Theme: From Here to There

A diverse range of talks from students, professionals and business leaders about their experiences, initiatives and theories that take us from HERE to THERE.

3333 University Way
Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 1V7
Canada

Carey Simpson

Carey is a second year Master of Science student in the Faculty of Health and Exercise Science. Originally from Northern B.C., Carey moved to Kelowna five years ago and completed her undergraduate degree in Human Kinetics at UBCO.

Chantal Bacchus

Chantal Bacchus is a fifth and final year International Relations student who was born in Toronto and spent a number of formative years in Tokyo. Post graduation she intends to embark on a year-long adventure abroad before pursuing a constitutional law degree at the University of Cape Town.

Christine Schreyer

Christine Schreyer is an assistant professor of anthropology at UBC Okanagan, where she teach courses in linguistic anthropology. Her research focuses on language revitalization in Canada, and, more recently in Papua New Guinea, as well as the relationship between endangered language communities and created language communities. She has done research on the Na’vi speech community (from the movie Avatar) and is the creator of the Kryptonian language from Man of Steel (2013).

Heidi Northcott

Heidi Northcott is in her final year of a Physiology Biology Degree at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Originally from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Heidi has been a member of the Canadian Women’s National Baseball Team for 5 years.

Jacky Deng

Jacky Deng is a second-year Biochemistry student at UBC Okanagan.

John-Tyler Binfet

Dr. Binfet is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. His research examines ways to support students’ social and emotional well-being and his areas of expertise include homesickness, animal-assisted therapy, and perceptions of school-based kindness. Dr. Binfet is the Director of UBC’s Building Academic Retention through K9’s (B.A.R.K.) program.

Jonathan Bepple

Jonathan is currently an environmental sciences master’s student at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan Campus. His affinity for the natural world has guided his research in assessing the future of water use in Kelowna.

Jonathan Friesen

Jonathan Friesen is CEO of Mission Group Enterprises, a Kelowna company. The organization operates as Parent of brands such as Mission Group Homes, Mission Group Commercial, MG Construction, BigSteelBox and BigSteelBox Structures. Jonathan’s prime responsibilities are team building, corporate direction/oversight and driving corporate value. Jonathan was raised in rural Japan, graduated from high school in Tokyo, attended university in Los Angeles, finally settling in Vancouver and working as a Chemical Trader for Mitsubishi Corporation. In the late 80s, Jonathan went on his own, establishing a residential development company in Vancouver, with an international reach.

Jonathan Friessen

Jonathan Friesen is CEO of Mission Group Enterprises, a Kelowna company. The organization operates as Parent of brands such as Mission Group Homes, Mission Group Commercial, MG Construction, BigSteelBox and BigSteelBox Structures. Jonathan’s prime responsibilities are team building, corporate direction/oversight and driving corporate value. Jonathan was raised in rural Japan, graduated from high school in Tokyo, attended university in Los Angeles, finally settling in Vancouver and working as a Chemical Trader for Mitsubishi Corporation. In the late 80s, Jonathan went on his own, establishing a residential development company in Vancouver, with an international reach. Jonathan currently resides in Kelowna and is a cycling enthusiast, motorcycle racing enthusiast and enjoys Kelowna for all it has to offer.

Kelsey Serwa

Kelsey Serwa is a member of the National Ski Cross team and is currently a student at UBCO, studying Human Kinetics. She is a two time Olympian, World Champion, X Games gold medalist, and recently brought home a silver medal from the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Kenneth Chau

Associate Professor Kenneth Chau is conducting research to unlock the mysteries of light behaviour at imperceptibly small size scales, opening the door to never-before-seen innovations like flat lenses and tractor beaming.

Laurence Watt

Laurence is in his third year at UBCO and is enrolled in the Politics, Philosophy, and Economics program. Having a passion for politics, he ran in the 2013 BC elections as one of the youngest candidates in the province at the age of 18.

Lev Bukhman

Lev Bukhman founded studentcare.net/works while studying law at Western. In 19 years, the organization has gone from a student start-up to the leading provider of student health care in Canada, serving over 670,000 students. Lev was selected by La Presse and the Montreal Gazette newspapers as one of Montreal’s top '40 under 40', and serves on the McGill University Faculty of Arts Advisory Board. studentcare.net/works works with hundreds of student leaders across Canada each year.

Mike Tymko

Mike completed his Bachelor's of Health Sciences undergraduate degree at Mount Royal University in 2012. During his studies in Calgary, Mike was responsible for designing and building several novel research devices used for investigating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular responses in humans. This led to his involvement in the UBC Okanagan Mount Everest Research Expedition in 2012, where his primary contribution was designing and building a custom supine cycle ergometer. Mike is now pursuing his MSc in cardiopulmonary physiology under the supervision of Dr. Glen Foster.

Robyn Giffen

Robyn is completing a Master’s degree in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies program at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus. Robyn's Master's research investigates the cultural considerations that influence people when they make decisions about language use, which is grounded in her work with the Nabdam community in northern Ghana where she helped Nabit speakers to develop an alphabet for their previously unwritten language.

Tanveer Gill

Tanveer Gill is a 5th year Bachelor of Science in Nursing student, who graduates this year, with plans to specialize in the Operating Room.