Career Focus :
Consultation in education and human resource development, with focus projects in strategic planning and project management for:

• Development of a highly trained hospitality workforce
• Nationalisation projects
• Faculty and Curriculum Development
• Whole School Improvement
• Community-based and School-based Career and Life Choice Education

Areas of Strength in Consultation and Leadership:
I have developed an ability to work with diverse teams of professionals of all levels, from entry to Board Chairman, to bring out agreed principles on which to develop sound strategies for organizational change. Finding the process for arriving at an improved organization includes assessment of base line and needs, development of human strengths, adoption of pertinent policies and creation of the best procedures and work organization to arrive at the desired position. Team work is key to this process, and I feel confident in my ability to bring out the best in working groups.

Current Consultative Work:
Since July 2003, I have been a freelance consultant, advising and training in the tourism and hospitality sector and developing new Career and Life Choice projects in Dubai. I am presently lead (contractual) trainer for the Dubai Tourism Award Programme which licenses Tour Guides in the Emirate, for DTCM. I am Program Chairman for the GETEX Concurrent Conferences, including the Global Training and Human Resources Development Forum and am working with a Government department to introduce a major industry training initiative across the Emirates

Major Management Consultation in Education and Human Resource Development:

• In 2005-06, I redesigned the Tour Guide Licensing programme for DTCM to better address the work requirements for tour guiding, and as lead trainer, continue to work with others to make the department self-sufficient in training by the end of 2006.
• In 2005 I was joint trainer in a customer service initiative for the Union Coop Society, Dubai. During 2004-2006, I worked with major education providers to plan and deliver faculty development and consultation on best practice in education.
• From 2001 to 2003, I was Director of Education and Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Education Service, Uganda (a consultancy contract sponsored in part by CIDA). In this position I was responsible for all educational programmes and faculty development, and worked as part of an ongoing team project to reposition the education services of AKDN in East Africa. Responsible for Senior Administrative recruitment, job definition and on-going improvement.
• From 1986 to 2001 I worked in various teaching, collaborative leadership, consultative and administrative roles in the Kativik School Board, becoming Education Consultant for Adults (1988-92) and Director of Education Services (1992 – 1998). I then took on a special project to start a career education programme with job-readiness elements. As Director of Education, oversaw all professional academic hiring for the school board, with a recruiting process over several months yearly and an interview to hire ratio of 30:1 to fill human resource needs in remote arctic villages.
• From 1968 to 1986 I worked for the Renfrew County Board of Education, Pembroke, Ontario Canada as Teacher, Department Head, Student Counsellor and School to Workplace Coordinator
  

Significant Projects:
As Director of Education for both the Kativik School Board in Arctic Quebec and the Aga Khan Education Service in Uganda, I have provided educational leadership to meet specific challenges in very different cultural contexts. In the Arctic Region of Quebec, the emphasis was on educational change to promote the well-being and self-control of the Inuit of Arctic Quebec in education (Inuitization). In Uganda, the emphasis was on creation of Centres of Excellence to teach the best minds of East Africa, while at the same time improving the educational background and infrastructure through sustainable development of curriculum, faculty, and teaching practice.

Since April 2006, I have been Programme Chair for the GETEX Concurrent Conferences, a series of Education and Human Resource Development Conferences in Dubai and Abu Dhabi twice yearly.
In 2004, I was appointed to the Advisory Committee on Training for the Department of Tourism and Commerce Management, Dubai, UAE.
In 2002, I organized, in conjunction with Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development, a conference for Leaders in School Improvement Projects, with delegates from ten countries, in Kampala, Uganda.
In 1999, I was the keynote speaker for the Dreamcatchers Conference at Concordia University for Aboriginal educators from across Canada.

I have also been member of Steering Committees or Advisory Groups for

• Enhancement of Universal Primary Education in Kampala
• The creation of an Advanced Diploma in Educational Management at Kyambogo University, and
• The establishment of a Teachers Professional Development Centre in East Africa

Personal attributes:
I am computer proficient (PC and Mac) and Internet savvy; I am functionally bilingual in English and French.
Date of Birth: 5 December 1944
Marital Status: Single (Divorced)
Teacher Certification: Ontario Secondary School Teaching Certificate
Citizenship: Canada
Passport: BC232027, valid until December 18th 2007.
Residence: Dubai

References on request

Robert C Turner
Education and Human Resource Development Consultant

PO Box 76726
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Voice: +971 50 656 8010 Fax: +971 4 398 7968
bob@rcturner.com