CIM

Barbara Kirby

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2011

CIM Distinguished Lecturers

Barbara Kirby and Associates (BK and Associates) is a project-based consultancy firm that specializes in economics, labour market information, gender and diversity analysis, program planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. As the principal consultant, Barbara has over 25 years of experience implementing projects in Canada and around the world including Indonesia, Laos, India, Jordan, Botswana, Nepal, Ghana, the Philippines, Malaysia, Colombia ,Ecuador and Ethiopia. She has assembled, led and supervised multi-disciplinary teams to work on projects in a wide variety of sectors including small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), trucking and logistics, forestry, mining, aircraft maintenance, agriculture, livestock services, tourism, regional economic planning and development, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and industry-educational partnerships. Recent projects include providing labour market analysis to a mining education project in Ethiopia and advising Trucking HR Canada on development of their LMI system in Canada. Barbara has in-depth knowledge of credentialing and accreditation programs. She directed the design, development and implementation of the Canadian mining industry’s first and only national worker certification program based on industry driven National Occupational Standards. This program has been recognized internationally and has been instrumental in facilitating recruitment and retention of skilled mining workers. 

Distinguished Lecturer 2010-11

Lecture Abstract

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Canadian Mining Credentials Program – Certification: Recognizing and Retaining Skills

The latest research report distributed by the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) estimates that between now and 2020, the industry will need to hire approximately 100,000 workers to support growth in the industry and replace retiring workers. Approximately 20 per cent of these new hires will be required in skilled occupations that have, up until now, lacked a national recognition system; these occupations include production miners, development miners, heavy equipment operators and mill operators. The Canadian Mining Credentials Program will change this through the recognition of skills and competencies, worker mobility and the creation of consistent, quality training for the mining and minerals exploration industry in Canada.

This presentation will focus on the complex collaborative effort required to design and develop this program, key observations from the pilot sites, and why the program forms an essential part of the industry strategy to address the looming labour shortage. The credentials program, six years in development, will not only positively impact the dynamics of worker mobility and recognition, but will now form the basis for certifying other unrecognized occupations, as prioritized by industry.