CBIE honours the recipients of our Excellence Awards during the annual conference. Developed by the Board of Directors, the Excellence Awards Program recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of international education in a range of specialties.
Board of Directors Leadership Award
Adel El Zaïm,
Université du Québec en Outaouais
Dr. Adel El Zaïm is a recognized leader in the internationalization of higher education, having spearheaded efforts at major Canadian universities including Sherbrooke, UBC, and UOttawa. Currently serving as Vice-Rector of Research, Partnerships, and Internationalization at Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO), he has been instrumental in creating and managing international strategies and partnerships, both nationally and globally.
He has made extensive contributions to international education through his participation in numerous conferences and research initiatives globally. His work includes developing frameworks for evaluating research internationalization, discussing language policies and internationalization in universities, and exploring the impacts of international cooperation on research.
Adel has held key roles in the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA), including serving as president in 2020, during which he enhanced the association’s global presence and focus. He has also chaired the AIEA’s annual conference twice and played a pivotal role in founding the U7 University Alliance in 2019.
Committed to the comprehensive internationalization of higher education, Adel’s work spans research, education, community engagement, and governance. He has shared his expertise at numerous conferences, including CBIE, NAFSA, and EAIE, and continues to serve on various boards. Adel believes in the power of international education to foster global citizenship and address the planet’s future.
Catalyst Award
Roopa Desai Trilokekar,
York University
Dr. Roopa Desai Trilokekar is a renowned scholar specializing in the intersection of international education and immigration policy, a field she has been influencing since 2012. Her innovative research explores how government policies, particularly immigration, shape higher education, positioning internationalization as a key priority for universities and governments alike. Trilokekar’s work delves into the socio-political complexities of policy development, providing critical insights into global education systems.
Her notable research includes a 2018 SSHRC-funded study on international students as “ideal immigrants” and comparative analysis of the student-immigration policy nexus in countries like Australia, Canada, and Germany. Her findings highlight the challenges international students face, from policy shifts to employment difficulties, despite their contributions to institutional reputations.
A professor at York University since 2007, Trilokekar’s scholarship is celebrated for its deep exploration of Canadian international education, emphasizing the importance of applying equity, diversity, and inclusion to higher education policy. She has authored several influential works, including the award-winning International Education as Public Policy in Canada (2020), and is frequently consulted by media and academic communities.
Throughout her career, Trilokekar has been recognized with numerous awards for teaching, research, and leadership, including a Fulbright Canada Research Chair position. As a mentor, she has guided over 20 graduate students, many of whom now lead in academia. Her contributions continue to shape both international education scholarship and policy, establishing her as a leading figure in the field.
Catalyst Award
Climate Action Network for International Educators – CANIE
CANIE is a volunteer grassroots initiative formed by international education practitioners from around the world who saw the need for our sector to step up and act on climate. CANIE serves as a platform to bring the sector together to act as a catalyst for action.
CANIE is striving for a carbon-neutral and climate-literate global international education sector by 2030. The initiative has three main goals:
- reduce CO2 emissions associated with business travel
- create a community of more conscious, low-carbon traveling educators
- challenge business as usual the status quo & create behavioral change
CANIE’s catalytic impact on the international education sector is evident in their comprehensive and innovative approach to fostering climate action through knowledge generation and dissemination. They are not only raising awareness but are also inspiring tangible changes that are evidence-informed that contribute to a more sustainable future.
This award would be accepted by the Canadian CANIE founding member, CJ Tremblay, on behalf of the organization.
Elizabeth Paterson Award
Iovanna Rodriguez Moreno + Jorge Veloz Ortiz,
St. Lawrence College
St. Lawerance College (SLC) international students Iovanna Rodriguez and Jorge Volez are exemplary leaders in both their academic and volunteer contributions to the Global Learning Centre (GLC) and the Kingston community. Originally from Mexico, where they were computer engineering professors, they are known for their advocacy for gender equity and support of marginalized communities. At SLC, they have dedicated themselves to fostering community and cultural diversity, inspiring others through their leadership and volunteer efforts. GLC Coordinator, Rasha Fahim, praises the couple for creating a sense of belonging and positively impacting their peers.
In their first year at SLC, they have made significant and invaluable contributions as leaders of the GLC student volunteer program, have used their skills and expertise to give back to the community, and have improved international student life and experiences. Their contributions include organizing tax workshops for students, leading International Women’s Day events, and supporting community initiatives like the Kingston International Student Symposium. They’ve also applied their expertise to local projects, such as developing the Kingston Immigration Partnership app, furthering their commitment to improving the lives of those around them.
Member Emeritus Award
Pauline L’Écuyer,
McGill University
Pauline L’Écuyer has made an indelible impact on international education throughout her long career, marked by her passion, expertise, and unwavering commitment. Since joining McGill University in 1987, Pauline has held key roles, notably as Director of International Student Services, where she contributed significantly to the success and integration of international students.
She was instrumental in bringing the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to McGill, helping young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa access world-class education and supporting them through their academic journey.
Within CBIE, not to mention all the committees and working groups on which she sat, Pauline served as an elected member of the Board of Directors and led the organization of CBIE’s very first regional conference in Quebec in the early 2000s.
What sets Pauline apart is that she has generously shared her vast expertise with colleagues, working groups and organizations dedicated to the internationalization of education and intercultural issues, both in Canada and around the world. Pauline is a community leader in the internationalization of Canadian universities, and undoubtedly a role model and mentor for many of us.
North Star Award
Jacqueline Veres,
University of Guelph
Jacqueline is a dedicated and innovative emerging leader in the international education field, known for her quiet yet impactful approach. Her career, rooted in her own study abroad experience, has grown through various roles at UWindsor and the University of Guelph, where she currently serves as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the Centre for International Programs.
Her creativity shines through initiatives like live Instagram coverage of students’ study abroad placements and the popular StudyAbroadcast podcast, which has reached over 5,000 listens.
Jacqueline’s passion for supporting students and colleagues alike is evident in her work, particularly through her involvement with CBIE’s International Network of Tomorrow’s Leaders (INTL), where she has held several leadership positions, including Chair in 2024. Jacqueline has played a pivotal role in enhancing the INTL community by organizing networking events, restructuring programs, and expanding mentorship opportunities.
She has also contributed to workshops at national and international conferences, including CBIE, NAFSA, and NACADA, and served on the CBIE conference proposal review panel.
Prix Panorama
Bureau des relations internationales (BRI),
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Funded by Global Affairs Canada, the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie and the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), the Jeunesse malgache compétente au travail (JMCT) project, is a partnership to strengthen the management capacities of nine Madagascan institutions’ vocational, technical and university training programs (FPTU) and service centres. It was designed and implemented by the Bureau des relations internationales (BRI) at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, with the involvement of Collège Laflèche, the Chemin-du-Roy and Énergie student service centres as well as a local implementing partner.
The project was aimed at improving the employability and professional integration of young Madagascans in three regions to enable them to participate in the country’s socio-economic development, while also highlighting gender equality, sustainable development, a skills-based approach, entrepreneurship, and open governance.
The results exceeded expectations, with the number of young people trained almost doubling the number planned, institutional management strengthened, networks between, the private sector, public sector and civil society created and acknowledgement of the importance of work-integrate learning in national government strategies. By its sheer scale, the large number of individuals and institutions involved, the JMCT project is an innovative and landmark new form of international cooperation in education.
Sustainable Development Leadership Award
Shabnam Ivkovic,
University of Waterloo
After more than a decade in the field, Shabnam Ivkovic is recognized nationally and globally for her expertise in international education, with a specific focus on work—integrated learning (WIL), and is very active in her service to the field.
In 2018, Shabnam initiated a transformative journey to embed sustainability education within WIL at the University of Waterloo. Her efforts led to the creation of the Sustainability Impact Framework (SIF) within the Co-operative & Experiential Education (CEE) unit, aiming to raise sustainability awareness, advance literacy, and align student talent with sustainability-driven industry needs. The framework includes the ‘SDGs at Work’ program, which helps students and employers engage with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through work placements. This program, initially a four-term pilot, has now expanded to over 23,000 annual work terms, involving more than 9,300 employer partners globally. The program encourages students to reflect on their contributions to sustainability, with supervisors and students indicating advancements in at least one SDG during their work terms.
The ‘SDGs at Work’ program is highly regarded for its scalability, low cost, and accessibility, offering significant sustainability learning opportunities to students and organizations worldwide. Shabnam’s commitment to sustainability action, combined with her dedication to supporting students and institutions, continues to drive meaningful change within the international education community.
