Canada’s ambitions in energy and national security depend on having the technical talent and training capacity to deliver them. The Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) is pleased to welcome Centennial College, and Craig Stephenson, President and CEO, as a new member. Centennial will bring its expertise in clean energy, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, work-integrated learning, and industry-led skills training to BHER’s national network.
Centennial is already helping respond to Canada’s energy workforce needs. In May, the college joined Humber Polytechnic and Ontario Tech University, both BHER members, to establish the Canadian Energy Workforce Consortium. The consortium brings post-secondary institutions together to respond more quickly and collectively to the talent needs of Canada’s clean energy and nuclear sectors.
Through BHER, Centennial will connect this work with a broader national network of employers and post-secondary leaders, helping align training with industry demand and move promising approaches from individual partnerships to greater scale.
“Canada’s energy and national security ambitions will depend on a highly skilled, ready workforce. Centennial’s strength is working directly with employers and community partners to design programs that prepare learners for in-demand careers. Joining BHER gives us an opportunity to deepen those partnerships and contribute to coordinated solutions across Canada.”
Craig Stephenson, President and CEO, Centennial College
“Execution is the constraint across Canada’s priority sectors, and that includes having the people needed to deliver major projects and adopt new technologies. Centennial brings applied expertise in clean energy, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing, as well as strong industry relationships and a commitment to work-integrated learning. That combination will strengthen BHER’s work to build the talent pipelines Canada needs.”
Valerie Walker, CEO, Business + Higher Education Roundtable
Centennial will contribute to BHER’s work in both energy and national security. Alongside its clean energy workforce efforts, the college will bring its aerospace and advanced-manufacturing experience to BHER’s National Security Leadership Table. Centennial will work with other BHER members to identify opportunities for training, research partnerships, and industry–post-secondary collaboration that support Canada’s defence, space, and dual-use industries.
BHER brings together CEOs and post-secondary presidents from across Canada to align talent, skills, research, and innovation with the country’s economic priorities. Members help shape BHER’s national agenda, build partnerships across sectors, and move promising ideas from discussion to implementation.
To learn more about BHER membership, visit our members page.