“Great success” were the words being used by delegates who attended the IFDM 2024 that took place in Vancouver, Canada, September 16 and 17, 2024. With a maximum capacity of 320 delegates from 12 countries around the world, and with over 70 leading edge presentations, delegates were enthusiastic with the topics that were available for them to attend.
IFDM 2024 was opened through an inspiring presentation by Stephanie Cadieux, Canada’s first National Accessibility Officer and former long-time BC Cabinet Minister, who was joined on the opening podium by John Mutch, Chair of the Board, Canadian Society of Professionals in Disability Management (CSPDM), and Co-MCs Sari Sairanen, Executive Assistant to the Secretary Treasurer of UNIFOR and Rod Cook, Vice-President of Workplace Health & Safety Services, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario.
The Hon. Harry Bains, BC Minister of Labour, provided the official welcome to British Columbia and also highlighted some of the recent developments in the province designed to improve employment outcomes and accessibility challenges facing persons with disabilities.
We were very pleased that the closing keynote presentation, which chartered future opportunities and challenges in global Disability Management, was delivered by Prof. Dr. Joachim Breuer, former long time CEO of the German Federal Workers Compensation system, the world’s largest, and, between 2016-2022, he was President of the International Social Security Organization in Geneva.
The successful conference ended with the hand-over for IFDM 2026 to take place in Scotland.