About
Since 2015, The Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) has connected, convened, and leveraged the power of its members to create opportunities for post-secondary students and workers, boost innovation, and drive collaboration. As a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization we bring together Canada’s top companies and leading post-secondary institutions.
We are the only organization in Canada that brings together the country’s top companies and leading post-secondary institutions to tackle skills, talent, and economic challenges. Our members represent businesses from all sectors and regions and a diversity of Canada’s leading higher education institutions. Together, we inform and impact decision-making and work at the intersection of innovation and skills development
Our Vision
Canada’s business and post-secondary leaders face many challenges. Working together to solve these challenges is more critical than ever and will strengthen Canada’s economy along the way. BHER is a connector and convenor. We bring people together to create a thriving Canada where everyone has an opportunity to reach their potential.
Our Mission
Creating opportunity through collaboration.
Our Values
- We act on evidence. Information and data are the basis for what we do.
- We act with confidence. We are bold in our opinions and output.
- We drive transformation, we don’t do things the old way. We stay ahead of the curve.
- We act in partnership. Relationship builders are who we are.
- We connect people, collaborate with groups, and develop partnerships between everyone in our ecosystem.
- We act for all. The outcome of our work is for the benefit of everyone in Canada.
Our Strategic Plan
The Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) was created and incubated by the Business Council of Canada in 2015. Business leaders saw an opportunity to join forces with post-secondary leaders to tackle some of the toughest challenges Canada’s learners, workers, educators, and employers were facing, including better preparing entry-level talent for the workforce. In 2019, BHER spun out as a standalone not-for-profit, with a federal mandate to help every post-secondary student get work experience through WIL. To date, we’ve created more than 60,000 WILs and counting and continue to build and change WIL ecosystems across Canada. Along the way, our members have driven us to take on new challenges. Learn more about our convening and events, areas of focus, and custom R&D by following the links above.
Our History
The Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) was created and incubated by the Business Council of Canada in 2015. Business leaders saw an opportunity to join forces with post-secondary leaders to tackle some of the toughest challenges Canada’s learners, workers, educators, and employers were facing, including better preparing entry-level talent for the workforce.
In 2019, BHER spun out as a standalone not-for-profit, with a federal mandate to help every post-secondary student get work experience through work-integrated learning (WIL). To date, we’ve created more than 60,000 WILs and counting and continue to build and change WIL ecosystems across Canada. Along the way, our members have driven us to take on new challenges. Learn more about our convening and events, areas of focus, and custom R&D by following the links above.
What we do for our business and higher education members
We convene members through biannual meetings, an annual summit, focused roundtables, network-building events, and other opportunities to connect with leaders and decision makers across different industries. Our members shape our priorities, from convening through to our research and program agendas. We build them into our projects as experts and collaborators, employers, program delivery partners, and participants.
Together, we leverage the collective power of our members to impact and inform decision-making at all levels of government.
Our Team
Board of Directors
BHER’s Board of Directors is elected by and from BHER’s membership. They represent both the business and post-secondary sectors with an industry Board Chair and two Vice-Chairs from post-secondary, one from universities and one from colleges/polytechnics.
Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee
BHER’s Board of Directors is elected by and from BHER’s membership. They represent both the business and post-secondary sectors with an industry Board Chair and two Vice-Chairs from post-secondary, one from universities and one from colleges/polytechnics.
Corporate Team
BHER’s team comes from diverse educational backgrounds and professional experiences. They are located across Canada and work in teams, including the Executive Team, Finance & Operations, Research & Development, Programs & Partnerships, Member Relations, Communications, and Events & Convening.
