The Atlantic Immigration Summit is an outcome-oriented event series designed to engage people across sectors for a provocative dialogue and exchange on immigration. The summits focus on innovative, practical, and actionable solutions to strengthen Atlantic Canada’s immigration system and improve economic performance with an emphasis on building inclusive communities.

Speakers and roundtable leaders are attending from across the province representing a range of backgrounds and experiences. A key component of this provincial event is sharing of best practices.

WHY ATTEND

  • Work on key immigration issues and learn best practices
  • Network with potential partners and collaborators
  • Gain insights on the programs and services available to help employers and immigrants
  • Access new approaches that will empower newcomers and better leverage their skills, talents, and connections in NL.
  • Learn what employers are looking for and how to find meaningful work in the Newfoundland context
  • Contribute and bring your ideas to help shape recommendations to guide the policies, programs and strategies for the future

Honourary Chair

Charlene Brophy
President and CEO of FONEMED

Keynote Speaker

Don Mills
Don Mills
Founder, Former CEO and Owner of Corporate Research Associates Inc.

Newfoundland Agenda

Day One – Evening Alien Ballet

St. John's Arts and Culture Centre
95 Allandale Rd, St. John's

6:30 PM

Welcome by Susan Chalmers-Gauvin, CEO, Atlantic Ballet and Janis Byrne, Chair of the St. John’s Board of Trade.
6:35 PM

Remarks from Honourary Chair: Charlene Brophy, President and CEO of FONEMED
6:45 PM

Onstage panel led by the Association for New Canadians:

  • Charlene Brophy, President and CEO of FONEMED
  • Dr Bolu Ogunyemi, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), Memorial University of Newfoundland
  • Meghan Felt, Partner/Immigration Lawyer at McInnes Cooper Law Firm
  • Taqwa Mahmood, Artist who has a passion for immigration
7:30 PM

Ballet ALIEN on the immigration experience
8:45 PM

Opening Reception for Summit Delegates
Day Two - Atlantic Immigration Summit

Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland

115 Cavendish Square, St. John's, NL

8:00 AM

Registration/Light Breakfast
8:30 AM

Welcome by Honourary Chair: Charlene Brophy, President and CEO of FONEMED
8: 45 AM

Keynote: Don Mills, Founder, Former CEO and Owner of CRA Inc., "Framing the Conversation on Immigration"
9:10 AM

Panel led by Tim Powers

  • Prajwala Dixit, Engineer/Journalist/Catalyst
  • Tony Fang, Professor and Stephen Jarislowsky Chair in Economic and Cultural Transformation, Memorial University of Newfoundland
  • Robert Greenwood, Executive Director, Public Engagement and The Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development, Memorial University of Newfoundland
  • Deirdre (Beep) Ayre, Head of Operations, Other Ocean Group Canada Ltd.
9:45 AM Break
10:00 AM

Themed Roundtables each hosted by a business/community leader and a newcomer
12:00 PM

Lunch and Trade Show Room
1:30 PM

Themed Roundtables continue
2:30 PM Break
3:30 PM

Themed Roundtables: Actions
4:30 PM  Wrap-up and Closing Remarks

Speakers

Deirdre Ayre
Deirdre Ayre
Head of Operations, Other Ocean Group Canada Ltd.
Charlene Brophy
President and CEO of FONEMED
Tony Fang
Tony Fang
Full Professor and Stephen Jarislowsky Chair in Economic and Cultural Transformation, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Prajwala Dixit
Prajwala Dixit
Engineer/Journalist/Catalyst
Robert Greenwood
Robert Greenwood, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Public Engagement and The Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Tim Powers
Tim Powers
Vice-Chairman of Summa Strategies
Meghan Felt
Partner/Immigration Lawyer at McInnes Cooper Law Firm
Dr Bolu Ogunyemi
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Dermatology) Memorial University of Newfoundland
Taqwa Mahmood
Artist who has a passion for immigration
Susan Chalmers-Gauvin
Susan Chalmers-Gauvin
Founder and CEO Atlantic Ballet
Igor Dobrovolskiy
Igor Dobrovolskiy
Founding Artistic Director and Choreographer Atlantic Ballet

Roundtable Leaders

Prajwala Dixit
Prajwala Dixit
Engineer/Journalist/Catalyst
Elizabeth Vincent
Elizabeth Vincent
Director, International, College of the North Atlantic
Danny Reid
Danny Reid
Account Manager Small Business TD Canada Trust
Ziyi Qian
Ziyi Qian
Membership Executive, St. John's Board of Trade
Sheldon O’Neill
Sheldon O’Neill
Immigrant Settlement and Integration Consultant, OIM
Kyekue Mweemba
Program Coordinator YWCA St. John's
Ashley Verge
Ashley Verge
Central Region Coordinator, Connector NL
Carey Majid
Executive Director, Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission
Dr. Willow Anderson
Dr. Willow Anderson
Principal at Mind the Gap Consulting™
Stacy Gardner
Stacy Gardner
Local Immigration Partnership Officer (LIP), City of St. John’s
Jennifer Bessell
Jennifer Bessell
Director of Settlement Services, Association for New Canadians (ANC)
Marvin Chaulk
Marvin Chaulk
VP Administration, Verafin
Heidi Murphy
Heidi Murphy
Recruitment Manager, Verafin
Constanza Safatle
Constanza Safatle
Commercial Lawyer, Owner of Newbornlander, Partakes coordinator
Tim Fahey
Tim Fahey
Managing Partner, Newfoundland and Labrador Grant Thornton LLP
Rhonda Tulk-Lane
Rhonda Tulk-Lane
Director of Business Solutions, St. John’s Board of Trade
Brendan Hagerty
Brendan Hagerty
Manager of Business Solutions, St. John's Board of Trade
Amir Tavafi
Amir Tavafi
Product Manager, Verafin
Maryanne Aghalu
Maryanne Aghalu
Manager Customer Experience, TD Canada Trust
Sherri Breen
Sherri Breen
Business Diversity Officer, Association for New Canadians
Dr. Zainab Jerrett
Dr. Zainab Jerrett
Executive Director, Tombolo Multicultural Festival Newfoundland and Labrador Inc.
Aleksandra Stefanovic-Chafe.
Aleksandra Stefanovic-Chafe.
Andy Chen
Andy Chen
Darell Barrett
Darell Barrett
Eileen Kelly-Freake
Eileen Kelly-Freake
Katherine Bennett
Katherine Bennett
Katherine Bennett
Quing Yang
Quing Yang
Zack Noel
Zack Noel
Zoey Qin
Zoey Qin
Grace Okwera
Grace Okwera
Team Lead/ ESL Instructor, Association For New Canadians
Maryanne Kinuthia (Ani)
Maryanne Kinuthia (Ani)
Coordinator, Children and Youth Programs, Association for New Canadians
Saba El-Tahan
Saba El-Tahan
Sr. Project Manager

Committee:

Tim Fahey | Partner, Grant Thornton

Meghan Felt | Partner/Immigration Lawyer at McInnes Cooper Law Firm

Rhonda Tulk-Lane | Director of Business Solutions, Board of Trade

Shanna Mugford | Western Region Coordinator, Connector NL

Brendan Hagerty | Manager of Labour Market Initiatives, Connector Program

Ashley Verge | Central Region Coordinator, Connector NL

James Rosario | Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, Manager, Immigration Services, Work Global Canada

Jose Rivera | Executive Director, Refugee and Immigrant Advisory Council (RIAC)

Justin Campbell | Diversity Outreach Coordinator, Association for New Canadians

Jennifer Bessell | Director of Settlement Services, Association for New Canadians

Roger Scaplen | Senior Manager, Government Relations at Atlantic YMCA Regional Development Centre

Krista Payne | General Manager (Acting), Employment and Enterprise Services, YMCA

Wendolyn Schlamp | Executive Director, YWCA

Deanne Howlett | Program Coordinator, YWCA

Remzi Cej | Director of Immigration, Provincial Government Office of Immigration

Geoff Newman | Manager of Youth Grants at Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Aiden Flynn | Provincial director arts and culture centres 

Lori Tobin | Marketing Communications Specialist

Taqwa Mahmood | Artist who has a passion for immigration

 

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