Payam is a computer scientist who has received his Master's degree in Computer Science at Simon Fraser University. During the course of his thesis, Payam developed the first fully automatic approach to finding cancerous lesions in 3D medical images. He was involved in one of the biggest projects for cancer treatment in Canada, in collaboration with the BC Cancer Agency and The University of British Columbia and Quantitative Imaging Network in the USA for the evaluation of responses to cancer therapies. He has published over 10 scientific papers and has won several awards during his study, including The SFU’s People’s Choice Award at the Faculty of Applied Sciences Heat of the Three Minute Thesis. He has 3+ years of experience in full life cycle Software development involving OOP design development, testing, documentation.
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Programming Coordinator
The Programming Coordinator will help create program content, plan (virtual) events, and support communications for WWEST to achieve the program’s goals; this will include identifying potential topics (and speakers) for our Podcast, Blog and White Papers. The Programming Coordinator will also oversee the visual design and layout of presentations, posters, and white papers. The Program Coordinator will report to the WWEST Chairholder, Dr. Lesley Shannon. WWEST’s office is on SFU Burnaby Campus but due to the current pandemic restrictions we will be doing interviews and work remotely until restrictions change. The Program Coordinator will be provided a laptop for this position but will need to provide their own headphones, internet connection, and workspace. Learn more here.
Operations Coordinator
The Operations Coordinator will oversee WWEST’s projects to make sure team members have what they need to complete their work. The Operations Coordinator will also track the program’s financial status and will prepare reports about the program’s progress. The Operations Coordinator will report to the WWEST Chairholder, Dr. Lesley Shannon. WWEST’s office is on SFU Burnaby Campus but due to the current pandemic restrictions we will be doing interviews and work remotely until restrictions change. The Operations Coordinator will be provided a laptop for this position but will need to provide their own headphones, internet connection, and workspace. Learn more here.
Current Staff
WWEST Software Developer - Payam Ahmadvand
Podcast Producer - Vanessa Hennessey
Vanessa Hennessey is the Podcast Producer at Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology for the Best of the WWEST podcast. She also helps with the many fun projects that WWEST is undertaking. She finished her post-baccalaureate in Communication at Simon Fraser University in 2019, co-hosts/produces a podcast on "the X-Files" (her favourite character is, of course, Dana Scully), and has 2 cats and a dog that she is crazy about.
WWEST Communications Coordinator - Kiko Kwok
Kiko is a Communications Coordinator at Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology where she contributes to WWEST’s website and social media channels.
Past Staff
| Alicen Ricard | Communications Coordinator | May 2017 - October 2020 |
| Gabby Chia | White Papers Coordinator | April 2018 - May 2019 |
| Danika Wong |
Creating Connections 6.0 Coordinator |
April 2018 - May 2019 |
| Gabby Chia | Communications Coordinator | May - December 2018 |
| Zhi Yuh Ou Yang | Data Analyst |
May - December 2018 |
| Ardalan Benam | Software Developer | January 2017 - December 2018 |
| Tarek Elganainy | Software Developer | January - August 2018 |
| Danika Wong | Communications Coordinator | September 2017 - April 2018 |
| Diana Koval | Literature Review Research Assistant | September 2017 - April 2018 |
| Zavier Aguila | Software Developer | May - December 2017 |
| Tim Woinoski |
Software Developer |
May - August 2017 |
| Aaron Cheung |
Software Developer |
January - August 2017 |
| Jaime Vargas |
Software Developer |
March - May 2017 |
| Odilia Dys-Steenbergen | Social Psychology Survey Development | September 2016 - April 2017 |
| Natalie Lim | Communications Coordinator |
September 2016 - April 2017 |
| Jenna Anderson | Communications Coordinator |
February 2016 - May 2017 |
| Albee Hong |
Data Analyst | February 2016 - May 2017 |
| Daphne Chong |
Software Developer | September - December 2016 |
| Aaqib Khorasi | Software Developer | September - December 2016 |
| Jack Anderson | Software Developer | July - September 2016 |
| Ginny Van Pelt | Partners Liason | April - August 2016 |
| Sarah Ngo | Communications Coordinator | February - August 2016 |
| Diana Koval | Analysis of Women in STEM Statistics BC |
February - April 2016 |
| Vani Choubey | Computing Careers White Paper |
February - April 2016 |
| Rohit Ranjan | Techical Literacy Survey Development | February - April 2016 |