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South Asian Studies Institute

South Asian Community Advisory Committee (SACAC)

The UFV President will appoint members to the South Asian Community Advisory Committee (SACAC). The role of the SACAC is to provide general advice to the University on the ongoing activities of the South Asian Studies Institute, the Canada-India studies program, and the work of the BC Regional Innovation Chair in Canada-India Partnership Development.

Please see the SASI Advisory Committee SACAC TOR 2018 for additional information.

Committee members

Dr. Garry Fehr

Associate Vice-President

Research and Graduate Studies

Abbotsford campus, G290J

Phone: (604) 557-4074

email Garry
Description

Bharathi Sandhu, Chair


Profession
: Financial Advisor

Educational Background: Bachelors in Business Administration

Community Interests and Areas of Involvement: Interested in community affairs and development of youth.  Involved with the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, Fraser Valley Indo-Canadian Business Association, Dasmesh Punjabi School, BC Cancer Foundation

Description

Dr. Malwinder Singh Dhami


Profession
Dentist

Educational BackgroundB.D.S (India), DMD (University of Manitoba)

Community Interests and Areas of InvolvementHelping students in achieving their educational goals, educational promotion, student scholarship programs, school presentations on oral health, practicum supervision.

Description

Mindy Rama


Profession
Teacher

Educational BackgroundBachelor of Education (UBC); a Masters in Leadership Studies (UVic)

Community Interests and Areas of InvolvementPast President of the Fraser Valley Indo Canadian Business Association, volunteered with the Clearbrook Kiwanis, enhancing opportunities for youth, a committee member of the Indo Canadian Retirement and Health Care Committee.

Dr. Amarjit Bajwa

 

Profession:

Educational Background:

Community Interests/Involvement:

Description

Rajnish Dhawan

ProfessionFaculty Representative

Educational BackgroundPh. D. (India), MA

Faculty/Department: English 

EmailRajnish.dhawan@ufv.ca

Description

Susan Mide Kiss

Profession: Vice-President, Community Engagement at the University of the Fraser Valley 

Educational Background: Master of Arts in Leadership (RRU) and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science (UVic)

Community Interests and areas of Involvement: 
Before returning home to the Fraser Valley, Susan lived in Alberta, working at the University of Calgary for 15 years. Currently pursuing a Doctorate in Social Sciences at Royal Roads University, Susan is deeply committed to working in a good way exploring wise and ethical engagement practices with Indigenous and other equity-deserving communities. Susan is a founding member of the Canadian Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement and Community Campus Engage Canada. Her extensive volunteer experience includes senior roles with groups ranging from youth organizations to the United Way. Susan is also pleased to support the Abbotsford Community Foundation and is a member of the Board of Directors.

Email: susan.midekiss@ufv.ca

Description

Shahzad Nazir Khan

Profession: Professional Agrologist

Educational Background: M. Sc (Hons) Agriculture. MBA 

Community Interests and areas of Involvement: 
A well-known peace and social justice activist of South Asian community who immigrated to Canada from Pakistan back in 2006. For last many years, him and his group of Progressive Pakistani Canadians took many initiatives to raise awareness about the peace and issues related to South Asian diaspora. He celebrates ‘unity in diversity’!

Email: shazkhan1@hotmail.com

Description

Ansh Seth

Profession: Working as a Staff Accountant at KPMG specialising in statutory and financial statement audits for private enterprises (ASPE).

Educational Background
Completed his bachelors of Business Administration in accounting from the University of the Fraser Valley and currently pursuing his CPA designation from CPA Western School of Business.

Community Interests and areas of Involvement: 
Helping new international students adapt to the new community and being an active advocate of south Asian community by representing its true values. He was involved with SASI as a Research Assistant during the launch of South Asian Canadian Digital Archive (SACDA).

Email: anshworkdesk@gmail.com

Description

Pratham  - student member

Educational Background:  I am currently pursuing Bachelors of Computer Information Systems, graduating Summer 2024

Community Interests and areas of Involvement: 
Being a South Asian, I hold a profound and meaningful connection to my roots. I have been interested in the history of South Asians migrating to Canada and the SACDA project at SASI focuses on preserving this history in a digital medium. Apart from this I am a Tech enthusiast, currently working as a Teaching Assistant and Lab monitor at UFV.

Email: Pratham@student.ufv.ca

Previous committee members

Description

Anita Lal


Profession
: Community Relations Specialist at Windmill Microlending 

Community Interests and Voluntary Work: Anita Lal is a social justice advocate that has been working  in the non-profit and charity sector since 2013 and is passionate about creating safe spaces for dialogue, critical self reflection, community programming and outreach. Anita is the Community Relations Specialist at Windmill Microlending, where she works with skilled immigrants and refugees and the Business Development Manager at Royal Academy of Bhangra.  She has recently been involved in the Dalits and #Jatt’s community dialogue and Positive Parenting South Asian Workshops in Surrey. She also serves on the Advisory Board for the South Asian Studies Institute at The University of the Fraser Valley and Seva Thrift Society.   

Description

Kanta Naik

Profession: Education Consultant Settlement Worker in Schools Liasion

Education: Masters In Education - Leadership and English Language Learning

Community Interest: Making the community a more truly inclusive place by valuing diversity and the strength it brings. Working with community partners to build knowledge around newcomers and how research and involvement can reduce barriers and improve access.

 

Rajdeep Dhaliwal, Student Rep

 

 

Description

Shan Dhaliwal

Position: Student Rep

Year: January 2019

Shan is a BBA student majoring in marketing at UFV. He worked on marketing and helping design the Sikh Heritage Museum’s “We Are Hockey” exhibit. He also worked on digital content creation for all social media platforms and the Sikh Heritage website

Description

Terry Gidda

Profession:

Background:

Community Interests/Involvement:

Description

Balbir Gill

Porfession: Life Insurance Advisor and Librarian

Educational Background: LLQP, Masters of Arts ( PUnjabi Litreature), Bachelor of Library and Information Science, Library Infromation and Science Diploma, Associate Certificate in Leadership and Conflict Resolution, Foundations of Effective Management and Leadership.

Community Intrests and Areas of InvolvementEducation, Homelessness, Immigrants, Library, Literacy, Panjabi language and Culture


Description

Nash Gill

Description

Anita Nielsen

Executive Director, Advancement & Alumni Relations

University Advancement

Abbotsford campus, B230c

Phone: 604-851-6300

Description

Andy Sidhu

Profession: Publisher/Owner of the Punjabi Patrika

Description

Ken Uppal


Profession
Manager, Commercial Banking, CIBC 

Educational BackgroundMBA (Guelph), Continuing Studies (UBC)

Community Interests and Areas of InvolvementCommunity Affairs

Research Interests: Asian Studies

Description

Ishpreet Singh Anand

ProfessionAdmisitrative coordinator

Educational Background: BBA, University of the Fraser Valley

Community Interests and Areas of InvolvementCommunity Affairs

Research Interests: South Asian diaspora in canada, History and culture.

Description

Samarveer kamra

ProfessionStudent

Educational Background: BBA, University of the Fraser Valley

Community Interests and Areas of InvolvementCommunity Affairs

Research Interests: South Asian diaspora in canada, History and culture.

Description

Amrik Narang, Co-chair

Profession: Lawyer, Managing Partner at Dhami Narang & Company LLP

Educational Background:  Bachelor of Arts (1996); Bachelors of Law (1999) 

Community Interests and Areas of Involvement: Previous Director and Vice President of Fraser Valley Indo Canadian Business Association; Past President, Abbotsford Bar Association; past Member of various committees of the Law Society of British Columbia

Research Interests: Politics and Political Systems

Description

Jati Sidhu

ProfessionBusinessman

Educational BackgroundBachelor of Arts, Major in Economics

Community Interests and Areas of InvolvementPassion to be involved in projects and organizations building stronger societies

Research InterestsAgriculture and Economic Development

Description

Parm S. Bains

ProfessionBusinessman

Educational BackgroundBSc (UBC)

Community Interests and Areas of InvolvementSocial Work, Fundraising, Cultural Philanthropy

Research InterestsAgriculture, Economy, Canada-India Business

Description

Kelly Chahal

ProfessionProbation Officer, Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General

Educational BackgroundBA and MA in Criminal Justice (UFV)

Community Interests and Areas of InvolvementUFV Alumni Board, Friends of UCFV Society, South Asian Community Consultative Group

Research InterestsYouth, Women, Immigration

Description

Tok Herar

ProfessionSemi-retired businessman, Financial Planner

Educational BackgroundFaculty of Science (India), Insurance and Securities Certification

Community Interests and Areas of InvolvementRotary, Masonic Order, Fundraising, District Recreation, Boy Scouts of Canada

Research InterestsFinance and Sports

Description

Paul Wadhawan

ProfessionBusinessman

Educational BackgroundAccounting

Community Interests and Areas of InvolvementFraser Valley Crematorium Society

Description

Ram Singh Padwal

Description

Kelly Khakh

ProfessionBanker- Branch Manager

Educational BackgroundMBA, Criminal Justice Certificate

Community Interests and Areas of InvolvementAbbotsford Chamber of Commerce, Abbotsford Community Foundation, BC Cancer Foundation, BC Children's Hospital Foundation-Miracle Maker, Run for Water- Abbotsford Guru Nanak Free Kitchen

Research Interests: Diversity, Human Rights, Youth, Canadian Economy and Human Potential

Description

Terry Sidhu

ProfessionNotary Public

Educational BackgroundUrban Land Economics (UBC)

Community Interests and Areas of InvolvementReal Estate Institute of BC, Society of Notaries

Research Interests: Immigration, Real Estate and Legal

Description

Hardeep Singh Sandhu

ProfessionStudent, President of UFV India Student Club

Description

Suman Lally

ProfessionStudent

Major: Business Administration

Community Interests: SAPNA (South Asian Peer Network Association), Pioneering History of BC

Description

The Late Dr. Dalip Singh Gill

ProfessionRetired Education Officer

Educational BackgroundBA, Teaching Certificate, MA (Pol. Science, Punjabi), PhD

Community InterestsIndo-Canadian Issues, Education

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