MENU

About the Equity Office

The Equity Office supports the university’s academic mission by ensuring SFU is in compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks at the provincial and federal level and Canadian equity, diversity and inclusion standards and requirements for accreditation. Through partnerships with leaders and units across the university, the Equity Office team provides timely, evidence-informed guidance to support the implementation of equitable and inclusive practices. Where appropriate, the Equity Office partners with Indigenous faculty and staff to support Indigenization, Decolonization and Reconciliation efforts at SFU. 

The Equity Office is at the forefront of transforming the SFU experience to uplift and uphold human rights of all people in our community, while identifying and addressing systemic inequities. By translating the university's value of equity and belonging into tangible actions, as outlined in the Equity Compass, we guide the institution towards a more inclusive future through a sustainable and holistic approach to Inclusive Excellence

CONTACT
Equity Office (general email): edi@sfu.ca

Paola Ardiles Gamboa, PhD
Senior Advisor to the Vice President, People, Equity and Inclusion (Equity and Well-Being Initiatives)
Email: pardiles@sfu.ca

Naz Babaeipanah, BBA, M.Ed
Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 
Strategic Initiatives
Email: nnb2@sfu.ca

Jennifer Kandjii, PhD
Director, EquityDiversity and Inclusion
Student Services               
Email: jennifer_kandjii@sfu.ca                       

Suman Jiwani, MSc
Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Faculty Initiatives
Email: suman_jiwani@sfu.ca

Laya Behbahani, PhD Candidate | School of Communication, 2020 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Scholar
Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Staff Initiatives
Email: lbehbaha@sfu.ca

Equity Compass  

The university recently launched the Equity Compass, SFU’s first strategic equity plan. The Compass outlines the focus for SFU’s institutional EDI work over the next five years, including core definitions for EDI, statements of purpose, vision and principles and key strategic goals that will support a cohesive approach to transforming the SFU experience for our students, faculty, staff and community. 

What we're working towards: 

  1. Respect, Inclusion and Belonging Culture & Structures
  2. Accountability, Leadership and Governance
  3. Education and Capacity-Building
  4. Employment and Pay Equity
  5. Equity Data 

The Equity Compass actions will be worked on at the institutional level, led, supported or coordinated by SFU’s inaugural Equity Office. 

Learn more

Advisory Council

The VPPEI gives gratitude to the EDI Advisory Council that operated between 2020-2024 and Dr. Dorothy Christian, Elder-In-Residence. Their guidance was invaluable to the inception, development and launch of SFU's Equity Compass and additional EDI initiatives.

The mandate of the EDI Advisory Council was to strengthen SFU's commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces and learning environments, and equitable opportunities for all.

Specific responsibilities of the Advisory Council were to provide advice and guidance to the President and Vice-President, People, Equity and Inclusion on the following:

  • high-level, strategic reflections on EDI-related priorities
  • communication strategies and outreach
  • data collection and analysis
  • programs and policies
  • opportunities and systemic barriers
  • university responsibilities

Learn more

Need help?

Students, staff and faculty can access equity, diversity and inclusion supports.

Learn more