The Future of Work
About this event series
The Future of Work is a four-part event series where UBC Faculty of Management, in partnership with BDO Canada, has brought together a series of panels focused on the forces shaping the future of work. With pandemic-induced changes, rapid technological advancement, and continuous efforts to mitigate the climate change crisis, the world of work is dynamic.
With real-world perspectives and personal philosophies, we are working with our faculty and external partners to connect knowledge and expertise to share insights on the future of work. Our panelists bring an informed perspective on what current students, university graduates, and those currently in the workforce need to know to be ready for the future.
Join us to hear from panelists with expertise in healthcare, human resources, entrepreneurship, and regional development. All are welcome to attend the event series; registration is required.
Presented by
The Future of Health: Doing more without more
February 27, 2024, 3-4:00 p.m., UNC 200
Healthcare in Canada faced unprecedented challenge during pandemic. Following years of turbulence, healthcare management is complex and evolving in response to environmental and technological factors. Join panelists for a discussion on the healthcare system, and what changes are required in the coming years.
Meet the Panelists
Dr. Harsh Hundal
Physician
Dr. Hundal is a leader who puts people first. To solve the crisis of physician disengagement, he started by listening, asking questions and building belonging; one relationship at a time. One of Harsh’s most innovative initiatives has been developing and implementing the NAVIG8 Emerging Medical Leaders Program, an in-house training program which accepted 26 physicians into its first two-year cohort in 2019 nominated by non-physicians. Dr. Harsh Hundal, Interior Health executive medical director for quality and patient safety, was recognized with the Doug Cochrane Leadership in Quality Award from the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council. This award celebrates someone who made an inspirational, significant and sustained contribution to improving the quality of health care in British Columbia. Dr. Hundal served as Executive Medical Director, Physician Engagement & Resource planning, and Chair of the Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee (HAMAC).
Jaymi Chernoff
Interim Executive Director of Quality and Patient Safety
Jaymi has been with Interior Health since 2008 in various clinical and leadership roles including Trauma Coordinator, Director Critical Care Network, Program Director, Cardiac Services, Executive Director, Kelowna General Hospital, and most currently Interim Executive Director of Quality and Patient Safety. Jaymi has a Master’s of Science in Nursing degree from the University of British Columbia focused on innovation and leadership. Jaymi’s leadership style emulates patient focused care, quality improvement, collaboration, connection, facilitation, trustworthiness and collegiality. She is a solution-oriented leader who concentrates on long terms goals and cross-functional collaboration.
Chandel Schmidt
VP, Philanthropy KGH Foundation
Chandel Schmidt is VP, Philanthropy for the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation. She graduated from the UBC Okanagan Faculty of Management Program in 2010 and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). In her 12+ years with the KGH Foundation, she has held responsibility for administration, events, communications, project and campaign management, and strategic planning. The KGH Foundation plays the unique role of connecting the community to advancing local health care, and broadening that definition from just supporting the purchase of equipment items to enabling innovation and collaboration in the system of care.
Building the Future
January 17, 2024 update: Due to today’s snowfall warning and in the interest of our guests and panelists’ safety, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Building the Future. We hope to reschedule the event for a future date and will update this page with further details once they are available.
Cities have confronted significant challenges in recent times. Climate change and the pandemic have accelerated the transformation of urban planning. Join panelists to explore ways communities are working to enhance the quality of life both presently and for generations to come.
Meet the Panelists
Britney Mace
Senior Project Manager for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for the Southern Interior Region
Britney Mace serves as a seasoned Senior Project Manager at the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure with the BC Public Service. With a distinguished PMP certification and extensive experience overseeing multimillion dollar projects across diverse industries, she brings expertise and dedication to every project. Simultaneously, Brit is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Business, specializing in Leadership, as a testament to her commitment to continuous education. Notably she chairs the newly established Project Management Institute (PMI) BC Interior Branch showcasing her leadership in the field. Balancing her career and contributions, Brit finds balance in her life as a wife and mother of two, residing in beautiful Nelson, BC nestled on a 4-acre hobby farm.
Ryan Smith
Divisional Director of Planning and Development Services at City of Kelowna
Ryan has worked with the City of Kelowna for 19 years, first as a development planner, then Subdivision Approving Officer, Urban Planning Manager, Department Manager of Community Planning and now Divisional Director of Planning and Development Services. Ryan has also spent time working for a private real estate development company where he collaborated on the development of townhouse and resort projects. Ryan has a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Certificates in Urban Design and Community Economic Development from Simon Fraser University and is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners. Ryan has been a member of the provincial Subdivision Approving Officer’s Committee since 2010 and Co-Chair of this committee since 2016. He was instrumental in the development of the School for Subdivision Approving Officers and has been helping teach Subdivision since 2010. Ryan also helps teach modules as part of the MATI Community Planning Course and Capilano University Courses. Ryan is an avid cyclist, trail runner and skier.
Mic Werstuik
Chief Executive Officer Ntityix Development Corporation
Mic joined the NDC executive team in summer 2021. As a Westbank First Nation Member, he has been actively involved in the evolution and success of WFN and its Corporate Entities. With over 30 years of experience in all aspects of Forestry and Natural Resource Management, Mic is excited to work with WFN Membership and the Ntityix Team to continue to grow future opportunities for both. Since an early age Mic spent most of his time on the land, in 1998 he graduated from Nicola Valley Institute of Technology with a diploma in Natural Resource Management. In 2018, he received his Master of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University. In his 30 + year career Mic has run chainsaw, worked for the Ministry of Forests, been an elected Councillor for WFN, been sole proprietor of his own business and held management positions in WFN and other organizations. Mic’s passion is being on the land and working with our people for the benefit the community.
Past Events
The Future of the Workforce
October 11, 2023, 3-4:00 p.m., UNC 200
People are an organization’s most valuable asset, and management of human resources plays a critical role in helping organizations respond to challenges and opportunities. Join us for this panel, which will explore real-world cases of how human resource experts are responding to the demands of pandemic-accelerated change and to understand what strategies and organizational structures enable a dynamic talent and work model for the future.
Meet The panelists
Kiah Cyril
Strategy Manager, TELUS
Kiah Cyril is a UBCO alumni and Certified Professional of Human Resources (CPHR) with 5+ years of experience in the digital health space and exposure to international, hyper-growth environments. Kiah currently works for the Product Office at TELUS Health as a Strategy Manager focusing on People Operations where she leads a small team responsible for employee engagement, internal communications, onboarding & offboarding, tool innovation, and more. Prior to her experience at TELUS Health, Kiah started her career in the digital health space in Vienna, Austria, a technology hub with a thriving mix of globally active start-ups. In Vienna, Kiah worked for a rapidly scaling diabetes management company, which was later acquired by Roche Diabetes Care. Kiah works remotely from her home office in Peachland, BC.
Sabrina Lewis
Human Resources Manager for Nch’kay Development Corporation
Sabrina Lewis is a Human Resources professional with 22 years of work experience. With a comprehensive background in HR management, Sabrina has demonstrated success in developing HR programs, strategies, and services that optimize business operations. She is currently the Human Resources Manager for the Nch’kay Development Corporation as well as a consultant to several external organizations. Sabrina is dedicated to finding solutions to organizational challenges and specializes in HR strategic planning, employee relations, recruitment and retention, training and career development and total compensation. Sabrina holds an Executive MBA from Simon Fraser University.
Susan Van Unen
Human Resources Director, Argus Properties
Susan has spent her professional life, now spanning some thirty years, working in human resources. Emigrating from the Netherlands in 2007, she started in Kelowna at Paragon Pharmacies and was then appointed Manager of Human Resources at KF Aerospace, Canada’s largest Aircraft Maintenance Organization, managing over 1100 employees across Canada. She holds a BA in Human Resources Management, is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources, a Certified Executive Coach, and an Associate Certified Coach. Currently, Susan is the Director of Human Resources for Argus Properties, employing 500 permanent and 200 seasonal staff in hospitality, development, construction, commercial leasing, and property management. Throughout her career, Susan has been a strong advocate of organizational and leadership development and coaching, her fulfillment coming from seeing staff achieve their personal and professional goals.
The Future of Small
November 1, 2023, 3-4:00 p.m., UNC 200
Small to medium-size organizations are significant contributors to economies and societies around the world. As the world shifts, these organizations face more pronounced opportunities and challenges. Join our panelists in a conversation on what organizations might consider to continue to thrive well into the future.
Meet the Panelists
Abhinav Kanti
Serial Entrepreneur and Mentor, Valhalla Angel; Director, Total Interiors; Former Director Faith Biotech Pvt. Ltd.; Former Partner i2M Technologies
Abhinav, a seasoned sales and marketing professional, excels in owning and managing diverse small businesses. He’s passionate about understanding customer needs, refining business workflows, and excelling in B2B sales. With a rich background, he adeptly mentors budding entrepreneurs, offering valuable insights for growth. Abhinav’s expertise extends to the medical equipment and devices sector as well, where he was instrumental in pioneering adoption of new technologies.
Alison Ruks
Director & Founder, MoBObaby Products. Co./ Accelerate Okanagan mentor
Alison Ruks brings over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur and executive leader in consumer packa
ged goods, natural health and education. Her brands and opinion pieces have been featured in Forbes, Medium, Authority Magazine, MSN, Motherly, and SheKnows, and she has demonstrated success with multiple brands that resulted in sales and fundraising results in the multi-millions. She currently oversees a company she founded in the sustainable home + family accessories category, provides mentoring and growth consulting services for entrepreneurs, and has worked with Accelerate Okanagan as an Executive in Residence business mentor and teacher.
Alison’s passion for health led her to begin her career studying natural medicine. She then acquired a business degree – graduating with honours – from the UBC and shortly afterward became certified as a Chartered Human Resources Professional with a goal of building a portfolio of businesses that foster positive, healthy, and productive workplaces.In addition to her impressive achievements in business, Alison Ruks has also overcome significant challenges in her personal life. As a woman who built her career in male-dominated industries, she has faced the barriers of forging her path, and breaking through the glass ceiling. In 2011, she was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis), an incurable autoimmune illness, where doctors predicted she would be in a wheelchair by 2016. She developed her own four-pronged approach to healing, through mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional wellness utilizing numerous therapies from nutrition to psychedelics, and her success has baffled many in the medical community. Her resilience and determination in the face of adversity have inspired many people, especially those who are facing similar challenges.As a leader and mentor, Alison is passionate about empowering women and underrepresented groups to pursue their dreams and succeed in their chosen fields. She is a true inspiration, not only for her achievements in business but also for her resilience, determination, and commitment to be her best self and make a positive impact in the world.
You can find more about Alison at www.alisonruks.com
Dr. Bülent Uyaniker, PhD
Founder, Data Speckle
Bülent is the founder of DataSpeckle Inc in British Columbia, and Senior AI researcher at the Fusemachines Inc, a New York based Artificial Intelligence Services company. Bülent has developed data reduction, automation, and image processing algorithms at almost any wavelength. He led technical groups and scientists, established research labs, taught physics, medical imaging, computer science, and cosmology courses at Max Planck Institute, Herzberg Institute, and University of British Columbia. At DataSpeckle Scientific, Bülent is leading Computer Vision, AI, LLM, and simulation projects for the industry specifically healthcare, business analytics, supply chain, aviation, and digital transformation. Among other projects, he has worked as a project manager at the world’s largest steerable radio antenna, Effelsberg Germany, and developed an automated flat field digital mammography segmentation algorithm for British Columbia Breast Cancer Screening Program. Bülent has a PhD in Physics & Natural Sciences from Max Planck Institute/Bonn University and has published 50+ peer reviewed articles scientific journals and many popular scientific articles.