In 2020, the LA&PS Dean's Office launched new webinar series titled Moving Forward, creating an opportunity for engagement within the LA&PS community. This virtual series of lunchtime talks allows our alumni, students, donors, retirees, faculty and staff to connect and explore how people and organizations are navigating the future with strength, determination and skills needed to overcome unprecedented barriers and create a positive change.
The series explores:
- How organizations are adapting in order to move forward through the COVID-19 pandemic
- How communities and organizations are moving forward on issues of equity and social justice
- How students can move forward in their career goals, through the advice and wisdom of alumni who are graduates of the same program
Each webinar features either a one-on-one interview or a panel discussion with high-level decision makers from various fields, offering unique insights gained through first-hand experiences. All are welcome to attend and participate.
Upcoming Events
Thriving with my English or Creative Writing Degree
Date: February 15, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00pm
This webinar hosts graduates of York’s English Department who are now serving in a variety of leadership roles, as they discuss how a degree in English or Creative Writing has been crucial to their success. This panel and Q&A session will cover our panelists’ path to success and offer valuable advice to help you on your own journey. Panelists are:
- Dennis Garces, BA, English 1992
Senior Partner, LBC Financial Group
- Kirsten Manley-Casimir, BA, English 1997 & LLB, LLM Law 2001, 2005
Director, Legal and Research, Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools
- Tamer Ibrahim, BA, English 2008
Director of Granting, Definity Foundation
This event will be hosted by Lily Cho, Associate Dean, Global & Community Engagement. This event includes Q&A session.
Host
Lily Cho brings to her portfolio a commitment to finding ways to connect LA&PS with communities locally and globally. As a first-generation scholar with a research and teaching interest in diaspora and culture, she understands the power of culture to bring together communities across a range of different experiences and histories. She is also an associate professor in the Department of English where teaches courses on the short story, Canadian literature, and postcolonial theory.
Her research has led to books on Chinese restaurants and the relationship between human rights and creative expression. As associate dean, she supports students, faculty, and community members on initiatives that benefit both the community and the university.
Panelists
BA, English 1992
Senior Partner, LBC Financial Group
Dennis Garces is a serial entrepreneur, having been involved in several start-ups and has been a part of several successful public and private acquisitions. He has worked with a variety of industries and Fortune 100 companies like Sony Corporation, Universal Music, Microsoft, Proctor & Gamble, AT&T as well as the 2008 and 2012 US Presidential Elections work with Rock The Vote. Dennis most recently served as President of US based Amercanex, a privately held company which was acquired in February 2020 by Helix TCS, a NASDAQ listed company based in the US.
Dennis has held numerous leadership roles over the past three decades. As senior executive in the entertainment industry at PolyGram, Universal, Sony Music and BMG Music US and Somerset Group Global, he has played pivotal roles in a multitude of global artists and was involved with brands as Much Music’s MuchDance and Big Shiny Tunes as well as MTV Party To Go, American Idol and the Grammy Awards music series. His career has been covered by in publications such as Marketing Magazine, Strategy Magazine, The New York Times, The Hill Times, The Globe and Mail, Billboard Magazine, RPM, Rolling Stone and AllBusiness.com.
Dennis hold an Honors BA in Creative Writing/English Lit with a Minor in Economics and Psychology from York University. He attended preparatory and high school at Upper Canada College.
BA, English 1997 & LLB, LLM Law 2001, 2005
Director, Legal and Research, Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools
Kirsten Manley-Casimir is currently Director of Legal and Research for the Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools. She supports the work of the Independent Special Interlocutor, Kimberly Murray, who is mandated to develop recommendations for a new federal legal framework to support the search and recovery of unmarked burials and missing children.
Previously, Kirsten was Legal Director with the Indigenous Justice Division, Ministry of the Attorney General, Ontario. As part of her work, Kirsten worked within a team to develop an experiential, transformative curriculum focused on historical and contemporary impacts of assimilative, genocidal government laws and policies that targeted Indigenous Peoples. This anti-colonial, anti-racist curriculum, informed by and co-facilitated with Indigenous Elders, encourages government workers to approach their work through a lens of reconciliation.
In her dissertation, Kirsten advocates for a relational approach to the duty to consult and accommodate Aboriginal peoples under section 35 of the Constitution Act. She articulates four principles as the basis of a relational approach - respect, recognition, reciprocity and reconciliation.
Kirsten has taught at Osgoode Hall Law School and Queen’s University as an adjunct professor in courses focused on Aboriginal Law and Indigenous Legal Systems. She has also worked as a Research Lawyer with the Law Commission of Ontario and as Counsel at the Law Foundation of Ontario. Kirsten also has several articles published in peer-reviewed journals and runs a self-development and personal growth website.
BA, English 2008
Director of Granting, Definity Foundation
Tamer Ibrahim is the Director of Granting at the Definity Foundation: a newly established public grant-making entity, that will work in partnership with others, especially Indigenous, Black, racialized and other equity deserving groups, to tackle the systemic roots of inequality across Canada.
Prior to joining Definity, he was the Youth Collective Impact Program Manager at the Laidlaw Foundation: an initiative in partnership with Innoweave that helps organizations in local communities across Ontario develop, launch and implement collective impact approaches that directly improve outcomes for youth in their community.
He was previously the Community Development Manager at UforChange, where he helped develop the organization's fundraising strategy, writing grants and managing the organization’s special projects with some of its incredible partners like Google Canada, Artscape and the Inspirit Foundation.
Tamer was also the Chair of the Board at For Youth Initiative: a nonprofit organization that has served, inspired and advocated for thousands of young people in York South-Weston, since 1995.
Past Events
Check out our YouTube playlist or click on Past Events below to see recordings of the past webinars.
Women in Tech | February 1, 2023
This webinar focuses on women graduates of York who are in leadership roles in the technology sector. This panel of brilliant women will share their career journeys in the ever-changing field of Tech. Learn about their paths to success, hear valuable advice and insights that will help you find your own unique role in this growing and exciting sector. Panelists are:
- Johanna De Boer, BA, Geography 1995
CEO/Founder, HINGE Consulting Group
- Helen Goloubtchik, BA, Information Technology 2004
VP, IT Audit, OMERS
- Andrea Knoblauch, BA, Liberal Studies 2007
Principal (Security), Softchoice
- Marta Rzeszowska, BA, Information Technology 2005
Vice President of Products, Moneris Solutions
Hosted by Lily Cho, Associate Dean, Global & Community Engagement, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
Making the Most of Your International Student Experience | September 29, 2022
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The Moving Forward: Making the Most of Your International Student Experience webinar brought together three LA&PS alumni, who all hold senior positions in companies and were international students themselves. Hear them speak on topics such as adapting to life in Canada, the importance of family support and what a difference their York degree has made in their life and career. They also offer some helpful tips and guidance on how to start building a path to your career.
Panelists:
- Anna Boateng, Vice President, Client Services at BMO Capital Markets
- Hasnain Versi, President & CEO at ISM – a Kyndryl Company
- Kamika McLean, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at KSS HoldCo Inc.
Hosted by Lily Cho, Associate Dean, Global & Community Engagement, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
How Two Years of COVID is Impacting Canadian Real Estate | March 24, 2022
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The Moving Forward: How Two Years of COVID is impacting Canadian Real Estate webinar brought together four LA&PS alumni, who all hold senior positions in real estate industry. Hear them discuss how the pandemic and other factors altered the Canadian real estate market, the significant shifts and changes happening in multi-residential and commercial sectors, market resilience, and the growing trends in real estate. The panelists also shared their career paths and provided valuable advice to those looking to pursue a career in this exciting and consistently growing field.
Panelists:
- Anthony Facchini, Senior Vice President, Operations at Crossbridge Condominium Services Ltd.
- Avi Behar, Chairman & CEO and Broker at The Behar Group Realty Inc.
- Haya Zilberboim, CEO and President at Emma Capital Inc.
- Mark Baltazar, Co-Founder at Peak Multifamily Investments
Hosted by Sean Kheraj, Vice Dean and Associate Dean, Programs, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
Women in Leadership | March 8, 2022
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The Moving Forward: Women in Leadership webinar spotlighted LA&PS alumnae, three extraordinary women and dynamic leaders, as they talked about their paths to success, how they overcame obstacles along their career paths, and what inspires them. They shared valuable career and life advice on topics such as what makes a great leader, having confidence and the importance of practicing self-care.
Panelists:
- Deryn Rizzi, Fire Chief at City of Mississauga
- Marsha Greene, Showrunner of The Porter (on CBC and BET+)
- Sharon Zohar, CEO at The Big Push
Hosted by Lily Cho, Associate Dean, Global & Community Engagement, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
Thriving with my English Degree | February 17, 2022
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The Moving Forward: Thriving with my English Degree webinar showcased LA&PS alumni sharing their career journeys and experiences as they navigated their way from earning their English degrees to working in senior positions in varied fields, from law to technology, to non-profit and advertising. Watch them talk about how important an English degree is to have in any industry and how it develops many skills that employers are looking for such as critical thinking, cross-cultural communication, and analytics.
Panelists:
- Jennifer Gold, Partner at Wood Gold LLP & President at Women's Law Association of Ontario
- Nicolas DesRoches, Marketing Manager, ApplyProof at ApplyBoard
- Shawna Hayman, VP, Business Lead at Cossette
- Tamer Ibrahim, Youth Collective Impact Program at Laidlaw Foundation
Hosted by Lily Cho, Associate Dean, Global & Community Engagement, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
How our Alumni are Strengthening Black Communities | February 8, 2022
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The Moving Forward: How our Alumni are strengthening Black Communities webinar featured LA&PS alumni who are active in various initiatives addressing anti-Black racism. Watch this webinar and hear the alumni talk about the challenges and limitations they have encountered as Black individuals and how they are helping, and how we can all help build a better and inspired future for Black communities.
Panelists:
- Craig Wellington, Executive Director at Black Opportunity Fund
- Kamika McLean, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at KSS HoldCo Inc.
- Kevin Yarde, MPP – Brampton North at Government of Ontario
Hosted by Daniel Kikulwe, Special Advisor on Student Success and an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
No regrets: How my Liberal Arts degree Set me up for Success | January 25, 2022
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The Moving Forward: No regrets: How my Liberal Arts degree Set me up for Success webinar showed LA&PS alumni discussing their journey from graduation to their current leadership roles. Tune in to see them talk about their paths less traveled and how their Liberal Arts degree was an essential building block to a great career and a richer life. They also shared insights and gave great advice and tips to future Liberal Arts graduates.
Panelists:
- Alessandro Colarossi, Customer Success Manager, Channel Partners and Agencies at Google
- Angela Lawrence, Chief Culture Officer at Gusto 54 Restaurant Group
- Ayesha Shah, Founder & Managing Director at C-Potential
- Domenic Di Paola, Global Head, Risk & Control at TD Securities
Hosted by Sean Kheraj, Vice Dean and Associate Dean, Programs, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
Careers in Disaster and Emergency Management | December 1, 2021
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In the Moving Forward: Careers in Disaster and Emergency Management webinar LA&PS alumni talked about their journey from graduation to their current roles and their involvement and responses to events such as the Northeastern blackout of 2003 and earthquakes in Haiti. If you are interested in the field of Disaster and Emergency Management, some great advice and tips were given throughout this webinar.
Panelists:
- Ben Pantin, Supervisor, Distribution Grid Operations at Toronto Hydro
- Deryn Rizzi, Fire Chief at City of Mississauga
- Joe Gagliano, President of Access Restoration Services
- Nicole Poulin, Foreign Service Officer at Global Affairs Canada
Hosted by Eric Kennedy, Associate Professor, School of Administrative Studies.
Moving Forward with Pam Westman, President, Nelvana | November 18, 2021
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Tune in to Moving Forward with Pam Westman webinar to see Faculty of LA&PS alumna, Pam Westman, talk about her career journey from attending York part-time to becoming a President of Nelvana, a leading Canadian children’s entertainment company responsible for shows such as The Hardy Boys, Esme & Roy and Peppa Pig. Westman is an experienced leader who has navigated through technological upheavals, social change, and other challenges. Watch the interview and be inspired by Westman's story of adaptation, resilience, and success, and what it means to be a woman now in an entertainment industry.
Hosted by Lily Cho, Associate Dean, Global & Community Engagement, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
Evolution of In-Person Sport | November 4, 2021
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Tune in to the Moving Forward: Evolution of In-Person Sport webinar to see Faculty of LA&PS alumni talk about their personal journeys and how things have changed in the world of sports over the past 18 months. Our audience left with some great tips and information on what the future of in-person sport holds for both fans and athletes alike.
Panelists:
- Brandie Wilkerson, Team Canada Beach Volleyball Olympian at Team Canada
- Breagha Carr-Harris, Manager, Fan Experience at Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment (MLSE)
- Jim Kozak, SVP and Head, MediaCom Sport and Entertainment - Canada
- Josh Epstein, Head, Corporate Sponsorship at BMO Financial Group
- Terri Mattucci, Director, Digital and Commercial Content at Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment (MLSE)
Hosted by Michele Johnson, Associate Dean, Students, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
Being a first-generation student: What it means to be first in your family to go to university | October 5, 2021
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The Being a first-generation student: What it means to be first in your family to go to university webinar featured LA&PS alumni talking about their personal journeys and the challenges they encountered as first-generation students. Our audience left with some great tips and guidance on how to handle these challenges and move forward including getting involved beyond the classroom, asking professors for career advice and forging connections that last a lifetime.
Panelists:
- Nick Moumos, Associate Vice President, Product Development at Canada Life
- Rochelle Ford, Founder, CEO, and Career & Well-being Coach for Professional Moms at Queen Success by Rochelle
- Sujata Berry, Temp Project Lead at CBC
- Tom Doulos, Vice President, Customer Experience at Endy Canada Inc.
- Toni-Lynn Raponi, Associate Vice President, Corporate & Public Affairs at TD
Hosted by Lily Cho, Associate Dean, Global & Community Engagement, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
Moving Forward with Melissa Grelo, Co-Host of CTV’s THE SOCIAL | March 25, 2021
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This lunchtime webinar featured Melissa Grelo, co-host of CTV’s The Social. Grelo talks about her career journey, which began as a freshly minted York University graduate and has led her into diverse experiences as a prominent media professional at the forefront of the many issues facing Canada and the world in recent years.
Panelist: Melissa Grelo, Co-Host of CTV's THE SOCIAL at Bell Media
Women in Leadership | March 8, 2021
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During this webinar, we heard about the career journeys of women graduates from York University's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies who are currently in leadership roles.
Panelists:
- Carolyn Clark, Hospitality Human Resources Executive (Retired)
- Diane Flanagan, Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Communication at Intact Financial Corporation
- Erin Elofson, Head of Canada, Australia and New Zealand at Pinterest
- Laura Cannone, Co-Founder and CEO at The GG Media Group & Glama Gal Kids Spa Franchise
- Nimi Nanji-Simard, Founder & Chief Scraf Lover at Niminimi Designs Inc
- Tina Powell, Board Director and Marketing & Communications Co-Chair at Zonta Club of Oakville
How we tackled COVID: Discount Car & Truck Rentals | February 25, 2021
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In this Moving Forward lunchtime talk, York alumni Jay Singer explains how he led Discount Car & Truck Rentals through the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.
Panelist: Jay Singer, President at Twelve Strings Consulting & Ex-President and CEO at Discover Car & Truck Rentals
How York alumni are advancing initiatives in Black communities | February 9, 2021
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In this session of the Moving Forward series, we heard from graduates from the Faculty of LA&PS who are currently involved in various initiatives addressing anti-Black racism.
Panelists:
- Ahmed Ismail, Vice President at Wellington Management
- Danielle Dowdy, Advisor, Strategic Policy & Stakeholder Relations at Toronto Police Services Board
- Joan Jenkinson, Executive Director at Black Screen Office
- Marlon Reid, Community General Manager at CIBC
- Nadine Spencer, CEO at BrandEQ Group
My English degree: what a great decision! | February 4, 2021
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During this Moving Forward webinar, we heard from graduates of York’s Department of English who are currently in leadership roles as they shared their career journeys with us.
Panelists:
- Kirsten Manley-Casimir, Acting Legal Director, Indigenous Justice Division at the Ministry of the Attorney General
- Lena Azzou, Chief of Staff at Metrolinx
- Mike Pavkovic, Vice President - Payments and Trade Operations at RBC
- Tamer Ibrahim, Youth Collective Impact Manager at Laidlaw Foundation
How Entrepreneurs Overcome Adversity | January 28, 2021
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This lunchtime webinar brought together five successful entrepreneurs who have graduated from York University. Hosted by Sean Kheraj, Associate Dean, Programs at LA&PS the alumni discussed their entrepreneurship journey and provided valuable insights on overcoming adversities and finding mentors to help up-and-coming entrepreneurs grow.
Panelists:
- Anil Taneja, Managing Director at Palm Holdings
- Matt Golden, Founder and Managing Partner at Golden Ventures
- Noora Sharrab, Co-Founder and CEO at Sitti Social Enterprise
- Richard Reiner, Founding Partner at CC Stratus Capital
- Sharon Zohar, CEO/Founder at The Big Push
My Economics degree: what a great decision! | December 8, 2020
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Sean Kheraj, Associate Dean, Programs, chatted with five successful grads of York’s Department of Economics and explored their path to success. The panelists discussed their career journey and provided valuable insight on career paths and key skills required to have a successful career.
Panelists:
- Barry Kadoch, Vice President, Corporate Planning and Budgeting at SmartCentres REIT
- Jeff Hindle, Senior Principal and Vice President - Data and Services at Mastercard
- Kashmera Self, Associate Vice President, Strategy & Emergin Solutions Delivery at Interac Corp.
- Leonard Meloff, Chairman and President at Renza Holdings Ltd.
- Will Ramjass, Director and Assistant General Counsel at McDonald's Canada
How we’re tackling COVID: Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking | November 24, 2020
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Lily Cho, Associate Dean, Global & Community Engagement, LA&PS, chatted with three York alumnae who are an integral part of the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking. This webinar discussed the impact of COVID on the operations of the Centre and how the Centre is adjusting to new risks and opportunities.
Panelists:
- Margot Franssen, Founder and Co-Chair at The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking
- Julia Drydyk, Executive Director at The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking
- Ashley Franssen-Tingley, Director of Stakeholder Relations at The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking
My History degree: what a great decision! | November 5, 2020
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Sean Kheraj, Associate Dean, Programs, chatted with successful grads of York’s Department of History and explored their career paths and received some great insights on how they reached where they are today.
Panelists:
- Kristen Buckley, Associate Vice President, Government Partnerships & Service Programs at Kids Help Phone
- Karen Carter, Co-Founder and Director at BAND Gallery
- Frank Cianciulli, Chairman & CEO at The Wish Group
- Tanya Rocca, Senior Counsel at Ontario Power Generation
Women in Leadership | October 13, 2020
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We have made strides in improved equity, but there’s still work to do. What are the frontiers of practice that promote women’s leadership? Professor Lily Cho, Associate Dean, Global & Community Engagement, hosts a panel of exceptional LA&PS alumnae who share their experiences as women leaders in 2020.
Panelists:
- Terri Ellis, RSM Canada Alliance Leader at RSM Canada
- Jane Evans, Managing Director, Organization Effectiveness at BMO Financial Group
- Janet Hawkins, President and CEO at Opterus Inc.
- Anika Holder, Vice-President and Director, Human Resources at Penguin Random House Canada Limited
- Sandeep Tatla, Vice-President, Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Corporate Social Responsibility at PointClickCare
How we’re tackling COVID: Cineplex | September 24, 2020
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Cait O’Donovan (MA, Communication & Culture), VP, Digital Commerce at Cineplex and Sean Kheraj (LA&PS Associate Dean, Programs) chat about the innovation it’s taken to adapt to COVID.
Panelist: Cait O'Donovan, Vice President, Digital Commerce for Cineplex Entertainment