Dr. Christine Watson believes education has the power to transform lives. As Vice-President Academic of Red River College Polytechnic in Winnipeg, she’s proud of the school’s impact across every sector in Manitoba and beyond. 

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Christine is a prairie girl at heart with a love of open skies. She majored in English and received a BA from UBC, an MA from Queens and a PhD from the University of Queensland (Australia) with a dissertation on Australian Indigenous women’s autobiographical narratives. 

Her academic career began at the First Nations University of Canada.  She’s since held senior teaching and academic positions at University of Regina, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and joined Red River College Polytechnic in 2013. 

Creativity is central to Christine’s personal and professional life. She hosts the Winnipeg chapter of the global organization CreativeMornings, loves quilting and, during the pandemic, wrote and posted haiku poems, accompanied by photographs that inspired the text, every day for a year. 
Throughout these personal and professional journeys, Christine has always approached life as a beginner – humble enough to never stop growing, curious enough to ask questions, uncomfortable enough to take risks, and supportive of others because she believes she always has something to learn. 
 

Dana Rudy is the Public Service Commissioner for the Government of Manitoba. She provides leadership for human resource services, workforce development, labour relations, and organizational excellence across Manitoba's public service.
Dana has more than 20 years of public sector leadership experience and has served as a Deputy Minister since 2020, leading portfolios in education, early childhood learning, economic development, and natural resources. She previously held senior leadership roles in health and social services and worked in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba. Dana holds a Master of Social Work and a Masters Certificate in Project Management.

Amie Membreño has always had a world view when it comes to life and career. Born in Winnipeg, she lived in Manitoba and Saskatchewan working a variety of jobs while pursuing her passion which was volunteering in construction projects in El Salvador and Bible education work in rural areas of Nicaragua.  She also worked as an English Teacher in Managua, Nicaragua. 

In 2010, after returning to Canada, she started volunteering as a Conversation Group Facilitator at Immigrant Centre Manitoba and was soon hired as an Employment Facilitator. Since 2016 she has been working as Manager of the Employment Services Department and has worked with her team to expand and tailor services to the needs of newcomers seeking entry-level employment.

Amie is a Certified Career Coach and has studied Program Development for Adult Learners, Project Management, and Business Analysist courses.  She is also educated in Community Interpretation, Anti-Oppression/Anti-Racism, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Mental Health First Aid, Family Violence, Psychological First Aid, Conflict Management, Leadership and Coaching. 

Amie also sits on various committees including MANSO’s Employment Committee, IPW’s Employment Sector Table, Refugee Claimant Community Coordination Table, and the national Refugee Job Agenda Roundtable. 

Amie believes learning and career development is a lifelong pursuit. She believes in encouraging newcomers and immigrants to see their own strengths and follow their passions while supporting them to overcome barriers and challenges. Her goal is to empower newcomers and help them become resilient leaders in their communities.
 

Lavonne Kroeker, Program Director, Segue Career Options, brings a diverse background in career development, human resources, facilitation, and program development. With eight years of experience in career development and two years in human resources, she is passionate about helping individuals identify their strengths and achieve meaningful personal and professional goals.

As part of a mental health organization, Lavonne works closely with a range of programs and services to support holistic well-being. Through collaboration with counselling services and other support programs, she has developed a strong understanding of the connection between mental health, employment, and overall quality of life. This interdisciplinary approach informs her work and reinforces her commitment to creating environments where people feel supported, valued, and empowered.

Outside of work, Lavonne enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, and reading. These interests help her stay grounded and connected to what matters most, and she strives to bring that same calm, positive approach to both her professional and personal interactions.

Dr. Jennifer Fane is a Lead Research Associate in the Education and Skills knowledge area at Signal49 Research, where she leads the neurodiversity research portfolio. She holds an interdisciplinary PhD in education, public health, and social policy from Flinders University.
With over 20 years of experience as a neurodivergent teacher, educator, professor, and researcher in Canada and Australia, Jennifer’s work is grounded in participatory and person‑centred research approaches that meaningfully engage lived experience. Jennifer focuses on mobilizing research into practice and policy, translating evidence into actionable insights that support improved learning, employment, and workforce experiences for neurodivergent Canadians.