SIER Scoop 2018

SIER Scoop 2018
Strategic Initiatives and External Relations

THE
INSIDE
STORY
What's the Scoop?
1
What is SIER?
Our Mandate
SIER Home
Meet the Team
2
3
3
4
Activity at SIER
6
Major Projects
Downsview Aerospace Hub
Clean Technology Facility
Circle of Champions
Sector Advisory Boards
Next Issue...
8
8
9
10
10
12

WHAT'S
THE
SCOOP?
Dear Reader,
I would personally like to welcome you to the first
edition of the SIER Scoop. The report will give you
a glimpse into some of the projects and activities
the SIER team undertakes on a day-to-day basis.
ANDREW PETROU
As the Director of SIER, I would like to first
acknowledge the hard work and dedication of
the SIER team, who work to identify and pursue
a wide range of new opportunities that contribute
to the growth and development of our College.
Without this dedication, we could not achieve
some of the visionary goals we set for ourselves.
I look forward to you, the reader, learning
about our Sector Advisory Boards, Circle of
Champions and Signature Industry Experience
(SIE) partnerships; in addition to the large-scale
projects and initiatives SIER enjoys identifying and
leading. It is our intention to let you take a peek
into our world, but to also feel like you are a part
of what SIER does.
We welcome you to connect with SIER and
check-in with us to share your ideas and learn
more about all the wonderful things happening
in room C3-04, located at Progress Campus.
I look forward to receiving your feedback
and I hope you enjoy the read!
SIER Scoop 2018
1

WHAT IS
SIER?
As a service office to all areas of the College,
the Office of Strategic Initiatives and External
Relations (SIER) is a catalyst for developing and
strengthening long-term relationships with key
industry, academic and government stakeholders.
2
SIER Scoop 2018

OUR
MANDATE
The mandate of SIER is to leverage strategic
opportunities that align with the mission,
vision and goals of Centennial College, and to
continue to establish Centennial as a leader
in post-secondary education.
This office will cultivate relationships with
external stakeholders to collaboratively enrich
the programs and services delivered by the
College. Ultimately, by leveraging strategic
initiatives, SIER’s goal is to positively impact
the student experience at Centennial and
enhance opportunities for graduates.
SIER
HOME
The SIER team moved into a brand
new office space in February 2017.
The SIER office space is based on an
open concept plan that allows increased
collaboration and knowledge sharing
among the team members, leading to
business innovation and advancement.
The office space also includes two
consultation rooms. In support of
team health, the office offers a range
of ergonomic work stations from
traditional desk seating to standing
options to comfortable interaction area.
SIER Scoop 2018 3

MEET THE TEAM
ANDREW PETROU
Director, Strategic Initiatives and External Relations (SIER)
Executive Director, Downsview Aerospace Innovation and Research (DAIR)
What’s the strangest talent you have?
Duck calling.
CAROLYN RITCHIE
Manager, Projects and Operations
If you could have any one superpower, which would you choose?
If I could have any one superpower it would definitely be
teleportation. There are so many places I want to go, people I want
to see, and things I want to do, but available time and resources
to make all these things happen is always a challenge. The ability
to get from one place to another within moments would open up
a world of opportunity and experiences that I would jump at the
chance to have.
SAMANTHA CORWAY
Project Lead
What is your favourite holiday?
Halloween…for the season, sweet treats, costumes and pumpkins!
“There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow by moonlight”
4
SIER Scoop 2018

MANJEET KANG
Research Analyst
Choose a movie title for the story of your life.
“Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham”. Translated from Hindi, this
means “Sometimes Happiness and Sometimes Sadness”.
SHELLY GUPTA
Signature Industry Experience (SIE) Officer
What is an item on your bucket list?
I have always wanted to visit the pyramids in Egypt.
JESSICA VELLA
Project Coordinator
If you could have any one superpower, which would you choose?
The superpower to absorb knowledge or learn a new skill and/or ability
with just one touch. For example, shaking hands with a professional
dancer and automatically being able to dance like them or touching
the cover of the book and being able to absorb and understand all the
information from that book instantaneously.
CHARLENE D'COSTA
Communications and Relations Officer
If you could host a talk show, who would be your first guest?
If I could host a talk show my first guest would be Michelle Obama.
She is such a dynamic and powerful woman, and a huge inspiration
of mine. Once the initial fangirl-ing was over, I feel like I would never
run out of questions to ask her. P.S. Her memoir comes out in
November and everyone should read it!
SIER Scoop 2018
5

ACTIVITY
Strategic Initiatives
Strategic Initiatives are projects that have a
College-wide scope, and have impact and benefit
to stakeholders from multiple departments.
These projects are informed by industry, college
and government priorities. Projects reach a
strategic initiative level when the interests of
all three groups align.
Downsview Aerospace Hub
Clean Technology Facility
Funding Opportunities
and Grants Database
Event and Contact Collaboration
6
SIER Scoop 2018

AT SIER
External Relations
External Relations is a critical element to ensure the
success of the strategic initiatives undertaken by
the SIER office and the broader College community.
SIER focuses on engaging external stakeholders
including industry (business, community and
non-profit organizations), government (Federal,
Provincial and Municipal) and academic partners.
SIE
Signature Industry Experience
Government Relations/Policy Alignment
Circle of Champions and
Sector Advisory Boards
Industry and Community Relations
SIER Scoop 2018
7

MAJOR PROJECTS
The following are a few of the strategic initiatives generated and led by SIER.
These initiatives align with SIER’s mandate – to provide strategic opportunities
to fulfill the vision of the College, and build and strengthen relationships with
our stakeholders.
DOWNSVIEW AEROSPACE HUB
PHASE
1
Centennial College Downsview Campus
for Aerospace and Aviation
The Centennial College Downsview Campus
is currently under construction and will open
in Winter 2019.
ÈÈ
The $72 million, 130,000 sq feet training
and research facility will enable the
College’s Centre for Aerospace and Aviation
to grow from 300 to 900 students.
ÈÈ
Construction Live Feed:
https://www.centennialcollege.ca/aboutcentennial/college-improvements/campusdevelopments/downsview-park-aerospace-campus
PHASE
2
Innovation Centre
ÈÈ
The DAIR Innovation Centre will bring
together industry and academic partners
in a collaborative space designed for
aerospace training and education, sector
advisory services and R&D, enabling
Canada to maintain its leadership role
in the global market.
ÈÈ
The Innovation Centre aims to provide services which include:
• Advisors for industry (technology, innovation, business, financing)
• Technology space
• Education and training – special courses for students as well as industry-specific training
• Entrepreneurship support – start-up space
• Event space (conferences and workshops)
• Rental space (offices, meeting space, labs, classrooms)
8
SIER Scoop 2018

CLEAN TECHNOLOGY FACILITY
The Clean Technology Facility (CTF) will be Canada’s first carbon-neutral living lab dedicated
to clean technologies and sustainable urban food production.
The CTF will be a state-of-the-art, net-zero training and research facility that will test and
verify the latest advances in clean technology, high performance buildings, and urban
aquaponics, hydroponics and vertical farming.
The CTF is the next bold vision for Centennial College. Focused on three fundamental
pillars of training, open innovation and research collaboration, the CTF will house new and
emerging programming for the College in an environment that is built to test and catapult
the sustainable urban agriculture movement – not only in Canada, but globally.
SIER Scoop 2018
9

CIRCLE OF CHAMPIONS
The Circle of Champions is a group of cross-sectoral industry experts who meet with
Centennial College’s President to advise on high-level industry trends and identify future needs
and opportunities. The main goal of this forum is to facilitate collaboration between the College
and its industry partners and to provide recommendations to the College on future planning
for academic and non-academic initiatives.
SECTOR ADVISORY BOARDS
The SABs consist of groups of sector-specific industry experts who meet with
Centennial College’s Senior Management to advise the College on sector-specific
trends, needs and opportunities. The Sector Advisory Boards play a key role in
enhancing the benefits to both the College and industry partners through critical
knowledge sharing.
10
SIER Scoop 2018

Each sector representative from
the Circle of Champions chairs
a Sector Advisory Board (SAB)
specific to that industry.
Health Sciences
Sector Advisory Board
Clean Tech
Sector Advisory Board
Financial Services
Sector Advisory Board
Advanced
Manufacturing
and Chemical
Sector Advisory Board
CIRCLE OF
CHAMPIONS
ICT
Sector Advisory Board
Arts and Design
Sector Advisory Board
Media and
Broadcasting
Sector Advisory Board
Community
Sector Advisory Board
Automotive
Sector Advisory Board
Aerospace
Sector Advisory Board
SIER Scoop 2018
11

NEXT ISSUE...
Funding
Opportunities
SIER manages a database of funds and grants
provided by government (federal, provincial and
municipal), government agencies, foundations and
private organizations and will share these opportunities
with the college community and industry partners.
Industry
Trends
SIER will share current sector-based industry trends
emerging from research and meetings with industry
experts.
12
SIER Scoop 2018

Keep an eye out for
COFFEE TALK
WITH SIER
SIER Scoop 2018
13

ENGAGE WITH SIER
IF YOU:
• have any questions,
• want to get more information about
our projects and activities,
• want to get involved in our projects
and activities,
• you like us so much that you want
to visit our office.
SIER
CONTACT
JESSICA VELLA
jvella@centennialcollege.ca
416-289-5000, ext. 2345
centennialcollege.ca
"...or come
and knock
on our door
at C3-04 in
Progress
Campus."