CALGARY, ALBERTA – March 8, 2010 – Calgary resident and University of Lethbridge student, Jillian Walker has made Top 10 in Focus2040, a national business competition.

Jillian competed against undergraduate and graduate business students from across Canada in predicting what the workforce and work environment will look like in 2040. Jillian’s submissions addressed employee values, environmental sustainability, and organizational structure. She also explored futuristic and technological-driven concepts in the workplace of tomorrow.

Entries were judged by a panel of academic experts and corporate executives based on criteria such as creativity, plausibility, coherent vision and innovation.

“I am thrilled to be participating in this competition and representing western Canada as a leader of the future,” states Jillian. “It is critical for both Generation X and Generation Y to realize the impact they have on ‘tomorrow’. As a society, we have to strive to set future generations up for success.”

Jillian will present her final predictions to a panel of judges at the Art Gallery of Hamilton on March 23, 2010. The grand prize is a paid internship with BPI Group in Paris, France.

About the Recipient
Jillian graduated from Mount Royal College in 2006 and is now pursuing her Bachelor of Management in Human Resources at the University of Lethbridge’s Calgary campus. She is employed full-time in the public sector and is actively involved with Calgary’s not-for-profit community. Jillian is also on the local and national Board of Directors for Junior Chamber International (JCI).

About the Competition
Organized by the Strategic Capability Network and McMaster University, the goal of Focus 2040 is to “challenge the best and brightest students from across Canada to explore the critical role of human resources management as a strategic business function, and contribute to its readiness for the world of work in 2040.” Learn more about Focus2040 at www.focus2040.com.

Sponsors of the Focus2040 competition include GlaxoSmithKline, Verity, Foresters, Corus Entertainment, and the Royal Bank of Canada.

Contact:

Jillian Walker
403-618-1823
jill.walker@uleth.ca