VANCOUVER, Jan. 17, 2017 /CNW/ - GE (NYSE:GE) – To help
business leaders adapt to the rapid pace of change caused by
digital innovation and disruption, GE Canada and Actua launched
"Future of Work - Digital Innovation for Gen Now," a half-day
session to help business leaders learn and experience digital
advances in the marketplace. The sessions provide a digital and
disruption immersion through discussion and a workshop focused on
coding and maker-tools.
"We're focused on Generation Now – those in the workforce now
who weren't born with an ipad in their hands and who might feel
like the digital revolution is posing a significant challenge,"
explains Elyse Allan, President and
CEO of GE Canada. "The digital transformation we are experiencing
on a global level is significant, and for businesses to succeed, we
all need to participate regardless of our generation."
GE and Actua will deliver workshops across Canada in major centres including Calgary, Saskatoon, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. It follows the path of Actua's Maker
Mobile tour, an innovation tour bringing experiences to youth in
approximately 100 cities and towns across Canada.
"Actua's Maker Mobile is a moving maker space full of exciting
technology like 3D printers, a laser cutter, programmable circuit
boards and more," explains Jennifer
Flanagan, President and CEO of Actua. "Though our programing
is designed for youth, these special sessions are modified to
inspire adults to experiment in the digital space."
Today, Vancouver business
leaders heard from a panel of experts including Bill Tam of BC Tech Hub and James Rout of BCIT on how to build skills and
encourage innovation in the workplace. Following the panel,
participants were guided through a coding and maker-tool workshop
where they could experience the technology they can use to solve
everyday challenges. Elyse Allan
also spoke about the changing work environment.
"We are experiencing an unprecedented time of change at an
unprecedented speed," explains Allan. "To be successful we must
continually update our skills, adopt new ways of doing things, not
be afraid to take risk, and work collaboratively across multiple
generations bringing together both experience and technology."
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world's Digital Industrial
Company, transforming industry with software-defined
machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and
predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of
knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and
accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect.
Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our
industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE
delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of
industry. www.ge.com
About Actua
Actua is Canada's leading
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) youth
outreach network representing 35 university and college based
members. Over 3 million young Canadians have been inspired through
their participation in Actua's hands on educational workshops,
camps and community outreach initiatives. Each year, Actua's
growing network of member organizations reach over 250,000 young
Canadians in over 500 communities nationwide. At the national level
Actua focuses on the engagement of underrepresented audiences
through specialized programs for Indigenous youth, girls and young
women, at-risk youth and youth living in Northern and remote
communities. Actua's major funders include: Google Canada, Suncor
Energy Foundation, GE Canada and the Natural Sciences and
Engineering Research Council of Canada. For more information about Actua,
visit actua.ca
About Innovation 150
Innovation150 is a nationwide program from five leading science
organizations including Actua, Perimeter Institute, The Institute
for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo, The
Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC), and The Canada
Science and Technology Museums Corporation that celebrates
Canada's innovative past and
sparks the ideas and ingenuity that will propel our future. The
interactive, yearlong program offers awe-inspiring experiences in
science, technology, and innovation across the country for
Canada's 150th anniversary. A
Canada 150 Signature Initiative:
In 2017, Canada celebrates its
150th anniversary of Confederation. Innovation150 was selected by
the Department of Canadian Heritage as one of several Canada 150 Signature Initiatives, high-impact
national projects that build a sense of pride and attachment to
Canada.
SOURCE GE Canada