Val Walker, Executive Director of the Business/Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) has been named co-chair of the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Council.

A complementary body to the Future Skills Centre, also announced today, the Future Skills Council provides advice to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour on emerging skills, workforce trends and priorities of pan-Canadian significance relating to skills development and training for Canadians.

As co-chair, Val Walker will be working to help set the agenda and priorities of the Council for a two-year term. She is joined in this role by Thierry Karsenti, director of the Centre de recherche interuniversitaire sur la formation et la profession enseignante.

“At BHER, we know that employers, government and educators must work together to prepare Canadians to be adaptable, flexible and empathetic – to have the human skills to succeed no matter what the future of work looks like,” says Dr. Walker. “I’m delighted to be joining 14 Canadians from across the country who are passionate and ready to tackle our skills challenges.”

Beyond her day-to-day work leading BHER, Val advises government officials, academics and private sector leaders on changing trends in training and skill development, and speaks regularly on innovation and talent.

Prior to transitioning to working on BHER full-time, she served as the Vice-President, Talent and Skills at the Business Council of Canada and was the Director of Policy at Mitacs.  She holds a PhD from McGill University, where her research focused on heart physiology.

About BHER:

Launched in 2015 by the Business Council of Canada, the Business/Higher Education Roundtable represents some of Canada’s largest companies and leading post-secondary institutions. BHER harnesses the strengths of some of Canada’s top businesses, universities and colleges to deepen collaboration and improve opportunities for young Canadians. Learn more at www.bher.ca.