leveraging immigration as a source of innovation

PowerPoint Presentation

Leveraging Immigration as a Source of Innovation

Canadian Immigration Conference 2014

TORONTO REGION IMMIGRANT EMPLOYMENT COUNCIL (TRIEC)

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Thank you to the Conference Board of Canada for this researchWeve known that diverse teams are innovative teams, but now we have the hard data to prove it.Today, Ill tell you some stories of innovation And Ill comment on how we in the immigration sector can use this important research to inspire employers to act on it.1

If you only have people who think and act in the same way, you will be very consistent, but not very innovative or flexible.Gord Nixon, CEO, RBC and Chair, TRIEC




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What is TRIEC?Leadership council of labour market actors




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TRIECs Vision & MissionVision A Greater Toronto Region that prospers by fully engaging the contributions of skilled immigrants.

Mission Create and champion solutions to better integrate skilled immigrants in the Greater Toronto Region labour market.




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AT TRIEC we love to recognize employers who have championed the inclusion of immigrants in their workplace. One of the ways we do that is through our Immigrant Success Awards. Shine the spotlight on best practicesStory-telling to inspire and encourage more employers Going to tell you about three winners who really bring the Conference Board research to life4

Jessicas 3 slidesCase 1: Xerox Canada




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XEROX RESEARCH CENTRENan Zing Hu

Here is an ad that we had prepared focusing on 5

Case 1: Xerox Research Centre of CanadaMississauga, Ontario




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137 employees from over 35 countries28 per cent of employees graduated from university in other countries almost half have doctorate degreesCentre awarded its 1000th Patent in 2006Top performers include three skilled immigrants each has surpassed the 100 patent mark.Awarded the Immigrant Success Award in 2007

Diversity drives innovation: More diversity = more and better ideasWorkforce diversity is a core value and sustained pursuitat Xerox Canada.9 According to the company, [diversity] isXerox. Diversity is essential to our business. Our environment.Our teams. Our products. Our history.10Consequently, Xerox Canada has attracted, hired, and retaineda large percentage of immigrant employees. At the XeroxResearch Centre of Canada alone, approximately 50 per cent ofthe staff are immigrants, hailing from 35 different countries.11More specifically, 28 per cent of the staff are skilled immigrantswho earned their B.Sc., M.Sc., or PhD degrees in their nativecountries.12 This high level of diversity has garnered considerablerecognition. In 2007, the Xerox Research Centre of Canadawon the Canadian Immigrant Success Award in the mid-sizedemployer category from TRIEC (Toronto Region ImmigrantEmployment Council).13 More recently, in 2009, Xerox Canadawas named one of Canadas Best Diversity Employers byMediacorp Canada.14The Impact of Immigrants at Xerox CanadaXerox Canada covers the cost of immigration lawyers andlanguage training for many of its immigrant employees, andthe company reports that the return on investment has beensignificant. According to Hadi Mahabadi, Vice-President andManager of the Xerox Research Centre of Canada, workforcediversity has advanced the centres innovation rate. In recentyears, this rate reached 120130 patentable ideas annuallyor over one patent per scientist per year.15 The resultingproducts have included erasable paper, which made TIMEmagazines Best Inventions of the Year list in 2007.16Furthermore, immigrant employees have provided XeroxCanada with greater insight into the needs, wants, and circumstancesof peoples around the world, enabling the companyto better compete in the global market. To illustrate, Mahabadipoints out that the power goes out regularly in certain partsof the world, a fact that a company might not [realize] unlessa foreign worker from there was able to share that fact . . . andthen [Xerox can] adjust design specifications accordingly.17For companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterpriseswith limited resources, such global insights can result in acost-effective, worldly design and marketing process.1812 Baranyi,

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Our diverse workforce really helps to keep the company innovative. The diverse work environment gives us the opportunity to learn about different business practices from around the world and use this diverse experience to develop innovative solutions for our clients.

Dunstan PeterPresident and CEOTrinity Tech Inc.




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Our next case: Trinity Tech7

Watch the Trinity Tech video at http://youtu.be/V4ymTGLFt3w




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SMTC has transformed their Markham operations into a centre of innovation:Brings best practices from around the world, centralises them here and then disperses throughout their global networkAllows them to better serve their customers globally through innovative solutions

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Case 3: SMTCA global electronics manufacturing services provider headquartered in Markham.




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Watch the SMTC video at http://youtu.be/wGzWrDwsqLc




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How Can We Best UseThis Great Information?1. Making the case to hire andpromote immigrants:

AwardsChampionsCommunications and media




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How Can We Best UseThis Information?2. Supporting employers to maximize their diverse talent:

Best Practices: Pitney Bowes Innovation TeamsInnovation challengeEmployer Engagement TeamsOnline Materials and supports




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RBC Champion of Immigrant Success2014 TRIEC IS Awards

Entrepreneurship Connections

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Do yourself a favour.Hire a skilled immigrant.

Margaret EatonExecutive DirectorToronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC)[email protected]




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leveraging immigration as a source of innovation

Recruiting & HR