The University of Manitoba will host a Leadership Symposium from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m., Monday, October 27, 2008, in the Manitoba Room, University Centre. The event will complement the installation of president David Barnard on Tuesday, October 28, during Fall Convocation.

“I’ve invited a number of people to come and I’m asking them to address the question, ‘What kind of leadership creates the circumstances where people achieve great things?’And I’m hoping to hear them say, this is what you need to do to make it possible to achieve great things,” Barnard says.

Gail Asper, president, CanWest Global Foundation, will act as moderator for the event.

Speakers include:

Don Black, who created a culture at Greystone Managed Investments where the observations of employees – who are also owners – about the culture that exists are in remarkable alignment with what management intended to develop and continues to enhance.

Andrew Coyne, a long time observer of the national political scene who can draw lessons from the characteristics of leadership that are necessary for building something as great as a nation.

David Dodge, who nurtured a humane and productive culture in the Bank of Canada, but also in other senior roles in executive government at the federal level. In addition, he is now taking a leadership role as Chancellor at Queen’s University.

Claire Morris, head of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, who has a perspective on the Canadian university system as a whole and on what makes for strong leadership in universities. Beyond this general perspective she has also fostered the development of a highly productive and supportive environment within AUCC itself.

Ilse Truernicht, a leader of venture capital firm (Primaxis) and then of a large research and innovation complex (the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto), has experience with what is needed to succeed in startups and in taking ideas generated by basic and applied research into the marketplace to generate cultural, social and economic value.

The symposium will give each person a chance to provide their perspective eon leadership and creating the circumstances for success. Paul Vogt, Clerk of the Executive Council, Manitoba Government, will provide a symposium summation at the end.

For more information, please call 204-474-7215.

If you plan to attend, please respond by e-mail by October 10, 2008, to installation@umanitoba.ca or call 204-474-7215.