GREETING THE NEW YEAR WITH CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM

2021 Was Hard 

Life did not “return to normal” as we had so earnestly hoped. Children who recently returned to in-school learning have had to switch back to remote learning periodically due to unexpected COVID outbreaks. Many workers have had their virtual employment extended and holiday festivities were not as festive as we had planned them to be. 

Despite this, after pivoting to online/virtual events in early 2020, our IIBA Ottawa-Outaouais chapter was able to offer 40 different virtual events in 2021, which provided many professional development and networking opportunities for members of the BA community. In addition, our chapter was named the 2021 IIBA Chapter of the Year at IIBA’s annual Chapter and Volunteer Awards.

2022 is Looking Like a Transition Year 

With the world still dealing with COVID, our chapter, like most organizations, will take some time to move back to hosting more in-person—and perhaps hybrid—events.

We have several exciting speakers lined up for our chapter meetings this spring. We will continue our popular monthly certification study group sessions, a workshop, the annual GRAAL Awards, and our much-anticipated Capital BA Day business analysis conference on Friday, May 27th. Be sure to mark your calendars!

Behind all of this work is an amazing team of volunteers, including our Board of Directors and numerous other individuals contributing their time and talents. Thank you also to our chapter members and event participants.  We greatly appreciate your participation, support and feedback—you are the focus of all that we do.

On behalf of our 2021-2022 Board of Directors, I would like to thank you for a great 2021 and we hope to see you again—literally—in 2022!

Nancy Beatson
President, IIBA Ottawa-Outaouais Chapter