21/03/2025
The IEP has taken a significant step in strengthening its presence in Canada with the appointment of Audrey Sequeira MIEP as our new Partnerships Manager. With over a decade of experience in Ontario’s employment services landscape and a background spanning business operations, immigration case management and international workforce development, Audrey brings a wealth of expertise to this role.
Passionate about driving practitioner excellence and fostering cross-sector collaboration, she is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of employability practice in Canada. In the interview below, Audrey shares her vision, the exciting projects underway, and how IEP’s collaboration with Fedcap Canada is poised to make a lasting impact on employment professionals and jobseekers alike:
Why were you drawn to this role at the IEP?
Joining the IEP felt like a natural alignment of purpose and inspiration. Having worked across Ontario’s employment services landscape for over a decade, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of professional development, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration. The IEP’s mission to elevate employability practice globally resonates deeply with my own commitment to ensuring that practitioners are not only well-equipped but also inspired to drive better outcomes for jobseekers. Contributing to a global standard of excellence and making a tangible difference locally was an opportunity I was excited to pursue.
What background and skills do you bring to this role?
My background spans business operations, immigration case management and entrepreneurship, offering a multi-dimensional perspective to system improvement and workforce development.
Within Ontario’s evolving Employment Services Transformation (EST) framework, I’ve trained frontline service delivery staff, and collaborated with employers, service providers, community stakeholders, and government funders to implement responsive, and effective employment programs.
In addition to my work in Ontario, I bring international experience from the Gulf region, where I supported growth and success in an operational leadership role across diverse labour markets. This global experience has enhanced my ability to design adaptable, culturally responsive, and value centred solutions.
What excites you most about this role, any interesting projects in the works?
What excites me most is the opportunity to shape practitioner excellence and support sector transformation in a way that is practical, scalable and rooted in real world impact.
We are currently developing and refining professional development modules on employer engagement, in work management and policy-to-practice, each designed to enhance the everyday effectiveness of employment professionals while aligning with broader system goals.
We’re also exploring innovative areas such as embedding sustainability and the ethical use of AI into employability practice ensuring professionals are prepared to thrive in a rapidly evolving labour market without losing the human centred essence of service delivery.
What are the key challenges of this role?
The most significant challenge and opportunity is helping practitioners navigate a labour market that’s evolving faster than ever. Ontario’s employment services ecosystem supports over 300,000 clients annually across varied urban, rural, and equity-deserving communities, there’s no one size fits all solution. Supporting practitioners to respond with agility, cultural competency, and evidence-based practice means bridging the gaps between policy, practice, and professional identity.
How is the IEP helping or going to help make a difference in Canada?
The IEP introduces a much-needed framework to Canada’s employability sector: a structured and internationally recognised pathway for professional excellence. And it couldn’t come at a more pivotal time.
As Ontario’s Employment Services Transformation advances, there is a growing demand for practitioner recognition, upskilling, and global benchmarking. Ihe IEP provides that foundation through certifications, continuous learning, and though leadership empowering professionals not just to deliver services, but to take ownership of their craft and careers.
How is the collaboration between Fedcap Canada and IEP significant?
The partnership is truly transformative. Fedcap Canada is already at the forefront of driving change through integrated service delivery, investing in people, practice, and innovation. Fedcap’s collaboration with IEP deepens that impact by infusing a robust and forward-thinking professional development infrastructure at its core.
Through IEP, Fedcap is equipping employment professionals across its network with global insights, structured learning pathways, and tools that elevate service quality and foster sustainable outcomes. This partnership also creates a valuable feedback loop between practitioner needs and policy innovation helping ensure service delivery remains agile, equity-focused, and aligned with MLITSD’s vision for a modern, client-centred employment system.
Together, we’re not just addressing service gaps, we’re building a sector that is more connected, resilient, and future ready. I’m honoured to contribute to this collective impact.
Anything else you would like to add?
I am excited to be a part of a movement that recognises employment practitioners as change agents not just service providers. With the right tools, training, and support systems, I truly believe we can uplift not just our professionals but the entire employment ecosystem across Canada.
I look forward to working alongside colleagues, communities and sector partners to build a workforce development environment that is not only high performing, but also human centred, inclusive, and sustainable.
