Who we are

As Executive Director of the Canadian Career Development Foundation (CCDF), Sareena provides strategic leadership in Canada and internationally in areas of research and development, policy and capacity building. Sareena has facilitated International Symposia on Career Development and Public Policy, contributed to the development of policy frameworks for the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training and the Council of Ministers of Education Canada and has served in an expert advisory role for the Forum of Labour Market Ministers’ Labour Market Information Council and RBC. In addition to her role with CCDF, Sareena is founding Executive Officer of the Canadian Council for Career Development (3CD) and was awarded the International Gold Medal for Leadership in Career Development in 2014.

Lynne Bezanson is now Executive Director Emerita of CCDF, having been Executive Director and then Co-Executive Director with Sareena Hopkins.  Within Canada, her contributions are in research, policy development, professional training and advocacy for career development programs and services across the lifespan.  Internationally, she is a founding member of the International Centre for Career Development and Public Policy and has been a key organizer of, to date, nine International Symposia on Career Development and Public Policy.   She is the proud recipient of the Public Service Award of Excellence and the Stu Conger Gold Medal and Diamond Pin for Leadership in Career Development. She is now working on “third age career development” which may mean she will never really retire!

Donnalee has led a wide range of national, provincial/territorial career and labour force development initiatives. She has represented Canada at the EU, edited an award winning career magazine for youth and has facilitated the development and implementation of several policy, service and organizational change frameworks for territorial, inter-provincial and Pan-national bodies. She is a respected researcher who has authored many leading edge reports featured in the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, the Financial Post, CBC radio and a CBC documentary on Generation Y. She is passionate about the career development field and works to bring its potential to the labour market and workforce development goals of individuals, communities, governments and organizations.

Donnalee lives in Ottawa with her spouse, son and yellow Labrador, Reggie, who is a self-taught operator of the DVD player.

Dr. Deirdre Pickerell is a nationally recognized, award-winning, industry thought-leader with close to 30 years’ experience as a career development specialist, human resource professional, and adult educator. She brings a strong history of strategic and collaborative leadership, ensuring individuals, and the organizations that employ them, have the tools, resources, and skills that allow them to thrive. Deirdre led Team Canada at the 7th International Symposium on Career Development and Public Policy, is co-developer of the Career Engagement model, was instrumental in establishing the Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF)-Canada credential and has designed and supported many organizational career development initiatives, including the launch of a comprehensive onsite career centre for a nuclear power plant – the first program of its kind in the United States. An avid equestrian, Deirdre lives in British Columbia’s beautiful Fraser Valley where she and her husband breed and train the Canadian Horse, which is the National Horse of Canada and a critically endangered breed.

Experienced project and research support with high attention to detail and a graphic design expert.

I have been a member of the CCDF for almost a decade. I manage all of the organization’s finances as well as our financial partnerships with government. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of the CCDF team.

Annika Laale is an Organizational Development consultant and Master trained facilitator in Change Management. She has worked with leaders at the organization, provincial and national levels. As a consultant and facilitator, Annika’s work is characterized by high integrity and a dedication for providing exceptional client service paralleled with the attainment of project and program results.  She combines facilitation, coaching and strategic systems thinking with the proven ability to lead program designs and implement strategic and tactical plans that achieve business objectives.

Trina Stanford has worked as a passionate front-line service provider in employment and career development in both Canada and the United States. She started her career with a youth leadership development organization that brought together groups of diverse youth in communities where they worked together to create meaningful service projects that built capacity for neighbourhoods and cities in need. For the last 13 years, she worked as an Employment Trainer and coach for clients needing assistance with career decision-making, job search and gaining access to training. She has always embraced a client-centred approach to career development which leads to meaningful outcomes for clients. She will be working closely with the In Motion & Momentum+ program as well as other CCDF initiatives.

Emily Worthen is dedicated to supporting and championing the field of career development through her work at CCDF. She is thrilled to be involved in a number of CCDF initiatives including the Career Development Professional Centre, the Nova Scotia Responsive Career Pathways project, In Motion & Momentum+ and PRI(ME). She has worked in the front lines in career development in non-profit, post-secondary, professional development, and private environments. She advocates for experiential, client-centred approaches to career development, that encourage individuals to shift their self-perspective and feel empowered to take control of the direction of their lives. She is a passionate facilitator who is dedicated to helping Canadians access meaningful career development support at all stages of their lives; she thrives when working and learning in partnership with CDPs to make this happen.

I have worked in the IT and healthcare sectors for several decades. I manage all of the organization’s finances as well as our financial partnerships with government.