Many Voices. One Purpose.
How the National Working Group Built a Movement
A National Conversation
From the beginning, ConnectHER recognized meaningful change would require more than individual organizations working independently. It would require a national community of advocates willing to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and learn from one another.
Bringing together representatives from colleges and polytechnics, community service groups, workforce development organizations, and trades professionals, the National Working Group reflected a broad cross-section of experience, expertise, and perspectives from across Canada.
More than a project advisory group, the National Working Group became a place where collaboration and new ideas took shape. Members shared emerging IMPACT Project successes, discussed challenges, explored new approaches, and celebrated milestones as ConnectHER evolved. Conversations also extended beyond ConnectHER itself, creating opportunities to exchange knowledge about mentorship, recruitment, leadership development and employer engagement. The group openly shared lessons learned, offered practical advice, and supported one another in finding solutions that reflected the unique needs of their own communities while contributing to a common national purpose.
What began as conversations around a virtual table often became ideas that found their way into communities and partner organizations across Canada.
Shared Leadership. Shared Success.
Rather than relying on a single facilitator, Working Group members rotated responsibility for chairing meetings throughout the project. The approach encouraged shared ownership and reinforced that every member had both something to contribute and something to learn. Each brought a different leadership style, perspective, and area of expertise, creating space for diverse voices while reinforcing that every organization had knowledge and experience to contribute.
“The strength of the National Working Group wasn’t that everyone shared the same experiences, it was that everyone brought something different to the conversation. By learning from one another and working toward a shared purpose, we built something greater than any one organization could have achieved alone.
Heather Carey
Senior Manager, Fanshawe Corporate Training Solutions and ConnectHER Project Sponsor
As new opportunities emerged, members stepped forward to lead beyond meetings.
A dedicated Industry Perspectives Survey subcommittee brought together Working Group members with extensive trades experience to help shape one of ConnectHER’s research initiatives. Their practical knowledge informed the survey’s direction, refined its questions, and ensured it reflected the realities facing industry rather than assumptions made from a distance. This willingness to contribute expertise wherever it was needed became one of the defining strengths of the Working Group.
Even during periods of disruption, including the Ontario college strike, Working Group members continued advocating for the project wherever possible. They shared survey opportunities, promoted ConnectHER through their professional networks, and maintained momentum despite significant challenges facing many post-secondary institutions.
Their commitment demonstrated that ConnectHER had become more than a funded initiative, it was a shared responsibility.
Lasting Relationships. Lasting Legacy.
The National Working Group’s success is not measured by the number of meetings held or initiatives completed. It’s measured by the relationships built, the knowledge shared, and the trust that developed among members who all committed to creating lasting change.
Those relationships became the foundation for a stronger national network, one that demonstrated meaningful progress is possible when organizations choose to collaborate openly, celebrate one another’s successes, and work together toward a common goal.
Long after the final meeting, the relationships built through the National Working Group will endure as one of ConnectHER’s most meaningful contributions, demonstrating that when organizations choose collaboration over competition, meaningful change can extend far beyond the life of a project.
Connected to ConnectHER
ConnectHER welcomes employers, industry leaders, associations, and organizations committed in supporting more inclusive and supportive skilled trades pathways for women across Canada.
To learn more about industry engagement and partnership opportunities, contact [email protected].