Invictus Games Foundation ‘Conversation’ – ‘Employment and Employability: The Invictus Community’
The Invictus Games Foundation (IGF) is pleased to announce the next iteration of its ‘Conversation’ series as a webinar on Wednesday 3 November 2021. The primary panel discussions will occur between 1400-1530 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The overall event will run between 1330- 1600 to provide opportunities for attendees to meet the speakers, their companies and like-minded organisations and associated veterans in the exhibition area of the webinar platform both before and after these primary panel discussions.
The IGF is very grateful to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust for enabling this webinar and to the continuing support of Ascot Rehab, the Fisher House Foundation and ISPS Handa.
Register your attendance here: https://bit.ly/3keLp4h
Aim
The aim will be to explore the international employment environment and options for the employability of the Invictus community including Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) individuals, veterans and family and friends. It will address both the opportunities and challenges, while seeking overall to provide some useful insights, potential contacts and practical advice.
Format
The IGF Conversation will again seek to maximise discussion through a series of panels, offering a wide range of perspectives including from the Participating Nations and their respective WIS individuals.
We are delighted that Kate Silverton has agreed to be the facilitator for this webinar. Kate is a well-respected journalist and one of the UK’s leading broadcasters She has worked extensively with the BBC on current affairs, and has reported from the frontlines in Iraq and Afghanistan. Married to a former member of the Royal Marines Commandos, she is a strong advocate for the Armed Forces. Kate’s full biography is enclosed at Appendix 1.
The event will be focused on three panel discussions with key contributions from a range of prominent companies including Amazon, BetterUp, Deloitte, FDM Group, Johnson & Johnson and Verizon who will offer an international perspective, relevant across the Participating Nations. They will also provide an important input on the impact of veterans, based on the value of their respective veterans’ programmes. The intent will also to invite input from veterans of the Invictus community who have made the transition to the civilian employment to offer their experiences.
Encompassing these panel discussions, the event will also offer the opportunity to meet and talk to these organisations along with their associated veterans in the exhibition area of the webinar platform.
Themes
Three key themes will be explored in the primary panel discussions. webinar will be conducted in three parts:
- First, there be an overview of the current international employment environment and market. Taking account of the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, it will outline key growth areas as well as those which have been impacted. Throughout, the focus will remain on the opportunities for WIS, veterans and also of key importance their family and friends. In addition, it will offer a perspective on how veterans, in general, are perceived in civilian employment including both positive and any remaining negative connotations.
- The second panel will provide a balanced assessment of the Invictus community including WIS individuals, veterans, outlining both its clear strengths and areas in which its members will add significant value in civilian employment, as well as those key areas of potential shortfall or for further development. It will draw on the experience of the contributing companies through their respective veterans’ programmes.
- Next, there will be discussion which will offer practical advice on identifying and preparing for employment opportunities. It will cover key areas such as starting early, really thinking through what areas of employment a veteran might want to work in and also enjoy, as well as adopting the appropriate mindset to make the transition. It will consider the steps to be taken to achieve a successful and enduring transition into civilian employment. It will also encompass the key views of members of the Invictus community who have completed the transition.
These discussion groups will be completed with a final closing panel which will also address questions and comments from the audience.
Audience
The IGF Conversation is principally aimed at the Invictus community, including WIS individuals, competitors, their family and friends, team managers, national staff, experts and national representatives in the field of recovery and rehabilitation.
It is also designed to reinforce the critical relationship between Invictus and the commercial community which is so important in supporting it and the internal servicemen and women who have served their country.
Programme
| Invictus Games Foundation ‘Conversation’ – Webinar: Wednesday 3 November 2021‘Employment and Employability: The Invictus Community’ | |||
| Serial | Timing (GMT) | Activity | Remarks |
| 1. | 1330 -1400 | Exhibition Area open | For meeting the speakers, their representatives and veterans, as well as networking |
| 2. | 1400-1530 | Primary Panel Discussions | |
| 2. | 1400-1410 | Welcome and Opening Remarks· Kate Silverton, Lord Allen and Dominic Reid | Facilitator, Chair and CEO IGF |
| 3. | 1410-1430 | Session One‘The Employment Landscape Emerging from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges, Shortfalls and Opportunities’ | |
| 4. | Introduction by Facilitator | Kate Silverton | |
| 5. | Discussion facilitated by Kate SilvertonPanel to include:
· Chris Recchia -Partner, Risk Advisory Practice and lead for Military Transition and Talent programme: Deloitte LLP · John Quintas – Managing Director, Military Affairs: Amazon.com · Stewart Sharman – Deputy Managing Director FDM Group |
Discussion to include:· Overview of the current employment landscape from an international perspective.
· Employment trends – areas of growth as well as reduction. · Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic, including employers’ requirements and priorities · Overall how have employers’ attitude and approach to military personnel and veterans including Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) changed? · Opportunities for WIS, veterans and families |
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| 6. | 1430-1450 | Session Two‘Shining a Light on the Invictus Community: Strengths and Areas for Further Development’ | |
| 7. | Introduction by Facilitator | Kate Silverton | |
| 8. | Discussion facilitated by Kate SilvertonPanel to include:
· George Griffin – Customer Success Manager, and Head of Vetforce: Salesforce · Tommy Jones – Head of Military & Diversity, Talent Acquisition: Verizon International · John Perez – Head, Military & Veteran Affairs: Johnson & Johnson
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Discussion to include:· International perspective from companies on both strengths of veterans including the obvious characteristics of teamwork, leadership, reliability, resilience, adaptability and working under pressure
· Some of the potential areas for development including the need for self-help in career · The perspective of companies from their veterans’ programmes and the value that veterans add |
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| 9. | 1450-1515 | Session Three‘Offering Advice on Identifying and Preparing for Employment Opportunities’ | |
| 10. | Discussion facilitated by Kate Silverton:· Alex Haig Jnr and Dr Scott Baker – BetterUp, Inc – The People Experience Platform
· Stuart Normington – Senior Manager Talent Acquisition, EMEA: Verizon International · Angela Forbes- CEO: BuildForce And · Veterans including from the Participating Nations who have made the transition from the military to civilian employment |
Discussion to include:· Thoughts on the mindset required for transitioning from the military to civilian employment
· Thoughts on how to identify the correct career path, job opportunities and the importance of networking · Thoughts on explaining transferable military skills and the use of language · Advice on interview preparation. · Thoughts on the requirements to ‘land well’ and achieve a successful transition |
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| 11. | 1515- 1530 | Closing Panel, Discussion, including Questions from the Audience and Concluding Comments | |
| 12. | Discussion facilitated by Kate Silverton· Chris Recchia -Partner, Risk Advisory Practice and lead for Military Transition and Talent programme: Deloitte LLP
· John Quintas – Managing Director, Military Affairs: Amazon.com · David Richmond – UK Government’s Independent Veterans’ Advisor and Veteran |
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| 13. | 1530-1600 | Exhibition Area Remains Open | For meeting the speakers, their representatives and veterans, as well as networking |
Registration
The webinar will be conducted on the ReAttendance platform and all attendees will be requested to register in advance for the event. It is requested that the registration process is completed by Wednesday, 27 October 2021. Tickets are free.
To register for the event please follow the below link:
https://bit.ly/3keLp4h
Closer to the event date, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join the webinar.
Summary
It is very much hoped that this iteration of the ’IGF Conversation’ will be of real interest to the Participating Nations and the wider Invictus community. The principal intent is to provide an important insight into the current employment environment, as well as offering practical advice in identifying and preparing for employment opportunities. It is hoped that this iteration of the IGF Conversation will be an important building block and catalyst for further action, as members of the Invictus community take a key step towards their recovery and rehabilitation if finding employment should be a key milestone on that journey.
