Rob Henderson - Bridging the Biotech Talent Gap: Challenges and Innovations

Rob Henderson joins us to discuss human resources challenges in Canada’s bio-technology sector. Henderson is President and CEO of BioTalent Canada,  an in-demand partner, policy influencer, and project leader that brings together the country’s largest national bio-economy network. His work focuses on connecting employers with skilled talent and addressing workforce shortages. Henderson explains that Canada’s bio-tech sector is projected to face a shortfall of 65,000 workers by 2029. Part of the problem is that enrolment in STEM programs is down, and science graduates often lack the business skills to successfully launch their own ventures.

Highlights from our conversation include:

1. Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) is “a great way for students to learn the business of science hands-on.” It’s also an equally useful opportunity for employers to identify promising students and build talent pipelines.
2. AI adoption in Canada’s bio-tech sector is lagging, partly because four in five organizations is an SME, many of whom lack the resources for training and experimentation.
3.Likewise, SMEs often lag behind bigger companies when it comes to hiring, partly because they are more likely to hire through informal networks. The bio-tech sector lacks representation in various communities, including women, newcomers, Indigenous Canadians, and people with a disability.

Host: Maggie John