WE'RE CHANGING THE GAME

Ryan Beedie

Ryan Beedie oversees one of the most successful industrial and residential property development companies in Western Canada. Born and raised in Burnaby, BC, Ryan’s passion for real estate was ignited early on, learning about the family business at the dinner table from his father Keith, who founded the company in 1954. Ryan joined the company in 1993 and became President in 2001. By 2018, the company had diversified activities while exemplifying its community-driven principle, Built For Good.

With a personal commitment of $50 million, Beedie Luminaries is Ryan’s biggest philanthropic endeavour to date. It furthers his belief that you have a responsibility to give back to the community where you live and work. A philanthropist at heart, Ryan has donated or committed more than $35 million in the past decade to organizations such as Ronald McDonald House, BC Children’s Hospital, Beedie School of Business, YWCA, BC Institute of Technology, and Vancouver Police Foundation, to name a few. Ryan holds an MBA in real estate from the University of British Columbia and an undergraduate degree from Simon Fraser University. He resides in Vancouver and shares his love of music with his wife Cindy and their three children.

Martina Meckova, MBA

Martina is a social-profit leader with over twenty years of experience in strategic fundraising, business development, operations management, marketing, governance, and special events. She joined Beedie Luminaries from the Vancouver Police Foundation where she led the implementation of important initiatives that resulted in the organization’s growth from $2 million to $20 million in assets. Martina was instrumental in launching the Vancouver Police Cadets, an award-winning youth program that continues to change the lives of hundreds of aspiring high school students from challenging backgrounds.

Before joining the Vancouver Police Foundation, Martina was the Executive Director of Cystic Fibrosis Canada – BC, Senior Manager of Communications for the YMCA of Greater Vancouver, and Senior Account Director of Spectrum Marketing Corporation. She also holds an MBA from Queen’s University. Martina’s personal experience of being a new immigrant and a beneficiary of scholarship funding herself solidifies her strong commitment to our mission. She sees her role as a unique opportunity to pay it forward and inspire others to achieve their dreams.

Anisha Arora, Ed.D.

Cohorts 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, and GSA

Anisha holds a Doctorate in Postsecondary Education and a Master’s Degree in Counselling with a specialization in student affairs. Her doctorate scholarship focused on the experiences of first-generation students of color.  Anisha’s knowledge and expertise spans 20 years in the areas of student services, student enrolment, academic advising, equity, diversity, and inclusion.  She also has over 10 years of university instruction experience and has taught at several universities in the United States and Canada.

For fun, Anisha loves to travel, cook, give back to the community and spend time with her family.  Anisha respectfully acknowledges that she is a settler immigrant and is thankful for the opportunity to live on the unceded and traditional territories of the Tsleil-Waututh (səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ), Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm), Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), and Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) Nations.

If Anisha could go back in time, one thing she would tell her teenage self is: Don’t rush and trust the process.

Dal Sohal, MA

RISE & SPARK Programs

Dal is an educator, learning strategist, facilitator, and certified coach. She has worked in higher education for over 20 years in a variety of roles supporting student success and engagement. As an independent consultant, she provides training and coaching to organizations and individuals in the areas of leadership, interpersonal communication, and equity.

Dal immigrated to Canada as a small child with her parents. Her lived experience as a South Asian woman growing up on unceded Coast Salish Lands has helped shape her perspective and commitment to creating inclusive spaces and improving access for people from historically marginalized groups. Her guiding leadership philosophy embodies caring connection, reflective thinking and listening, and promotion of continuous learning. Dal has a MA in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University and a BA from SFU.

Florence Cosulich

Always behind the scenes taking projects from the ideation to reality, Florence is a multidisciplinary team builder and group facilitator. Florence’s drive for helping people realize their ideas and dreams began with her work in theatre as a stage manager, and since then she has brought an element of play and creativity to all of her work.

She has trained and worked as a leader and facilitator locally and internationally in the areas of public art, youth leadership, student travel, wellness, personal development and experiential education.

Florence’s facilitation style centers on becoming more comfortable with the uncomfortable and establishing deeper and more vulnerable connections both to one’s self and others.

Guided by these experiences, groups and individuals are free to serve a greater purpose and create a world around them that they are proud of.

Hala Nugent, M.Urb

Cohorts 2022 and 2023

Hala brings over 15 years of dedicated post-secondary support to the Beedie Luminary program. Her extensive experience includes guiding students through campus life, from navigating enrolment services, and understanding student loans, to career planning, and even finding the best coffee shops. With a strong passion for promoting financial literacy and budgeting, Hala enjoys crafting personalized financial plans that empower students throughout their academic journey and beyond.

Hala holds a B.A. in Family Studies/Sociology from UBC and a Master of Urban Studies (M.Urb) from SFU. In her free time, she enjoys running, cycling, and coaching boxing.

June Lee

June thrives on innovation, turnarounds, and meaningful human connection. With over nine years of experience in community-building, she has worked in underserved areas, driven by a deep passion for people.

A graduate of the University of British Columbia with a BA in Political Science and Law & Society, June was involved in campus culture and student events throughout her undergraduate journey. Post-graduation, she dedicated herself to curating municipal recreational and educational programs for children and youth in underserved communities across the Lower Mainland. Simultaneously, she honed her skills as a marketer, contributing to impactful digital and experiential campaigns for national food and beverage brands, and excelling at large-scale experiential events across British Columbia.

In her free time, June enjoys exploring the outdoors with views of the mountains and ocean. She’s a big fan of strawberry ice cream, loves experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and finds joy in reading op-eds with a coffee in hand!

Mackenzie Dickson

Mackenzie is a facilitator, educator, and professional futurist who loves engaging with groups in exploring both personal and global issues.

After completing his MSc in Strategic Foresight, Mackenzie took his relentless curiosity to UNESCO to further his learning about futures literacy and global systems. At UNESCO he had the opportunity to facilitate international workshops for policymakers and government advisers.

Drawing on his experience in group facilitation and personal development training locally and internationally, combined with his BA in Psychology from UBC, Mackenzie created FAM Studios and partnered with Florence Cosulich to design and offer engaging group experiences intended to provoke curiosity, vulnerability, openness, and connections.

Mackenzie is delighted to be working with Beedie Luminaries and is honoured to be a Community and Student Forum Facilitator for these amazing students. While he continues to develop new options for engaging online, Mackenzie and Florence are both aimed at making the student community self-sustaining over the next few years. And from what they’ve seen of these incredible students so far – it won’t be long!

Paula Salloum

Paula joined Beedie Luminaries in February of 2019 with over 30 years of experience in diverse administrative and organizational roles, working in the fields of law, insurance, office management, hospitality, and fund development.

In her role as the Program Development Manager, Paula brings her deep knowledge and experience to further expand Beedie Luminaries and our social impact through the management support of operations, governance, program delivery and evaluation, mentorship & internship programs, and external & internal community relations.

Previously, Paula worked for the owner and founder of Rocky Mountaineer and his family office, where she was also exposed to the philanthropic activities and many charity events and programs. From this experience, she had found her passion for the social profit sector and decided to join the Vancouver Police Foundation. In her role as the Executive and Development Coordinator, she assisted the Executive Director in the growth, program development and grants distribution.

Paula is excited to support this inspiring and meaningful scholarship program.

Michaela Bray

With a strong passion for supporting community and helping others, Michaela is dedicated to empowering children and youth, especially those facing barriers. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology, Michaela has spent over 12 years as Senior Manager at Make-A-Wish Canada, where she spearheaded impactful programs and collaborated with families, volunteers, and healthcare professionals to create life-changing experiences for children with critical illnesses.

Michaela’s roots trace back to Halifax, Nova Scotia, though her heart lies in the great outdoors of the West Coast. Whether it’s hiking, practicing yoga, or exploring the trails with her family and dogs, she thrives in nature. A self-proclaimed “hippie in disguise,” Michaela also finds joy in writing, using storytelling as a way to connect with others and share meaningful experiences. Her love for travel has taken her to places near and far, broadening her perspective and deepening her understanding of diverse cultures.

With a career steeped in community connection and a personal love for adventure, creativity, and self-expression, Michaela is excited to bring her dedication and unique perspective to the team at Beedie Luminaries.

Avis Glaze, Ed.D.

Dr. Avis Glaze is the Founder and CEO of Edu-Quest International Inc.

As a recognized international leader in elementary and secondary education, Avis has been acclaimed for her work in leadership development, student achievement, school and system improvement, human rights, social justice, diversity and inclusion, character development and equity of outcomes for all students. She has been invited by political and educational leaders to improve school, district, and governance structures towards improved performance. Her areas of special interest include working with educators to close achievement gaps, improving student engagement, and forging strategic partnerships with parents, business and community organizations.

Avis has worked with educators in 50 jurisdictions across the globe including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, New Zealand, Australia, England, the United States, the Caribbean and the majority of Canadian provinces. She is in demand as a keynote speaker at international conferences and for system performance reviews. She is currently a member of Scotland’s International Council of Education Advisers.

Avis has received more than thirty awards for outstanding contribution to education, including Educator of the Year, The Distinguished Educator Award, the 2001 YWCA Women of Distinction Award, the Harry Jerome Award, Sandford D. McDonnell Lifetime Achievement Award for Character Education, Scotland’s inaugural Robert Owen Award and The Order of Ontario, among others.

For further information, please visit her website at: www.avisglaze.ca

Heather McCaw

Heather is pleased to have re-joined her alma mater, the University of British Columbia, to lead its Development and Alumni Relations program after serving for three years as the Vice-President of Advancement at the University of Alberta. As UBC’s Vice-President, Heather is responsible for development and alumni staff and programming across the university’s two campuses. Throughout her career, she has been involved in several major campaigns and co-directed UBC’s successful Start an Evolution Campaign, which raised over $1.6 billion from 2008 to 2015.

In addition to over 20 years of experience in the post-secondary sector, Heather was vice-president of two associated consulting companies, Give Canada Fundraising Corporation and Spectrum Marketing Corporation. These organizations specialize in securing strategic business partnerships and multimillion-dollar donations on behalf of non-profit clients that have included the United Way of the Lower Mainland, the Rick Hansen Foundation, the universities of Calgary and Victoria, and the Toronto Rehab Foundation. Heather’s volunteer activities have focused on social services and disability resources.

Ian Chisholm

Originally from Saskatchewan, Ian is a social entrepreneur and pioneer in the field of executive development. From 2000 to 2004, Ian served as the first CEO of the Columba 1400 Community and International Leadership Centre on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Columba 1400 was created to develop the leadership potential of young people from tough socio-economic realities across the UK. He has since served as the Centre’s first Fellow, assisting operational outreach in both Australia and South Africa.

Before his time in Europe, Ian served as the Director of Programs for Operation Enterprise, a division of American Management Association International headquartered in New York City, USA. There he played an integral role in pioneering an initiative to bring young talent from inner-city USA to experience a regime of formal leadership development.

Kate Ross, Ed.D

SHINE Program

Dr. Kate Ross has worked in post-secondary education for over 39 years. She began her career developing co-operative education programs (Integrated Work Learning) at Camosun College. Adding one program a year for 10 years, her leadership resulted in Camosun having the largest community college co-operative education program in western Canada. She then took on the role of Registrar & Director, Student Services at Camosun, eventually moving to SFU to take on the role of Executive Director, Enrolment & Registrar and then AVP, Enrolment Services & Registrar at the UBC. She has received the Frank Gelin Lifetime Achievement Award issued by the BC Council on Admissions & Transfer and the ARUCC Outstanding Achievement Award. She has also been nominated twice, once in Victoria and once in Vancouver, for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.

Her career has been focused on improving ways to support students to achieve their full potential and to find ways to improve and create access for those students who might think post-secondary is out of their reach. This focus resulted in the development of recruitment strategies and financial supports to increase participation of former youth in care, students with high ability who had financial need, and Indigenous students.

Kate was appointed to the BC Council on Admissions & Transfers, an inaugural member of the Admissions Committee and chair of the Research Committee. She also co-chaired Education Planner BC, leading the modernization and development of the provincial post-secondary application service. She was appointed to the Degree Quality Assurance Board for BC and continues to volunteer with Aunt Leah’s Place Education Committee.

Kate holds a BA (University of Alberta), a MA in Leadership (Royal Roads), and EdD in Educational Leadership (SFU) where she also received the Dean’s Medal for the top graduating student in the Faculty of Education.

In retirement her life is full as she loves to travel, hike/walk, practice yoga, sing in a choir, read, cook, and spend time with family and friends and support amazing initiatives like Beedie Luminaries.

Kris Magnusson, Ph.D.

Dr. Magnusson has served as Dean of the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University since 2009. During that time, he also served two terms as the Chair of the Association of BC Deans of Education, was co-chair of the BC Advisory Group on Provincial Assessment, led the development of the ACDE Accord on Internationalization in Education, and was co-chair of the SFU Aboriginal Reconciliation Council.

Kris’ academic work is in the area of counselling psychology and career development. He was the recipient of the Province of Alberta Career Development Award of Excellence and the 2006 recipient of the Stu Conger Award for Leadership in Career Development. Kris is also a co-founder of the Canadian Research Working Group for Evidence-Based Practice. Before joining SFU, Kris was a junior high school teacher, a college counsellor, and a faculty member in counselling psychology at the Universities of Calgary and Lethbridge.

Laurie Clarke

Laurie is a senior executive leader in health, education and social service sectors with over three decades of progressive experience as the leader of fundraising and non-profit organizations. She has served as a chief spokesperson in all areas relating to fund development, donor cultivation, stewardship, and government relations and advocacy, and has extensive experience in board cultivation, development and governance.

As CEO of the BC Women’s Hospital Foundation and member of the hospital executive, the Vice President of Development at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, and many other executive leadership roles, Laurie possesses a unique combination of strategic leadership and organizational effectiveness expertise in high-growth environments.

Laurie has served on numerous non-profit boards, campaign cabinets and as a member of the Burnaby Board of Trade. Currently, Laurie is a Fundraising Strategist and Consultant and serves on the national board of the Canadian Women’s Foundation.

Melinda Giampietro

With her expertise, network, enthusiasm, and genuine love for education, Melinda Giampietro has built Options Solutions to be the industry standard in educational consultancies in Canada. Melinda takes great pride in being a lifelong educator with over twenty-five years of experience, and she has helped over 5,000 students find their educational paths in the US, UK and Canada.

Melinda, Options president, is a vibrant and widely respected educational consultant in the fields of academic planning, career counseling, university admissions, and sports recruitment. Melinda believes options are empowering, and she helps students–and their parents–work together towards their educational goals, finding majors, post-secondary institutions and careers that match each student’s unique interests and aspirations.

Melinda holds multiple degrees in education, and she is a graduate of both the Counseling for College Institute and the Harvard Institute on College Admissions. Before she started Options Solutions, she worked as an Advanced Placement (AP) teacher, head of a university counseling department, and a high school principal. She has earned both local and national recognition for her commitment to education.

To provide the best possible service to her clients, Melinda attends regional and national conferences, and to stay current, she travels throughout Canada and the United States visiting universities. She is also a member of numerous educational and college counselor associations leading to a broad and diverse professional network. She is in constant contact with admission teams and the British Columbia Ministry of Education. Melinda loves reading, researching, and sharing information about education, admissions, and career trends with her clients, her staff, and her community.

Melinda has also written articles for and served as an expert on post-secondary issues for the Globe and Mail, CBC Radio, the IB Blog, and Canadian Student Magazine.

Melinda has worked closely with WE Charities since 2014 to raise awareness of women empowerment issues and currently sits on the WE Care Vancouver Circle of Champions board. She has also served on other local education and entrepreneur boards.

Samantha Falk

Samantha is the founder and CEO of Samantha Falk Communications, a full-service PR & Media Relations Firm.

Sam spent almost 20 years as a broadcast journalist on both the local and national level, before making the transition to corporate communications. During her career, she worked for both CTV and Global News as a reporter and anchor and traveled across Canada and the U.S. covering the biggest stories of the day.

Prior to starting her own agency, Sam led communications for some of Canada’s biggest purpose-driven brands including Nature’s Path (North America’s largest certified organic cereal company) and Hootsuite (the world’s leading social media management solution).

Sam established Samantha Falk Communications in 2021 and takes a unique journalistic approach to amplifying the stories of purpose-driven brands and people. She prides herself on being a superior communicator and a results-driven public relations strategist.

When she isn’t working, Sam can usually be found outside, hiking, biking, or skiing with her family.

Sharad Kharé

Sharad Kharé is a storyteller, documentarian and the founder of Human Biography, a Vancouver-based content agency that produces original video content for the most incredible humans, brands, and organizations across the globe.

Sharad has documented people such as Dalai Lama, Meryl Streep, Arianna Huffington, Chip Wilson, Susan Sarandon, Val Kilmer, Maye Musk, and Katy Perry, just to name a few, as well as many leaders and CEOs from all over the world. Human Biography has also created content for organizations such as TED, Microsoft, UN Women, Beedie, RBC, The David Lynch Foundation, Goldcorp, BCIT and many more. This may include video content for advertising, social media, or for educational purposes. They have captured stories in Canada and all across North America, as well as Europe, Asia and the UK.
 
Sharad holds a Masters degree in communications, where his academic research focused on personal and digital legacy. He is also the co-founder of “The Indigenous Collective” and has been a prolific collaborator with the Indigenous community, directing and producing video projects that capture First Nations stories and culture.
 
Sharad serves on the board of the Laurier Institution, Live Big Society, and BC Cancer, and is currently the President of TIE Vancouver – a chapter of a global entrepreneur group that mentors and advises some of the most active entrepreneurs in the world.

Wayne Hand P.Eng. MBA

SHINE Program

With more than 16 years of experience as an industry leader and 25 years as an educator, Wayne Hand, recently retired as Dean of BCIT’s School of Construction and the Environment, is well-respected within the construction and environmental sectors and he understands the importance of such relationship to the success of educational programs and students.

Under his leadership, the BCIT School of Construction and the Environment saw the development of significant research programs and capacity building of Architectural Ecology and Building Science programs. Wayne was also very successful in the application and execution of various industry and government grants, in particular, the first ever BCIT Canada Research Chair appointment.

In advancing student and industry success, Wayne has been the forerunner in developing many new credentials, including the Carpentry Framing and Forming Foundation program, Interior Design diploma and degree, Architectural Science degree, two master’s programs in Building Science, and numerous Part-time Studies certificates. In 2019, Wayne was awarded the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VCRA) Outstanding Achievement Award in the Education Leadership category.

Candy Ho, Ed.D CCDP

Dr. Candy Ho (she/her) is an international award-winning career development educator and scholar whose expertise is recognized globally through keynotes, consulting, and other professional engagements. Her insights have been featured in prestigious media outlets including BNN Bloomberg, The Globe and Mail, Financial Post, Canadian Business, National Post, and CTV News.

Dr. Ho currently serves as Chair of CERIC, a Canadian charitable organization that advances education and research in career counselling and career development, in order to increase the economic and social well-being of Canadians. She also imparts her knowledge through faculty roles in Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Educational Studies department and Douglas College’s Career Development Practitioner Program. Her exceptional commitment to career development advocacy has earned her numerous accolades, with the most recent being named British Columbia Institute of Technology’s 2023 Distinguished Alumni.

Carol Martina

Carol Martina has extensive experience in developing and managing innovative high school partnerships and trades dual credit pathways. As BCIT’s High School Partnership Manager, she engages with both internal and external stakeholders, including school districts across BC, SkilledTradesBC, government agencies, and program areas, to facilitate educational opportunities.

With an English Degree from York University, Carol is also a two-time BCIT graduate, holding a Broadcast Journalism Diploma and an Office Administrator with Technology Certificate. Her diverse educational background has demonstrated how a robust education can facilitate career goals. In 2022, she received a BCIT Employee Excellence Award and is dedicated to enhancing educational pathways and fostering collaborative relationships that benefit students and communities.

Carol is honored and excited to be part of the inaugural BUILD Scholarship Selection committee.

Christina Bosilo

Ms. Christina Bosilo, Director, Brock International Ms. Bosilo is the Director of International at Brock University. With almost two decades of experience in higher education, she has held progressive leadership roles in International and in the Office of the Registrar. She effectively builds mutually beneficial partnerships and new enrollment pathways, contributing to the advancement of Brock’s strategic goals.

Ms. Bosilo completed her MA in Political Science, with a concentration in International Relations. She completed a BA in Political Science & History and is currently completing a second degree in Adult Education.

David P. Burns, Ph.D.

Dr. David Burns is an educational policy scholar at KPU. He has written articles and book chapters on education policy, science education, moral education, education politics, educational technology, and many other topics. You can find his writing in publications such as the Canadian Journal of Higher Education, the Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, University Affairs and Times Higher Education. His work was recently featured in Maclean’s magazine.

David is currently the Vice-Chair of the KPU Senate and a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Educational Studies. He chairs standing committees on curriculum, budget, teaching, and research. Through his student research group, the Kwantlen Educational Policy Incubator, he is currently working on competency-based university admission systems.

Elaine Williamson

Elaine Williamson has served in leadership roles in higher education and the nonprofit sector for over twenty years. She is the Director of the Diploma in Marketing and Sales Management at the UBC Sauder School of Business and is an award-winning Adjunct Professor in the Marketing and Behavioral Science Division and the Ch’nook Aboriginal Management Program. As a co-founder of the Sauder Sales Mentorship Program, she created a career development platform to connect students with industry professionals, develop career-ready skills and find employment. Elaine has over 25 years of industry experience spanning nonprofit, higher education, and corporate industry.

Having recently completed a Master’s in Liberal Studies (SFU) with a focus on Indigenous Studies, Elaine also holds an MBA from the Sauder School of Business along with accreditations in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Elaine is an experienced community leader with over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, having served on the Board of Directors for a variety of organizations including BC Women’s Hospital Foundation, the Vancouver Writers’ Festival, and the Vancouver Space Centre. She currently co-chairs the Board of Dress for Success, an organization committed to empowering women into the workforce. Elaine is passionate about helping individuals who are striving to advance their academic and career goals and finding ways to address systemic constraints to economic empowerment. Elaine lives in Vancouver with her husband, four adult daughters and dog, Archie.

Ghezal Durrani

Ghezal Durrani is a Community Development Coordinator at the YWCA and a student at Simon Fraser University, majoring in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies (GSWS) and minoring in criminology. She is also a single mother of two (almost adult) children. As a scholar, Ghezal is driven to advocate for social equality. She immigrated to Canada twenty years ago as a young bride from Pakistan. Her journey in Canada was not easy. Being a racialized young woman with little education, no work experience, no English proficiency, and no community or family support was an enormous challenge. However, she was able to overcome these challenges and find her voice in the community to advocate for her rights and her children’s rights. After twenty years of struggle Ghezal can share her story, be a voice, and stand for those who cannot stand for themselves. She is determined to make positive community changes and strongly believes in the power of action and making life decisions that foster change. She focuses on collaboration and empowerment rather than individualized views based on race, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, political views, and lifestyle.

Ghezal has volunteered with the Hastings Sunrise Community Policing, was a representative on the Education Council at Vancouver Community College, a student representative at the Board of Governors at Langara College and also was board chair at the Chair of the Board Assessment Task Form along with many other community endeavours.

Her inspirational personal journey and professional experience will provide an invaluable perspective to the selection process of Beedie Luminaries’ Single-Parent Awards.

Jenn Alberts

Working alongside her father, Dr. James McEwen, and brother Jeff, Jenn manages a variety of company investments as well as administrates the McEwen Family Charitable Trust, a private foundation created to meet the needs of the family’s philanthropic endeavours. Their Canadian charity donates awards for post-secondary education, supports innovators within a range of disciplines, funds people and technologies that improve the well-being of individuals diagnosed with fatal or life-threatening illness, assists children with congenital disorders, and provides opportunities for long-term and sustainable improvement in the lives of those experiencing poverty. Based out of Vancouver, Delfi Medical Innovations Inc. deploys technology developed by Dr. McEwen in children’s hospitals, surgical centers, military units, professional and collegiate sports teams, and rehabilitation clinics all around the world. Jenn spends her free time volunteering for the Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association aiding in community programming and access for children and youth ages five to twenty-one. She lives in Victoria with her husband of twenty-seven years and has five children. Jenn is honoured to be a supporter of Beedie Luminaries and looks forward to working together to support the future of humankind through affordable education.

Jessie Williams

Jessie Williams is a member of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, Squamish Nation, and of mixed European decent. Leaning on her lived experience and elder teachings, Jessie is committed to being a connector and a relationship holder.

Jessie is the first of her immediate family to obtain post-secondary degrees (Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Educational Administration and Leadership). This has inspired her meaningful career which includes senior roles in kindergarten-grade 12 and post-secondary Indigenous-focused educational governance, policy, strategy, programs, services, and administration.

Currently, Jessie serves as Director of business Development and Communications with the New Relationship Trust, which is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening First Nations in BC through: Governance Capacity, Education (K-12 & Post-Secondary), Language, Youth & Elder programming, and Economic Development.

Jessie is passionately committed to promoting whole human well-being and fulfillment. This includes creating opportunities for others to step into their personal power, for themselves, and for each other.

Josh Levac

Josh Levac (he/him/his) is the Director of Enrolment Services – Financial Aid at Niagara College. With extensive experience in post-secondary education both as a student and an administrator, Josh holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Guelph, an Advanced Diploma from Nova Scotia Community College, and a Master of Science from the University of Manitoba. Over the past 13 years, he has worked in the post-secondary sector, gaining deep knowledge of policies, practices, and issues affecting students.

As the current president of the Canadian Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (CASFAA), Josh advocates for policy changes to make post-secondary education more accessible and affordable. He is thrilled to bring his experience to the BUILD Scholarship Selection Committee.

Julie Baerg

As a high school counsellor, Julie feels it is an honour to journey alongside students as they move through their high school years. To earn their trust and help guide them as they find themselves and follow their interests is a place of privilege. For over 20 years, in the Coquitlam School District and the Vancouver School Board, Julie has supported students to believe in themselves, cultivate healthy relationships with others, focus on their learning and plan for the future.

Julie holds a Bachelor of Arts from UVIC, a Bachelor of Education from UBC, and a Master of Science in Psychology: Mental Health and School Counselling from Western Washington University. As a strong supporter of post-secondary education, Julie is honoured to be a member of the Counsellor Advisory Committee for both UBC and the University of Toronto. Her knowledge of the role that social, cultural, and athletic activities play in the mental health of students led her to join the Board of the Lucy L. Woodsworth Fund for Children which serves children of lower income families in Vancouver.

As a first generation Canadian, Julie understands the struggles faced by many families in providing access to post-secondary education for their children. As a high school counsellor, she sees the tangible difference that scholarships and bursaries make to her students from lower income families, allowing them to pursue their purpose. Julie is grateful for the opportunity to support the life-changing work of this scholarship program.

Laura Pasut

For over 15 years, Laura has been supporting, guiding and empowering immigrants and refugee adults and youth to improve their education, build technical and social-emotional skills and develop their careers. While at Vancouver School Board Adult Education, she worked as an Instructional Assistant and Outreach Worker supporting adult learners to complete high school graduation and pre-requisites for post secondary education. While at Immigrant Services Society of BC, she worked as a Case Manager, Employer Relations Specialist, Facilitator and Assistant Manager in a variety of Career Services programs that provided skills training and job search assistance to newcomers. Laura is now excited to have taken on a role within a new national program at Neil Squire Society, aiming to build the capacity of youth with disabilities to enter the manufacturing industry.

Laura is a firm believer and advocate for the power of education, personal development and leadership training, and mentorship in creating a better world for all. Everyone (and especially youth) deserves access to educational opportunities to grow into all that they can be.

She is honoured to be a member of the RISE Scholarship Selection Committee and through this committee, being able to provide immigrant and refugee youth the financial means and wrap around support to gain the education they value and an important step towards achieving their career dreams.

Melanie Koenderman

Melanie is excited to be a part of the RISE selection committee, where she can continue to contribute to facilitating educational opportunities for students who are newcomers to Canada.

Melanie’s distinctive understanding of the power of higher education and global dialogue began while working as a diplomat in Canada’s Foreign Service, where she drafted international student immigration policy at Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada headquarters, and served as an immigration officer in posts in South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Melanie leveraged those insights into the next fifteen years building out the student affairs portfolio as the founding Dean of Students at Quest University in British Columbia and Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University in Beijing, including student onboarding, success, and personal and professional development services and programs. She currently works with educational institutions and foundations in strategy, design, and coaching to support their missions.

Melanie is a mentor to several Beedie students, and looks forward to continuing to support the inspirational work of the Beedie Luminaries program.

Melanie Oakes

Melanie Oakes has worked in higher education for over 5 years. As her career has progressed, Melanie has become increasingly focused on funding for post-secondary education through scholarships and bursaries, government student aid administration, philanthropy, and financial literacy. Melanie’s career has been driven by her unwavering passion for enhancing the student experience. With a deep commitment to student success and accessibility, she believes in providing equitable access to education.

Currently as an Associate Registrar of Student Awards and Financial Aid, Melanie’s role involves the administration of financial assistance for students and providing them with educational opportunities to make the best financial decisions possible with the funding they have. Melanie has been supporting the Beedie Luminaries program for over 3 years, and believes in its guiding principles to truly remove barriers and provide support for students seeking post-secondary education. Melanie is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment that supports students from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder academic achievement.

Melanie holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science degree from Lakehead University, as well as a Certificate in Student Affairs & Services from George Brown College. She is currently in the process of completing her Masters of Business Administration. Melanie is an active member of both the Ontario Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA) and Canadian Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (CASFAA), where she has served both organizations in a volunteer capacity.

Pam Burns

Pam held a senior position at Spectrum Marketing and Give Canada for over 20 years. Her areas of expertise include the development of strategic corporate naming and partnership agreements as well as long-term philanthropic leadership gifts, primarily for the higher education and non-profit sectors. Prior to that Pam worked as the Director of Finance and Administration for a large franchise organization.

Pam holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and was a graduate of the Certified General Accountants program.

Pam was a long-term member of the Executive Committee for Rockin’ for Research, an annual gala event benefitting the T1D community (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). She was recently on the selection committee for the Dream Homes Project on Vancouver Island. Pam is honored to be a member of the SPARK Scholarship Selection committee.

Romy Senghera

Romy began her career as a Youth Worker in 2002 and since then has worked her way up into a variety of management roles. She is a team player who strives to build effective teams while supporting the needs of the community with sustainable programming. Romy brings extensive experience supervising a variety of diverse teams and disciplines. Her strength lies in recognizing and developing individual capacity, building community, and creating safe spaces for individuals to thrive.

Her experience building community partnerships and serving the public encompasses delivering a variety of front-line programs and services for children, youth, adults, and seniors; settlement services, employment services specializing in services for survivors of abuse and violence, literacy, food security and engaging in community development initiatives.

Romy was first exposed to settlement services as a practicum student. Over the years, she has worked with a variety of newcomers including Jarai and Syrian refugees. Currently, in her role as the Senior Manger of Children, Youth and Family Programs at MOSAIC, she oversees a variety of programs for Early Childhood Development including MOSAIC’s Family Centre which specifically supports refugee families, Settlement Workers in Schools for the New Westminster School District and Youth Projects.

Romy has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Child and Youth Care and has currently completed a Diploma in Gerontology. She is also a proud cohort member of the 2020 DIA Fellowship in Developmental Leadership.

Romy is a big believer in giving back and is currently volunteering as the Treasurer on the Moresports BC Board of Directors and is very excited to be a part of the RISE Scholarship Selection Committee

Ryan Drew

Ryan (BA Honors, MA TESOL, TESL Cert, Essential Skills Practitioner Cert, CLB Expert) began her career at S.U.C.C.E.S.S. 24 years ago. During that time, Ryan has held many different roles including Language Instructor, Best Practices Coordinator, Regional Manager, and Program Director.

Most recently, she holds the role of Director of Integrated Services for Newcomers, where for the past 5 years she supports all of the social service programming at SUCCESS – services for newcomers, seniors, youth, families, entrepreneurs, and vulnerable populations.

She is proud to ensure the delivery of quality services that supports people on their Canadian journey.

Sarah McLeod

Sarah is a recently retired paralegal, having practiced in the areas of corporate tax and estate planning for over 25 years, initially with Russell & DuMoulin and then with Legacy Tax + Trust Lawyers.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia (1987) and is a graduate of the Capilano College Paralegal program (1990).

Midway through her career, Sarah took a 7-year hiatus when she and her husband relocated initially to Lincoln, Nebraska and then to Antwerp, Belgium. While living as an expat in Antwerp, Sarah was an integral member of the community assisting newcomers with the relocation of their families to a foreign city and fundraising for various local charities that supported single mothers and immigrant families. On her return to Vancouver, Sarah was a member of the board of Impact 360, the annual fundraiser for Dress for Success, a board member of the Ocean Park Foundation and has been involved in supporting students with financial hardship through the Cmolik Foundation.

Sarah lives in Vancouver with her husband and one year old pup, Toby.

Shauna Tonsaker

Shauna Tonsaker MBA has served in leadership roles in education within BC for almost two decades. Currently directing the strategic oversight of the SFU Beedie School of Business Co-operative Education program, she’s passionate about helping students grow and develop through experiential learning. Her past roles have included president and director on the board for the Association for Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning BC/Yukon (ACE-WIL), director on the board of the Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) association and director of work integrated learning at SFU. She’s presented at national and international conferences on career development and earned her MBA through the Executive MBA program at SFU in 2021.

Sheila Muinga

At BCIT, Sheila Muinga is a Registration Specialist responsible for liaising between students and sponsors, coordinating the Student Services departments within the Registrar’s office and oversees the enrolment of BCIT employees. Sheila has a background in tourism and hospitality and has worked in hotels under the Accor and Marriott brands in Asia and the Middle East.
With over five years of experience providing exceptional services in the hospitality and education industries, Sheila has an underlying passion for service and empowering young people to adapt and thrive in a complex and fast-changing world.

Sheila earned her MBA in International Hotel and Tourism Management from Vatel International Business School in France, received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Hotel and Resort Management from SUNY College of Technology in the United States and is currently undertaking studies in Nonprofit Management.

Shelley Clayton

Shelley Clayton is currently employed as the Manager, Academic Affairs and Student Services in the Faculty of Law at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Fredericton Campus. Previously, Shelley was employed as the Director, Financial Aid at the UNB for a good portion of her career. In these positions, Shelley has been extensively involved in the fields of Student Services and Student Financial Assistance internationally, nationally and in the Atlantic region.

As a representative on the Canadian Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (CASFAA), Atlantic Association of College and University Student Services (AACUSS) and Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) Boards, Shelley has had the opportunity to participate in many stakeholders’ meetings, forums, and conferences in the realm of post-secondary education. Shelley has participated in the process and development of positive changes in Student Financial Assistance affecting students’ access to and increasing resources for Post-Secondary Funding. Her current passion is working towards positive measures that improve access to high-rigor academic courses and programs, extracurricular activities, and other educational opportunities for all students.

Shelley received her undergraduate degree from Acadia University and then pursued her master’s level work in Grief Counselling before entering the realm of Business and Finance and her passion for Student Financial Assistance.

Tahira Syed

Tahira is a dedicated advocate for student success with over 14 years of experience in post-secondary education. Driven by a passion to remove barriers for students, she has been a steadfast leader in developing financial support programs that empower learners to access and thrive in their educational journeys. With a unique background rooted in trades and business administration, Tahira brings a hands-on perspective to her work, understanding the diverse pathways students take to achieve their goals.

Throughout her career, she has championed financial support programs, addressed systemic hurdles, and collaborated closely with senior leaders to uphold equity and inclusion in student services. Her experience encompasses mentoring emerging business professionals, advocating for safe and inclusive campus environments through her work on the sexual violence prevention team, and creating holistic support systems for Previous Youth in Care students. She has also served as an awards adjudicator for the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Committee.

In addition to her administrative and leadership roles, Tahira is deeply dedicated to fostering a culture of continuous professional growth, empowering her teams to create respectful, high-performing workplaces that prioritize student success.

Teresa McLeod

Teresa’s background in post-secondary student support services began in Financial Aid at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Following a few years of providing assistance to students at the front line, she took on the role of KPU’s Scholarships and Awards Coordinator, and continued to support students by administering the university scholarship programs and educating students about funding opportunities. For over 25 years Teresa helped facilitate annual scholarship committees and oversee the selection processes, to ensure award funds were distributed to deserving students.

During that time, she was also invited to attend annually, as an adjudicator with the BC Scholarship Society, and in 2019 participated on her first of several selection committees for Scholarship Partners Canada/Universities Canada. After retiring in 2021, she has maintained her involvement with external organizations, and welcomes learning updates about the scholarship evaluation systems.

Teresa looks forward to continue applying the experience gained through her career and beyond, to help support these valuable scholarship programs, and is grateful to have this opportunity.

Linda Fehr

Linda Fehr has over 35 years’ experience in delivering and managing financial aid services to students within the post-secondary environment.

In her current role as the Coordinator of Awards and Financial Aid at the University of Northern British Columbia, she collaboratives with government and external funding agencies, university fundraisers, administration and faculty to ensure that students receive the financial assistance they need to continue their academic journey. She is a past recipient of the UNBC President’s Award for Creative Initiative and was honoured as Advisor of the Year by the Golden Key International Honour Society, a chapter of which she founded at UNBC in 1999.

Linda is dedicated to helping remove financial barriers for students, and is excited to continue to serve as a member of the SHINE program committee.