Irina Lipnitskaya - Coop Q & A

Co-op Term: Spring 2025

Where did you work?

SFU International.

What was your role? What were some of your responsibilities?

• Managing project timelines, venue bookings, catering arrangements, registration assistance and program (itinerary) planning, while interacting with internal and external SFU partners.
• Updating conference task list, reminding my coworkers and supervisor on upcoming deadlines.
• Preparing marketing materials (including websites, etc.) and drafting reports, proposals and meeting minutes.
• Gained proficiency in SFU's WCM AEM web builder, and built the majority of the APRU SCL 2025 Conference webpage.
• Link: APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference 2025 - SFU International - Simon Fraser University

How have the skills/knowledge developed in the classroom apply to your job? What did you learn?

Generally, as a post-secondary student of 4 years, my ability to manage tight project deadlines, as well as exam preparation has allowed me to take on multiple tasks at once. My organizational system is always a work in progress, and as I find myself managing multiple, increasing tasks, I am able to adjust accordingly and improve my time management and event coordination skills.

Can you share a challenge you faced in your Co-op and how you overcame it?

Difficulty within the first few weeks as I had very little knowledge of the SFU International team, and would have to email multiple people and play 'phone/email-tag' to resolve a simple issue. However, with time, I met the whole team, some at staff meetings, but others, I requested to meet and chat face to face (Teams). I also took initiative and reached out to departments outside of SFU International such as MECs an Comms, to chat about proper SFU procedures and rules when requesting social media content, immigration invite letters, venue bookings, etc.

What was your most memorable Co-op experience?

Having to plan the conference through site visits. As we have multiple concurrent presentation sessions, in multiple classrooms, I had to walk all over the SFU campus and determine any directional signage we may need, while taking lots of photos on my phone for reference. The experience was not only memorable but also nostalgic, as I was constantly thinking back to getting lost in my first few years at SFU. After four years of studies, I was happy to see the amount of familiarity I had gained over my time at SFU. Furthermore, as I am continuing my studies at SFU’s Department of Geography, Master of Science program, I was relieved that I wouldn’t find myself getting lost at a different university, while trying to find my grad courses.

What have you learned through your Co-op experience?

I have been able to familiarize myself with the background logistics and tasks that keep a massive organization such as SFU, running effectively. While you are a student, you may rely on many resources, but not understand just how much effort and work it takes to serve the differing needs of multiple students and/or employees. This experience has been especially valuable as I am starting my MSc in Geography/GIS under Nadine Schuurman, and will be taking on TA roles. Having gotten experience as an SFU International staff, I feel more prepared to communicate with my future students, both professionally and effectively.

What advice do you have for future Co-op students?

Don’t be afraid to be yourself in interviews. I was able to get this position by just talking about my graduate school plans and passions are green architecture, and connect with the hiring manager in a personalized way. They could sense my passion for the topic, as well as hear the knowledge I possessed, making me seem more confident in myself and my skills.