Speakers
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Dr. Alan Davis – Keynote SpeakerPresidentKwantlen Polytechnic University
Dr. Alan Davis, president of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, has played leadership roles at the British Columbia Open University, Athabasca University, Niagara College and Vancouver Community College. Most recently, Dr. Davis held the position of President at State University of New York, Empire State College in Saratoga Springs, NY. Throughout his career, he has encouraged innovations in Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition, including the creation of the BCOU Credit Bank, a dedicated PLAR Department at Athabasca University, and the establishment of a Prior Learning Inside-Out, ...
Dr. Judith Harris – Keynote SpeakerInternational RPL Consultant, Adjunct ProfessorThompson Rivers University
Judy Harris is an international RPL consultant and Adjunct Professor at Thompson Rivers University, British Columbia. Her research interests are the recognition of prior learning, work-based learning and widening participation in higher education, particularly their curricular and pedagogic implications using perspectives drawn from the sociology and education and knowledge. Her PhD thesis, The Hidden Curriculum of the Recognition of Prior Learning: A Case Study (Open University 2004) was concerned with accessing adults to a South African university. In the last year, Judy has recently acted ...
Dr. Patrick Werquin – Keynote SpeakerInternational RPL Consultant; Head, OECD Thematic Review on the Recognition of Non-formal and Informal Learning; Professor Conservatoire national des arts et métiers, Paris
Patrick Werquin is currently Professor at CNAM (Conservatoire national des arts et métiers – French Tertiary Education and Research Institution), Paris. As a highly regarded international consultant based in Saint-Sulpice-sur-Lèze, he has worked for the European Commission, UNESCO, and several national ministries and organisations. Dr. Werquin authored Recognition of non-formal and informal learning: Islands of Good Practice (200...
Dr Roslyn Cameron, FAHRISenior Lecturer in HRM; Head of Discipline - HRM; Graduate Research Coordinator- Gladstone Campus School of Management and MarketingCentral Queensland University
Dr Roslyn Cameron is a Senior Lecturer in HRM at the School of Management and Marketing at Central Queensland University, Australia. Roslyn is one of the founding Board members of PLIRC and has authored two book chapters on RPL in Australia. She is currently researching the use of ePortfolios for RPL and PR. Ros has been involved in several CRC for Rail Innovation research projects in Australia under the Workforce Development theme (Skilled Migration, Attraction and Image, Skills Recognition and Coaching and Mentoring). She is currently funded to conduct research into the contributions of skil...
Dr. Dianne ConradDirector, Centre for Learning AccreditationAthabasca University
Dr. Dianne Conrad is the Director, Centre for Learning Accreditation at Athabasca University, which is very active in PLAR. In addition to her program development and supervisory responsibilities with regard to the PLAR program, Dr. Conrad has maintained an active research career, with many peer-reviewed publications and presentations to her credit. In 2009, she received a SSHRC grant to conduct research on PLAR in Canada and New Zealand. She has been an adult and distance educator for over 25 years and is a strong advocate for adult learning.
Dr. Linda CooperAssociate Professor, Higher and Adult Education Studies Development Unit (HAESDU)Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED) at the University of Cape Town (UCT)
Linda Cooper is an Associate Professor in the Higher and Adult Education Studies Development Unit (HAESDU), in the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). She teaches on the Adult Education Programme at UCT and is a past chair of the institution’s Adult Learner Sub-Committee. She has published widely on workplace learning and learning in social movements; Recognition of Prior Learning; and on widening access to adult learners in higher education. Her theoretical interests centre on the role of experience in adult learning; power relationships betwe...
Ms. Helen PokornyPrincipal Lecturer in Learning & Teaching in Higher EducationUniversity of Westminster
Helen is the Course Leader for the MA in Higher Education. This is flexible online course in professional development for staff in Higher Education (HE) which provides multiple exit awards and a direct entry route to a Professional Doctorate with extensive opportunities for prior learning credit. Helen is an experienced educational developer with a range of learning and teaching activities and curriculum development projects undertaken during the last decade. She is currently researching students’ sense of belonging in HE and the implications for academic practice. Her work on APEL derives ...
Ms. Mona PielorzDipl. Päd.German Institute for Adult Education - Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning
Mona Pielorz is working for the German Institute for Adult Education - Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning in Bonn and is a doctoral candidate at University of Duisburg/Essen. Currently she is working as analyst and head of the scientific services of the institute, including the preparation of data, statistics and scientific products for the field of education, sciences and politics. Her main research lays on the topics: competence measurement instruments (chances and risks of usage and economic value), recognition of non-formal and informal acquired competences and human resource development...
Dr. Nan L TraversDirector of the Office of Collegewide Academic Review Empire State College
Nan L Travers, Ph.D. currently serves as the Director of the Office of Collegewide Academic Review at Empire State College and focuses on the policies and practices of self-designed student degree programs, advanced standing, the assessment of prior college-level learning, and Portfolios. Over the years, Dr. Travers has conducted extensive research in adult learning, including PLA practices and ways in which students develop self-regulated learning. She currently serves on the board for LearningCounts.org, the Council of Adult and Experiential Learning’s online PLA center, and the Prior Lea...
Dr. Joy Van KleefCEOCanadian Institute for Recognizing Learning
Joy Van Kleef is CEO of the Canadian Institute for Recognizing Learning. She has worked in the field of prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) for over 20 years. Her learning in this field is both academically and experientially based. She has two Masters degrees and a PhD from l'école des hautes études en sciences sociales in Paris. Her doctoral research is on "quality" in the assessment and recognition of non-formal and informal learning of internationally-educated nurses. Over the past ten years, Joy has specialized in research and the management of projects related to adult learn...
Professor Warren WeirDean of Academic ProgramsNicola Valley institute of Technology
Warren Weir specializes in Aboriginal organization and management, First Nation education, strategic management, and Indigenous community economic development. He has worked for various colleges and universities including Cape Breton University, University of Lethbridge, and Royal Roads University. He was the Department Head of the Administrative Studies programs at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (1990-1997), then Assistant Professor and Director of the Indigenous Management Specialization, MBA Program, Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan (1999-2009). In 2010, War...
Prof. Ruth WhittakerHeadCentre of Learning Enhancement and Academic Development (GCU LEAD)
Professor Ruth Whittaker is Head of the Centre of Learning Enhancement and Academic Development (GCU LEAD.) Her role includes leading and supporting academic and professional development and enhanced approaches to learning, teaching, assessment underpinned by scholarship and research; providing strategic and academic leadership for implementation of the university’s Widening Participation Strategy, including Articulation, in collaboration with the GCU community and external partners; engaging in policy and strategy development and leading university initiatives in Learning and Teaching a...
Dr. Angie WongProfessor Emeritus and former Director of the Centre for Distributed Learning and Instructional Design GroupUniversity of Saskatchewan
Angie Wong, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus and former Director of the Centre for Distributed Learning and Instructional Design Group at the University of Saskatchewan. Angie is engaged in collaborative research in blended learning and the assessment of experiential learning. Both interests support her personal belief that individuals, within both formal and informal contexts, can learn throughout their lives in a variety of ways. She was also coordinator of the Online Master of Continuing Education program and instructor of the program’s Workplace Learning Internship. Angie has been an adv...
