A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Ian Anderson
MPP Graduate: June 2011
Hometown: Lindsay, ON
Previous Degree: BA Double Major in Political Science and Film Studies, The University of Western Ontario
Work Experience: Since finishing his degree, Ian has worked teaching English and developing curriculum in Ecuador, Canada, and India. Most recently, he was an intern in Washington, DC and Chengdu, China at an American-based NGO
doing education and social work in Tibet.
Areas of Policy Interest: Health and Education, International.
Christopher Adams
MPP Graduate: June 2008
Hometown: Thunder Bay, ON
Previous Degree: HBA Political Science, History, Lakehead University
Work Experience: Volunteer experience in the areas of health (Canadian Diabetes Association), the environment (Earth Day Canada) and social justice (White Ribbon Campaign).
Areas of Public Policy Interests: Environmental policy, Energy policy, and Economic Development.
Derek Andrew
MPP Graduate: June 2009
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Previous Degree: B.A. Political Science and History with an emphasis in Canadian Studies. Dalhousie University, Halifax
Work Experience: Social and historical researcher for non-profit and government organisations, former page for the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and archival assistant responsible for the collection of Judge Ronald St. John Macdonald C.C., at the Dalhousie University Archives.
Areas of Public Policy Interests: First Nations self-government, federal-provincial relations, fiscal policy, constitutional policy, parliamentary government, taxation and environmental management.
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Jennifer Balcom
MPP Graduate: June 2009
Hometown: Duncan, BC
Previous Degree: BA, Political Science and Philosophy, University of British Columbia
Work Experience: several years in high-end retail sales
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Social policy, foreign policy, Canadian-American relations, globalization, poverty.
Neha Bangar
MPP Graduate: June 2010
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Previous Degree: BA, Meteorology and Economics, Univeristy of British Columbia
Work Experience: Completed an internship in the Philippines with Engineers Without Borders and assisted the Department of Social Welfare and Development in setting up computer training centres to provide underprivileged youth with access to technology. Also developed networks through which these students could receive training for various employment oppurtunities.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Interested in exploring how international trade can aid international development efforts.
Jessey Basi
MPP Graduate: June 2008
Hometown: Duncan, BC
Previous Degree: B.A. Major in Political Science, minor in History, UVIC
Work Experience: While completing my undergrad degree I worked as an Insurance Agent, selling car, home and travel insurance. After that, I began working in policy development with the TU Group, helping create and enhance their policy wordings. Areas of Public Policy Interests: Social policies such as immigration and criminal justice, Canadian Foreign policy and Public/Private Sector relations.
Elizabeth Bastien
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Previous degree: BA with a major in sociology/psychology
Work Experience: extensive experience as a program manager and faciliator working within the federal government. Most recent position was City Facilitator at HRSDC for the National Homelessness Initiative. Extensive experience working with other levels of government, community, and non-profit organizations, and in employment programming and labour market information research and analysis.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Homelessness, Poverty, FASD, and Aboriginal policy in Canada.
Mark Beaty
MPP Graduate: June 2010
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Previous Degree: BMus Comprehensive Music, University of Victoria; MMus Orchestral Bass Performance with focus on ethnomusicology, University of British Columbia.
Work Experience: Musical director, Bard on the Beach; Principal bass, Vancouver Island Symphony; Youth Worker, Dunbar Heights United Church; Leadership Program Design, YMCA Camp Elphinstone.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Arts, Transportation, Education, Community Development.
Raymond (Dane) Berry
MPP Graduate: October 2006
Previous degree: B.A. Philosophy, Wesleyan University, Middletown Conneticut
Work Experience: AmeriCorps Volunteer, Tutor and Teachers Assistant in Chicago Public Schools; Library Assistant and Research Aide at University of Utah Law Library; Restaurant Manager at Alta Ski Area; Volunteer work with the University of Utah Museum of Natural History and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Environmental and Natural Resource Policy (esp. Forest Policy and Economics), Energy Policy, Development, and Democratic Institutions.
Rucku Bhandal
MPP Graduate: June 2008
Previous Degree: B.A. Economics, University of British Columbia
Work Experience: Currently working for a financial institution. Approached by Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan to run as a School Board Trustee Candidate for the 2005 Vancouver Civic election.
Areas of Public Policy Interests: Canadian National Security and Defence, Foreign Policy and Globalization.
Matt Bourke, BBA
MPP Graduate: May 2005 (first graduating class) - received Distinction on Capstone Project
Hometown: Thunder Bay ON
Previous degree: Joint Major in Business Administration and Geography (S.F.U.)
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2004): PROJECT OFFICER – Rural & Urban Sustainable Communities. Western Economic Diversification Canada
Brief work experience: POLICY ANALYST – First Nation Self-Government Agreement. Tsawwassen First Nation. RESEARCH ASSISTANT – Ecological services valuation and municipal government performance. Simon Fraser University. ECONOMIC RESEARCHER – Policy and Planning, Innovation and Urban Sustainable Communities. Western Economic Diversification Canada.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: evaluation methods, regional and community economic development policy and planning, public private partnerships, aboriginal self-government and economic development, urban development and urban growth management.
Neil Braun
MPP Graduate: June 2007
Hometown: Kitimat, BC
Previous Degree: B.Sc.(Pharm.), B.A.(Hons.) Political Science, the University of British Columbia.Areas of Public Policy Work Experience: Community pharmacist with work experience in both urban (Greater Vancouver) and rural (Kitimat, BC) settings, former President and Vice-President of the University of British Columbia's radio station (CiTR 101.9fM), news and culture reporter for CiTR and The Ubyssey (UBC's student newspaper), pharmacist mentor for a student-run health clinic in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Urban health policy, political communication, media and public opinion.
Brian Brauer
MPP Graduate: June 2011
Hometown: Sointula, B.C.
Past Degree: BA History, Brandon University
Work Experience: (Nothing particularly relevant to public policy) Service - Fine Dining
Area of Policy Interest: The localizing of economies in relation to Environmental, Social, and Poverty policies; Foreign Development/Immigration; Democratic/Parliamentary Reform.
Kyle Brown
MPP Graduate: June 2007
Hometown: Orillia, ON
Previous Degree: B.A. Political Science, McGill University.
Work Experience: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, ongoing volunteer for a federal political party.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Canadian federalism, provincial and federal relations, fiscal policy, provincial fiscal imbalance, Federal-provincial cost sharing arrangements, and asymmetric federalism.
Karma Call
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Penetanguishene, ON
Previous Degree: BA (hons) Criminal Justice and Public Policy, University of Guelph; Post-graduate diploma Addictions: Treatment and Prevention, Georgian College
MPP Co-op Placement (Summer 2005): During the summer Karma worked on a number of projects for Tsawwassen First Nation, and has continued on part time during the school
year. She worked as an advisor for the community on matters relating to the development of a constitution. This involved developing and presenting materials to the community, as well as drafting various governance and constitution options for discussion.
In addition to that, Karma worked at coordinating the details of an agreement previously negotiated between the Nation and a local business. This has involved negotiating the details of an employment agreement, consulting with various leaders in the related business community, and implementing economic development initiatives.
Brief Work Experience: Karma has worked in a variety of fields including working with young offenders, developing and implementing life skills programming, and treating youth with alcohol and drug addictions. In addition, she had broad customer service experience and has worked in carpentry and renovations. Karma has also been active on the MPP graduate
caucus throughout her graduate degree.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Justice policy, particularly relating to youth; social policy; aboriginal policy; and governance issues generally, democracy and local governance more specifically.
Mark Campbell
MPP Graduate: June 2006 - Selected CAPPA Award winner
Hometown: Belfast, UK
Education: BA (Hons), Philosophy & Modern Languages, St. Anne's College Oxford; MA, Philosophy, UBC
Work Experience: Research, Administration, Marketing and Communications, public and voluntary sectors
Areas of Interest: Education, Labour Relations, Finance, Criminal Justice, Foreign Policy.
Jeff Carr
MPP Graduate: October 2010
Hometown: Thunder Bay, ON
Previous Degree: Combined Honours in Political Science and Spanish from Dalhousie University. My Honours thesis focused on local government policies regarding urban growth management. The Spanish portion of my degree was earned almost entirely from a semester long exchange to Havana, Cuba. I also received a Business Diploma from Humber College, Toronto, ON.
Work Experience: Jeff worked in the hospitality industry over the past six years to support his studies. As a volunteer, Jeff has participated in election campaigns at both the provincial and federal level in Halifax, NS. Jeff also sat one year as the Youth Representative on Nova Scotia MLA Howard Epstein's constituency executive.
Areas of Policy Interest: Local government policy, particularly environmental issues such as transportation, urban growth, and waste management. Social health policy. Intergovernmental Relations.
Catherine Cheng - B.Sc., GDBA.
MPP Graduate: May 2005 (first graduating class) - received Distinction on Capstone Project.
Catherine has an educational background in both science and business administration. She has worked for the private sector in the technology industry and provided research/policy analysis for non-governmental organizations.
Current research interests are: Natural resources management and policy; Local, urban and regional government.
Leslie Cheung
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Edmonton, AB. and (more recently) Montréal, QC.
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), McGill University
MPP Co-op Placement (Summer 2005): Canadian Labour Congress, Headquarters, Ottawa, ON.
Worked in the Social and Economic Policy department and the Anti-Racism and Human Rights department to produce a report on the labour market outcomes of workers of colour.
Brief Work Experience:
1. Community action researcher and community organiser for a number of Montréal community organisations
2. Project planning and implementation.
o Coordinated a multicultural Anglophone supportive/educational group for HIV+ women in Montréal
o The Montreal Chinatown Project was a volunteer collective project that explored the growth and development of Montreal Chinatown through the format of guided social justice walking tours of the neighbourhood
o Freedom School 2003 was a Montreal based collective that coordinated social justice training for youth of colour and provided participants with a paid internship in a community organisation.
3. Diverse experience with support group, consultation, and workshop facilitation
4. Crisis counsellor/Crisis intervention worker
Areas of Policy Interest: Immigrant and Refugee Policy, Labour Policy, and Social Justice Issues.
Julie Clements
MPP Graduate: June 2010
Hometown: Langley, BC
Previous Degree: BA Sociology, Simon Fraser University
Work Experience: Worked for municipal governments in various recreation based capacities for the Township of Langley, City of Burnaby, City of Richmond, and City of Vancouver. While taking a university hiatus, she was the Director of Recreation for the Municipality of Cambridge Bay, which is a small Inuit Community in Nunavut. Since 2006 Julie has been a youth worker in New Westminster for at risk youth. Other experience includes event coordination, volunteer committee work and leadership training.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Social Policy, Civic Youth Engagement, Aboriginal Issues, The Treaty Process, Natural Resource and Environmental Policy.
Brianna Coughlin
MPP Graduate: June 2007
Hometown: Windsor, Ontario
Previous Degree: BA (Hons) International Relations & Development Studies, Windsor, Ontario
Work Experience: Internship and summer work at Mayor’s Office as researcher/assistant
Areas of Policy Interest: Social policy, community development, foreign policy.
Jasmine Crane
MPP Graduate: June 2008
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Arts (History) (SFU)
Work Experience: Managment and Policy Analysis positions within the Starwood Hotels Chains and Rogers Group of Companies. Also enjoyed being an in-school mentor and Big Sister for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Langley for the past 4 years.
Areas of Policy Interest: Social Policy, Immigration, National and International Security Policy.
Aaron Cruikshank
MPP Graduate: September 2006
Previous Degree: BA Communications (Hon.)
Work Experience: Currently running a small consulting firm (Friuch Consulting) that specializes in Strategic Policy and Business Intelligence for science and technology. Former public servant with both the Government of BC and the Federal Government.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Science and Technology, Economic Development, Human Rights.
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Senada Delic, B.B.A.
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Richmond, B.C.
Previous Degree: Joint Major in Business Administration and Economics, Concentration in Finance (S.F.U.)
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2005): The Centre for Public Policy Research at Simon Fraser University. The position entailed policy research on economic development of First Nations in Canada
Brief Work Experience: General Accounting and Auditing; Community-based volunteer work dealing with socio-economic issues.
Areas of Public Policy Research: Macro-Economic Policy [Fiscal Policy, Immigration and Foreign Affairs Policy, Social Policy /Welfare Economics]
Linda Y.R. Deng
MPP Graduate: October 2009
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), University of British Columbia; Master of Arts (Counselling Psychology) University of Toronto.
Work Experience: Mental Health Therapist, Ministry of Children and Family Development; Research Coordinator, The Scarborough Hospital; Community Outreach Counsellor, East Metro Youth Services; Research Assistant, Sunnybrook Hospital; Counsellor, York University; Research Assistant, University of British Columbia.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Social and Health Policy, Community Development, International Policy.
Dany Doiron
MPP Graduate: June 2009
Hometown: Moncton, NB
Previous Degree: B.A. Major in Geography, Minor in Biology, Concordia University
Work Experience: Logistics Coordinator, Institute in Management and Community Development, Concordia University, Montreal, Qc. River Conservation Intern, Quebec-Labrador Foundation/Student Conservation Association, Montreal, Qc/Brooklyn, NY. Workshop Facilitator, Communautique, Montreal, Qc. Environmental Education Intern, Escuelas Verdes, Cuenca, Ecuador. Communications/Research Agent, Petitcodiac Riverkeeper, Moncton, NB.
Areas of Public Policy Interests: Environmental Policy, Sustainable Urban Development, Foreign Policy and International Cooperation.
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Kristy Feres
MPP Graduate: June 2007
Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.
Previous Degree: BA Honours Sociology, Minor in Communications & Culture, and Women’s Studies; Bishop’s University
Work Experience:Human Resources and Social Development Canada, Community Development and Partnerships Directorate, Ottawa, ON – Engaged in international and sector research and analysis, external relations and outreach, and policy programs and design pertaining to community-sector organizations and the social economy in Canada.
Areas of Policy Interest: Social and community development – community-sector organizations and social enterprise; Social policy – education, mental health, and employment issues; Gender; Juvenile justice; Youth civic participation; Issues of child labor.
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Kiranjyot (Kiran) Gill
MPP Graduate: June 2007
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Previous degree: B.A. Major in Criminology, SFU
Previous Work Experience: My work experience has mainly been in the public sector. I have worked for the City of Vancouver and for the City of Surrey. I had the opportunity to work for the Federal government with the National Crime Prevention Centre (B.C. Region). My experience there was most valuable and really broadened my horizons toward public policy.
Areas of public policy interest: Social Science policies. Specificially Health, Education and Criminal Justice.
Alanna Gillis
MPP Graduate: June 2011
Hometown: Mount Albert, ON.
Previous Degree: BA (Hons), Major: Sociology, Minor: Religion & Culture. Wilfrid Laurier University. Graduated June 2006.
Work Experience: Worked as a Consultant with an Asset & Facility Management Consulting firm in Toronto, ON. Primary area of focus has been on corporate sustainability planning and training. Worked at a Local Health Integration Network as a Program Assistant in Guelph, ON.
Area of Public Policy Interest: energy policy and social policy; public engagement and community social-based marketing.
Keith M. Godin
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Education: BA (Economics), Simon Fraser University
Work Experience: Policy Analyst (Fiscal Studies and Labour Markets), The Fraser Institute; Chief Financial Officer, Four Front Investments (student-run investment group); former President of the Economics Student Society.
Areas of Interest: Fiscal Policy, Public Choice, Labour Markets, Entrepreneurship.
(kmgodin@sfu.ca)
Michael Gomm
MPP Graduate: June 2007
Hometown: North Vancouver, BC
Previous Degree: BA (History) Simon Fraser University
Work Experience: Management experience in a midsized produce department combined with volunteer coaching of youth baseball.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Health Policy, particularly as it pertains to childhood activity and fitness, Education Policy, and Transportation Policy.
Karen Gorecki
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Previous Degree: Bachelor’s of Science, double major biology/environmental studies
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2005): Environment Canada, Climate Change Economics and Large Final Emitters/Offsets Group branch - Lead in writing the landfill gas quantification protocol; research and editing support in writing the proposed rules for the Canadian domestic Offset System.
Work Experience: Research Associate at the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance, National Director for the Sierra Youth Coalition, Research Assistant at the Environmental Substances Division and the Office of Sustainable Development in Health Canada, and Acting Executive Director/Researcher for the Vancouver Island Public Interest Research Group.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: sustainable energy policy, ecological/environmental economics, valuing ecological services, and sustainable community economic development.
Karen Graham
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Educational Background: B.A. UBC, International Relations, M.A. York University, Political Science, with emphasis on IR
Brief Work Experience: Areas of experience include the legal field in a legal assistant role in the corporate/securities field; the British Columbia wine industry in an executive assistant role at a mid-sized winery in the Okanagan Valley, and self-employed as a wine marketing consultant in Vancouver. Most recently Karen has applied her research, communications and client relations skills as client relations manager at a Vancouver market research firm.
Public Policy Interests: Foreign Policy, International and Human Security, Agricultural Policy (particularly the Canadian Wine Industry)
Jon Grenke
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Previous Degrees: BA (Honours) in Political Science, SFU; Certificates in "Armed Conflict and Peacekeeping" and "Human Rights", United Nations University.
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2005): Research Analyst, Columbia Institute, Vancouver, BC
Work experience: I have worked for the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) in Vancouver for approximately four years. I worked in several jobs, including working as a case officer, researcher, and as a project officer for the policy branch. I conducted country-specific research on major refugee-producing countries, as well as assisted in co-ordinating national research policy for the IRB. I also worked in Ottawa as a business analyst and end-user tester for the IRB's new case management and tracking software.
Areas of public policy interest: Immigration, refugee protection, environment and international issues including Canadian foreign policy.
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Judy Harris
MPP Graduate: May 2005 (first graduating class)
Hometown: Nelson, BC
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Speech Education (Washington State University) 1971
Work Experience: High School Teacher, Career Counselor, Mortgage Broker, Non-Profit Housing Development Consultant, City Councilor
Areas of public policy Interests: Affordable Housing, Municipal Planning, Community
Economic Development, Climate Change
Erin Harron
MPP Graduate: June 2007
Hometown: Aldergrove, BC
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Applied Arts (Honours) in Psychology – focus in Applied Research
Brief Work Experience: Research Assistant; ABA therapist working with Autistic child; BAA Practicum placement with the Vancouver Fire Department working to develop an education program.
Areas of public policy interest: Social and Health policy, as well as Environmental policy.
Anthony Hamilton
MPP Graduate: June 2011
Hometown: Brampton, ON.
Previous Degree: BA (History and Political Science), University of British Columbia.
Work/Volunteer Experience: Canada Border Services Agency. Researcher with the Social Justice Committee of Montreal (Corporate Social Responsibility and Mining Initiative).
Areas of Policy Interest: environmental and natural resource policy, social justice, and economic development.
Benjamin J. Hendriksen
MPP Graduate: June 2011
Hometown: St. Catharines, Ontario
Previous Degree: B.A. in Political Science; specialized in Canadian Constitutional Structures / Minor in History from Brock University.
Work Experience: Cashier and Stock Handler at The Beer Store; Server at Peller Estates Winery Restaurant; Volunteered as Chair of Niagara Regional Branch of The Monarchist League of Canada.
Areas of Policy Interest: Immigration Policy, Aboriginal Self-Government, Intergovernmental Affairs, Health policy.
Samantha Henrickson
MPP Graduate: June 2010
Hometown: Port Perry, ON
Previous Degree: BA Honours, Human Rights and Women's Studies, Carleton University
Work Experience: Samantha has worked in the areas of women's equality rights and social justice (National Association of Women and the Law, Family Services à la famille Ottawa).
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Policy relating to women's equality. Women are still underrepresented in our Canadian government and they still face realities of violence and poverty. Canadian women have yet to see proactive pay equity legislation, or a national childcare program. Samantha hopes to see some positive changes for Canadian women soon.
Anja Hurt (Peterson)
MPP Graduate: October 2007
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Previous degree: BA (Political Science), Simon Fraser University
Previous Work Experience: Previous work experience: Concurrent to completing her undergraduate studies, Anja worked as a Disability Claims Administrator and moved into the
position of a Disability Claims Case Manager upon graduating. In this adjudicative role Anja liaised extensively with health care professionals, government personnel, legal firms, employers and members alike.
Areas of public policy interest: Health Policy, Economic Development, Institutional Change.
Allison Dunnet-Holzer
MPP Graduate: June 2008
Hometown: Vancouver, Canada
Previous Degree: BA (Political Science), University of British Columbia
Work Experience: Allison became interested in public policy when she was elected to the VP External position of the UBC student society and became involved on issues such as campus land use, legalizing secondary suites, transportation and accessible education. After her degree, Allison spent two years living in rural Japan working as an English teacher and organizing cross-cultural activities. Since 2001, Allison has worked for UBC Student Development as a project manager for several new initiatives to support undergraduate learning, skills development and campus community building. Her work also included advising international students on immigration, health and cross-cultural adjustment and developing and presenting workshops for large groups of students and staff.
Public policy interests: Allison is interested in social policy. Current topics of interest include: childcare and family issues, community development, public-private partnerships, policy & the media, civic engagement and financial security.
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Liza Vanessa Jimenez
MPP Graduate: May 2005 (first graduating class) - Selected as MPP Capstone Award Winner, also received Distinction on Capstone Project
Home Town: Richmond, BC
Previous Degree: B.A. Major in Economics (SFU)
MPP Co-op Placement (Summer 2004):
Vancouver Coastal Health as a Project Support Analyst
Brief Work Experience:
Social Research Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) as a Research Assistant
HRDC (Ottawa), Income Securities Branch as a Junior Research Analyst
Areas of public policy interest: Social policy research in urban issues such as drug policy, social housing, youth strategies, and issues involving DTES. Also, employment barriers, welfare reform and childcare.
Jody Jollimore
MPP Graduate: October 2009 - Selected as MPP Capstone Topic of Ethical Significance Award Winner
Hometown: Liverpool, NS., & Montreal, Qc.
Previous Degree: B.A. Applied Human Sciences and an Interdisciplinary Minor in Sexuality - Concordia, Montreal
Work Experience: Coordinated sex and drug related harm reduction programs for youth and gay men in both Vancouver and Montreal, Constituency Assistant to the Hon. Hedy Fry, MP
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Health, Education, Income Security, Federal-Provincial Relations.
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Sonu Kailley
MPP Graduate: June 2009
Hometown: Clearwater, BC.
Previous Degree: BA Political Science and Minor in Economics; Simon Fraser University
Work Experience: Three years working with summer student employment program under Service Canada. Research assistant, Human Rights Cases in the European Union.
Areas of Policy Interest: Public finance, taxation policy and economic development. International trade, urban development and local/provincial governance.
Kamila Krol
Hometown: Calgary, AB
MPP Graduate: June 2011
Previous Degrees: BA Political Science, BA English, University of Calgary
Work Experience: Kamila’s interest in public policy began during her studies at the University of Copenhagen in 2004, as she pondered the integration of immigrant communities into Scandinavian society. While completing her undergraduate degrees at the University of Calgary, Kamila assisted Professor Andrej Kreutz in the research and editing of Russia in the Middle East: Friend or Foe? (Praeger Security International, 2006). Most recently, she has further nurtured this interest in the integration of diverse places and cultures as a Flight Attendant for WestJet Airlines.
Areas of Policy Interest: Social and immigration policy, urban planning, security, and international foreign policy.
Bruce Kung
MPP Graduate: October 2008
Hometown: Richmond, B.C. Canada
Previous Degree: B.A.Econ
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2004): Fraser Health (Academic Researcher)
Brief work experience:
After graduating from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (2002), Bruce has since become interested and actively involved in a variety of areas in health care. At the community level, Bruce is currently an active member of the Richmond Hospital Auxiliary (2003) as well as a Richmond Hospice Association board member (2003).
Along with his graduate studies, Bruce is currently involved as a Graduate Learner with the PCHR (Partners in Community Health Research) Community Health Research Cluster. PCHR is structured to act like a powerful magnet that attracts exceptional mentors and learners from across Canada and internationally to generate solutions to immediate problems in the health sector. PCHR creates an environment where collaboration, stakeholder engagement and evidence-based decision making are seen as vital to the creation of ‘healthy public policy’.
Areas of Public Policy Interest:
Now in his second year of the MPP program, Bruce has begun to narrow his focus and is interested in how health policies created at the regional level are created (policy processes) and how these policies impact health care workers and patients at ground level (policy outcomes). Specific areas of interest include public policy and community driven/focused hospice and palliative care, the public purchase of surgical services from private providers (contracting out), and emergency room demand management.
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Charles Lammam
MPP Graduate: October 2010
Hometown: Coquitlam, BC
Previous Degree:BA (Economics), Minor (Business Administration), SFU
Work Experience: Beginning Fall ’06, Charles will be working part-time as a policy analyst at The Fraser Institute (Fiscal Studies Dept), where he completed an internship for the summer. Before joining the Institute, Charles worked in retail banking.
Areas of Policy Interest: Fiscal Policy; Economic Freedom; Law and Institutional Economics; Economic Development; Trade and Globalization; and Political Philosophy.
Arjun Langford
MPP Graduate: June 2011
Hometown: Oakville, Ontario
Previous Degree:Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management, specialization International Studies (Carleton University)
Previous Work Experience: Research Assistant, Carleton Centre for Community Innovation (Ottawa), Instructor, International Institute for Financial Investment Training (Abu Dhabi), Research Assistant, FedNor, (Peterborough).
Policy Interests: Social Finance, International Affairs, Community Economic Development.
Jayme Lee
MPP Graduate: June 2009
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Criminology, Simon Fraser University
Work Experience: While completing her undergraduate degree, Jayme volunteered with the John Howard Society as a Youth Court Worker. She also did a practicum placement with a North Vancouver Law firm.
Areas of Policy Interest: Social Science Policies (Specifically Criminal Justice issues such as sex offenders, prostitution, youth and drug policies), Foreign Policy and Health Policy.
Trixie Ling
MPP Graduate: June 2011 - Selected as MPP Capstone Award Winner
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Previous degree: BA Politics, History and Economics, The King's University College in Edmonton
Work Experience: Trixie has worked as a Policy Analyst on homelessness issues in Vancouver at Streetohome Foundation. Previously, she spent some time in Ottawa and worked as a Public Policy Intern at Citizens for Public Justice. She also worked as a Campaign Coordinator for the Make Poverty History campaign and did some communication work for Canadian Council for International Cooperation.
Volunteer Experience: She is a Board of Governor for The King's University College in Edmonton and a Board member for Co:Here Housing, a community-based initiative in East Vancouver.
Area of policy interests: Social policy, poverty and homelessness issues, immigration policy and refugees issues, and education policy.
Richard Linley
MPP Graduate: October 2009
Hometown: Stratford, Ontario
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (University of Ottawa)
Work Experience: Richard served as a House of Commons Page in 2000/2001; worked as a Research Assistant to the Hon. Richard Paré, Parliamentary Librarian, in the summer of 2002; worked as the Legislative Assistant to John Wilkinson M.P.P. and the Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Research and Innovation from 2004-2006; and worked as the Legislative Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Hon. Leona Dombrowsky M.P.P. in 2007.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: climate change and how individual states are addressing this emerging issue; the Canadian healthcare sector, Canadian agricultural and international trade policy.
Vance Lockton
MPP Graduate: June 2009
Hometown: Scarborough, ON
Previous Degree: B.Math (Computer Science), University of Waterloo; M.Sc. (Computer Science), University of British Columbia
Work Experience: Primary researcher for a workplace privacy study funded by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada; Board of Directors, B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association.
Areas of Public Policy Interests: Intersections between public policy and technology, with a particular focus on access to information and privacy issues.
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Neil Macauley
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Vancouver, B.C.
Educational Background: BA Psychology (S.F.U) along with one term of study at Lund University, Sweden with a focus on social policy and Welfare State development.
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2005): Worked as a policy analyst for the Life-Course Trends and Emerging Issues Directorate at Social Development Canada. Areas of focus included issues relating to the aging of the Canadian population, family policy and international comparisons of policies promoting life-course flexibility.
Brief Work Experience:
Recruiting supervisor at a large market research firm; overseeing the recruitment of representative samples for a variety of qualitative/quantitative projects on behalf of government, NGOs, and private corporations.
Key accounts/customer service representative for a local fire prevention company.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Social policy/Welfare State reform; in the areas of unemployment, immigration and family policy.
Patricia MacIver
MPP Graduate: June 2006 - Selected as the MPP Capstone Award winner
Hometown: Waterloo, ON
Previous Degree: BA Global Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University
MPP Co-Op Placement (summer 2005): Helped design government and governance options for a First Nation in Yukon (McArthur West Management Consulting Ltd, Vancouver, B.C.)
Previous Work Experience: Teacher's assistant in remedial and ESL high school classes, worked on a local political campaign, designed recreational children's programs.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Local and international governance, institution and capacity building, environment and resource policy, human rights policy.
Linsay Martens
MPP Graduate: June 2010
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Social Work, University of Regina
Previous Work Experience: Four years with the Government of Saskatchewan including experience in Executive Council, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Labour. Delegate to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (2005) and the International Labour Conference (2007). Experience with the John Howard Society in victim-offender mediation and facilitating anger management and substance abuse groups.
Area of Policy Interest: Environment (particularly climate change mitigation and adaptation); Foreign Affairs (primarily conflict prevention and mediation).
Louella Mathias
MPP Graduate: May 2005 (first graduating class)
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Previous degree: BA Psychology Hons; Graduate Diploma in Public Relations &
Advertising;
Brief work experience:
Planning Consultant; United Way of the Lower Mainland. Needs assessments of regional
social issues; program design and evaluation; design systems for community investment and fund management
Project Lead; Toronto Social Services Strategic Program Development Team.
Worked on the Business Transformation project; redesigned business processes to support new technology and new legislation. Participated in the development, implementation and evaluation phases of the redesigned social services.
Senior Policy Analyst, Toronto Housing Company. Worked on research and
development of policy issues during the municipal amalgamation process,
including leading and facilitating public consultations.
Volunteer commitments:
Appointed by Order-in-Council, to the Ontario Trillium Foundation as York Region Grant Review Representative
Chair, Shelters panel - United Way of Greater Toronto
Chair of the Board of Directors - South Asian Women's Group.
Areas of public policy interest: Social Policy; Social Responsibility and emerging issues in Biotechnology
Alana McCabe
MPP Graduate: June 2006 - Selected as the CAPPA Award winner
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Previous Degree: BA (Political Science, English); University of British Columbia
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2005): Food Service Analyst, Industry Competitiveness Branch, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, British Columbia
Brief Work Experience: Worked (including management) in the hospitality industry. Coordinated the development of service standard manuals for the restaurant and
hospitalilty sector. Worked in legal sector as an assistant. Most recently, research and policy analysis skills have been applied to contribute to the strategic planning for industry development in BC, particularly in the hospitality and tourism sectors, for the 2010 Olympics.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: nutrition and health policy, foreign policy, aboriginal policy.
Tom McCarthy
MPP Graduate: May 2005 (first graduating class)
Home Town: Ottawa, Ontario
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management, Carleton University
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2004): Tsawwassen First Nation, Treaty
Negotiation Support- Program and Service/Fiscal
Brief work experience: Ottawa Transition Board- Youth Policy Development Research Assistant: Benefit-Cost Study of Vancouver 2010 Olympics British Columbia Council for Families: Work-Life Public Policy Project
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Aboriginal, Sport, Health
Ryan McFadden
MPP Graduate: May 2005 (first graduating class) - Selected as CAPPA award winner, also received Distinction on Capstone Project HomeTown: Calgary, Alberta
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Applied Policy Studies
MPP Co-op placement (summer 2004): Ryan is involved in a Wildland Urban Interface Risk Assessment project with the City of Calgary Parks Department and the Calgary Fire Department. The focus of this project is to adapt an existing rurally focused method of risk assessment to incorporate the needs of a large municipality. The results of this process will lead to recommendations for policy changes to Planning and Development Bylaws, implementation procedures, and public consultation and education frameworks.
Work Experience: Ryan has had the opportunity to have worked with municipal, provincial and federal levels of government. He was a member of the B.C. Ministry of Forests Protection Branch for four summers working as a forest fire fighter. He was a research assistant for the Calgary Police Research and Development Unit, working on recruiting issues such as, attrition, retention, and recruit development. Ryan has also worked as a research assistant in Policy, Planning, and External Relations for the federal department of Western Economic Diversification. During this assignment he was responsible for writing policy briefs for ministers and deputy ministers, project development, stakeholder advocacy, and targeted policy
development.
Policy Interests: Resource and Environmental Management Policy, and facilitating interrelationships between public and private interests.
Kaleen McNamara
MPP Graduate: June 2011
Hometown: Riverview, NB
Previous Degree: BA Honours in International Development and Spanish
Work Experience:Research consultant on a joint project for the District of North Vancouver and Vancouver Coastal Health and another for SFU’s Adaption to Climate Change Team. Volunteer coordinator for events including two annual weekend-long Jane’s Walks and most recently Vancouver Eco Fashion Week. Coordinator for a two day forum on affordable housing and worked 2 years for North Shore Community Resources in information and resources. Has also been involved with numerous political campaigns at the local, provincial and federal level in various positions from volunteer coordinator, voter outreach and as a volunteer.
Areas of Policy Interest: environment, health and social policy. Currently working on climate change policy.
Andrew Mitchell
MPP Graduate: June 2008 - Selected as MPP Capstone Award Winner
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Previous Degrees: BA (Hons, History) Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario.
Previous Work Experience: Senior Issues and Legislative Assistant - Hon. Mike Colle, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Ontario. Executive Assistant - Jim Brownell, M.P.P. (Member of Provincial Parliament), and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Ontario.
Area of Policy Interest: Sustainable energy policy, Environmental policy/economics, public/private sector relations.
Michelle Molnar
MPP Graduate: June 2008
Hometown: London, ON
Previous Degrees: B.A. (Hons) Philosophy and Economics, M.A. Philosophy - The University of Western Ontario
Previous Work Experience: Analyst/Auditor with Citibank Canada, Teaching Assistant at the University of Western Ontario, Private Tutor - mathematics and economics.
Area of Policy Interest: Sustainable development, international political policy, environmental policy, social policy, and tax policy.
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Sandra Nikolic
MPP Graduate: June 2006 - Selected as MPP Capstone Award Winner
Hometown: Kamloops, British Columbia
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Arts, Major Geography; Minor, Sociology
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2005):
1) Visiting Fellow/Researcher; International University of Business, Agriculture and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh – Involvement in course curriculum design and teaching a university-level English class at a private university, research current policy issues (mainly primary education policy) affecting Bangladesh. Specifically engaged in survey design and administration of a survey to members of the general public in Dhaka, interviewed primary stakeholders and conducted elite interviews with members of the NGO and donor community.
2) Summer Intern; National Democratic Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh – Assisted in collecting background research and design of GIS maps showing voter patterns and potential violence at the polls for districts within Bangladesh (data will be used for predicting where monitoring at the polls should take place in the next federal election), created an Excel database of all inconsistencies at the polls of the October 2001 election, as well as an SPSS database which will assist in predicting whether or not print media has a coercive effect on voting patterns in the month prior to a federal election.
Brief Work Experience:
1) Intern with British Columbia Parks, Kamloops, British Columbia - Involvement with policy analysis and formulation, compiling research for Park recreation plans, facilitation of multi-stakeholder decisions, preparation and organization for development of district parkland.
2) Instructor: Public School Bridge Program, Vancouver, British Columbia - . Prepared children new-to-Canada and the English language for enrolment and success within the British Columbia public school system.
Areas of Policy Interest: Regional development, land-use and planning, natural resource management, international trade policies, education policy.
Nancy Norris
MPP Graduate: June 2007
Hometown: Victoria, B.C.
Previous Degree: B.A. (Honours with distinction), English Literature, University of Victoria; Diploma from the European Institute of Public Affairs and Lobbying, Brussels, Belgium
Work Experience:
Alerdinck Centre for Western and Muslim Media, The Hague, Netherlands – Fundraising Assistant
European Foundation Centre, Brussels, Belgium – Development Officer
James Norris Ltd. Immigration Advice and Services – Immigration Processing Coordinator
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Canadian foreign policy; the relationship between security and development in failed states and developing countries; conflict resolution; building independent media as an aspect of promoting good governance in developing countries; Canadian immigration and refugee policy; collaboration between civil society and the public and private sectors; international relations and diplomacy.
Leyla Nouhi
MPP Graduate: June 2007
Hometown: Burnaby, B.C.
Previous Degree: BA in Economics, SFU
Work Experience: Teaching Assistant at SFU, Private math and economics tutor, Bookkeeping/Data Entry for an accounting firm.
Areas of Policy Policy Interest: Immigration, Social Justice, Health Policies, Resource Environment Management.
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Rob O'Brien
MPP Graduate: June 2007
Previous Degree: BA (Hons) Political Science and Economics
Work Experience: Various. Project Coordinator for Options for Homes, a non-profit housing initiative to provide affordable housing in Canada's urban centres. ESL Teacher in Japan. Student intern for the Department of Housing and Land Resettlement in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Health, Immigration, Trade, Taxation, Economic Development.
Caitlin O'Reilly
MPP Graduate: June 2011 - Selected as MPP Capstone Topic of Ethical Significance Award Winner
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Previous education: Bachelor in Social Work, Diploma in Social Services
Research interests: Aboriginal mental health; critical approaches to health promotion; social determinants of nutritional health; reducing structural inequality within health care.
Work experience: The majority of Caitlin's experience has been in the Aboriginal community in a variety of capacities. Currently she is the Project Manager of a research project investigating innovation in Aboriginal mental health at the Canadian Mental Health Association- BC Division, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
James Oloo (Jimmy)
MPP Graduate: May 2005 (first graduating class)
Home Town: Kisumu, Kenya
Previous degrees: B.Ed, M.Ed (University of Lethbridge).
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2004): Policy analyst/researcher, Learning Policy Directorate, Human Resource and Skills Development Canada, Gatineau, Quebec. Worked in the area of Aboriginal postsecondary education and social policy, and educational and labor pathways of Canadian youths aged 19-22.
Brief work experience: teaching in college/high school
Areas of public policy interest: Health Policy, Aboriginal education, and Immigration policy.
Norma Oshynko
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Home Town: Foam Lake, Saskatchewan
Previous Degrees: B.A. (Honours, Sociology), University of Saskatchewan;
LL.B., University of Saskatchewan; LL.M., University of British Columbia.
Work Experience: Worked as a corporate lawyer in mid-sized firm.
Area of Public Policy Interest: Issues of social justice.
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Basia Pakula
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Legionowo, Poland
Previous Degree: BA First Class Honors (Political Science and Economics), Co-operative Education, Simon Fraser University
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2005): Centre for Public Policy Research. Worked as a researcher on the Aboriginal Policy Compendium Project to produce well-documented reports in the area of First Nations health.
Work Experience: Basia has gained extensive leadership experience through her involvement with the Residence Life Program at SFU. She has also developed strong administrative skills while working as an Administrative Assistant for Business Co-operative Education. Basia is currently working as a Research Assistant, performing edits, compiling literature reviews and conducting research in the areas of policy, gender and health.
Public policy interests: Basia’s policy interests lie in the areas of social policy, gender, community development, equity and employment. Basia’s honors thesis examined employment equity policies in Canada, while using UBC’s equity office as a case study in the analysis.
Hannah Cavendish-Palmer
MPP Graduate: June 2008
Hometown: Olympia, WA (USA)
Previous Degree: B.A. in International Development, Western Washington University and the University of Washington.
Work Experience: An avid traveler, having lived and worked in many countries around the world including Venezuela, South Africa, Germany, and Thailand. Her work and volunteer experience is varied and includes working for a Congressman in Washington DC, teaching English, serving on the University of Washington Alumni Association board of trustees, and volunteering at a food bank farm. Hannah discovered her passion for food and farming policy issues during her last year at the University of Washington and has spent the last three years working as a program assistant at Washington State University King County Extension. This job entailed working with farmers, consumers, and county officials to increase support for locally grown products.
Areas of Policy Interest: Hopes to work on land use and agricultural policy issues for a local government in Canada or the United States someday.
Sheetal Patel
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: debatable- Terre Haute, IN and Winnipeg, MB.
Previous Degree: BA (Advanced) Major in Psychology ; Minor in Sociology-University of Manitoba
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2005): Paediatrics Project Officer for Health Canada, Office of Paediatric Initiatives, Ottawa
Brief Work Experience: Volunteer work mainly in the health care-field
Areas of Public Policy Interest: health policy with specific interests in childhood obesity,
mental illness and pharmaceuticals, and more generally, the medicalization of deviance.
Margo Pearce
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Kenora, Ontario
Previous Degree: B.A.(with Distinction)in Political Science, University of Victoria, BC
Brief Work Experience:
Margo has gained most of her experience through the non-profit sector, volunteering, fundraising, event planning, and advocating in the field of HIV/AIDS. She sat on the Board of Directors for Victoria AIDS Resource and Community Services Society and was integral in the planning and delivery of the first mobile needle exchange program in Victoria. Margo gained considerable “front line” experience as a Support Care Worker for Victoria Cool Aid Society, in addition to research experience with the Seagrave Trust and volunteer experience with the Terrence Higgins Trust in the UK.
Policy Interests: the HIV/AIDS pandemic, regional and national health policy, injection drug use policy, prison health policy, education and awareness of sexually transmitted infections, foreign policies on HIV/AIDS.
Lara Peters
MPP Graduate: June 2007 - Selected as the CAPPA Award winner and 2007 CAPPA National Student Thought Leadership Gold Award Recipient
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Previous Degree: BA (Honours), McGill University. Major in Political Science (Concentration in International Relations), Minor in Philosophy - 2005
Work Experience: Research Analyst, Western Economic Diversification Headquarters, Edmonton, AB, Research Assistant, Simon Fraser University, Teaching Assistant, CEGEP Andre Laurendeau, LaSalle, QC
Areas of Policy Interest: Education Policy, Social Policy, Foreign Policy.
Fancy C. Poitras
MPP Graduate: June 2010
Hometown: Yellowknife, NT and Burnaby, BC
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Arts (Political Science), University of Alberta; Post- Baccalaureate Dipoloma (Social Policy Issues), Simon Fraser University.
Work Experience: Office Administration positions, including employment with the United Way of the Alberta Capital Region; Volunteer positions with organizations such as the University of Alberta Model United Nations, Students Against Drinking & Driving.
Areas of Policy Interest: Global Health and Development; Social Policy; Foreign Policy, Aboriginal Issues, Social Movements.
Barbara Powidel
MPP Graduate: June 2010
Hometown: Calgary, AB
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Commerce (International Business), University of Calgary ; Bachelor of Arts (Spanish), University of Calgary.
Work Experience: After graduating from university, Barbara was selected to take part in DFAIT's Young Professionals International internship program in Panama where she worked for 6 months. Upon returning to Canada , she has worked in the field of educational tourism as well as fundraising and events for a non-profit organization.
Areas of Policy Interest: Immigration Policy, Trade and Globalization, Foreign Policy.
Allison Prieur
MPP Graduate: June 2010
Hometown: Windsor, ON
Previous Degree: BA in Developmental Psychology with Thesis; Bachelor of Social Work, both from the University of Windsor.
Work Experience: Community Developer for Homeless Coalition of Windsor-Essex County and Legal Assistance of Windsor, also developed transition to high school programming for youth and created materials for provincial distribution with people who have disabilities.
Areas of Policy Interest: Social Policy, Community Development, the impact of domestic policies on poverty.
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Christine Robbins
MPP Graduate: June 2011 - Selected as MPP CAPPA Award Winner and 2011 CAPPA National Student Thought Leadership Silver Award Recipient
Hometown: Abbotsford, B.C.
Previous Defree: BSc. in Biology at the University of the Fraser Valley
Work Experience: I have worked as an Independant Living Skills Specialist for the CNIB for three years, both in Ontario and B.C. I also worked as a research assistance for the American Printing House for the zBlind in Louisville, Kentucky as part of the Canadian Youth Internship Program.
Areas of Policy Interest: Environmental and Social Policy.
Caitlin Roberts
MPP Graduate: June 2011
Hometown: Roberts Creek, B.C.
Previous degree: Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
Work experience: Passed experience includes working as a bush cook, a lifeguard for a small town pool and as an office manager for YMCA Camp Elphinstone. More recently, I have worked in the non-profit sectors for both conservation and social development organizations as a researcher. Finally, for the past two and a half years I have worked with Hansard Services at the B.C. Legislative Assembly as a Research Assistant and as the Lead Researcher.
Areas of Policy Interest: The delivery of primary health care services, pharmaceutical policy in Canada and the factors that encourage local food production in B.C.
Jon Robinson
MPP Graduate: June 2011
Hometown: Fredericton, New Brunswick
Previous Degrees: In 2007, Jon received his MA in English and Cultural Studies from Simon Fraser University. In 2005, Jon received his BA with double honours in Philosophy and English from Saint Thomas University.
Work Experience: Prior to the MPP program (2006-2009), Jon held various teaching positions with the English department at Simon Fraser University as well as teaching English as a Second Language outside of the university.
Areas of Policy Interest: Environmental and energy policy; climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Agnes Rosicki
MPP Graduate: June 2010
Hometown: Port Coquitlam, BC
Previous Degree: BA, Political Science and French, SFU.
Work Experience: While completing her undergraduate degree, Agnes worked as a Program Assistant for both ESCP-EAP European School of Management, Paris and SFU International Office, Burnaby. She has also worked for Whalley Business Improvement Association as a researcher.
Areas of Policy Interest: Political philosophy, social and health policy, sustainable urban development.
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Amanjyot (Aman) Sanghera
MPP Graduate: June 2008 Selected as MPP Capstone Topic of Ethical Significance Award Winner
Hometown: North Vancouver, BC
Previous degrees: BA Political Science, SFU, LLB, UBC
Work experience: Law Students Legal Advice Program (LSLAP), Volunteered with UNICEF and AIDS Vancouver
Areas of public policy interest: International relations/Canadian foreign policy, Canadian immigration and refugee law, human rights frameworks.
Christina Santini
MPP Graduate: June 2008
Hometown: Laval, Quebec
Previous degrees: Honours BA, major in Political Science from York University (Glendon College), with a Certificate in Law and Social Thought and a Bilingual Certificate in Public Policy and Public Administration.
Work experience: Assistant Provincial Coordinator of the Accent and Odyssey programs, Ontario Ministry of Education. Accent Language Assistant, Toronto Catholic District School Board. Co-op Policy Assistant, Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and University, Universities Branch, Finance Unit
Areas of public policy interest: Education policy, Aboriginal Policy, Intergovernmental relationships and the constitutional division of power.
Henrique Santos
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Vancouver, B.C.
Previous Degree: BA in Economics Simon Fraser University
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2005): Policy Analyst at the Office of the Federal Interlocutor for the Metis and Non-Status Indians, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Brief Work Experience: Unfortunately I have not had any direct work experience in my related field of study
Areas of Public Policy Interest: International relations, and provincial and federal government relations in most matters.
Adam Schubel
MPP Graduate: June 2009 Selected as MPP Best Title Capstone Award Winner
Hometown: Kelowna, BC.
Previous degrees: Adam started his undergraduate career as a Mathematics major at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby. But after taking a few electives in the Arts and Social Sciences, Adam woke up one day to find himself with an Honours degree in History and Political Science. Adam wrote his undergraduate thesis on consumer culture in post-War Germany, and he continues to nurture an interest in 20th Century European history. Adam joined the MPP programme to expand on his knowledge of Canadian politics and public policy.
Areas of public policy interest: Transportation and transit policy, social and environmental policy, and parliamentary reform.
Shahrokh Shahabi-Azad
MPP Graduate: October 2006
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Educational Background: B.A. (economics), M.A. (economics), MPP
Brief Work Experience: Currently working for the government of Ontario as a Senior Policy Adviser. Other positions held include Analyst (Fraser Institute), Economics Instructor (Kwantlen College)and Economic Analyst at HRSDC while completing MPP.
Matthew Sharp
MPP Graduate: June 2010
Hometown: Toronto, ON.
Previous degrees: BA, Political Science and Economics, Queen's University.
Work experience: While completing his undergraduate degree, Matthew served as the policy coordinator for Withinsight, a student leadership conference held in Ottawa.
Areas of Policy Interest: Intergovernmental relations, urban and regional planning, education policy.
Laura Sharpe
MPP Graduate: June 2011
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
Previous Degree: Honours B.A. Media, Information and Technoculture and Political Science from the University of Western Ontario
Work Experience: University administration and fundraising
Areas of Policy Interest: Urban planning in the downtown core; aboriginal issues of relocation, including resources available to ease the transition from reserve to city.
Jon Silva
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Previous degree: Hon. BA in International Relations, University of Toronto; Summer School Abroad, University of Hong Kong; French Immersion Program, Universite Laval
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2005): United Nations and Commonwealth Division of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in Ottawa.
Brief Work Experience: Jon worked as a volunteer for a Congressional Office in the Philippines. He also worked as a Customer Support Representative for a financial institution while attending university and after finishing his degree.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: international policies, trade agreements, Canada's foreign and immigration policies.
James Steidle
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Prince George
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Arts, Political Science/History (SFU)
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2004): Dhaka, Bangladesh
Brief work experience: James has taught English and economics at IUBAT in Dhaka, worked at a disarmament and defence conversion institute in Bonn, currently does some volunteer work at a shareholder research and education centre in Vancouver, and has assisted in various research projects around school.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: James' public policy interests include urban issues such as land use planning, growth management and sustainable development. Metropolitan governance, intergovernmental relations and federalism are also of interest. James is currently working! on a project related to growth concentration in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. He has presented a similar paper at the BC Political Studies Association Conference, which was awarded best MA paper amongst those submitted.
Gillian Sykes
MPP Graduate: June 2011
Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa
Previous Degree: Master of City and Regional Planning; B.A. with degrees in Economics, and Environmental and Geographical Science, both from the University of Cape Town
Work Experience: 8 years as a public sector consultant, based in a small consulting firm in South Africa. In that time I’ve worked across a number of sectors including water, sanitation, electricity, public transport, solid waste, sustainable housing, municipal benchmarking, public taxation and finance, using skills ranging from financial modelling, research, analysis and project management. My main area of focus has been developing municipal tariff policy models, and subsidy policy models for water services.
Areas of Policy Interest: Public finance, environmental finance, regulation of public services, getting the right public incentives in place!
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Marta Taylor
MPP Graduate: June 2009
Previous Degree: B.A., Sociology, Semester in Dialogue, SFU
Work Experience: Community and Youth HIV/AIDS Officer, Ghana AIDS Commission, Ghana Co-Owner and Executive Secretary, CMOS Emerging Technologies Inc. Collective Dwellings Census Crew Leader, Statistics Canada Homestay Coordinator, Vancouver English Centre
Volunteer Experience: Oxfam Canada: Campaign Coordination, Outreach and Education, Advocacy. Red Cross: Conference Coordination, Workshop Creation and Facilitation
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Environment and Natural Resources, Human Rights, Social Justice, Foreign.
Sarah Thomas
MPP Graduate: May 2005 (first graduating class)
Hometown: Fernie, BC
Previous Degree: BA, Political Science and English, University of British Columbia
MPP Co-op Placement (summer 2004): Columbia Basin Trust, Cranbrook BC. I was hired as a Monitoring and Evaluation assistant. I had the pleasure of organizing and facilitating focus group meetings, attending and evaluating a social planning symposium, and working on other M&E projects.
Brief work experience: Hospitality industry and BC Citizen's Assembly on Electoral Reform.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Social Policy, Community Economic Development, Education, School Nutrition policy.
Jenny Tierney
MPP Graduate: June 2007
Hometown: Pembroke, Ont.
Previous Degree: Honours BA in Political Science with Minor in Economics from Wilfrid Laurier University
Work Experience: Research Assistant, Nunavut Bureau of Statistics - Statistician for the 2004 Nunavut Household Survey
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Northern Policy - specifically related to Nunavut, Social and Health Policy.
Kate Trethewey
MPP Graduate: October 2009
Hometown: Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia.
Previous Degree: Specialized Honours in Political Science from York University.
Work Experience: Coordinator for SASSL- The Sexual Assault Survivors Support Line, Coordinator for York’s 2006 conference on International Sex Trafficking, and Violence Against Sex Trade Workers. Care Supervisor for the Elizabeth Fry Foundation.
Areas of Policy Interest: Immigration and Refugee Policy: more specifically the protection of women’s rights and persons during the entirety of the immigration
process, and an eventual goal to abolish the current Points System that continues to ignore both local and international systemic barriers.
Tamara Trotman
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Home Town: Langley, British Columbia
Previous degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Political Science (University of British Columbia)
MPP Co-op Placement (Summer 2005): Social Development Canada (Ottawa)
Work Experience: Several years communications and public affairs experience in the telecommunications and retail sectors
Areas of public policy interest: Policy coordination between and among governments, education policy as it applies to immigrants, foreign policy.
Alex Tu
MPP Graduate: May 2005 (first graduating class) - received Distinction on Capstone Project
Home Town: Toronto, ON
Previous degrees: B.Sc. Physiology (McGill University)
MPP Co-op placement: BC Hydro, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Program
Brief work experience: 3 years Consulting to the Ontario Electricty Industry. Participated in the regulatory design process through the Ontario Energy Board Working Groups. Provided policy briefs to utility managers and managed the development of business practices and software systems. Currently working in BC Hydro as a project analyst in the Corporate Sustainability department.
Areas of public policy interest: Environmental policy, Energy Policy, Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy.
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Claire Walsh
MPP Graduate: June 2007
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Previous degree: BA (with great distinction)in History, minor in English Literature and Sociology, McGill University 2003.
Previous Work Experience: Currently the Community Liaison at the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities for the AIDS and Disability Action Program. Other employment highlights include: Development Assistant at Aunt Leah's Lifeskills Society, English Teacher at American School of Paris and provincial political organizing.
Areas of public policy interest: Social policy, Urban development and Health Policy - with an interest in AIDS/HIV.
Jordan Wapass
MPP Graduate: June 2010
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Previous Degree: B.A. in Political Studies with an emphasis in Aboriginal Public Administration from the University of Saskatchewan.
Work Experience: Research Assistant in the Department of Political Studies at the U of S, conference coordinator for the Advanced Emphasis in Aboriginal Public Administration for the UArctic in Saskatoon 2006.
Areas of Policy Interest: Aboriginal Policy, First Nations Governance, Economic Development and Sustainability.
Colin Ward
MPP Graduate: June 2009
Hometown: Owen Sound, ON
Previous Degree: B.Sc. Biochemistry, B.A. (Hons) History, Queen's University
Work Experience: ESL teacher in both Korea and Japan, Foreman and employee representative on the health and safety policy review board for a silviculture company.
Areas of Policy Interest: Environmental policy, Energy and Natural Resource policy and Trade policy.
Craig Watson
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Previous degree: Bachelor of Arts, Université Laval, Quebec City with minors in History, Political Science and Economics.
Work experience: Craig has spent the last ten years working for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada in the areas of selection, enforcement, integration and port of entry. He also worked in the development of regional policy for the settlement of refugees in the Prairies.
Areas of Interest: Role of third sector in policy development, immigration policy, effects of migration on the urban environment.
Peter Wightman
MPP Graduate: June 2008
Hometown: Unionville, ON
Previous Degree: B.A. (Hons) Economics, minor in Political Studies; Queen's University
Previous Work Experience: - Assistant Policy Advisor (Ontario Ministry of Tourism)
Educational Tour Guide (Impact Educational Tours Ottawa, New York City, Chicago, Montreal, Niagara Falls)
Student Trustee (York Catholic District School Board)
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Economic policy, environmental policy, education policy.
Emily Willobee
MPP Graduate: June 2011
Relocated from: Chicago, IL
Previous degree: BA Communication, Loyola University Chicago
Work Experience: Prior to entering the MPP program, Emily spent time working with the Chicago Department of Transportation Bicycle Program on public outreach and education initiatives. Emily has also coordinated education programs for disadvantaged youth in Chicago and served as an instructor.
Volunteer experience: Emily is an experienced bicycle mechanic and has volunteered as a mechanics instructor at community bike shops in Chicago and Vancouver.
Area of policy interests: policy related to sustainable growth, such as transportation and planning policy or natural resources.
Calvin S. Wong
MPP Graduate: June 2007
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, UBC (May 2002)
Previous Work Experience: After the completion of his undergraduate degree, Calvin worked as a Personal Banker at the Royal Bank of Canada providing clients with banking, investment, and credit advice. Prior to graduation, he was part of the Leaders of Tomorrow Program, sponsored by the Vancouver Board of Trade. During this time, he was involved in the development of the program's strategic marketing plan.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Public Finance, Public/Private Sector Relations, Economic Development, and Asia-Pacific Relations
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Stewart Young
MPP Graduate: June 2006
Hometown: London, ON
Previous Degree: BA, Political Science/English (combined major), University of Victoria (2002)
MPP Co-op Placement (Summer 2005): Policy Analyst-- Tax Policy Branch at Treasury Board Staff, BC Ministry of Finance. Responsible for providing advice and analysis on current issues in provincial tax policy to the Minister and Deputy Minister of Finance, the Premier and Cabinet, and members of the provincial Treasury Board. Also worked to coordinate tax policy with other levels of government and other provincial ministries.
Previous Work Experience: sales, researcher/writer of educational software,copyeditor, university administration, volunteer writer for third-world aid lobby group
Policy Interests: Canadian Federal-Provincial Relations, Health, Taxation, Education, Foreign Policy.
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Patrick Zaph
MPP Graduate: June 2009
Hometown: Sherwood Park, AB
Previous Degree.: BA Communication, SFU
Work Experience: House of Commons Page, Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Strathcona County Recreation, Parks and Culture, ING Insurance. It's during this last job that Patrick has decided that insurance is most definitely not the industry for him. He also has extensive volunteer experience with Strathcona County, the IAAF Edmonton 2001 World Championships, and student communities for departments and residences at the University of Ottawa and Simon Fraser University. All of these were much more fun than insurance.
Areas of Public Policy Interest: Media influence on Democratic practices, Firearms policy (especially in the area of ameliorating the current Firearms Registry), Electoral Reform and its effects on democratic participation in youth voters.
Matthew Zipchen
MPP Graduate: October 2008
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Commerce – Entrepreneurship
Brief Work Experience: I am currently working as a consultant on an exciting eco-industrial project for the City of Richmond. In addition to this, examples of my previous experiences include: research analyst for a venture catalyst firm, communications manager for a start-up human resource recruitment firm, operating and managing my own successful painting company, and volunteering in Ecuador on a sustainability project.
Policy Interests: I am passionate about sustainability issues and I am looking to combine this enthusiasm with my economic and business knowledge in the specific areas of international trade, urban development, environmental economics, and/or community economic development.