To Latornell Conservation Symposium November 21, 2017 Deborah Martin-Downs, CAO, Chair CAU

The CA Answer to Succession Planning:

Conservation Authorities University

Outline

• The CA Succession need

• The CAU concept

• Community based succession

The Issue

• Lack of resources for more formal Masters of Public Administration or other management training

• May need to field talent outside CA community who will need training

• Wave of retirements means we need trained candidates to be able to move into senior positions, capably and quickly

4

Q2: Please rate your priority for training

The Opportunity

• Cost Effective approach to training

• Improve performance and competency among rising stars

• Improve consistency of approaches among CA’s

• Develop CA networks

Conservation Authorities University

The Purpose

• to accelerate succession planning at the leadership level,

• to share current and best practices, procedures and interpretation throughout the CA network and increase resilience of the network,

• to collaborate across CAs on finding solutions to issues specific to CA work,

• to engage the most experienced leaders in the field to share their experience and knowledge about the fundamentals of managing a strong, vibrant Conservation Authority.

The Concept

• Develop Curriculum content based on priority topics

• Develop Product Binder for participants

• Identify candidates to determine demand and locations

• Deliver training - in person training in multi CA groups; - retreat location - intensive multi-day immersion - certificate course(s)

• Identify ‘Mentors’ for continued support

Value to CA’s

• Enhanced professional efficacy of CA leaders and increased capacity across the CA network;

• Enhanced leadership-level succession planning

• An assemblage of up-to-date standards, templates, exemplars, and resources related to CA administration,

• Stronger relationships between the senior CA leaders across the network and expanded personal and professional support

• Formal knowledge transfer and continued engagement with the most experienced senior leaders in the network.

CAU Teaching Methods

– Panel discussions with invited guests

– Lectures and PowerPoint presentations

– Video presentations

– Readings and case studies

– Small group discussion and presentations

– Small group exercises

– Individual exercises and assignments

– Informal discussion and “unstructured” learning opportunities

Working

Networking

Pillars of the CAU

CAU

Public Administration

CA Governance and Policy

CA Business Areas

• CA Law • Human

Resources • Public Sector

Leadership

• Planning and Regulations

• Floodplain Management

• 6 other key areas

• CA Finance • Strategy • Performance

Management

• CA Boards • Legislation • Government

Relations

Meeting 1: CA Governance

(September)

Meeting 2: CA Public

Administration I (December)

Meeting 3: CA Public

Administration II

(March)

Meeting 4: CA Business

Areas (June)

Learning about our history

Conservation Authorities Act

Budgeting - General Levy

Municipal Funders % Apportionment

Funding $000s

% Change

Region of Peel 91.7366 $8,290 3.58 Halton Region 4.9673 $449 3.76 Township of Amaranth 0.0111 $1 2.35

Township of East Garafraxa 0.0568 $5 1.78

Town of Erin 0.6459 $58 0.19 Town of Mono 0.1129 $10 3.22 Town of Orangeville 2.4695 $223 1.40 TOTAL 100 $9,036 3.51

Strategic Planning

Conservation Authority Business Areas

• Watershed & Integrated Shoreline Management Planning/Science

• Water Quality & Quantity Monitoring and Modeling • GIS/Information Management • Land Use Planning & CA Regulations • Watershed Stewardship & Restoration • Source Water Protection • Flood and Erosion Control & Prevention • Natural Heritage Protection • Conservation/Outdoor Education • Lands & Conservation Areas • Communications & Outreach

Business Area

• Purpose of the business area in the CA context • History of the business area in the network • Key Legislation, Policy, or governance matters • Key disciplines typically involved in implementing the

business area • Common partners, clients, stakeholders and our relationships

with them • Risks and liabilities related to the business area • Resources • Future opportunities or threats to the business area • Key takeaways for a senior leaders – wrap up with some key

points

Flood Management Programs

Conservation Authorities use an Integrated Watershed Management Approach

• Watershed-based approach that addresses both land and water related resources

• Move beyond sector or single issue based approaches

• More effectively assess and balance ecological, social and economic interests

Conservation Areas

Stewardship Programs

Natural Heritage Programs

Land Acquisition and Management

“Having speakers from municipalities, the Province, consultants, insurance and

lawyers has provided valuable context to the work CAs do”

“I have really appreciated the broad aspect. So many of us, not yet in senior management, don't often get that breadth of learning and are relegated to

our particular roles and functions”

Program Impact

2 cohorts

63 participants

106 people engaged

Impact Statement

CAU EDP 2015-2016 Cohort

47 contributing

organizations

32 CA’s engaged

133 projects completed

Impact Statement

CAU EDP 2015-2016 Cohort

CAU EDP 2016-2017 Cohort

Course Impact

HR Projects 24

Board of Directors Projects 16 Peer visits 16

Legal Risk Management Projects 15 Financial Control Projects 12 Government Relations Projects 11

94*

*2015-2016 only

“Glad I can be a part of this, a

fantastic training "crash course" in all things related to

CA's. A great development tool for someone who comes to a

CA with a different background or from another industry.”

Community Values

• We have a community that is better connected

• We have tools and knowledge to share – collected, exposed and shared

• We have a community of people who now see themselves as executives in their organization – stepping up and in to support the management of their organizations

• We have a set of Senior staff who have been trained and can move into a variety of positions across the CAs

“I think this experience has demonstrated the great

opportunity to collaborate with other CA's and to share

resources, tool, templates and experiences with each other.”

inspired by nature