Professional Connections Program
Connecting the next generation of wildlife professionals with the experience, knowledge, and perspectives of Alberta’s wildlife community.
The future of wildlife conservation depends on the next generation of wildlife professionals. Through the ACTWS Professional Connections Program, we bring together students, early-career practitioners, and experienced professionals to share knowledge, explore career opportunities, and build meaningful professional connections.
Whether you’re a student looking for career advice, an early-career professional hoping to expand your network, or an experienced practitioner interested in giving back, there are several ways to get involved.
Our program offers flexible opportunities to connect through community discussions, one-on-one career conversations, and longer-term mentorship relationships.
For Mentees: Participation in the Professional Connections Program is available exclusively to the ACTWS members. Please log in to your ACTWS account before selecting a Professional Connections opportunity below.
Register as a Mentor:
Ways to Connect:
A. Community Forum
Ask questions, share perspectives, and join the conversation.
The Community Forum provides a space for members to start discussions, ask questions, and gather feedback from wildlife professionals across different sectors, disciplines, and career stages.
Students and early-career professionals can seek advice, explore conservation issues, and learn from the experiences of others. Experienced professionals can contribute their knowledge and perspectives to discussions that interest them.
The goal is to encourage open conversations and expose members to a diversity of professional experiences and viewpoints.
For mentors: Participation is flexible and completely optional. You’ll receive a monthly invitation to contribute to discussions and can respond whenever a topic interests you. Time Commitment: Approximately 10–20 minutes per month, depending on your participation.
Members only. Login required.
B. Professional Office Hours
Explore different career paths and learn firsthand from experienced wildlife professionals.
Professional Office Hours connects students and early-career professionals with experienced wildlife practitioners for informal, one-on-one career conversations.
These 20-30 minute meetings are an opportunity to explore different career paths, ask questions, gain professional insights, and build connections within Alberta’s wildlife community.
For mentees: Browse mentor profiles, choose someone whose experience interests you, and book a conversation using their scheduling link. When booking, you’ll be asked to indicate a topic you’d like to discuss or specific questions you have. Mentees are responsible for preparing questions and leading the conversation.
For mentors: Share your experience through short, one-time conversations. You control your availability and how many conversations you’d like to offer, making this a flexible way to support multiple emerging professionals. Time Commitment: 20 minutes per conversation. Mentors set their own availability.
Members only. Login required.
C. Long-Term Mentorship Program
Build a meaningful professional connection through ongoing mentorship.
The Long-Term Mentorship Program pairs early-career professionals (graduated within the last 10 years) with experienced wildlife practitioners for a six-month, one-on-one mentorship relationship.
Unlike Professional Office Hours, this opportunity is designed for those seeking ongoing guidance in areas such as career planning, professional growth, goal setting, and skill development.
For mentees: This program is best suited to those with a clearer career direction or specific professional goals who would benefit from regular guidance and feedback.
For mentors: This is an opportunity to make a deeper investment in an emerging professional’s development by sharing your experience, offering advice, and supporting their progress over time. Mentor-mentee pairs will be matched based on career interests, professional goals, and areas of expertise. Time Commitment: Approximately one hour per month for six months.
Coming Soon! The Long-Term Mentorship Program will be launching soon. Stay tuned for application details and opportunities to participate.
