Joan MacKenzie Davies Lecture
Propelling Your Career: Demonstrating the Unique Value of Social Work
Dr. Komal Bhasin, RSW, MSW, MHSc (HA), DocSocSci, CHE
Founder and CEO of Insayva Inc., Mental Health Clinician, Workplace Inclusion Strategist, Certified Health Executive and Executive Coach
From specialized training, to a holistic, person-centered approach and a dedicated focus on equity and social justice, social workers stand apart in the unique value, lens and approach they bring to their work across diverse sectors and communities. A career in social work can open doors to incredible impacts and surprising pathways, particularly when paired with a willingness to ‘think outside the box.’ Join us for this energizing keynote designed to help you think differently about the unique value of social work, and how this can be demonstrated, leveraged, and paired with other critical skills to reach new heights and possibilities.
Over an exciting career that has spanned hospitals, community agencies, government, private sector, one-on-one practice and coaching, Dr. Komal Bhasin has gained critical insights on pairing the social work lens with leadership, conflict resolution, intercultural competence and communications skills, to open up new pathways for professional impact and growth. Through weaving pieces of her own story along with tangible tips and takeaways, Dr. Bhasin will explore how we overcome feelings of hesitation and disempowerment to position ourselves, the profession, and the tangible skills we bring to the table more effectively, to expand social work’s impact and propel your social work career.
Dr. Komal Bhasin is an accomplished mental health clinician and workplace inclusion strategist, speaker, and executive coach. With over 20 years of experience in public policy, strategic planning, and senior management within the public and not-for-profit sectors, Komal brings extensive experience in clinical practice, health care operations, strategic policy development, and health system transformation. She has held mental health policy lead positions in both the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ministry of Child and Youth Services and held successive leadership positions in University of Toronto-affiliated Academic Health Science Centres.
As Founder and CEO of Insayva Inc., Komal provides equity, diversity, inclusion, and workplace mental health strategic planning, advisory support, training, and executive coaching services across public, private, and non-profit sectors. Komal specializes in racial health equity and inclusion, trauma-informed workplaces, psychological safety, collective resilience, and burnout prevention. She has delivered training to thousands, advised on equity-based strategic plans for dozens of organizations, and coached hundreds of leaders worldwide.
She is a Registered Social Worker and a Certified Health Executive, holding Master's Degrees in Social Work (MSW) and Health Sciences (MHSc), and holds a Doctor of Social Sciences. Komal has served as a faculty member at Ryerson University in the School of Social Work, where she has taught courses on anti-oppression, social policy, and social inclusion.