IPC 2023
Learn more about our previous event!
08:30 – 09:30 – Check-in & Registration
09:30 – 10:00 – Opening Remarks & Conference Kick-Off
10:00 – 10:45 – Keynote Address
The Power of One – Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan
10:45 – 11:15 – Break / Networking
11:15 – 12:15 – Breakout Sessions
1) Government Jobs– Manpreet Atwal
2) Skilled Trades & Manufacturing – Aoibheann Shiels, Bryan Fong, Effie Garcia
3) Careers in Tech – Bryan Buggey, Charles Tong, Mimoza Pachuku
12:15 – 13:15 – Lunch Break / Networking
13:15 – 14:00 – Plenary Presentation
Immigrant Career Journeys – Dialogue Between Two Educators about Change and Resilience – Michael Yue and Pam Khinda
14:00 – 14:30- Break / Networking
14:30 – 15:30 – Employer Panel and Q&A
Boyden – Ella Hiploito
RBC – Rishabh Mehta
Primacorp – Najib Raie
MCABC – Kim Barbero
Work Wellness Institute – Cam Stockdale
15:30 – 15:45 – Closing Remarks & Prizes
2023 Keynote & Presenters
Look Who Spoke Last Year!
Keynote Speaker
Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan
IPC 2023 Keynote Speaker
Her commitment to community service has remained constant. As a graduate social work student in Mumbai’s Tata Institute of Social Sciences, she worked with the children and women of Film City slum. She then…
Employer Panel
Ella Laure Hipolito
Employer Panelist - Boyden
Supporting executives, boards, and search committees in securing exceptional leadership, Ella brings deep and current knowledge in hiring and recruiting nationally. She sits on Boyden’s National DEII Committee and is involved with the Vancouver…
Rishabh Mehta
Employer Panelist - Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
Being a Newcomer to Canada himself, he takes pride in leading the RBC North Fraser’s Newcomer Specialist Team. His team, along with two others in Lower Mainland, helps Newcomers to Canada in their settlement…
Kim Barbero
Employer Panelist - Mechanical Contractors Association of BC (MCABC)
Proponents of sustainability, MCABC is focused on the importance and benefits of green careers and the positive impact the mechanical contracting industry has on the delivery of clean water, clean air and comfort for…
Najib Raie
Employer Panelist - Primacorp Ventures
Najib is a seasoned leader with 15 years of experience structuring, growing, and optimizing partnerships and new ventures in North America and beyond. He is a proud alma mater of University of Victoria, University…
Dr. Cameron Stockdale
Employer Panelist - Work Wellness Institute
Emphasizing an approach of ongoing growth and refinement, his work focuses on increasing efficiencies and bolstering team performance. Drawing from a substantial background in emergency services, including over 25 years of hands-on experience, Dr.…
Larry Chan
Plenary Presentation Moderator
Since then he has managed programs for youth, older workers, multi-barriered clients, professional and immigrants. As the manager of the Vancouver North East WorkBC Centre, Larry worked with community partners to serve all British…
Plenary Presentation
Michael Yue
Presenter: Immigrant Career Journeys - Dialogue Between Two Educators about Change and Resilience
He first came to Canada from Hong Kong as an international student. Life opportunities led to him to becoming a permanent resident, and later a Canadian citizen. Canada is his home, but he also…
Pam Khinda
Presenter: Immigrant Career Journeys - Dialogue Between Two Educators about Change and Resilience
She is a Certified Career Development Practitioner with an extensive background in supporting diverse clients (including professional immigrants) reach their career goals. In her role as a Manager, she develops, implements and manages innovative…
Breakout Sessions
Manpreet Atwal
Presenter of Breakout Session 1 - Government Jobs
I have been a part of the BC Public Service for 12 years, starting my journey as an Employment Assistance Worker with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction in 2011. This role…
Laurie Koch
Moderator of Breakout Session 1 - Government Jobs
Laurie also supports contract acquisition through involvement in proposals for funding requests, including brainstorming new and creative projects as well as writing proposals to create the best possible opportunities for community members and the…
Aoibheann Shiels
Presenter of Breakout Session 2 - Skilled Trades & Manufacturing
I am privileged to work in our local factory as the director, overseeing all of our locally made products including our icon model the Alpha SV. I grew up working in a small apparel…
Bryan Fong
Presenter of Breakout Session 2 - Skilled Trades & Manufacturing
Bryan Fong is the Apprenticeship Advisor for South Burnaby and New Westminster and has been with SkilledTradesBC for over 7 years. During this time, he has provided support and guidance to apprentices, sponsors and…
Effie Garcia
Moderator of Breakout Session 2 - Skilled Trades & Manufacturing
Effie has worked in the settlement and employment services industry for over 14 years and is a Career Development Practitioner (CDP) graduate from Simon Fraser University (SFU). She highly values continuing education so she…
Danube Dasht Laali
Presenter of Breakout Session 3 - Careers in Tech
Experienced HR leader with a global perspective, serving diverse industries, including oil and gas, food, and telecommunications.
Bryan Buggey
Presenter of Breakout Session 3 - Careers in Tech
Since 2006, Bryan has been interested and passionate about the economic opportunities afforded by the necessary transition to a low-carbon economy and has led teams in charge of projects and programs aimed at supporting…
Charles Tong
Presenter of Breakout Session 3 - Careers in Tech
Born in Hong Kong and raised in the Oceania region. Since childhood, Charles has been a foreign immigrant. Charles has worked in the tech industry for over 15 years, he arrived in Canada in 2016…
Mimoza Pachuku
Moderator of Breakout Session 3 - Careers in Tech
Mimoza holds a B.A. Degree in Political Sciences, and an M.A. in Gender Studies from the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. With 13 years’ experience in project management, funder, and stakeholder collaboration, Mimoza…
Speakers
Olga Stachova
Opening Remarks
Olga brings 20 years of experience managing a fast growing, distributing, non-profit organization, as well as operational expertise in program design, delivery, and evaluation, and a proven track record of building strategic partnerships among…
Sam Behnam
Presenting Sponsor Address
Their goal is to provide advice beyond banking by extensively engaging in public events such as employment workshops and educating on Canadian banking system. They also create local and national partnerships to help connect…
Emcee
Matthew Levan
Master of Ceremonies
Taking this experience and a desire to pursue a career teaching adult, Matthew enrolled in a Masters of Adult Education at the University of New Brunswick completing this in 2012. While pursuing his studies…
2023 Exhibitors List
- Arc’teryx
- Back in Motion Career Paths
- Career Paths: Douglas College
- Career Paths: ISSofBC
- Career Paths: MOSAIC
- CDI College
- CPABC (Charted Professional Accountants of British Columbia)
- Le Relais Francophone de la Colombie Britannique
- MOSAIC engage
- SFU Continuing Studies
- Skilled Trades BC
- Vancouver Community College
- Windmill Microlending
- WorkBC
2023 SPONSORS
Thanks to Them We're Here
Presenting Sponsor
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 84,000+ employees who bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank, RBC is a proud employer and financial institution of choice for newcomers, committed to providing support from arrival to settling in.
We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities.
Arc’teryx is a Canadian global design company based in the Coast Mountain Range in British Columbia (BC) – on the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh, səl̓ ilwətaʔɬ and Lil̓ wat7úl Territory – that specializes in technical high-performance apparel and equipment
Located in the heart of the city, Vancouver Community College (VCC) offers academic, cultural, and social environments that inspire relevant real-world training. Our on campus facilities – including gourmet restaurants, an auto shop, and salon and spa – allow students to hone their skills and training while providing high-quality lower-cost services to the Downtown and East Vancouver communities. With over 15,000 students, including a growing number of Aboriginal and International learners, 1,100 employees and an annual budget of $105 million, VCC is a key player in the post-secondary landscape in B.C.
With a primary focus on changing lives through education, service, and care, Primacorp Ventures is Canada’s largest independent provider of private post-secondary education. With annual enrollments of 15,000 or more, students are given the opportunity to train and become productive members of our global community through the market-driven, career-training programs in the fields of business, art and design, healthcare, teaching education, technology, legal studies, and skilled trades.
Primacorp Ventures also operates a number of independent subsidiaries in seniors’ housing, commercial real state, and self-storage facilities in both Canada and the United States.
Shaw Multicultural Channel (or simply Shaw Multicultural) is a Canadian ethnic cable television community channel, offering programming in 20 different languages. It is owned and operated by Shaw Communications, and is available on cable systems in Vancouver and Calgary regional markets. The channel operates on cable channel 4 in the Greater Vancouver region, on cable channel 10 in the Calgary Region and on Shaw BlueCurve TV channel 901 in those regions.
WorkBC Employment Services offers a wide range of free services which supports job seekers in getting – and keeping – a job as quickly as possible. We help those who are having difficulty finding work or ongoing employment. We provide support in job search, career development, and specalized services. WorkBC serves a variety of clients including Citizens, Permanent Residents, Refugee Claimants and various inclusion groups including Youth, Indigenous Populations, Persons with Disability, and Immigrants.