11/25/2024
2025 Conference Keynote Speakers
Dr. Marian Higgins
Since her first job as a career counselor after graduating from college, Dr. Marian Higgins has served in roles where she strategically advocates for changing policies and practices to advance more welcoming and accessible environments. Each step of her journey has increased her capacity to champion the rights and interests of people, especially those marginalized and underserved.
Dr. Higgins has an extensive career in higher education supporting students, fostering inclusive environments, and serving in leadership roles. She advocated for change in K-12 schools while co-chairing a local school governance team and providing workshops to educators.
A licensed professional counselor, Dr. Higgins is the owner of Be Inspired Counseling and Consulting, a company where she partners with organizations to transform their learning and work environments so everyone can thrive and be successful. She is an experienced speaker and host of Dive In, a podcast focused on career development issues for different populations.
Dr. Higgins received her Ph.D. in counseling and personnel services from The University of Georgia, a Master of Science degree in counseling from the University of Memphis, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. She is a member of the 2018 NCDA Counselor Educator Academy cohort and the recipient of the Georgia Career Development Association's Outstanding Career Development Professional Award; ACPA-College Educators International Commission for Career Services' Commitment to Social Justice in Career Services Award; and the Southern Association of Colleges and Employers Champion of Diversity Award.
JP Michel, SparkPath
JP Michel is the creator of the Challenge mindset and the Challenge Cards, which have been used by more than 100,000 students around the world.
His past consultancy work with leaders led to the creation of SparkPath, an innovative career exploration company spotlighted on the Forbes, TEDx, CBC and BBC. Recognized as the 2022 Outstanding Career Leader by the Career Professionals of Canada, JP holds a degree in psychology from the University of Ottawa and a master's degree in industrial-organizational psychology from the University of Manchester.
Sonny Wong
Sonny Wong is a Registered Psychotherapist in Toronto, Canada – who practices Career-Focused Positive Counselling. With over 25 years of progressive experience as a CPD, he started his career as a community researcher identifying the needs of marginalized-displaced workers, served as program developer for matured workers/newcomers, as a resource-builder for individual in the idle trade and eventually a career/employment consultant for clients on provincial financial assistance. Sonny’s grassroots lived experience has fostered his keen awareness of professional/ethical service delivery practices. During the last 16 years, Sonny has been a psychotherapist working in post-secondary institutions assisting clients to reconcile their intersectionality identities with their career identity. The passion in his work spans beyond his psychotherapist role, he is a lecturer, writer, trainer and clinical supervisor for CDPs. Sonny provides care and support to both CDPs and their clients – sharing knowledge and techniques to
address the human experience without pathologizing career well-being and mental health issues associated with work/career stressors. Sonny’s commitment is to help individuals identify their strengths as flourishing fuel. “No problem 24/7” is his premise. Unemployment is not an individual identity. Career counselling is co-constructing a plan for the whole person. Everyone deserves to strive and engage in meaningful activities. In Canada, Sonny’s professional contributions have been constantly recognized by numerous national and provincial service awards within the post-secondary education and not-for-profit sectors.
