The document discusses various knowledge mobilization professionals from different sectors, highlighting their career paths, tools, education, and tips for success. Key individuals include Cathy Edwards, Bonita Varga, Kate Wetherow, and Shawna Reibling, each providing insights from their experiences in fostering social change and collaboration. The document emphasizes the importance of building relationships, understanding stakeholder needs, and advocating for change in their respective fields.

1. 2016 Knowledge MobilizationSummerSchool
Knowledge Mobilization:Perspectives from a Variety of CareerPaths
Cathy Edwards
Managing Director
Sector: Carleton University, 1125@Carleton
(centre for social change and transformation)
Primary tools: Networking events, brokering relationships,
collaborative tools like design thinking
Formal Education: Undergrad (therapeutic recreation and
counselling)
Certifications/Experience: 20 years work experience, trained
facilitator, trained coach
Career path: Managed research at universities for a large
private corporation and switched to managing
research at a university. Championed significant
efforts on several larger scale research projects
aimed at creating social change.
Three Tips:
 Embrace the power of conversation
 Design with – not for
 Unleash your creativity as much as possible
Contact:
Cathy.Edwards@carleton.ca
@mobilizethat
@1125Carleton
Bonita Varga
Knowledge Broker
Sector: Mental Health Commission of Canada
Primary tools: Stakeholder engagement, relationship
brokering, project design and management,
knowledge synthesis
Education: Undergrad. (Religious Studies); Masters (Religion
and Modernity)
Certifications/Experience: Project management (PRINCE 2),
Public Ethics, Knowledge Mobilization; Volunteer
Coordination, Settlement, Mental Health
Career path: Applied 10+ years of experience in hospitality and
customer relations to program support, job
development and career counselling for
newcomers to Canada; Championed newcomer
mental health which led to transition to MHCC.
Three Tips:
 Build strong relationships;
 Understand the needs of your stakeholders – sometimes
you have to investigate;
 Don’t be afraid to be an advocate for change.
Contact:
bvarga@mentalhealthcommission.ca
@bo_neat_ah

2. 2016 Knowledge MobilizationSummerSchool
Kate Wetherow
Knowledge Management
Specialist
Sector: International Development, Co-operatives
Primary tools: LEAN process improvement tools & techniques,
graphic facilitation & infographics, socialized Kmb strategies,
organizational learning, synthesis and summary products
Education: Undergrad: Cultural Management Specialization, BA Fine
Arts, Art History, University of Waterloo
Certifications/Experience:
 LEAN Management Green Belt
 Knowledge Management –UofO Centre for Continuing Education
 CAPM –Certified Associated in Project Management (Project
Management Institute
Career path: Non-profit specialist; infrastructure building, integration,
program co-ordination and analysis, project management,
learning and outreach
Two Tips:
 Be the change you want to see in your organization.
 Bring your imagination to work.
Contact:
kate.wetherow@
coopscanada.coop
katewetherow@gmail.com
LinkedIn:
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kat
ewetherow
Twitter: @KateWetherow
Shawna Reibling
Knowledge mobilization
officer
Sector: Wilfrid Laurier University, Office of Research Services
(centralized)
Primary tools: Social media, clear language summaries,
communication liaison, silo connecting
Education: Undergrad. (communications, education. Community
economic development), Masters (communications),
web skills.
Certifications/Experience: Not-for-Profit Board Governance;
leadership, social media
Career path: Masters embedded in national research project;
Working with CRC; Grant facilitation; Working with
larger groups of researchers
Three Tips:
 Understand what style is required – deep or broad?
 Measure what you want to be counted (the ‘right’ things)
 Ensure you’ve connected the right ‘silos’.
Contact:
@MobilizeShawna
@LaurierResearch
mobilizing.research@gmail.com