Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals at Canadian Universities – Report Launch

Helen Balderama, MPA

Associate Director, International Partnerships & Programs, York International

York University

Helen has 20 years of experience in the field of international education championing programs and partnerships in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas through her work with UNESCO, the Asia-Europe Foundation and the university sector in Canada. As Associate Director International Partnerships and Programs at York University, Helen facilitates and shepherds York’s global engagement and partnerships and supports York students’ participation in global learning opportunities. Helen has a BA Philosophy, Cum Laude, at University of the Philippines (UP), a Post Graduate Diploma on Cultural Projects for Development from the University of Turin and International Labour Organization (Italy), and an MA Public Administration from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Helen was NAFSA’s International Outreach Coordinator (2017-2020) and is active in the UP and NUS alumni associations in Toronto.

Jon Beale

Manager, Sustainable Development Solutions Network Canada

University of Waterloo

Jon Beale is the Manager of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) of Canada, hosted at the University of Waterloo. SDSN Canada is part of a global SDSN movement to build a network of universities, colleges, and knowledge institutions working together to create practical solutions to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Jon’s experience comes from a variety of community and economic development roles throughout his career. This includes starting new agricultural businesses with farmer cooperatives in Zambia, leading tourism and climate change research with Inuit and Métis communities in Labrador, and working with municipal leaders throughout North America to identify and highlight economic opportunities with clear pathways for action. Jon’s academic background is in Economics and International Development, with degrees from Queen’s University and the London School of Economics.

Dr. Meghna Ramaswamy

Director, International Office

University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Meghna Ramaswamy is the Director of the International Office and leads the University of Saskatchewan’s internationalization strategy and the institution’s development in international research and partnerships. She oversees a team of international research and partnership specialists, who facilitate and support international and SDG-related activities for faculty, staff and students. In her role as Director of International, Meghna has oversight of the annual People Around the World conference, themed around the SDGs. She recently published a book chapter on Interdisciplinary Research Teams for the SDGs, in the Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals – Volume 17: Partnerships for the Goals by Springer Nature.

Julio Sevilla

International Project Department Head

Concordia University

Julio Sevilla, MBA, is an International Projects Manager at Concordia International. He formally served as Director for Research Partnerships at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) and as a Senior Advisor for International Relations at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), where he managed the Canadian membership for the International Council for Science (ISCU) and supported Canada’s participation in EUREKA, the G8 Head of Research Councils (G8-HORCS) and diverse bilateral initiatives for Europe, North America and Latin America. His background and training are in the fields of international relations, diplomacy, and science and technology. He is currently serving as Co-Chair of the CBIE International Relations Professional Learning Community (IR-PLC), a cross-Canadian network of over 200 professionals dedicated to supporting and advancing their universities’ international activities.

Carol Zachs

Director, Global Engagement

Simon Fraser University

Larissa Bezo

President and Chief Executive Officer

Canadian Bureau for International Education

Ms. Bezo has served in senior leadership positions in both the public and not-for-profit sectors, including as the youngest Deputy Clerk in the history of Saskatchewan, Senior Advisor to a Federal Royal Commission and most recently, as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer for the Canadian Bureau for International Development. After a distinguished public service career, Larissa pursued her longstanding commitment to international development and solidarity through senior-level assignments with the World Bank and the International Centre for Policy Studies in Ukraine.