OPSBA invites you to join our next speaker session on Thursday, March 11 at noon. We are pleased to welcome Gillian Tuck-Kutarna and Wayne Joudrie (see bios below) who will lead the professional development session Conflict: Managing it Creatively. In the session, they will explore roles, relationships, legal foundations and potential solutions to commonly experienced challenges in education governance. The session will be interactive with plenty of opportunity for participants to ask questions and share ideas and experiences.
Join us via Zoom Thursday, March 11 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
This series is offered free of charge. Registration is NOT required, but for our planning purposes if you have time, please send a quick email to Kendra Devine at kdevine@opsba.org indicating you plan to attend.
Gillian Tuck Kutarna focuses on education law and social impact, advocating for her clients at various levels of court, at the Human Rights and other Social Justice Tribunals, and in arbitration and mediation settings. Her knowledge of school board issues, governance, employment and labour law, not-for-profit and charities law, and the public policy process inform her pragmatic approach to legal issues and her commitment to developing cost-effective resolutions while protecting her clients’ interests.
Gillian’s commitment to community involvement has included membership on numerous boards of directors. Leadership positions as past Chair of the Halton District School Board, Vice Chair of William Osler Health Services, and Director of Guelph General Hospital, provide her with valuable first-hand experience working with multiple decision-makers, stakeholders, and funders.
Gillian is a frequent contributor to Miller Thomson’s Education Law and Social Impact newsletters, Morning Recess webinars, and client seminars. She is a regular presenter at various provincial and national conferences.
Wayne Joudrie is the recently retired Executive Director of the Public Council of Ontario Directors of Education and an Executive Consultant specializing in the K-12 Education sector with extensive experience in leadership and operations of all aspects of a school district. He has a history of promoting high levels of student achievement while promoting safety and well-being for students and staff. Wayne held a number of senior executive positions in the K12 education and post-secondary education sectors.
Wayne has a keen interest in governance. He has supported several district school boards in effectively dealing with governance, director performance appraisal, strategic planning and conflict resolution through his alliance with OESC. He was appointed “Special Advisor to the Minister” in 2019 to conduct a review of an Ontario district school board.
Wayne’s commitment to his community has led to leadership and governance roles within: Mohawk College Foundation, Royal Botanical Gardens, Hamilton Foundation for Student Success and Tandia Financial Credit Union. He is also a founding partner in Climate Change Leaders.
About the OPSBA Speaker and Professional Development Series
Every second Thursday from February to May, OPSBA will offer online lunchtime speakers and professional development sessions for trustees. We invite you to grab your lunch and connect with fellow trustees while we bring you inspiring speakers and virtual workshops. The sessions will help you build capacity and thrive as boards respond to the challenges of the pandemic and other critical educational issues.
