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Computer screen showing two women in a zoom call, presenting at JAMBARK 2026

Why the Writing Was the Fastest Part: What Authentic Research and Structure Actually Do for a Book

Presented at JAMBARK 2026 (A Writer's Online Summit)

January 17 - 26, 2026 JAMBARK 2026

Everyone talks about writing a book, but few talk about everything that happens before the first chapter is written. In this engaging keynote, Tanya shared how research, listening, and thoughtful planning turned what looked like a three-year writing journey into writing a book in just ten days. Audiences left with a new appreciation for the invisible work that makes creative projects possible.

Audience

  • Writers and aspiring authors
  • Researchers and academics
  • Creative entrepreneurs
  • Conference attendees interested in innovation, creativity, or personal growth

Presentation Length
30, 45, or 60 minutes (including audience Q&A)

Audience Takeaways

  • Why preparation often matters more than speed.
  • How research, reflection, and structure can transform uncertainty into clarity.
  • Practical ways to move creative projects forward with greater confidence and purpose.
Woman in white jacket presenting in front of a microphone

From Administrator to Researcher: Exploring the Hidden Stories Behind Family Photographs

Presented at SHOWCASE 2025

June 5, 2025 at Humber Polytechnic

Why do some family photographs make us smile while others leave us feeling left out, overlooked, or deeply connected? Through an engaging, interactive workshop, Tanya shared discoveries from her research on the cultural similarities and differences in photographic displays while inviting participants to reflect on the stories their own family photographs tell. Participants left with a new perspective on how photographs shape identity, belonging, memory, and relationships.

Audience

  • Faculty and staff
  • Researchers and research participants
  • Educators
  • Professional development conferences
  • Community organizations interested in family, culture, and belonging

Presentation Length
45, 60, or 90 minutes (includes interactive activities and audience discussion)

Audience Takeaways

  • How personal photographs can communicate belonging, exclusion, and identity in ways we rarely recognize.
  • Research-informed guidelines for thinking more intentionally about displaying family photographs.
  • A deeper appreciation for how culture, age, family dynamics, and lived experience influence the stories people see in the same image.  
Woman presenting at podium in pale pink jacket

Me, a Researcher? Breaking the Myth That Research Is Only for Faculty

Presented at CARA National Conference 2025

May 14, 2025 in Fredericton, New Brunswick

Can an administrator become a researcher? Tanya thought the answer was no, until a question she couldn't ignore changed everything. Through a candid look at her first research project, she shared the practical steps, unexpected lessons, and personal growth that transformed her from someone who supported research into someone conducting it. Participants left inspired to see research as an opportunity driven by curiosity rather than job title.

Audience

  • Research administrators
  • Emerging researchers
  • College and university staff
  • Professional staff considering research
  • Research leadership conferences

Presentation Length
30, 45, or 60 minutes (including audience Q&A)

Audience Takeaways

  • How to navigate the research process from idea to dissemination.
  • Practical lessons from completing a first research project while balancing a full-time administrative role.
  • Why encouraging staff to engage in research can strengthen both individuals and institutions. 

How to Do Original & Authentic Research for Your Non-Fiction Book

Presented at JAMBARK 2025 (A Writer's Online Summit)

January 24 - 26, 2025 JAMBARK 2025

Every great nonfiction book begins with a question worth answering. In this practical presentation, Tanya shared how she transformed a personal theory into an original research project, using interviews, surveys, academic resources, and real-world observation to uncover insights that couldn't be found in existing books. Attendees left with practical strategies for conducting credible research that strengthens both their writing and their confidence.

Audience

  • Writers and aspiring authors
  • Researchers and academics
  • Nonfiction authors
  • Creative entrepreneurs
  • Writing organizations and conferences

Presentation Length
30, 45, or 60 minutes (including audience Q&A)

Audience Takeaways

  • How to move beyond personal experience to create credible, original nonfiction.
  • Practical research methods, tools, and organizational strategies for managing large amounts of information.
  • Ways to uncover authentic insights that make your work more meaningful, trustworthy, and memorable.

From Curiosity to Research: Starting When You Don't See Yourself as a Researcher

Presented online to Yukon University Workshop

December 6, 2024

What happens when an administrator with no formal research experience discovers a question that won't let go? In this candid presentation, Tanya spoke to a workshop of emerging university professors on how a desire to write a book led her through the process of developing a research question, securing ethics approval, designing a mixed-methods study, and conducting 52 in-depth interviews. Along the way, she offered practical lessons for anyone taking their first steps into research and showed that great research begins with curiosity, not a job title.

 Audience

  • Emerging researchers
  • Faculty and staff new to research
  • Graduate students
  • Research administrators
  • Professional development programs

Presentation Length
20, 30, or 45 minutes (including audience Q&A)

Audience Takeaways

  • How to turn an everyday question into a research project.
  • Practical insights into planning, ethics, timelines, and choosing the right methodology.
  • Lessons learned from conducting a first research study, including how confidence develops through the research process rather than before it.
Presenting in Whitehorse, Yukon

Building a Sustainable Research Culture: The Continuing Journey of an Institution's Research Office

Presented at CARA WEST Yukon Conference 2024

November 2024

How do you create a thriving research culture where people see themselves as researchers, regardless of their role? Drawing on Humber Polytechnic's journey, Tanya shared practical strategies for fostering curiosity, collaboration, and confidence through professional development, institutional supports, and knowledge sharing. Participants left with ideas they can adapt to strengthen research engagement within their own organizations.

Ideal Audience

  • Research administrators
  • Research office leaders
  • Higher education professionals
  • College and university administrators
  • Conference audiences focused on research, innovation, and organizational development

Presentation Length
30, 45, or 60 minutes (including audience discussion and Q&A)

Audience Takeaways

  • Practical approaches to building an inclusive research culture across an institution.
  • Ideas for supporting emerging researchers through professional development, mentorship, and internal funding.
  • Strategies for encouraging collaboration and creating lasting engagement in research and innovation. 
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