Interested in learning how companies in various business sectors in Vancouver are embracing diversity and fostering inclusion? Discover how D&I enhances business performance, leads to better decision making, and drives results. Listen to personal and professional stories about the challenging facets that can arise. Join in on an engaging discussion with creative speed networking, and share common practices with our knowledgeable panelists. Snacks will be provided!
Agenda:
5:45-6:15pm: Registration & Networking
6:15-7:00pm: Welcome & Panel Discussion
7:00-7:30pm: Panel Speed Networking
7:30-7:45pm: Group Takeaways
7:45-8:00pm: Reconvene with Panel & Closing Remarks
8:00-8:30pm: Networking
Panelists:
Ashley Huth - Diversity & Inclusion Consultant at Vancity
Ashley has been with Vancity for the past ten years in a diverse set of roles ranging from supporting our membership and staff in branches, playing a leadership role within the employee group called the Diversity Inclusion Alliance and currently is on the Diversity and Inclusion team within HR. Ashley’s focus is on all Diversity and Inclusion areas with a strong focus on embedding Reconciliation as a core value. Ashley has pulls from many learning opportunities, shares personal stories and committed to ensuring our employees have the tools and learning opportunities they need to support an inclusive workplace.
Lorna Nimmons - Partner, Audit at KPMG Canda | Chair of Women's Leadership Council
Lorna is an Audit Partner in KPMG’s Greater Vancouver practice and has over 22 years of experience providing assurance and business advisory services to private and public companies, primarily in the real estate and hospitality sectors. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Lorna is a 1994 graduate from the University of Edinburgh, in Law and Accountancy LLB (Hons). She holds a Chartered Accountant (CA) designation from Scotland and CPA designation from British Columbia. Within KPMG she is Chair of Women in Leadership in Greater Vancouver and thus actively involved in mentoring and championing women to achieve their leadership goals.
Lorna is passionate about being involved in her community and helping others. She is a former director of, Vancouver CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) (2005-2007) of which she was a founding member, and of the Association of Women in Finance (2011-2013). She was the former President and Treasurer of the North Shore Disability Resource Centre (2010-2016) and is the Treasurer of 365give (2014-present). In June 2014 she obtained her ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Lorna is a former Big Sister and joined the Board of Big Sisters in 2016 as she is a strong supporter of the organization and in particular its mentoring objectives. Lorna, her husband and two daughters live in West Vancouver.
Michael Craig - Director, Regional Underwriting West at Export Development Canda
Michael Craig joined Export Development Canada in 1995 as a Financing Manager, Pacific North Asia. During his EDC career, he has worked on a number of teams and in a variety of roles, including Regional Manager for Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Turkey and the CIS; Financing Manager, Aerospace Team; and, Corporate Risk Manager, Risk Management Office. In 2006, he assumed the position of Senior Financing Manager, Small Business Finance and in 2008 was appointed to his current position responsible for commercial markets underwriting in western Canada.
Prior to joining EDC, Mr. Craig worked as an Account Manager at Scotiabank. He holds an MBA from the University of Ottawa and a BA (Honours) in Economics from Queen’s University.
Stephanie Redivo - Senior Program Manager, Globel Diversity & Inclusion Office at SAP
Simplifying complex and chaotic problems into simple creative solutions is Stephanie's specialty as Senior Program Manager within the Global Diversity and Inclusion Office.
She is responsible for complex projects across all the focus areas (Gender Intelligence, Cross-Generational Intelligence, Culture and Identity and Differently Abled People). She was responsible for the execution of the Global EDGE certification where SAP became the first multinational technology company to receive this certification.
She began her career as a Systems Analyst for a printing company in Seattle, WA where she learned that boxes can be complicated objects. She moved back to Vancouver to take a position as a Support Engineer solving customer’s reporting problems at Crystal Decisions in 2001. Solving problems and training inspired her to become a Software Trainer where she trained clients and employees globally from 2002 to 2006. Educating her customers led to a Courseware Developer role in 2006 where she created training for global customers and in 2009 she became the Team Lead where she was responsible for managing a team with tight deadlines and multiple projects in many languages.
She is obsessed with inclusive teams, mentorship and inspiring girls to explore technology. Since 2011 Stephanie has been a mentor for the UBC Executive Mentorship, YWIB and SAP Intern mentorship programs. She is the project sponsor for the GIRLsmarts4tech Grade 7 workshop which was held at SAP. In November 2017 SAP and UBC will hold their 10th event in Vancouver with 17 events run globally. To date they have inspired almost 1000 girls putting in over 5000 volunteer hours.
Ziad Boustany - Princial at RAM
Ziad Boustany is a Professional Engineer who co-founded a multi-discipline Engineering and Project Management firm in Vancouver. Born in Lebanon and immigrated to BC in the 1990's, he completed a Bachelor of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. Ziad specializes in project execution and leading and motivating larger teams in a demanding environment. Along with his team he has participated in key major projects in the lower mainland for clients such as BC Hydro, Fortis BC and the Ministry of Transportation.
Moderator:
Mahin Rashid - Accesibility & Inclusion Consultant at Presidents Group
Mahin is a strategic community development leader and dedicates her career to ensuring equal opportunities for everyone in our province. She works currently as an Accessibility & Inclusion Consultant for the Presidents Group, a network of senior business leaders working to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities in BC. Mahin is a long-standing and active volunteer with a variety of organizations and has a passion for advancing the interests of young people who face barriers to inclusion through involvement in programs such as Big Sisters and Girl Guides of Canada.