Jumpstart Refugee Talent and the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) have built a partnership grounded in the belief that when HR professionals champion diverse talent, including refugees, they not only open doors to opportunity but also create stronger and more resilient workplaces. Since 2023, HRPA and Jumpstart have collaborated to advance inclusive hiring practices and provide meaningful professional development opportunities for HR leaders across Canada.

Sessions to Inform and Inspire

In both 2023 and 2024, Jumpstart delivered HRPA professional development webinars titled Hiring Diverse Refugee Talent: An Overlooked Opportunity. These sessions equipped HR professionals with practical strategies to tap into new talent pools by recruiting and hiring refugees. The webinars engaged 1,873 participants in exploring the challenges refugees face during recruitment, best practices for recognizing diverse skills and experiences, and the many ways refugees contribute to economic success. Together, they highlighted how inclusive hiring benefits both organizations and the broader economy.

Beyond the webinars, Jumpstart and HRPA celebrated a shared milestone when HRPA’s Director of Professional Development, Lata Viseu, joined Jumpstart at the TMX closing bell ceremony in 2023.This symbolic moment elevated the visibility of refugee talent within Canada’s financial and business community.

Jumpstart’s Darrell Pinto, speaking at the HRPA Law Conference, shared:

“Speaking on the human-centric diversity panel along with our partner organization Talent Beyond Boundaries almost immediately led to good things. There were HR staff from Zurich in the audience who were texting their executives in real time about Jumpstart. We subsequently had a follow-up meeting with them and, two years later, Zurich is one of our strongest employer partners.”

Partnership in Action

In 2025, Jumpstart organized a virtual panel as part of HRPA’s Ignite series launch, and Jumpstart team members also attended HRPA’s in-person Ignite Wellness Conference. These events created valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, share best practices, and further align both organizations’ missions to empower inclusive workplaces.

HRPA members have also contributed directly to Jumpstart’s mentorship initiatives. HRPA’s Lata Viseu continues to volunteer through Jumpstart’s Welcome Talent Canada (WTC) program, now in her second cycle as a mentor. Her ongoing commitment demonstrates how HR professionals can support newcomers one-on-one and how Jumpstart’s mentorship program opens pathways for refugee talent through meaningful professional connections.

Throughout this collaboration, Jumpstart has also engaged its partners—including World Education Services, Knockri, Talent Beyond Boundaries, and EQ Bank – to participate in HRPA programming. HRPA, in turn, has amplified Jumpstart’s impact by featuring the organization prominently on its member landing page, connecting HR professionals to resources that foster inclusive hiring.

Championing Inclusive Futures

Together, HRPA and Jumpstart are demonstrating what’s possible when professional associations and community organizations collaborate with shared purpose. Through joint webinars, high-profile events, mentorship, and shared resources, they are helping HR professionals recognize the value of refugee talent and providing the tools to take action.

As the partnership continues, both organizations remain committed to ensuring that HR professionals are empowered to lead with inclusion, and that refugee talent is recognized in professional spaces as the valuable asset it is.

To learn more about Jumpstart Refugee Talent, visit jumpstartrefugee.ca.