IPC 2025
Learn more about our previous event!
08:30 – 09:30 – Check-in & Registration
09:30 – 10:00 – Conference Kick-Off & Sponsor Acknowledgement
10:00 – 10:45 – Keynote Address
Leading Through Change: An Immigrant’s Journey of Resilience – Ajay Patel
10:45 – 11:15 – Break / Networking
11:15 – 12:15 – Breakout Sessions
1) Power in Your Posture: Body-Based Confidence for a New Beginning – Christianne Zurowski
2) Navigating Stress, Burnout, and Belonging in a New Country – Naina Shakdher Menon
3) Understanding Your Personality During Change – Sandy McLeod
12:15 – 13:15 – Lunch Break / Networking
13:15 – 14:15 – Plenary Presentation
Pack Your Professional Backpack: Tools for the Trail Ahead – Amanda Nguyen
14:15 – 14:45 – Break / Networking
14:45 – 15:45 – Employer Panel and Q&A
Providence Health Care, Karen Wall
BCIT, Zena Merali
RBC, Khalid Samim
Langara College, Connie Chong
15:45 – 16:00 – Closing Remarks & Prizes
2025 Keynote & Presenters
Look Who's Speaking!
Keynote Speaker
Ajay Patel
IPC 2025 Keynote Speaker
Born to Gujarati parents in Fiji, Ajay immigrated to East Vancouver as a young boy. After completing VCC-Langara’s Human Performance program, Ajay earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Human Kinetics from the University…
Plenary Presentation
Amanda Nguyen
Presenter - Pack Your Professional Backpack: Tools for the Trail Ahead
She oversees “The Bird Coop,” Arc'teryx’s internship program, and drives innovation in employer branding, recruitment operations, and mobility programs. Prior to this role, Amanda led recruitment for the company’s Supply Chain business for two…
Breakout Sessions
Christianne Zurowski
Presenter of Breakout Session 1 - Power in Your Posture: Body-Based Confidence for a New Beginning
Through 1-1 coaching and workshops, she teaches practical body-based ways to break free from overthinking, regulate stress, and create meaningful change from the inside out.
Grace Douglas-Valentin
Breakout Session 1 Moderator
She holds a BSc in Psychology and a Certified Employment Strategist, specializing in supporting newcomer refugees in their job search. Grace provides tailored guidance in resume-building, job search strategies, interview preparation, and understanding Canadian…
Naina Shakdher Menon
Presenter of Breakout Session 2 - Navigating Stress, Burnout, and Belonging in a New Country
An immigrant myself, I moved here to complete my studies — a journey that deeply shapes the way I connect with others in my work. For the past four years, I’ve had the privilege…
Lucy Southen
Breakout Session 2 Moderator
After completing her MA in Philosophy and English Literature, she immigrated to Canada in 2019. Working a wide range of roles during the pandemic, she has lived experience of the immigrant journey.
Sandy McLeod
Presenter of Breakout Session 3 - Understanding Your Personality During Change
She uses this tool in teambuilding workshops as well as in career planning and employment counselling workshops. Sandy has over 20 years of combined experience in Career/Employment Facilitation, Child and Youth Care Counselling, and…
Marie Poe
Breakout Session 3 Moderator
She is a Certified Career Development Practitioner through Simon Fraser University and currently serves as Employer Relations Coordinator at MOSAIC. In her current role, Maria builds and nurtures strategic relationships with employers across sectors…
Employer Panel
Zena Merali
Employer Panelist - BCIT
She also has a consulting practice and works with clients on issues such as strategic planning, performance management, talent acquisition and employee relations as well as management and leadership development. She has a Master’s…
Connie Chong
Employer Panelist - Langara College
A champion for innovative and inclusive education, Connie recently launched Stackable by Langara — a new strategy designed to make upskilling and reskilling more accessible through short, modular, and industry-aligned learning pathways. With over…
Khalid Samim
Employer Panelist - RBC
He began his banking career at Scotiabank in 2015, advancing through various client-facing and leadership roles in branch and commercial banking while earning his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Business Administration and multiple financial planning…
Karen Wall
Employer Panelist - Providence Health Care
She leads a dynamic team dedicated to creating equitable and innovative recruitment practices that reflect Providence’s mission of compassion and social justice. Her work focuses on building pathways for internationally educated professionals, advancing Truth…
David Lee
Employer Panel Moderator
Over the last 15 years, David has worked with numerous non-profit organizations, both as a consultant and in leadership roles, with a focus on the social services, local employment and non-profit housing sectors.
Speakers
Sunita Dhir
Opening Remarks
Before being elected to the legislature, Sunita worked as a language instructor at SUCCESS, a non-profit organization that supports newcomers on their settlement journey, Sunita has helped hundreds of people learn English and connect…
Ava Zhang
Opening Remarks
Ava has been working in corporate and commercial banking for 8 years supporting businesses in diverse industries such as construction, food and beverage, retail fashion, private schools, etc. Ava is a proud UBC Sauder…
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…
Masters of ceremonies
Darcy Chow
Co-Master of Ceremonies
As a second-generation immigrant, Darcy has lived the immigrant experience through his family and his own experiences. Before joining MOSAIC, he spent over 6 years teaching English, with 4 of those years abroad in…
Justine Kowal
Co-Master of Ceremonies
Justine has worked in different roles including Career Advisor, Program Coordinator and Curriculum Developer. With experience in the private and non-profit sectors, she has had the privilege of supporting many diverse individuals throughout their career…
2025 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.
Major Sponsor
BCIT School of Business + Media offers a broad range of programs to help you achieve your career goals. Our instructors are industry professionals who bring years of experience to the classroom, giving you relevant skills that you can put to work right away.
Your busy schedule requires education opportunities that are designed for you. Through BCIT Flexible Learning options, we offer evening, weekend, and online classes, as well as accelerated and condensed programs.
Whichever learning path you choose, you’ll get the skills, connections, and experience you need to find success and make your mark.
Major Sponsor
Langara is a college that prioritizes sustainability, inclusion, and community engagement, with indigenization as the essential link connecting us all.
We are a public college located in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam First Nation. We are honoured to carry the name snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓, meaning house of teachings, which was gifted to us by Musqueam. This name reflects our deep commitment to learning, community, and respectful relationships.
Today, Langara is one of BC’s leading post-secondary institutions, providing programs and courses to more than 19,000 students annually.
Path to Adventure Sponsor
Based in North Vancouver, Arc’teryx is committed to innovation, building durable products that perform in the mountains, and supporting their guests to keep gear in play. Beyond design, they support community through mountain education, skill building and partnerships to increase access to the outdoors.
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.
2025 Exhibitors List
Connect With These Exhibitors!
- Arc’teryx
- Back in Motion: Career Paths
- BC Construction Association
- BCIT School of Business + Media
- Career Paths: Douglas College
- Career Paths: ISSofBC
- Career Paths: MOSAIC
- Career Paths: PICS
- CPABC (Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia)
- CPHR BC & Yukon
- Langara College
- MOSAIC – Settlement and Integration Programs
- MOSAIC engage
- SFU Continuing Studies
- Vancouver Community College
- WorkBC
- YWCA – Metro Vancouver