About Us

Leading Edge Seminars Inc. was founded in 1993 by Michael Kerman, MSW, to provide training and continuing education seminars to mental health and Human Services professionals. Our topics, speakers, and presentation styles are on the “leading edge,” thereby giving you an edge in your work with people.

What you can expect

Whether you are a counsellor, therapist, manager, social worker, health care professional or educator, you’ll find that there is something valuable here for you at Leading Edge Seminars.

After attending one of our mental health seminars, workshops or events, you will have learned some new skills, gained a fresh perspective, and spent an enjoyable time with expert leaders who know their stuff and know how to present.

We guarantee that our workshops and seminars will deliver as promised.

A few words from Leading Edge Seminars founder Michael Kerman

Our track record

Since 1993, Leading Edge Seminars has offered over 1,000 workshops presented by prominent leaders in the fields of mental health and management. Feedback from our workshop evaluation sheets indicates an overwhelming number of satisfied participants.

leading edge seminars
  • All of our workshops and seminars are highly relevant and on the “leading edge” of professional mental health practice.
  • Our speakers are experts in their field and have established reputations as stimulating and engaging presenters.
  • Our training is always practical and skill-focused.
  • Most of our workshops and seminars are one or two days in duration and provide you with skills that you can readily apply when you return to work.

Leading Edge Seminars has also taken a prominent role in helping to organize “Conversation Cafés” in Ontario.

We welcome your feedback

Any feedback and concerns you would like to share can be sent to us via email to info@leadingedgeseminars.org or by phone to 416-964-1133.

We also send evaluations via email to every webinar participant. These evaluations are optional, but we encourage you to let us know how we are doing.

Our team

Michael Kerman

Michael Kerman started Leading Edge Seminars in 1993. He’s always been curious about the latest developments in the world of helping people change. After receiving his MSW from the University of Toronto in 1976, he began working as a counsellor for teenagers and families at an adolescent mental health program. He ended up staying there for 18 years and eventually became the Executive Director. Although American-born, Michael loves living in Toronto, has a passion for Contra dancing and Irish Set Dancing, and is a huge fan of ice cream.

Emily Porter

Emily Porter joined the Leading Edge team in 1994. In her current role as Director of Programs & Training, she loves the daily challenges, variety, and educational experiences she gains through her work. Emily’s formal education is in teaching, and she has discovered many connections between teaching children and young adults and the workshops that Leading Edge Seminars provides. Outside of work, Emily enjoys spending time with her husband and four children. Email Emily here

Rae-Anne Jammer, our Director of Marketing and Controller, is the newest member of the Leading Edge team. She brings a breadth of professional experience in marketing and business management from a longstanding career working in many industries (including health and wellness) in both the B2B and B2C sectors. When Rae-Anne isn’t testing the limits of the latest marketing trends or strategies—or tweaking our operational processes for improved efficiency and sustainability—you can find her in the kitchen baking her famous multigrain seeded sourdough bread or cycling the many country roads in Muskoka! Email Rae-Anne here