What an incredible day for our local Business Analysis community! This past Saturday, May 23rd, the IIBA Ottawa-Outaouais Chapter welcomed 78 attendees to a full house at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre for our very first Career & Networking Fair.
From morning coffee to the final networking handshakes, the energy on the floor proved that the BA ecosystem right here in Canada's National Capital Region (NCR) is thriving, dynamic, and rapidly evolving. If you couldn't make it, here is a quick look at what you missed!
The Morning Workshop Lineup
To ensure every attendee found actionable value where they were in their career, our morning kicked off with six hands-on workshops led by incredible BA experts:
| Stream | Morning Workshop Sessions |
|---|---|
| New BAs |
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| Intermediate & Senior BAs |
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| BA Consultants |
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Following the workshops, our networking lunch provided time for peers, mentors, and vendors to connect.
The Afternoon Panels
Our tracks came together for candid, unscripted panel discussions featuring seasoned BAs:
Panel 1: Ask Analysts Anything
- Facilitator: Michael Lachapelle
- Panelists: Nancy Beatson, Pamela Paterson, Gary Bellamy
- Some takeaways:
- Consistency Generates Believability: Building client trust relies entirely on aligning what you say, do, and think every day. This consistency can reduce the time it takes to get stakeholder sign-offs from weeks to minutes.
- The "Challenge Thinker" Mindset: When dealing with difficult stakeholders, a master BA acts as a "challenge thinker" - not flatly disagreeing, but asking them to objectively explain their logic to unpack the root business need.
- Addressing Change Burnout: Teams can be exhausted by constant pivots. You must address/acknowledge this fatigue before stepping into the room, or your requirements-gathering will face immediate resistance.
- Conscientiousness Over All: Being conscientious is one of the most valuable traits when hiring or mentoring; conscientious BAs naturally fix mistakes and proactively fill skill gaps.
Panel 2: Life of a Business Analyst Consultant
- Facilitator: Michael Lachapelle
- Panelists: Patrick van Abbema, Emily Tom, Kristie Marr
- Some takeaways:
- The 60% Hidden Job Market: 3 out of every 5 consulting roles in Ottawa are never advertised publicly. They are filled entirely through trusted networks and LinkedIn.
- The Credibility Window: Consultants must establish themselves as trusted advisors within a short period of time through active listening, deep observation, and managing through influence rather than authority.
- Contractor vs. Consultant: Using John Zachman’s teachings, the panel noted that contractors simply take work off a client's table due to capacity limits. True consultants focus on knowledge exchange and building the client's internal capabilities.
- Ride the SAP S/4HANA Wave: A massive 5-to-10-year "blue ocean" opportunity was identified. Major organizations across Canada are preparing to migrate to this AI-integrated version of SAP, causing a long-term surge in demand for specialized BAs.
Panel 3: The Future of Business Analysis
- Facilitator: Helen Racette
- Panelists: Patrick van Abbema, Thomas Doyle III, and Liam Kavanagh (TEKsystems)
- Some takeaways:
- AI Governance Over Adoption: Organizations are currently rushing to buy shiny AI tools before defining their problems. The panel stressed that BAs must step up to guide data analysis and AI governance before software is purchased.
- The Pivot to Product Management: The federal government and private sectors are rapidly shifting away from rigid project frameworks toward product management and agile delivery. BAs who master continuous product lifecycles will heavily outmarket generalists.
- The BA "Superpower": Knowing how to stand up and have the tough conversations required to safely pivot or "kill" a fundamentally flawed project early is a master-level trait that saves organizations millions.
- Human Capabilities are Irreplaceable: AI can write prompts and baseline documentation, but automation cannot create psychological safety, handle deep organizational change, or ask the difficult, nuanced human questions required to solve complex problems.
Polishing Our Professional Profiles
One of the biggest hits of the entire day was our professional photo booth! Portfolio presentation is everything, and our attendees took full advantage of the opportunity. An incredible 66 attendees stepped in front of the lens to refresh their headshots, meaning LinkedIn is about to see a massive wave of polished, professional new profiles across the Ottawa-Outaouais BA community! Big thanks to DBR_HEADSHOTS!
Speaking of photos, check out our new photo album of the event: https://ottawa-outaouais.iiba.org/PhotoAlbums/career-networking-fair-2026
What Our Attendees Say
Don’t just take our word for it—the real value of the Career & Networking Fair was defined by incredible feedback. Our attendees left inspired, equipped, and re-energized.
Check out what a few of our participants had to say on LinkedIn about their experiences:
- "I walked away from the event with so much value, clarity, and a stronger understanding of where the Business Analysis profession is heading." Read the full LinkedIn post from Pramila Poudel, ECBA™
- "I learned so much and met so many amazing people" Read the full LinkedIn post from Shaista Jaffer
- "The event was insightful, and each speaker brought practical experience and valuable perspectives." Read the full LinkedIn post from Franklin Bright Okokon - PharmD, ECBA
- "Days like this are a reminder of why it matters to stay connected, keep learning, and give back where you can. If you're in Ottawa and not plugged into this chapter yet, you're missing out." Read the full LinkedIn post from Bhumika Gohiya
- "As a CBAP, I carry a deep understanding of this profession's essence, but being reminded of it in a room full of peers who share this experience is a powerful reaffirmation that sharpens our focus." Read the full LinkedIn post from Edith Lafortune Mandou, CBAP®
- "The event created a valuable platform for students and professionals to engage in meaningful conversations around career development, industry trends, practical learning, and professional networking." Read the full LinkedIn post from Lambton College Ottawa
- "The engagement, openness, and quality of discussion throughout the day were outstanding." Read the full LinkedIn post from Thomas Doyle III CD, PMP®, LSSBB, Prosci®
- "There were so many great speakers who generously shared a wealth of knowledge" Read the full LinkedIn post from Pamela Paterson, MS, CBAP, PMP
- "The rooms were full of energy, great conversations, and a real sense of community — exactly the kind of day that reminds me why I value this chapter so much." Read the full LinkedIn post from Helen Racette, PEng, CBAP, P2P, BRMP
- "Your insights and openness were truly inspiring. Grateful to be part of such a strong and welcoming professional community." Read the full LinkedIn post from Nickson’n Millien
- "Thank you all for sharing your perspectives on the industry's direction and offering such honest guidance for navigating today's job market." Read the full LinkedIn post from Ahmed Abusafia
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Contributors and Collaborators
An event of this magnitude takes a village. We extend our deepest gratitude to our past presidents, our incredible speakers, panelists and facilitators, our vendors (TEKsystems, Lambton College, PMI Ottawa Valley Outaouais), the Ottawa Convention and Event Centre, and our unstoppable volunteers who kept everything running seamlessly behind the scenes and at the check-in table. Most importantly, thank you to our attendees for bringing your ambition and passion to the floor!
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Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!
The Career & Networking Fair may be over, but the discussions shouldn’t stop here. Which takeaway from our afternoon panels resonated the most with you? Did a specific workshop change how you look at your current project?
Head over to our official IIBA Ottawa-Outaouais LinkedIn Page or LinkedIn Group and drop a comment on our event. Share your biggest breakthrough from Saturday, tag your fellow tablemates, and let’s keep learning from one another!
We Want Your Feedback!
To help us make our future Career & Networking Fairs even better, please take 2 minutes to complete our Career & Networking Fair Post-Event Survey. We want to hear your thoughts on everything—from the general event flow and venue, to the specific value of the morning workshops you attended, the insights from the afternoon panel discussions, and your experience interacting with our event vendors. Your feedback is what drives our chapter forward!