UM Students Leading Change Conference
The UM Students Leading Change (SLC) Conference is an annual leadership conference for University of Manitoba undergraduate student leaders.
Save the Date!
The third annual UM SLC Conference will be held on Saturday, August 8th, 2026.
Mission: The SLC Conference offers an inclusive and supportive environment in which UM undergraduate student group executives will collaborate, share and apply knowledge, advance their learning, and be empowered to effect positive change for the benefit of the university and the communities they serve.
Vision: To foster a thriving community of diverse UM student leaders who lead change, together.
Date and location
The third annual UM SLC Conference will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at the University of Manitoba Fort Garry campus in the EITC Atrium and adjacent classrooms.
Engineering and Information Technology Complex Atrium
75 Chancellors Circle, Fort Garry Campus
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V6 Canada
Schedule
| 8:30am | Check-in & Breakfast |
| 9:00am | Opening Remarks |
| 9:15am | Group Discussion Activity |
| 10:15am | Break |
| 10:30am | Concurrent Sessions Block 1 |
| 11:30am | Break |
| 11:45am | Concurrent Sessions Block 2 |
| 12:45pm | Lunch |
| 1:45pm | Panel Discussion |
| 2:45pm | Break |
| 3:00pm | Concurrent Sessions Block 3 |
| 4:00pm | Closing Remarks |
Presentations
2026 Conference Presentations
| Block 1 Sessions | 1A - Planning with purpose Anny Chen (she/any) (MEd), Lead, Community Engaged Learning Competencies to Develop Communication: Attentive Listening, Presenting and Facilitating Social Responsibility: Anti-Oppression, Inclusion and Access |
1B - Supporting the people you lead: setting and navigating expectations Ashley Gagnon (she/her) (MBA, MPT), Associate Director, Mini U Competencies to Develop Leadership Practices: Cultivating Safety, Trust, and Collaboration, Coaching, Mentoring, and Advising Self-Leadership: Self-Awareness, Adaptability | |
1C - Budgeting with a purpose Storm Allard (he/him) (BA), Indigenous Student Advisor, Indigenous Student Centre Competencies to Develop Technological Skills: Technological Agility, Data Literacy Cognitive Skills: Critical Thinking, Decision Making | |
| Block 2 Sessions | 2A - Leading change: from priorities to impact Laurie Schnarr (she/her) (MA), Vice Provost (Students) Competencies to Develop Leadership Practices: Intentional Advocacy, Mobilizing People and Resources Collaboration: Teamwork, Innovation |
2B - Self-compassion Danna McDonald (she/her) (RMFT-S), Counsellor, Student Counselling Centre Competencies to Develop Personal Growth: Resilience, Well-Being Self-Leadership: Self-Awareness, Adaptability | |
2C - Students supporting students: learning with peer helpers Paige Moritz (she/her) (BSc Honours Psychology), Student Wellness Program Assistant, Student Wellness Centre Halimat Ayoade (she/her) (BSc), Student Wellness Centre Assistant, Student Wellness Centre. Competencies to Develop Communication: Attentive Listening, Verbal Communication Leadership Practices: Coaching, Mentoring, and Advising, Intentional Advocay | |
| Block 3 Sessions | 3A - Leaders as advocates: how change comes from community Mandalyn Unger (they/them), Social Justice Hub Coordinator, Community Engaged Learning Competencies to Develop Social Responsibility: Inclusion and Access, Community Engagement Collaboration: Teamwork, Empathy |
3B - Before you, with you, after you Zach Unrau (he/him) (BComm Hons., PME), Career Advisor, Red River College Polytechnic Competencies to Develop Collaboration: Teamwork, Managing Projects and Work Plans Leadership Practices: Articulating Vision and Strategy, Coaching, Mentoring, and Advising | |
3C - Conflict and communication Shelby Thomas (she/her) (BA, JD), Indigenous Rights Specialist, Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management Competencies to Develop Communication: Attentive Listening, Verbal Communication Collaboration: Empathy, Managing Conflict |
2025 Conference Presentations
| Block 1 sessions | 1A - Leadership and career: Putting your experience to work Paula Hossack (she/her) (BA, |
|---|---|
1B - Strategic planning: Begins with the end in mind Keren Taylor-Hughes (she/her) (M.A., ICD.D), Leadership Advisor at Taylor-Hughes Consulting, Leader in Residence at the Emeritus Institute | |
1C - Let's talk sponsorship!: Initiating and managing partnerships and budgets Tracy Bowman (she/her) (MA), Executive Director of Alumni Relations | |
| Block 2 sessions | 2A - How we can help you: Planning engaging and safe student-led events Brandy Usick (she/her) (EdD), Executive Director of Student Engagement and Success G.T. (Gord) Perrier (he/him) (M.O.M., MLShip & Mgt (Policing & Security), SHRM-SCP), Director of Campus Safety & Security Bre Woligroski (she/her) (MA), Director of Sexual Violence Resource Centre |
2B - Conflict management: A proactive approach Megan Bowman (she/her) (BA), Conflict Management Advisor | |
2C - UM Student Executive Council (SEC) - Inaugural Meeting Laurie Schnarr (she/her) (MA), Vice Provost (Students) | |
| Block 3 sessions | 3A - Supporting the people you lead: setting and navigating expectations Ashley Gagnon (she/her) (MBA, MPT), Associate Director of Mini U |
3B - Making change matter: Navigating university governance Laurie Schnarr (she/her) (MA), Vice Provost (Students) |
2024 Conference Presentations
| Block 1 Sessions | 1 - Meetings, meetings, meetings: Leading them well | EITC-E2 350 |
|---|---|
2 - Me first! Setting personal and professional boundaries | EITC-E2 330 David Ness (he/him/his) | |
3 - All eyes on me: Handling scrutiny and media relations | EITC-E2 320 Eleanor Coopsammy (BA) | |
| Block 2 sessions | 4 - I thought this would be easy: Issues management 101 | EITC-E2 350 Laurie Schnarr (she/her) (M.A.) and Brandy Usick (Ed.D.) |
5 - Open the books: Managing funds responsibly | EITC-E2 330 Gordon Chandler | |
6 - Game plans for programs and events | EITC-E2 320 Sarah Saunders (she/her) | |
| Block 3 sessions | 7 - Let’s talk sponsorships | EITC-E2 350 Roslyn Dally |
8 - Effective Leadership: When to lead from the inside out | EITC-E2 330 Larissa Kanhai (she/her/elle) (MBA, B.A. (Hons), B.Sc.) | |
9 - Working Together: Strategies for building inclusive practices in student organizations | EITC-E2 320 Tina Chen (she/her) (PhD, MA, B.A.) |
Panel Discussion
Decolonizing Leadership: Indigenous leaders share their journeys
1:45 - 2:45pm
Learn from the experiences of Indigenous leaders that have contributed to the UM during their time as students, and how being involved with the UM Indigenous Students' Association (UMISA) transformed these journey and emphasized the importance of community-based spaces.
Competencies: Commitment to Truth, Healing, Reconciliation, and Resurgence with Indigenous Peoples, Leadership Practices, Self-Leadership
Moderator:
Aubrey Slater, Current UM Indigenous Commerce Students' President
Panelists:
Rayden Seela, Current UMSU Indigenous Representative and UMISA Co-President
Ishkode Catcheway (BHSt/24), Former UMSU Indigenous Representative and UMISA Executive
Alannah Mckay (BA/23), Former UMSU Indigenous Representative and UMISA Executive
Sponsors
Stay tuned for more details!
Equity and Anti-Oppression Student Forum
Visit the Equity and Anti-Oppression Student Forum website for full program details!
Contact us
Office of the Vice-Provost (Students)
208 Administration Building
66 Chancellor's Circle, University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada