2020 McMaster Financial Forum:
Connected Community

The purpose of this year’s financial forum is to engage financial leaders and administrators in a professional event that informs attendees about the global, federal and provincial landscape affecting the University and to provide updates on key university initiatives and strategies associated with strengthening McMaster’s financial position or its financial support processes.

Date: Wednesday December 9, 2020 8:45am-3:00pm
Location: Online Event- Zoom
Who should attend:  Individuals engaged in financial functions at McMaster
Formal Agenda

Featuring…

• Keynote address by Dr. Karen Mossman, Vice President of Research at McMaster. Dr. Mossman will talk about her own lab’s journey in helping to isolate the COVID-19 virus and to understand its biology, along with findings that help explain clinical symptoms that patients are experiencing.  Where are we at and where are we going?  She will also discuss how McMaster researchers across the university have pivoted to work on all aspects of the pandemic, and on how Global Nexus will help us prepare for future pandemics.
• Assistant Vice President and CFO, Deidre (Dee) Henne will present on McMaster’s Financial Sustainability Amidst COVID-19 & Climate Crisis. Topics for conversation will include:
  • How COVID-19 changed overnight the way in which we work and engage with students, faculty and staff.
  • How technological transformation investments worldwide have been forced at a pace to reflect a new normal, and how these technological transformations have overnight created a new global competitive landscape.
  • How we are managing COVID-19 impacts while were we already in the midst of a global climate crisis!
  • What can we do to support our University transformation, how can we retain our competitive edge and what is the administrators role in this?
  • Will these changes advance our agenda toward a more global health conscience environment?

These and other big questions will be discussed which will no doubt affect our ability to remain relevant and sustain financial resiliency beyond 2020.

Additional Presentations and Breakout Sessions Include:

Mindfulness Exercise with Dr. Parmjit Singh
In this session Dr. Singh explains what mindfulness is, the science behind it, and how to use its techniques to improve your leadership capabilities. For more information, check out his website: https://www.ParmjitSingh.com.

Your Financial Community: Open Mic Session with Financial Affairs and Research
Grab your coffee and your list of questions. We have lined up our Financial experts to answer all your financial inquiries. Who should you call? Ideas for improvements? What would you like to see? This is your chance to have your voice heard, questions answered and to connect with those in your financial community.

HR Review Updates
Please join leaders from our HR Project Management Office and Payroll teams for this session in which we will explore key project updates related to the HR Review recommendations as well as recent and planned enhancements advancing identified payroll priorities.

Talk with your Leaders
President David Farrar and Provost Susan Tighe are building a new strategic plan to set a bold long-term vision for McMaster. Join us as they discuss how McMaster will connect to the future.