Together
We’re looking forward to welcoming ED/CEOs and Board Chairs from across the country to this year’s National Leadership Summit November 13-14, in Waterloo, ON. (If the Board Chair is unable to attend, you are welcome to send the Vice Chair or another member of your Board).
Thanks to those of you who provided feedback in our recent survey, we have developed an agenda that we hope will allow for two days of important discussions about Habitat’s future state. As we continue to grapple with an increasingly complex housing environment, this event will provide us with an opportunity to discuss how we can best ensure the long-term sustainability and relevance of Habitat for Humanity in Canada, including by working together to create new approaches to network collaboration and impact.
As we ready ourselves to celebrate 40 years in Canada in 2025, we must be willing to embrace change. To do that we have invited three external speakers help us navigate change in a collaborative, constructive and forward-thinking way. To kick us off on Wednesday morning we will have award winning musician (he performed with Wilco, the Tragically Hip and Blue Rodeo!) and master storyteller Bob Egan to talk about the inevitability, necessity and difficulty of change.
Following Bob we will dive into our Wednesday working sessions. Those of you who were with us last year will remember Rebecca Sutherns, an insightful strategist who has been coaching senior executives and boards of mission driven organizations for 25 years. Rebecca will be with us most of the day on Wednesday and will facilitate a discussion with our three Moving Forward Together working groups, who will present their work for review and feedback.
And then on Thursday we will hear from John Neufeld, an inspiring local housing leader who has led a transformation of the shelter system in Waterloo Region. John’s work is firmly rooted in his personal values and his keynote will kick start another day of connection and conversation. Following John’s presentation the ED/CEO group and the Board Directors group will split-up for most of the day to work through important issues of relevance to each group, before we come back together at the end of the day to debrief and wrap things up before we send you on your way.
Returning for this year’s National Leadership Summit is the new ED/CEO orientation session. This session is by invitation only and will run from 1-4PM on Tuesday November 12. Karen Coviello will reach out to applicable ED/CEOs.
On a lighter note, on Wednesday evening we will head on over to the Huether Hotel for a dinner and reception. Home to one of the oldest breweries in Canada, this destination has over 150 years of history and is a notable Waterloo landmark.
For more details on what to expect at this year’s National Leadership Summit, please refer to the agenda.
Sept 30 |
Registration opens |
Oct 16 |
Room block reservation deadline at Delta Hotels by Mariott Waterloo |
Oct 28 |
Registration closes 11PM ET |
Nov 12 Nov 12 Nov 12 |
New ED CEO Orientation Ontario Caucus meeting BC Caucus meeting |
Nov 13-14 |
National Leadership Summit |
Waterloo Region provides the perfect balance between new and old, rural, and urban, nature and technology, classical and contemporary, tranquility and adventure.
For any Summit related questions, please contact:
Deanna Miller, Senior Manager, National Conferences and Events
905-407-3128
Bob Egan is best-known for his decades spent as a musician for the acclaimed bands Blue Rodeo and Wilco. As an in-demand session player, he has recorded on over 120 records including the Tragically Hip’s 2000 Juno-award winning Single of the Year, Bobcaygeon. He is a member of 3 Canadian Halls of Fame and was awarded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in 2014.
Prior to his music career, Bob earned a Masters degree in Industrial/Organization Psychology specializing in employee attitude and organizational culture research. After 7 years as a management consultant, he left the corporate world to establish and manage North America’s largest volume guitar repair facility before embracing music fulltime.
Bob retired from the music business in 2017 to work in the municipal sector and pursue his passion for public speaking. He is currently the Film and Music Officer for the City of Kitchener and an in-demand keynote speaker.
John Neufeld is the proud father of Micah (21) and Mikayla (19) and grateful husband of Andrea. Since 2009, John has had the privilege of serving as the Executive Director of House of Friendship – a multi-service organization in Waterloo Region focused on housing, addictions treatment, food security, and neighbourhood development. Prior to serving at House of Friendship, John had the incredible opportunity of working with foster children/youth at Bridgeway Family Homes for 11 years.
Academically, John has a Bachelor of Theology (Canadian Mennonite University), Bachelor of Arts – Social Development Studies (Waterloo), Master of Social Work (Toronto), and Master of Business Administration (WLU).
In his volunteering, John is involved with some boards and now that he’s over 50 has started to play pickleball. John enjoys travelling with family, spending time with friends, international murder mystery shows, reading business and fiction, and technology.
Dr. Rebecca Sutherns is an insightful and high energy strategist, author and world class facilitator who has served as a trusted advisor to hundreds of mission-driven organizations across Canada and internationally. Rebecca brings intellect, enthusiasm and varied experience in strategy development and adaptability when speaking, writing and mentoring. She is a skilled communicator, with a particular gift for helping leaders and organizations reimagine their next chapter. Rebecca has extensive experience working with non-profits, municipalities, governments and for-profit organizations. She is very familiar with Habitat for Humanity, having developed strategic plans with several affiliates and contributed to your national gatherings, and she has worked with many other community-based agencies and coalitions on affordable housing-related initiatives.
Wednesday, November 13 | 6:00PM | Jazz Room and Billiards Room
Experience a piece of Waterloo’s history at the Huether Hotel. Located in uptown Waterloo, the Huether Hotel was originally built in 1855 and remains a dominant landmark on King Street, contributing to the historic character of the area.
Come network with your colleagues in this eclectic space, and make sure to bring your pool skills should you be challenged to a game. A buffet of traditional pub-style foods will be served.
A cash bar will be available.
Wednesday, November 13 | 6:00PM | Jazz Room
We are thrilled to have Jason White join us in the Jazz Room Wednesday evening as our musical guest.
Jason is active at the forefront of musical and interdisciplinary art-making in Waterloo Region. A very active pedagogue, Jason coaches jazz, opera, musical theatre, and chamber music. His education program at the Waterloo Jazz Festival is very popular, drawing participants from Toronto and beyond. He performs regularly with several area orchestras and frequently performs in support of charitable causes. Jason maintains a busy private studio and adjudicates competitions across the country. He is an adjunct professor of Community Music at Wilfrid Laurier University and a studio instructor at the University of Guelph.
The holidays are just around the corner! Take some branded apparel and goodies home for your staff, volunteers, and yourself. Hats, socks, notepads, ombre pens, belt bags, and hammer pins will be available for purchase.
Invoicing will be available.