Symposium Agenda


Welcome to the Agenda for CLEAR's International Symposium! Here, you'll find all the essential details for each session, including titles, speaker, moderator, and facilitator information, comprehensive session descriptions, and discussion questions for the facilitated breakout sessions. Click on Speaker, Moderator, and Facilitator names to learn more about the expertise they bring to the Symposium.


Time Zone Selection

Select your time zone from the drop-down menu to display the agenda in your local time:   


Assessing Global Workforce Mobility

Block 1



December 3, 2024, 3:00 AM - 6:00 AM UTC

This program block will set the stage for the symposium by providing an overview of the current trends in global workforce mobility and the stakeholders invested in successful outcomes. Explore how data is used to evaluate the current state and help identify important factors contributing to the global shift.

CASE STUDY: WORKFORCE MOBILITY IN THE HEALTH SECTOR

Date and Time: December 3, 2024, 3:00 AM - 3:55 AM UTC
Speaker(s): Dr. Giorgio Cometto | Martin Fletcher | Dr Daniel Yumbya
Moderator: Kym Ayscough
Description: This session will focus on health workforce mobility, exploring both global frameworks and national perspectives. Expect insights into the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2010 WHO Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel and the recently released 2024 Guidance on agreements for health personnel mobility. A source country representative will highlight the challenges and opportunities related to the international mobility of health workers and gain a regulator’s viewpoint on lessons learned from managing workforce mobility in a regulatory environment.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES ON WORKFORCE MOBILITY: INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR REGULATORS

Date and Time: December 3, 2024, 4:05 AM - 4:50 AM UTC
Speaker(s): André Gariépy | Thomas Liebig
Moderator: Kym Ayscough
Description: This informative session will explore the current state of global and multi-sectoral workforce mobility, examining the key drivers, phenomena, impacts, and emerging issues affecting regulators worldwide. Learn insights into workforce mobility trends across industries and sectors along with international principles, instruments, and best practices for recognizing qualifications in a global context.

CHAMPIONING WORKFORCE DATA: STRATEGIES, TOOLS, MOBILITY INSIGHTS, AND FORECASTING FOR REGULATORS | FACILITATED BREAKOUT DISCUSSION

Date and Time: December 3, 2024, 5:00 AM - 6:00 AM UTC
Speaker(s): Emmanuel Jo | Hannah Maxey
Moderator: Kym Ayscough
Description:

This session will delve into the importance of health workforce data in informing policy and planning. It will cover the role of regulators in data collection and highlight publicly available resources, such as the Cross Profession Minimum Data Set tool. Key considerations for regulators interested in championing workforce data collection within their jurisdictions will also be discussed.

A historical perspective on regulator-led health workforce data initiatives in New Zealand will be provided, including legislative authority and data collection strategies. The session will illustrate how these data are used to monitor workforce mobility and inform policy and planning through various analyses, including projections.

The session will conclude with a discussion on potential additional applications for workforce data.

FACILITATED BREAKOUT DISCUSSION
Facilitator: Kym Ayscough
Discussion Questions:

Below is a list of topics for the facilitated breakout discussion session in Block 1. Please review the questions and come prepared to engage with your fellow symposium attendees during the live session.

  1. What proportion of your registrant body is trained in another jurisdiction?
  2. Have you observed any trends or changes in registrant mobility over the past four years?
  3. How do international qualifications impact competency assessments in your jurisdiction, and what adjustments are made to bridge any gaps?
  4. How can workforce data in your jurisdiction inform policy adjustments to better address current and future mobility needs?


Legislative & Stakeholder Impacts

Block 2



December 3, 2024, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM UTC

Explore the diverse experiences of regulators across different regions navigating the complexities of multiple, overlapping jurisdictions, varying legislative barriers, and the impacts of various stakeholders on the international mobile workforce.

NAVIGATING LEGISLATIVE & JURISDICTIONAL HURDLES TO WORKFORCE MOBILITY

Date and Time: December 3, 2024, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM UTC
Speaker(s): Beth Deazeley | Jack Kim | Melanie Venables
Moderator: Staci Mason
Description: This panel will explore the complexities of workforce mobility across various sectors and jurisdictions, with a focus on the challenges and solutions in regulatory environments. Ranging from challenges related to workforce shortages in Ontario’s childcare sector, particularly concerning the integration of internationally trained professionals, to hearing from a regulatory oversight body’s work on guiding national strategies to support workforce mobility across professions, this panel will provide valuable insights for regulators navigating legislative and jurisdictional obstacles to workforce mobility.

STRATEGIES FOR HARMONIZING STAKEHOLDER APPROACHES

Date and Time: December 3, 2024, 1:10 PM - 2:00 PM UTC
Speaker(s): Dr Divine Ndonbi Banyubala
Moderator: Staci Mason
Description: Session Description Forthcoming

FACILITATED BREAKOUT DISCUSSION

Date and Time: December 3, 2024, 2:10 PM - 3:00 PM UTC
Facilitator(s): Cynthia Abel | Catherine Byrne | Fiona McVeigh
Discussion Questions:

Below is a list of topics for the facilitated breakout discussion session in Block 2. Please review the questions and come prepared to engage with your fellow symposium attendees during the live session.

  1. What have been the top three legislative and/or government policy change(s) impacting your organization over the past year?
  2. How has stakeholder involvement in the legislative and/or government policy process impacted your organization's ability to respond to trends in mobility?
  3. What strategies are most effective for balancing local legislative and/or government policy requirements with global workforce demands?


(Regulatory) Pushes and Pulls

Block 3



December 3, 2024, 9:00 PM - 12:00 AM UTC

What are the regulatory factors influencing international mobility within professional fields? Examine how regulatory policies and initiatives intersect with common migration drivers such as economic conditions, conflicts, and political landscapes. Finally, delve into the strategies employed by international applicants as they navigate varying jurisdictions and regulatory systems.

WHEN THEY PUSH, WE PULL: ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND REGULATORY DRIVERS

Date and Time: December 3, 2024, 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM UTC
Speaker(s): Grady Barnhill | Russ Harrington | Dr. Beata Pawlowska | Prof. Arthur Rantloane
Moderator: Colleen King-McClintock
Description: This panel presentation will explore the intricate forces shaping global workforce mobility, particularly in the context of regulation. Experts from diverse regions will discuss how economic trends, political climates, and regulatory frameworks drive migration across borders. Attendees will gain insights into how professional regulators can respond to these drivers, balancing the need for workforce adaptability with the integrity of professional standards and the public protection mandate.

JURISDICTIONAL JOURNEYS: HOW TODAY'S INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS NAVIGATE REGULATORY LANDSCAPES

Date and Time: December 3, 2024, 10:10 PM - 11:00 PM UTC
Speaker(s): Ramesh Venkatesa Perumal | María Mora Pinzón | Lara Marín
Moderator: Colleen King-McClintock
Description: In this session, attendees will hear directly from international applicants with various backgrounds about their experiences navigating diverse regulatory landscapes. These first-hand accounts will shed light on the challenges they faced, such as differing entry-to-practice requirements, complex licensure pathways, and varying expectations across jurisdictions. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the barriers and opportunities in the global regulatory environment and explore ways regulators can better support applicants through these journeys, ensuring a smoother and more equitable process.

FACILITATED BREAKOUT DISCUSSION

Date and Time: December 3, 2024, 11:10 PM - 12:00 AM UTC
Facilitator(s): Grady Barnhill | Jimi Bush | Russ Harrington | Colleen King-McClintock | Mary Young
Discussion Questions:

Below is a list of topics for the facilitated breakout discussion session in Block 3. Please review the questions and come prepared to engage with your fellow symposium attendees during the live session.

  1. What are some of the primary “push” factors for registrants from other jurisdictions entering yours?
  2. What are some of the primary “pull” factors attracting registrants from other jurisdictions to your area?
  3. What role does public perception play in shaping regulatory policies for international mobility?
  4. How can regulators support ethical mobility practices to avoid exacerbating workforce gaps in origin countries?


Challenges in Global Workforce Integration

Block 4



December 4, 2024, 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM UTC

This block explores the challenges faced by international professionals in receiving countries. Examine how unconscious biases influence legal and regulatory policies and learn about the impact of exploitation and bad actors, such as predatory practices, fraud, and human trafficking. Expect to hear from organizations about their collaborative efforts to combat these issues.

IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING CHALLENGES IN GLOBAL WORKFORCE INTEGRATION

Date and Time: December 4, 2024, 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM UTC
Speaker(s): Don Balasa | Dr Ray Healy
Moderator: Mike Carpenter
Description: This session will address the ethical issue of balancing workforce supply and demand globally, and how standardization of education and credentialing can facilitate an equitable and efficient solution to this challenge. Focusing on international health workers (IHWs), the presenters will discuss exploitative and fraudulent recruiting practices and international codes of ethics designed to eliminate them. Typical instances of discrimination against international nurses and other health workers will be presented.

COMBATING EXPLOITATION: REGULATORY STRATEGIES AGAINST PREDATORY PRACTICES

Date and Time: December 4, 2024, 7:10 AM - 8:00 AM UTC
Speaker(s): Reiko Anderson Williams | Lorna Candler | Kathy Chen | Audrey Keen | Ashley D Morgan | Debra Persinger
Moderator: Mike Carpenter
Description: To effectively identify and address human trafficking, it is crucial to have a multidisciplinary task force equipped with diverse expertise to create a comprehensive strategy. This presentation will explore the key disciplines, expertise, and resources required for identifying and combating human trafficking. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of collaboration between various agencies, highlighting the collective effort necessary to address the issue holistically and develop impactful solutions.

FACILITATED BREAKOUT DISCUSSION

Date and Time: December 4, 2024, 8:10 AM - 9:00 AM UTC
Facilitator(s): Mike Carpenter
Discussion Questions:

Below is a list of topics for the facilitated breakout discussion session in Block 4. Please review the questions and come prepared to engage with your fellow symposium attendees during the live session.

  1. What integration challenges are your organization or jurisdiction encountering with internationally trained registrants, and how is your organization addressing these challenges?
  2. How does your organization measure the success of workforce integration initiatives, and how do you define “successful” integration?
  3. In what ways does your organization collaborate with other agencies, both domestically and internationally, to support workforce integration?
  4. Where does registrant approval end and workforce integration begin? What's the role of the regulator in workforce integration and registrant protection?


Supporting Overall Wellbeing

Block 5



December 4, 2024, 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTC

Hear about the diverse experiences of applicants through first-hand accounts, focusing on the importance of comprehensive onboarding and pre-application support. Presenters will discuss special considerations for displaced individuals, including how to balance support and ethical considerations such as "brain drain" and the role of trauma-informed regulation in providing holistic support to licensees.

FROM APPLICATION TO INTEGRATION: COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT STRATEGIES FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

Date and Time: December 4, 2024, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM UTC
Speaker(s): Zubin Austin | Dr Abraham Nussbaum | Jennifer Olson | Tracy Wallowicz
Moderator: Mike Zimmer
Description: This panel will explore innovative strategies to support the integration of international applicants, focusing on practical pathways to ease their transition into regulated professions. Attendees will gain insights into common challenges faced by international applicants and discover resources designed to help them overcome barriers to entry. The session will also delve into research on how competency can be redefined within regulatory practices, with a special emphasis on the psychological dimensions of competence and how they impact internationally trained professionals.

SUPPORTING THE DISPLACED: SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR PROFESSIONALS IN TRANSITION

Date and Time: December 4, 2024, 4:10 PM - 5:00 PM UTC
Speaker(s): Mukul Bakhshi | Micah Matthews
Moderator: Mike Zimmer
Description: In this session a regulator with years of international licensing experience in nursing and medicine comes together with an expert from CGFNS to discuss process, policy, and ethics of special populations immigrating to practice their profession. With specific consideration on what emerging trends are being viewed as viable pathways for full practice implementation in the destination country, this frank discussion about roadblocks and potential of the international professional community will give a preview of policy efforts on the horizon for multiple professions.

FACILITATED BREAKOUT DISCUSSION

Date and Time: December 4, 2024, 5:10 PM - 6:00 PM UTC
Facilitator(s): James Doran | Mel Khandanian | Daniel Roukema | Mike Zimmer
Discussion Questions:

Below is a list of topics for the facilitated breakout discussion session in Block 5. Please review the questions and come prepared to engage with your fellow symposium attendees during the live session.

  1. What practices does your organization use to address the mental health needs and overall wellbeing of internationally trained registrants?
  2. What cultural considerations does your organization consider when developing wellbeing programs, and how are these differences addressed effectively?
  3. What partnerships could be developed to better support the wellbeing of internationally mobile registrants and applicants within your jurisdiction?


The Future of International Mobility

Block 6



December 5, 2024, 12:00 AM - 3:00 AM UTC

Examine models of effective support for international applicants, featuring case studies of various initiatives. This session will highlight innovative, multi-stakeholder, and multi-jurisdictional collaborations, showcasing successful examples that enhance international mobility and streamline the integration process for professionals across borders.

INNOVATIVE EFFECTIVE MODELS FOR SUPPORTING INTERNATIONAL CANDIDATES

Date and Time: December 5, 2024, 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM UTC
Speaker(s): Rodney Andriolo | Joe Cashman | Yvonne Deryngowska | Shanti Sharma |Kate Spencer | Brett Streatfeild | Chris Sutton | Sarah Williamson | Rita Younes
Moderator: Andrew Charnock
Description:

Like many organisations, the Australian Pharmacy Council is always exploring better ways to streamline processes & provide adequate support to candidates. The demands on the Australian pharmacist workforce & the volume of overseas-trained pharmacists wanting to practise in Australia has increased, impacting our processes, IT systems, & resources. This presented challenges in meeting demand whilst continuing to deliver a high-quality service to our candidates, & fulfilling our mandate to protect the Australian public. We recognise that candidates coming to us from overseas face unique challenges in their journey to pharmacist registration in Australia.

For our presentation, we will discuss:

  • Current analysis of our structures, systems, & performance metrics.
  • Analysis of candidates & their journey requirements.
  • Collaboration with other health professions to explore new ideas, discuss shared challenges, & share best practices.
  • Development of a future model that ensures strategic objectives are met with a candidate-centered approach.
  • Impact of this approach on communication strategies, website, & portal design.
  • Critical involvement of IT in streamlining processes for our team & candidates.
  • Importance of continuous monitoring, adapting, & considering candidate feedback.

WORKING TOGETHER: ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL MOBILITY AND INTEGRATION THROUGH COLLABORATION

Date and Time: December 5, 2024, 1:10 AM - 2:00 AM UTC
Speaker(s): Nasrin Alostaz | Houssem Ben-Ahmed | Patrick Chiu | Edward Cruz | Ruth Lee | Kathleen Leslie | Ramesh Venkatesa Perumal
Moderator: Andrew Charnock
Description:

As health systems worldwide face critical nursing workforce shortages, integrating internationally educated nurses (IENs) has emerged as a vital strategy to enhance the domestic supply in destination countries. Regulators in various jurisdictions are under increasing pressure to streamline licensure processes for faster IEN integration.

In Canada, these reforms have varied inconsistently across provincial and territorial jurisdictions, and there is limited evidence to identify which pathways effectively support equitable and ethical regulatory policies for IENs. To bridge this gap, our team has established a pan-Canadian regulatory-practice-academic partnership to collaboratively develop solutions across sectors and regions.

In this panel presentation, we will unite employers, IENs, and researchers to share preliminary findings from our pan-Canadian research project. We will also discuss the facilitators and barriers to partnered research and provide recommendations for regulators aiming to adopt this collaborative approach in our increasingly interconnected and complex landscape.

FACILITATED BREAKOUT DISCUSSION

Date and Time: December 5, 2024, 2:10 AM - 3:00 AM UTC
Facilitator(s): Liz Blanco | Andrew Charnock | Ronne Hines
Discussion Questions:

Below is a list of topics for the facilitated breakout discussion session in Block 6. Please review the questions and come prepared to engage with your fellow symposium attendees during the live session.

  1. What role will AI and machine learning play in transforming workforce mobility over the next decade?
  2. How can regulatory bodies proactively prepare for global workforce changes driven by climate, technology, and geopolitical shifts?
  3. How might international agreements or collaborations help mitigate the potential negative impacts of talent migration on source countries, and what role can regulators play in fostering these partnerships?