IDP Connect Canadian Strategic Advisory Board Formed to Tackle the Biggest Challenges Affecting International Student Mobility Into Canada

TORONTO, June 16, 2021 – Last week, IDP Connect held the inaugural meeting of their newly launched Canadian Strategic Advisory Board to address the biggest threats and opportunities for the Canadian international higher education market. 

The Board, bringing together experts and leaders in Canadian international higher education, aims to create a senior network to identify and address the biggest issues affecting student marketing and recruitment. The group was challenged to help drive IDP as they continue to innovate and push the boundaries of what can be achieved when the world’s largest community of students, counsellors and institutions are brought together in one connected community.  

The first meeting was led by IDP and Board chairs Ajay Patel, President and CEO of Vancouver Community College, and Livia E. Castellanos, Executive Lead International Education and Jurisdictional Initiatives at the Government of Saskatchewan and Associate Vice President International and Chief International Officer at the University of Regina (on leave). The Board discussed the impacts of COVID-19 on Canadian international education, labour market challenges and other threats and opportunities to the market.  

Christine Wach, Director of Client Relations for North America at IDP says, “Forming this Strategic Advisory Board will not only help connect senior leaders from across the country but will enable IDP to develop services that assist with these institutions’ biggest challenges. The Board members’ feedback is crucial to move international higher education forward in Canada.”  

The full list of Strategic Advisory Board members include: 

Chairs 

Ajay Patel, President & CEO, Vancouver Community College 

Livia E. Castellanos, Executive Lead International Education and Jurisdictional Initiatives Government of Saskatchewan. AVP International and Chief International Officer University of Regina (on leave)  

Associate Chair 

Cen Huang, Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (International), University of Alberta 

Members 

Alain Malette, Senior Director, Enrolment Management, University of Ottawa 

Anuraj Bajwa, Dean, International & Partnerships, Mohawk College 

Baihua Chadwick, Associate Vice-President International, Thompson Rivers University  

Cyndi McLeod, CEO, Global University Systems 

David Ross, President and CEO, SAIT 

Gary Hallam, Vice President International & Executive Dean, Conestoga College 

Geoff Wilmshurst, Vice President, Partnerships, Camosun College 

Keith Monrose, Executive Director, International, Seneca College 

Janaka Ruwanpura, Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President Research (International), University of Calgary 

Larissa Bezo, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBIE 

Randall Martin, Executive Director, BCCIE 

Richard Peters, Vice President, Strategic International Development, Sault College of Applied Arts & Technology 

Rick Huijbregts, Vice-President, Strategy & Innovation, George Brown College 

Virginia Macchiavello, Associate Vice President of International Education, Centennial College