This event has been cancelled
Make some genuine connections at this innovative
Backpack 2 Briefcase event designed for both students and young alumni. This unique luncheon will provide attendees the
opportunity to meet successful Western alumni working in a variety of
professions.
Section 1 - Networking Workshop
Time: 11:45 a.m. -12:15 p.m.
Location: UCC 147A
This mandatory workshop will prepare students for the networking lunch to
follow. Students will learn basic networking skills which will give them the ability
to communicate at the table with confidence.
Section 2 - Networking Lunch
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: The Wave
During the rotational-style lunch, students will dine with several alumni who
will provide general career advice and answer questions.
Section 3 - Networking Mingle
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: The Wave
Following lunch, students will have the option to further their conversations with alumni. This portion of the event allows students to ask specific job-related questions and learn about networking opportunities that exist within their
fields of interest.
Tickets are $10 in advance and include lunch. Please purchase tickets online by Sunday, October 6, 2013. No ticket refunds.
Current confirmed alumni networkers:
Bob Brack, BA'78, President & CEO, Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council
Philip Jones, BA'95, Dip'96, Chief Financial Officer, MUNDOmedia LTD
Wendy Smith, BA'95, President, Red Rhino
Marcia Steyaert, BA'96, Community Relations Specialist, Western University
Kevin Vuong, BMOS'11, Associate, TD Securities
Bob Brack, BA'78
President & CEO, Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council
Bob Brack is a former
Foreign Service and Visa Officer who completed 30 years at the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) before joining the
Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) as President
and CEO in 2012. His last assignment with CIC was as Immigration Program
Manager (IPM) in Guatemala overseeing CIC operations throughout Central
America. Previous senior assignments included IPM in Pakistan, Deputy IPM in
New Delhi India, Director positions in CIC NHQ, as well as other positions
both overseas and in Ottawa. Before joining the government of Canada, he
was USC President at Western 1977-78, assistant to the Honourable Jim
Peterson PC MP, and researcher for the SAC at the University of Toronto, as
well as a taxi driver and motel night clerk.
Philip Jones, BA'95, Dip'96
Chief Financial Officer, MUNDOmedia LTD
Philip graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1995 and also completed a diploma in Honours Standing (Economics) in
1996. Following graduation from Western, Philip embarked on a
career in the business assurance practice with Coopers & Lybrand (now
Pricewaterhouse Coopers) working out of the Toronto Metro North office.
Upon obtaining his Chartered Accountant designation in 1999, Philip left the
world of public accounting to begin a career in the finance department of Magna
International, one of the largest Tier 1 autoparts manufacturers in the
world. The training and opportunities gained while working at PwC and
Magna, accompanied by a degree from Western and a CA designation, have
led Philip on career path through a variety of industries such as
manufacturing, advertising and technology/software, and senior levels of
management, with the last 7 years being at the CFO level of multi-national
organizations.
Since 2009, Philip has been the CFO of Mundo Media Ltd. an online
performance marketing network and mobile content marketer. Philip
joined Mundo in its first year of operations and has seen the company grow to
over 200 employees in 6 offices in 5 countries. As the CFO, Philip is
responsible for all the financial activity and reporting of the company. Working with bankers, investors, shareholders and all levels of internal
management, Philip ensures the company has the financial resources needed to
achieve company goals and growth objectives through organic and acquisition
growth while ensuring they are also compliant with any external reporting
requirements.
Wendy Smith, BA'95
President, Red Rhino
Wendy is President of RedRhino communications, a full
service branding and digital agency. She is a creative leader with experience across a
broad range of markets. Some of her client experience includes Bridgestone
Americas, 3M Canada, Scotiabank, Laura Secord, Boehringer Ingelheim and The
Grand Theatre. Wendy is a fine artist and proud mother of one son.
Marcia Steyaert, BA'96
Community Relations Specialist, Western University
Marcia has been
strategically (and proudly) telling Western University's story for more than 15
years, through working with journalists and local organizations as a senior
media and community relations professional, and as one of Western's official
voices in the world of social media.
Her experience extends to include crisis communications, issues and reputation
management, event planning, project management and internal communications. She
has been editor of two campus magazines (Alumni Gazette and Robarts Research
Institute's Discovery magazine), and is the host and co-creator/co-producer of
Western Revealed on Rogers TV.
Over the years, Marcia’s work has been recognized by the International
Association of Business Communicators, the Canadian Council for the Advancement
of Education and Western University.
Armed with an undergraduate degree in Sociology and a post-graduate diploma in
Corporate Communications and Public Relations, Marcia is currently studying
part-time towards her Masters in Public Relations.
Kevin Vuong, BMOS'11
Associate, TD Securities
Kevin is an associate at TD Securities in
their global rotational program. Rotations include Cash Management, Strategic Initiatives,
Global Rates and FX Risk, and Process Improvement (think internal consulting). Kevin's experience also includes the investment management practice at
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Kevin was a member of the Canadian
delegation at the 2010 G8 and G20 Summits and traveled to the Asian Pacific on
economic and development trade missions as part of Junior Team Canada. Most
recently, he was in St. Petersburg, Russia for the G20/Y20 as a member of
the Canadian delegation. In the community, Kevin previously sat on the Board of
Directors for the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto and currently sits on
the BoD for 33 Bay Residences and the advisory board for Success Beyond Limits,
a non-profit organization that works with at risk youth in the Toronto Jane and
Finch community. Kevin is also a Community Impact Advisor for the United Way.
Please contact Alumni Western if you require information in an alternate format, or if any other arrangements can make this event accessible to you.