ELEVATE: Women in Business - March 8, 2024

SOLD OUT 
ELEVATE: Women in Business will shine a spotlight on the community of outstanding female leaders who are making an impact on business in North Vancouver.

KEYNOTE

 Anne Bethune, President, Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports, Health
 & Business Leader
 Anne is a non-profit and business leader in our North Shore community. She is   volunteer President of Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports (VASS) and has been   involved with the organization for 38 years. Anne?s background is in Occupational Therapy and she has a thriving online global health business. She has been recognized for her community leadership, excellence and impact.

PANELISTS

Ami McKay, President & Principal Designer, PURE Design 
Ami McKay pours her passion into crafting dream homes for clients. Ami's creative background encompasses several art and design forms, evolving to interior design as her chosen canvas. Ami and PURE Design have created beautiful, healthy homes in Vancouver and beyond since 2000. PURE Design's projects have won several awards and are featured in countless national and international media outlets. Her Magnolia Network TV pilot, Vancouver Reno, recently aired. 

Carol Robinson, Founder, Harbour West Consulting 
Carol is a founding equity partner of Harbour West Consulting, working with organizations throughout B.C. and across Canada. She leads a national search and consulting practice, and speaks both locally and internationally on public and non-profit sector recruitment, along with governance best practices. Carol is the board chair of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland and serves on both the AESC Council of the Americas and the executive of the Network of Nonprofit Search Consultants. Carol is also a former board director of the Lower Lonsdale Business Association.

 Heather Deris, Manager & Co-Owner, Ava Music & Art Centre 
 Heather Deris is the manager and co-owner of Ava Music & Art Centre. Armed with a bachelor's degree in music from Tehran University of Art, and a passion for innovative teaching methodologies like Orff and Kodaly, Heather authored textbooks that transformed Ava Music & Art Centre programs. With a keen eye for business, honed through studies at Capilano University and UBC's Sauder School of Business, Heather spearheaded strategic initiatives that propelled Ava Music & Art Centre to new heights.

 Swail Pirzada, Optometrist & Owner, Clearlight Eyecare 
 Swail Pirzada graduated from Pacific University?s College of Optometry in 2018. Prior to practising in Vancouver, she gained practical experience at several U.S. medical facilities, including a veteran?s hospital in California and the Legacy Emanuel hospital in Oregon. Upon graduation, Swail began practising as an associate optometrist in Vancouver before deciding to open her own practice. Her working philosophy is to learn and evolve within her field of work to offer patients modern practices and the latest information.

MODERATOR

 Ashraf Amlani, Principal & Co-Founder, Bunyaad Public Affairs 
 Ashraf (Ash) Amlani is a co-founder and principal of Bunyaad Public Affairs, a strategic communications and public affairs firm that is majority Indigenous-owned and IBPOC-identifying. Ash lends clients insight from more than 15 years of experience working with communities, governments, and civil society organizations across Canada. An active volunteer, Ash is the former chair of North Vancouver District's Community Services Advisory Committee and currently serves as the chair of the board of governors at Capilano University.