About Brigid Hayes

Brigid Hayes has developed an expertise in learning that spans over 35 years as a senior policy advisor and program manager. Her knowledge of and experience in workplace literacy and learning has contributed to her recognition as an expert in this field, and she has undertaken significant activities to both help promote and enhance literacy and lifelong learning.

Brigid has worked as an independent consultant and expert advisor on learning, literacy, and work since 2007. She has successfully developed a strategic planning and policy development practice involving workplace literacy, essential skills, partnership development, research, and evaluation.

Brigid currently is chair of the Board of Directors of the Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy. She serves on a number of national advisory committees and, for over seven years, was a review board member for the Career College Accreditation Program (formerly the Canadian Education and Training Accreditation Commission) which accredits private career colleges in Canada.

Brigid publishes articles on workplace literacy, essential skills, social capital, and accountability, and often makes presentations and speeches on these subjects.

From 2003 to 2006, Brigid was Director, Labour with the Canadian Labour and Business Centre (CLBC). From 1989 until 2003, Brigid worked as the federal government’s program consultant, National Literacy Secretariat, where she was responsible for Business-Labour Partnerships.

Brigid holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, University of Western Ontario, and a Masters of Arts in Canadian Studies, Carleton University. In 2013, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of significant contributions to Canada and in 2003, the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) Award for Contributions to Literacy.