In a thoughtful note from Ziad Sakr, he reflects on the value created through volunteer contributions, shared knowledge, and member engagement. It also highlights the Career & Networking Fair 2026 and invites members to stay connected through upcoming opportunities for learning, networking, and growth within the Ottawa-Outaouais BA community.

In last month’s newsletter, I shared the core values of our IIBA Ottawa-Outaouais Chapter. While we talked about how these values feel during our workshops and chapter meetings, I realized I missed a key piece: how they were actually created.

As it turns out, the answer was simple. While planning our upcoming big event "Career & Networking Fair 2026", we reached out to our Past Presidents for support. Despite their busy lives, the response was immediate—an "email rain" of unlimited support and guidance.

To our past presidents—Helen Racette, Nancy Beatson, Christina Abbott, Emily Tom, Moeed Israr, Gary Bellamy, Michael Lachapelle, Patrick van Abbema, Wendy Larocque, and Muriel Richards: You proved that value is built through accountability, ownership, leadership and loyalty. To the team working tirelessly behind the scenes: you prove every day that value is born from hard work and dedication. Thank you for believing in this chapter.

Now, we want to deliver that value to you. Join us for a full-day, in-person event in Ottawa featuring:

·        6 Workshops across 3 specialized streams.

·        3 Panel Discussions across 3 major topics.

·        Networking with industry leaders & Professional Headshots.

Whether you are a student, a senior practitioner, or an independent consultant, this event is designed for your professional growth and building your connections.

Register for the Career & Networking Fair 2026 Here: https://ottawa-outaouais.iiba.org/events/career-networking-fair-2026/

Wishing you a wonderful start to spring!

Ziad Sakr, MBA, CBAP ®, AAC, PMP ®

President, IIBA Ottawa-Outaouais Chapter