1. Panel Discussion: The Dance Between Project Managers and Business Analysts

Embark on a journey to explore the intricate dynamics between Project Managers and Business Analysts in today's business landscape. Dive deep into understanding their unique responsibilities, the challenges they face, and the magic that happens when they collaborate.

About Our Moderator:

Carla Janzen has a passion for creative problem solving and employing elegant solutions to solve complex problems. She has over a decade of experience in the tech sector, including 5 years dedicated to small business digital transformation through her own consulting practice. Carla is a Lead Business Analyst and Senior Consultant for Online Business Systems, serves on the IIBA Winnipeg Chapter as President, Head Coach for the University of Manitoba Business Technology Management JDC West case competition team, and is a Career Mentor for junior Business Analysts. Carla has a B. Comm. (Hons) degree in Finance and Marketing from the Asper School of Business. Her certifications include Certified Scrum Master (CSM), ProSci Change Management Professional, and PRINCE2 Foundations Practitioner. 

About Our Panelists:

Laura Thompson CBAP - Senior Director and Executive Consultant, Capstone Ridge Group
Laura is a senior business consultant with 25+ years of consulting experience.  She has had proven successes leveraging best practices in strategy, business architecture, business process redesign, and organizational change management to direct, structure, and enable change for her clients.  Laura is passionate about working with clients to build their internal capacity for change and builds knowledge transfer into all her engagements. 
Laura is viewed as a thought leader in business transformation.  Over the years she has played a leadership role to facilitate strategy and build Business Analysis and Organizational Change Management capacity in Winnipeg as a Board member of the IIBA and the ACMP.

Samir Sabharwal - Consultant, Business Analyst, Online Business Systems 
Samir specializes in stakeholder management, client servicing, and strategic consulting. His role involves navigating the intricate landscape of business processes to identify solutions that drive efficiency and contribute to overall success of his clients.

Richard Strempler - Consultant, Online Business Systems
Rick has been working in IT for 35 years and has been working as a consultant at Online Business Systems for the past 17 years and leads the Analysis Competency for Online. He has worked in a wide range of industries, including insurance, health, agriculture, government, and more. He has a wealth of experience in business and systems analysis and loves the variety of interesting projects that he can work on as a consultant. He has two children, both in university, and enjoys hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities with his family.

Dean Zarrillo, PMP, CSPO, POPM - Consultant, Online Business Systems
Dean is a seasoned project and organizational leader with roots in project/program management, business analysis/architecture, organizational change management, and strategic planning. Dean has ‘danced’ between the realms of Business Analysis and Project management for much of his career and emphatically supports the value the disciplines provide to organizations.

Brandon Dix - Cloud Architect, Trapeze Group
Brandon is a local NERD from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada! With over 20 years of experience in the field of business analysis and IT, this dynamic individual has been making waves in the industry for years. He is known for his innovative ideas, out-of-the-box thinking, and technology advocacy which have helped numerous organizations in the public and private sectors achieve their goals. He has worked on several high-profile projects and been instrumental in the success of many of them. His expertise in data analysis and problem-solving is unparalleled, and has been recognized for his contributions to the field. When not busy building new tech, teaching the next generation of IT professionals or saving the world with their analytical skills, he enjoys exploring the great outdoors and spending time with his friends and family. Brandon is a proponent for BA's and believes that their skillset and knowledge is essential for all businesses. We’re thrilled to have him as a part of our community and can’t wait to see what he will accomplish next!

Event Highlights:

Expert Panelists: Learn from professionals who've juggled both roles, faced real-world challenges, and led victorious projects.
Real-world Scenarios: Witness case studies that illustrate the potent collaboration between PMs and BAs.
Interactive Q&A: Your chance to pose questions and gather wisdom from our seasoned panel.
Networking: Forge connections with fellow BAs, PMs, and other business enthusiasts. Share tales, seek advice, and broaden your professional horizon.
Who Should Attend?
This segment of the evening is perfect for those keen to unravel the mystique between BAs and PMs. Whether you're just starting out, pondering a career transition, or looking to optimize collaboration in your teams, this discussion promises rich insights.

2. IIBA Certification Celebration:

Let's raise a toast to the dedication and hard work of our peers! Celebrate with fellow Winnipeg professionals who have recently passed one of the IIBA exams. It's a moment to recognize achievements, share success stories, and inspire others on their certification journey.

Evening Wrap-up:
Revel in the combined joy of learning and celebrating. Connect, share, laugh, and inspire. Whether it's about acing an exam, solving a challenging project issue, or navigating career paths, let's celebrate the milestones and look ahead to more.

Agenda:
4:45 PM - 5:15 PM: Registration Opens and Networking
5:15 PM - 5:30 PM: Certification Presentation
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM: Panel Event