NOW WHAT? Activate your Vision to Move Internationalization Forward in Canada

Dr. Roopa Desai Trilokekar is Associate Professor in Education at York University. She comes to an academic career after 20 years of professional experience in the field of international education in Canada, India and the US. Dr. Desai Trilokekar’s research interests are focused on government policy in the internationalization of Canadian higher education, student experiential learning through international education and internationalizing pre-service teacher education. She has co-edited 3 volumes and has published over 30 book chapters and journal articles. Her 2020 co-edited book, International Education as Public Policy in Canada was awarded the Catalyst Award by the Canadian Bureau of International Education. Dr. Desai Trilokekar has been selected for a Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California (2020-2021 academic year) and was invited to serve on the Royal Society of Canada’s COVID-19 Working Group on the Future of Higher Education (2020).

Mr. Kingsley Weber specializes in Inclusive Leadership and connecting business and people strategies, especially in organisations, where leveraging diversity, gaining alignment amongst the leaders and developing talent is key to success, garnering him the FRSA (Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts) designation. His background includes business and organizational development, operating in senior positions with global multinationals for over 20 years. Recent roles include Global HR Director of a mining technology company headquartered in Australia, Organisational and Leadership Development Head, and International Business Management. Mr. Weber’s coaching and consulting expands to the Americas, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Europe, building and delivering business partnering strategies with fast growth tech companies, developing business acumen, key account plans, plus implementing HR and people development strategies. Mr. Weber originates from Sri Lanka, and currently lives in the UK with his family. Via his Rotary connections in Malaysia, he mentors and coaches underprivileged teenagers to gain places in tertiary education and beyond.

Dr. Kenny-Blanchard has worked in higher education for over 30 years in both academic and senior leadership roles encompassing international education, recruitment, enrolment management, institutional communications, governance, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She resides in New Zealand continuing to participate in post-doctoral research in leadership development in higher education within the Canadian and New Zealand HE (Tertiary) context. Dr. Kenny-Blanchard is also working and collaborating with leaders and organizations affiliated with the Principled Leadership Institute. She is a current member of the Institute of Directors (IOD), owns two businesses, Volunteer Chair, Twizel Promotions, and a business mentor with Mentorship New Zealand.

Dr. Timonen leads internationalisation, partnerships and global education services at Karelia University of Applied Sciences in Finland. She contributes extensively into the international research, development and innovation project design and leadership. Her portfolio includes more than 20 international and national projects as the project designer, leader and expert. Dr. Timonen has vast research expertise in exploring international higher education discussing co-creation of competences, transcultural learning and teaching, transversal competences and co-creative design processes. Her research portfolio includes 7 referee articles, more than 30 other articles and 1 edited journal. She has also acted twice as the thematic editorial chief in the Finnish UAS Journal. Dr. Timonen has wide networks and several positions of responsibility. She is a member of the national board of internationalisation at the Ministry of Education and Culture; chair of the North Karelia regional committee for strategic internationalisation and member of the PINNET-network of the heads of internationalisation at Finnish UASes.

Dr. Barry J. Cummings, the Founder and Managing Partner of Creative International, has been working with current and future business managers on issues of Leadership & Change Management for over three decades and in 17 countries worldwide, including living and working full time in the Middle East for over 25 years. Dr. Barry first came to international prominence over 40 years ago, and now has clients world-wide including national Rulers and their families, and at the Board and ‘Chief Officer’ (“C-suite”) level down to the new entrant level in the Banking, FMCG, Oil, Government, Military, Energy, Technology, and Education sectors. Always passionate about the effects of culture on learning and development, Dr. Barry completed his doctoral research (DBA) in multicultural leadership. An author and journalist, his corporate exposure complements his commercial and academic experience at colleges and universities worldwide, including periods as Director, Dean, and Visiting Lecturer.