[buttons][button link_text="Register now" link_url ="https://migration.ubc.ca/registration-page-cms-annual-conference-2025/"][ /buttons]
Keynote Event: WhereWeStand
[image_spread img _url="https://migr.cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2025/03/wws_ web-banner.jpg" caption="" width="content"]
This year\, CMS is partnering with Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integrati on (CERC Migration) at Toronto Metropolitan University to present WhereWeS tand (WWS)\, a national multimedia storytelling initiative\, which pair ed Indigenous individuals and non-Indigenous newcomers on Turtle Island\, n ow known as Canada. Their collaborative works celebrate creativity\, embrac ing differences while seeking common ground and shared hope. Our keynote of fers the opportunity to experience a curated selection of the collaboration s and listen to the shared hope in the room. The performative experience is anchored by Dr. Cyrus Sundar Singh\, the creative producer of WWS\, CERC M igration Research Fellow.
[accordions collapsible=true
active=false][accordion title="Learn more about the project"]In May 2023\,
CERC Migration embarked on its next multimedia storytelling collaboration
WhereWeStand. The project brings together a cohort of Indigenous peoples an
d newcomers to co-create expressions of identity on the colonial construct
of Canada\, situated on Turtle Island.
WhereWeStand pairs an Indigenous participant with a newcomer participant and suppor
ts their process towards creating a story that will be widely shared with a
public audience. Participants may choose any form of expression – includin
g dance\, music\, film\, theatre or installation – to produce their creativ
e work.
WhereWeStand invites participants to re
imagine the Land that sustains and shelters Indigenous peoples and newcomer
s. WhereWeStand is the third iteration of the inaugural i am… project\, which opened the door to the shared experiences of displacement\, whic
h fuels the expression that frames the creative outcome. Identity and belon
ging are not fixed but ebb\, flow\, and evolve as the land beneath us shift
s…
This project is a joint CERC Migration and Bridging Divides initiative. [/accordion][/acc ordions]
Conference Program
[accordions collapsible=tru e active=false][accordion title="Thursday\, May 1\, 2025"]
9:00 AM | xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Welcome by Elder Mary Point
Introductory r emarks from CMS and UBC Okanagan
9:30 AM | Panel 1: Race\, Ethnicit y\, and Indigeneity
Discussant: Terri Givens\, Poli tical Science\, UBC Vancouver
Chair: Sean Lauer\, So ciology\, UBC Vancouver
Panelists:
- Demogr aphic Engineering and Ethnic Erasure: The Lhotshampa Displacement in Bhutan | Karun Karki\, School of Social Work\, UBC Vancouver
- Reconciliati on in Multicultural Canada: Rethinking Nation Building Through Indigenous a nd Racialized Immigrant Relations | Guntas Kaur\, Sociology\, UBC Vancouver
- Indigenous Mobilities and Racialization of Space: Argentine Shanty towns as a Location of Non-Whiteness | Ana Vivaldi\, Sociology\, UBC Vancou ver
- Dreaming with Water\, Dreaming with Sirens | Anita Girvan\, Eng lish and Cultural Studies\, UBC Okanagan
11:00 Break
11: 15 AM | Panel 2: Climate Change and Digital Pedagogies
Discu ssant: Geraldine Pratt\, Geography\, UBC Vancouver
C hair: Jemima Baada\, Geography\, UBC Vancouver
Panel ists:
- Personal Narratives: Threading the past into the future through Virtual Reality Non-Fiction | Amira Ahmed\, Interdisciplinar y Graduate Studies - Digital Arts and Humanities\, UBC Okanagan
- Inv estigating Historical Climate Migration: How GIS Can Facilitate Multi-Scala r Archaeological Research | Caroline Armstrong\, Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies\, UBC Vancouver
- Authoritarian Politics\, Clima te Migration\, and Policy Gaps: Pathways Toward Rights-Based Solutions | Fa rrukh Chishtie\, Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy\, UBC Vancou ver
- Patterns\, Intentions\, and Effectiveness of Digital Pedagogies in Immigrant Learning in British Columbia | Afsaneh Abbaszadeh\, Kashif Ra za and Hongxia Shan\, Educational Studies\, UBC Vancouver
1:00 PM | Lunch break
2:00 PM | Panel 3: Chinese Diasporas
Discussant: Nikhita Obeegadoo\, Language and World Literatures\, UBC Okanagan
Chair: Xiaojun Li\, Political Science\, UBC Vancouver
Panelists:
- “I Had a Friend …”: The Role of Social Networks in Immigrants’ Gig Work Choices | Yijia Zha ng\, Sociology\, UBC Vancouver
- My Child’s Root: Here\, There\, or N owhere? A Study of Diaspora and Cultural Identity Transmission in Hong Kong er Families | Ka Po (Capri) Kong\, Sociology\, UBC Vancouver
- Prototyping Princ iples for Humanizing Technologies: Preliminary Research in Artificial Intel ligence and Mixed Reality for Migration Studies | Annie Wan\, Creative and Critical Studies\, UBC Okanagan
- Where Do Migrants Ren t in Vancouver: Mapping Rental Listings on the Chinese Craigslist | Julia H arten\, School of Community and Regional Planning\, UBC Vancouver
3:30 PM | Break
3:45 PM (PT) | Keynote Event: WhereWeStand
Presenters:
- Adrea Baedek
- Poornima Fran cis
- Izzeddin Hawamda
- Aaron McKay
- Deyowidnron’t Teri Morrow
- Cyrus Sundar Singh
5:15 PM | Closing Remarks6:30 PM | Dinner at The Rooftop Garden\, UBC Nest Building (for conf
erence panelists\, presenters\, discussants\, and chairs)
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n]
[accordion title="Friday\, May 2\, 2025"]
9:00 AM | Land Ack nowledgement and Introductory remarks
9:15 AM | Panel 4: Boundaries of Belonging\, Dynamics of Exclusion
Discussant: C atherine Dauvergne\, Allard School of Law\, UBC Vancouver
Cha ir: Helena Zeweri\, Anthropology\, UBC Vancouver
Pan elists:
- Problematizing Virtual Naturalization Ceremonie s: State Versus Public Narratives of Canadian Citizenship | Lisa Brunner\, Centre for Migration Studies\, UBC Vancouver
- How Stateless People A re Made To Be Ghost Citizens In Malaysia | Valeriia Pelevina\, Community\, Culture and Global Studies\, UBC Okanagan
- Stereotypes of High- and Low-Skilled Immigrants to Canada: Evidence From an Online Survey | Vince Ho pkins\, Political Science\, UBC Vancouver
- Teaching Migration and Mo bility through Contemporary Art | Angela Andersen\, Creative Studies\, UBC Okanagan
- How Do We Claim Social and Civil Rights for Noncitizens? T he Limits of Human Rights Appeals in Migrant Claims-Making\, and Other Poss ibilities | Irene Bloemraad\, CMS Co-Director/Political Science and Sociolo gy\, UBC Vancouver
11:00 AM | Break
11:15 AM | Panel 5: Precarious Mobilities
Discussant: Antje Ellermann\, Political Science\, UBC Vancouver
Chair: Elizabeth “Biz” Nijdam\, Central\, Eastern and Northern European Studies\, UBC Vancou ver
Panelists:
- Involuntary Mobility and S ocial Instability in Llucia Ramis’s Las posesiones: A Study of Forced Touri sm and Identity Crisis | Carlos M-Castro\, French\, Hispanic\, and Italian Studies\, UBC Vancouver
- Reframing International Student Mobility wi th Narrative Inquiry Research | Maham Kamal Ahsan\, Educational Studies\, U BC Vancouver
- Crossing the Finca Border: Migrant Farmworker s and Transnational Home-Making in Canada | Regina Baeza Martinez\, Sociolo gy and Anthropology\, Simon Fraser University
- Anticipating Belongin g or Anticipating Refusal: Information Environments and Taiwanese Prospecti ve International Students’ Perceptions of Destination Immigration Regimes | Eric de Roulet\, Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies\, UBC Okanagan
- Vince Hopkins\, Political Science\, UBC Vancouver
- Sandra Schinnerl\, Centre for Migration Stu dies\, UBC Vancouver
- Lily Grewal\, Director of Immigrant Integratio n\, Government of British Columbia
- Daniel Hiebert\, Professor Emeri tus of Geography\, UBC Vancouver
- Irene Bloemraad\, CMS Co-Director/ Political Science and Sociology\, UBC Vancouver
- Andrea Baedek
1:00 PM | Lunch break
2:00 PM | Roundtable: Making Research Mat ter: Strategies for Policy-Engaged Scholarship
Moderator: Antje Ellermann\, CMS Co-Director and Political Science\, UBC Vancou ver
Panelists:
3:30 PM | Clos ing remarks by CMS and UBC Okanagan
[/accordion][/accordions]
Abstracts and Biographies
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[accordion title="Musqueam Welcome"]
Elder Mary Point serves as the Director of Indigenous Relations at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and as the Relationship Manager for the Musque am Indian Band–YVR Airport Sustainability & Friendship Agreement. In her ro le\, she strengthens the partnership between Musqueam and YVR by implementi ng the agreement’s key elements\, identifying new opportunities for mutual learning\, and advancing a global Indigenous peoples strategy with a focus on reconciliation. An accomplished Indigenous professional\, Mary integrate s culture\, protocols\, and best practices into strategic planning for thos e collaborating with First Nations individuals and organizations. With over two decades of experience across British Columbia\, she has built strategi c partnerships between various First Nations communities and local business es.[/accordion]
[accordion title="Keynote Event: WhereWeStand"]
Andrea Baedek is a Red Riv er Metis and founder of Keen Media\, a decolonizing public relations and co mmunications company specializing in Indigenous business solutions\, public affairs\, and media that echoes voices. Andrea is a senior leader and comm unications professional\, with a strategic vision and commitment to buildin g relationships through community engagement and inclusion. An Executive MB A candidate in Indigenous Leadership at the Beedie School of Business at Si mon Fraser University\, Andrea loves to collaborate and work effectively wi th diverse teams.
- Poornima Francis
Poornima Francis is a diasporic Malayali filmmaker and journalist. She earn ed a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver) in 2024\, where she focused on visual forms of factual storytel ling. While in school\, she wrote and directed numerous short films that ex plored themes of cultural and emotional resistance. She is currently an Ass ociate Producer with CBC Vancouver.
- Izzeddin Hawamda
Izzeddin Hawamda-عزالدين حوامده\, born in the West Bank\, Palestine\, is an educator\, storyteller\, and advocate for dialogue. He c oordinates the Anti-Racist Education Professional Learning Initiative in Wi nnipeg and holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies. As founder of Sadaa ص دى\, he fosters empathy through storytelling\, including the Unbounded Stor ies series. A King Charles III Coronation Medal recipient\, he teaches at t he University of Winnipeg and serves on several advisory boards promoting i ntercultural understanding.
- Aaron McKay
- Deyowidnron’t Teri Morrow
- Cyrus Sundar
- Demographic Engineering and Ethnic Erasure: The Lhotshampa Di splacement in Bhutan
Aaron McKay\, an Anishinaabe man from Swan Lake and Rolling River First Nations\, grew up navigating life's comp lexities and intergenerational trauma. Overcoming early academic struggles at Brandon University through self-reflection and healing\, he earned B.A./ B.Ed degrees. After reconnecting with his culture\, Aaron now works in post -secondary education and founded Giiwe and Riding Mountain Ventures\, ampli fying Indigenous voices through photography and storytelling.
Deyo is Cayuga\ , Wolf clan from Six Nations of the Grand River. She is a Registered Dietit ian and a PhD student in the Department of Nursing at the University of Tor onto.
Singh Cyrus is a n AcademiCreActivist: a Gemini Award-winning filmmaker\, scholar\, songwrit er\, composer\, poet\, and change-maker\, who continues to expand and find cracks in conventional boundaries through his research\, films and music. H is research and productions have taken him around the world including India \, Israel\, Spain\, Haiti\, Jamaica\, and Sri Lanka. His documentary/storyt elling career began with his award-winning debut Film Club (2001)\, which w as followed by a site-specific\, hybrid\, live-documentary world premiere o f Brothers In The Kitchen (2016) and his MFA thesis project Africville in B lack and White (2017/18).[/accordion]
[accordion title="Panel 1: Race \, Ethnicity\, and Indigeneity"]
Discussant: Terri Givens\, Profes sor\, Political Science UBC Vancouver
Dr. Terri Givens’ research and teaching focus on comparative politics in Europe and the US\, including imm igration policy\, the politics of race\, and anti-discrimination policy. He r more recent project focuses on the conflation of immigration and race on a more global scale. She also wrote a textbook\, Immigration in the 21st Ce ntury: The Comparative Politics of Immigration Policy.
Chair: Sean Lauer \, Professor\, Sociology\, UBC Vancouver
Sean Lauer’s research fo cuses on the sociology of community\, with a particular emphasis on the exp eriences of newcomers in Canada. He studies how community-based organizatio ns in Vancouver impact social capacity development for these newcomers. His work also explores concepts like friendship\, diversity\, and network dive rsity\, particularly in the transition from high school to adulthood.
Karun Karki\, Associate Professor\, School of So cial Work\, UBC Vancouver
[buttons][button link_text="Abstract" link_ url="https://migr.cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2025/04/Abstr act-Karki-Khatiwada.pdf"][/buttons]
Dr. Karun Karki is a critical rac e scholar whose research amplifies the unheard voices of minoritized commun ities\, including immigrants\, refugees\, temporary migrant workers\, and 2 SLGBTQ+ individuals in Canada and beyond. In the context of global displace ment\, he examines how biopolitical and necropolitical spaces within nation al borders govern people and how sovereign state power perpetuates exclusio n and dispossession\, particularly in response to pressing contemporary iss ues such as humanitarian crises\, the rise of populism\, and homonationalis t practices. His recent scholarly inquiries focus on the South Asian diaspo ra\, with a particular emphasis on the Nepali diaspora in Canada.
[buttons][button link_t ext="Abstract" link_url="https://migr.cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/si tes/42/2025/04/Abstract-Kaur.pdf"][/buttons]
Guntas Kaur is a Punjabi -Sikh community-based researcher and PhD student in Sociology\, working und er the supervision of Dr. Renisa Mawani. Her academic research explores the possibilities of Indigenous-Sikh solidarities through historical anti-colo nial connections and contemporary intercultural relations. Her doctoral pro ject focuses on how reconciliation can manifest within the Punjabi diaspora \, emphasizing the critical roles of land\, language\, and accountability.< /p>
- Indigenous Mobilities and Racialization of Space: Argent ine Shantytowns as a Location of Non-Whiteness
Ana Vivaldi\, Sessiona l Instructor\, Sociology\, UBC Vancouver
[buttons][button link_text=" Abstract" link_url="https://migr.cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/4 2/2025/04/Abstract-Vivaldi.pdf"][/buttons]
Dr. Ana Vivaldi is an inte rdisciplinary researcher whose work explores how Indigenous territorialitie s are constructed in and from the city through active mobilities. She exami nes how migrant and urban Indigenous communities confront unspoken forms of racism through various strategies\, including reconnecting urban spaces to traditional territories\, fostering new forms of activism that unite membe rs of different nations and individuals with unknown ancestry\, engaging in artistic and cultural production\, and advocating for anti-racist policies within state institutions. Through ethnographic and visual methodologies\, her research sheds light on Indigenous sovereignties and emergent forms of urban conviviality\, particularly how mobility among marginalized populati ons shapes social and spatial assemblages that challenge subordination.
- Dreaming with Water\, Dreaming with Sirens
- Personal Narratives: Threading the Past into the Future Through Virtual Reality Non-Fiction
- Investigating Hi storical Climate Migration: How GIS Can Facilitate Multi-Scalar Archaeologi cal Research
- A uthoritarian Politics\, Climate Migration\, and Policy Gaps: Pathways Towar d Rights-Based Solutions
- Pat terns\, Intentions\, and Effectiveness of Digital Pedagogies in Immigrant L earning in British Columbia
- “I Had a Friend…”: The Role of Social Networks in Immigrants’ Gig Work Choices
- My Child’s Root: Here\, There\, or Nowhere? A Study of Diaspora and Cultural Identity Transmission in Hong Konger Families
- Prototyping Principles for Humanizing Technologies: Preliminary Research in Artificial Intelligence and Mixed Reality for Migration Studies
- W here Do Migrants Rent in Vancouver: Mapping Rental Listings on the Chinese Craigslist
- Problematizing Virtual Naturalization Ceremon ies: State Versus Public Narratives of Canadian Citizenship
- How Stateless People Are Made To Be Ghost Cit izens In Malaysia
- Stereotypes of High- and Low-Skilled Immigrants to Canada: Evidence From an Online Survey
- Teaching Migration and Mobility through Contemporary Art
- How Do We Claim Social and Civil R ights for Noncitizens? The Limits of Human Rights Appeals in Migrant Claims -Making\, and Other Possibilities
- Involun tary Mobility and Social Instability in Llucia Ramis’s Las posesiones: A St udy of Forced Tourism and Identity Crisis
- Reframing Internatio nal Student Mobility with Narrative Inquiry Research
- Crossing the F inca Border: Migrant Farmworkers and Transnational Home-Making in Canada
- Anticipating Belonging or Anticipating Refusa l: Information Environments and Taiwanese Prospective International Student s’ Perceptions of Destination Immigration Regimes
- Vince Hopkins\, Political Science\, U BC Vancouver
- Sandra Schinnerl\, Centre for Migration Studies\, UBC Vancouver and Senior Econo mist\, Immigration and Integration Policy\, Government of British Columbia< /li>
- Lily Grewal\, Director of Immigrant Integration\, Government of British Columbia
- Daniel Hiebert\, Professor Emeritus of Geography\, UBC Vancouver
- Irene Bloemraad\, CMS Co-Director and President’s Excellence Chair in Global Migration\, UBC Vancouver
Anita Girvan< /a>\, Assistant Professor\, English and Cultural Studies\, UBC Okanagan
[buttons][button link_text="Abstract" link_url="https://migr.cms.arts.ub c.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2025/04/Abstract-Girvan.pdf"][/buttons]
Dr. Anita Girvan's work examines the global-local and socio-ecological dynamics of de/colonization. By tracing the movements of stories\, people\, and plants—particularly within diasporic Caribbean and Afro-descended comm unities—they seek to affirm knowledges that have been erased or colonized. Their research also explores how localized Indigenous understandings of cli mate change intersect with transnational movements for climate justice. Add itionally\, they consider the migratory movement of greenhouse gases\, whic h transcend the borders of communities\, sectors\, and nation-states\, ofte n disproportionately affecting those least responsible for their impacts.
[/accordion]
[accordion title="Panel 2: Climate Change and Digit al Pedagogies"]
Discussant: Geraldine Pratt\, Professor\, Geogr aphy\, UBC Vancouver
Geraldine Pratt's research focuses on transnatio nal migration\, care economies\, and performance. She has collaborated with professional theater artists to create performances addressing the migrati on of Filipino domestic workers to Canada\, migration and settler coloniali sm\, and migration from Europe and the United States to Thailand for dement ia care.
Chair: Jemima Baada\, Assistant Professor\, Geography\, U BC Vancouver
Jemima Baada’s research applies a gendered lens to exami ne how diversely situated individuals and groups are affected by climate ch ange\, domestic and foreign investment\, health inequalities\, and rural mi gration in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other parts of the world. She is pa rticularly interested in the experiences of rural migrant communities\, wom en\, and those whose livelihoods depend on environmental or natural resourc es\, such as farmers. Jemima also explores how factors like gender\, climat e vulnerability\, and migration status may serve as social determinants of health.
Amira Ahmed\, Doctoral Candidate\, Interdisciplinary Graduate Study – Digital Arts an d Humanities/Immersive Technologies\, UBC Okanagan
[buttons][button l ink_text="Abstract" link_url="https://migr.cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploa ds/sites/42/2025/04/Abstract_Ahmed.pdf"][/buttons]
Amira Ahmed’s doct oral study is focused on digital heritage storytelling and its implications for global citizenship education and intercultural communication. She inve stigates how implementing digital storytelling experiences focusing on cult ural heritage can be used as creative and practical methodologies to enhanc e global citizenship in higher education. Her research proposes using an ed ucommunication approach to heritage and project-based learning to explore t he potential of digital heritage storytelling as transformative cultural le arning experiences in higher education. She is particularly interested in h ow this can be applied in higher education to foster interconnectedness\, c ommunity engagement\, and intercultural understanding. Her background lies in mass media and communication studies\, and her previous research project s have examined the interactive affordances of virtual reality\, interactiv e documentaries\, and serious games to promote multicultural learning\, hum an rights\, and environmental literacy.
Caroline Armstrong\, Master’s Student\, Ancient M editerranean and Near Eastern Studies\, UBC Vancouver
[buttons][butto n link_text="Abstract" link_url="https://migr.cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-content/up loads/sites/42/2025/04/Abstract_Armstrong.pdf"][/buttons]
Caroline Ar mstrong’s research focuses on identifying methods to isolate climate change within the paleo-environmental records of the Eastern Mediterranean Late B ronze Age (1600–1100 BCE) to critically analyze how environmental shifts re late to human migration and mobility through an archaeological lens. This w ork stems from their commitment to making ancient scholarship relevant to c ontemporary issues\, recognizing the long history of human movement\, envir onmental relationships\, and climate shifts preserved in the archaeological record. As climate change continues to drive displacement worldwide\, unde rstanding these historical intersections becomes increasingly crucial. They approach their research through an anthropological lens and incorporate ge ographical information systems (GIS) where applicable.
Farrukh Chishtie\, Doctoral Student\, O ccupational Science and Occupational Therapy\, UBC Vancouver
[buttons ][button link_text="Abstract" link_url="https://migr.cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-con tent/uploads/sites/42/2025/04/Abstract_Chishtie.pdf"][/buttons]
Dr. F arrukh Chishtie is a climate scientist specializing in the impacts of large -scale disasters\, including climate change and associated migration. He is the President of Peacefu l Society\, Science and Innovation Foundation. His interdisciplinary re search focuses on climate migration\, with particular attention to vulnerab le and displaced communities both in Canada and globally. As a key area of focus for his non-profit organization\, his work supports the promotion and practice of climate migration research\, aiming to enhance understanding a nd policy responses to climate-induced displacement.
Afsaneh Abbaszadeh\, Maste r’s Student\, Educational Studies\, UBC Vancouver\, Kashif Raza\, Postdoctoral Research Fe llow\, Educational Studies\, UBC Vancouver\, and Hongxia Shan\, Associate Professor\, Edu cational Studies\, UBC Vancouver
[buttons][button link_text="Abstract " link_url="https://migr.cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2025/0 4/Abstract_Raza_Abbaszadeh.pdf"][/buttons]
Afsaneh Abbaszadeh is a gr aduate student specializing in adult learning and education\, particularly in the context of migration. As a Graduate Research Assistant on the ALE-in -ISI project\, a Canada-Germany collaboration\, she examines how adult educ ation programs support skilled immigrants and refugees in their settlement journeys. Her work focuses on programs that provide language training\, emp loyment preparation\, and citizenship education\, which are essential for f ostering integration and participation in Canadian society. Her research di rectly addresses the educational and social needs of migrants\, reflecting her broader commitment to supporting immigrant communities.
Dr. Kashi f Raza's research examines the complex intersections of migration\, educati on\, and policy\, exploring how these dynamics influence international mobi lity\, policy choices\, educational contexts\, curricular decisions\, and n otions of belonging and citizenship. His doctoral research focused on the i ntegration of the South Asian diaspora across economic\, social\, political \, and health dimensions\, highlighting a nested [broader-selective] integr ation shaped by ethnicity\, language\, and immigration policy. Building on this work\, he investigates work-integrated learning among skilled immigran ts in Canada and explores ways to enhance these processes through resource alignment\, policy revisions\, and strengthened partnerships among key stak eholders\, including governments\, institutions\, educators\, and skilled i mmigrants.
Dr. Hongxia Shan is interested i n the changing work and learning practices in the context of immigration\, globalization\, and transnationalism. She has conducted research and publis hed in the areas of work and learning\, knowledge “transfer” and translatio n\, lifelong learning\, organizational learning\, diversity work\, and migr ation\, integration\, and transnationalism. For her research\, she has util ized community-based participatory research\, institutional ethnography\, l ife history research\, situational analysis\, critical discourse analysis\, and mixed methods. Dr. Shan is a former president (2020-2021) of the Canad ian Association for the Study of Adult Education. She has served as an expe rt speaker at a number of academic and professional conferences\, both nati onally and internationally\, on issues of migration\, work\, adult learning \, organizational learning\, and social equity\, diversity\, and justice.
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[accordion title="Panel 3: Chinese Diasporas" ]
Discussant: Nikhita Obeegadoo\, Assistant Professor\, Langu age and World Literatures\, UBC Okanagan
Dr. Nikhita Obeegadoo’s rese arch focuses on oceanic migrations in the archipelagos of the Indian Ocean\ , Caribbean\, and Pacific Ocean. Rooted in comparative literary practices\, her work employs multilingual\, multispecies\, and decolonial frameworks t o explore questions such as: How are the intertwined histories of the Middl e Passage\, the kala pani journey\, and contemporary clandestine crossings represented in fiction and poetry? How do narratives engage with the ecolog ical\, cultural\, and historical dimensions of the ocean? Nikhita also exam ines how literature\, and the humanities in general\, can offer new creativ e and critical lenses to engage with migration.
Chair: Xiaojun Li\, Associate Professor\, Political Science\, UBC Vancouver
Dr. Xiaojun L i’s research on immigration examines international migration flows\, partic ipation in global value chains\, and public attitudes toward economic immig rants and refugees in both developed and developing countries. He is curren tly an Associate Professor of Political Science at UBC and a non-resident s cholar at the 21st Century China Centre at UC San Diego School of Global Po licy and Strategy.
Yijia Zhang\, Doctoral Stud ent\, Sociology\, UBC Vancouver
[buttons][button link_text="Abstract" link_url="https://migr.cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2025/04 /Abstract_Zhang.pdf"][/buttons]
Yijia Zhang's research examines how C hinese international students and immigrants in Vancouver use the Chinese a ll-in-one app WeChat to coordinate everyday activities such as ride-hailing and grocery shopping. While her MA fieldwork focused primarily on individu al users\, she is also interested in how ethnic digital platforms shape opp ortunities and challenges for business owners and regulators. More broadly\ , her work explores the intersection of transnational mobilities\, digital media\, and the ethnic economy.
Ka Po (Capri) Kong\, Master’s Student\, Sociol ogy\, UBC Vancouver
[buttons][button link_text="Abstract" link_url="h ttps://migr.cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2025/04/Abstract_Ko ng.pdf"][/buttons]
Ka Po (Capri) Kong's research focuses on transnati onal social networks\, identity development\, and the social integration of immigrant generations. Her current project examines the characteristics an d dynamics of friendship networks among first- and second-generation immigr ants\, exploring how these relationships influence their sense of belonging and integration within Canadian society. By analyzing these networks\, her work aims to illuminate the broader social and cultural factors that shape identity formation and community cohesion in immigrant populations.
Annie Wan\, Associate Professor\, Creative Studies\, Media Studie s\, UBC Okanagan
[buttons][button link_text="Abstract" link_url="http s://migr.cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2025/04/Abstract_Wan.p df"][/buttons]
Annie Wan is an XR researcher and developer dedicated to advancing technology for well-being and social good. Her latest research focuses on developing a VR\, OpenAI-powered virtual health-assisted applic ation designed to train and support Alzheimer’s caregivers. In another proj ect\, she explored the Asian heritage site Kong Ha Wai in Hong Kong\, exami ning the complex and multifaceted relationship between diaspora identity an d heritage\, and how these connections shape the ways diaspora communities understand themselves and engage with their new homes.
Julia Harten\, Assistant Professor\, School of C ommunity & Regional Planning\, UBC Vancouver
[buttons][button link_te xt="Abstract" link_url="https://migr.cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sit es/42/2025/04/Abstract_Harten.pdf"][/buttons]
Dr. Julia Harten's rese arch explores private rental markets as key to understanding housing and ur ban development\, addressing the lack of reliable data on renting. She tack les this gap through two approaches: developing innovative data strategies and studying the housing choices\, outcomes\, and experiences of private re nters at the margins. By combining big data analysis with ethnographic grou nd-truthing\, she employs mixed-methods research designs that provide a mor e comprehensive understanding of evolving housing needs while amplifying th e voices of marginalized groups often overlooked in traditional data. Her w ork\, both in Canada and Asia\, frequently focuses on renters who are also (im)migrants.
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[accordion title="Panel 4: Boundarie s of Belonging\, Dynamics of Exclusion"]
Discussant: Catherine Dauvergne\, Professor\, Allard School of Law\, UBC Vancouver
Cath erine Dauvergne is a leading expert in refugee\, immigration\, and citizens hip law\, with over 25 years of experience. She has authored three books on the theoretical foundations of these legal areas\, focusing on human right s principles in migration and citizenship frameworks. Catherine is also an editor or co-author of four other volumes\, including Canada’s immigration and refugee law casebook\, and her work frequently incorporates feminist cr itiques of immigration law\, particularly concerning women’s roles in these legal contexts. She is currently collaborating on the SSHRC-funded project Finding a Place for Rights\, evaluating the impact of the Beyond the Borde r Initiative on human rights at the Canada-US border.
Chair:< /strong> Helena Z eweri\, Assistant Professor\, Anthropology\, UBC Vancouver
Helena Zeweri's research intersects global migration studies\, the social impacts of policy\, and the political life of diasporas\, focusing on Australia\, Afghanistan\, and the US. She explores liberatory projects emerging within imperial and settler colonial nation-states\, with a particular interest in how settler colonial logics and migrants' transnational ties shape their n otions of belonging and political participation. Her first project examined migrant-targeted social welfare policies in Melbourne\, and her current wo rk focuses on Afghan American and Afghan Australian diasporic activism in r esponse to displacement and the global asylum regime during the Global War on Terror.
Lisa Brunner \, Postdoctoral Research Fellow\, Centre for Migration Studies\, UBC Va ncouver
[buttons][button link_text="Abstract" link_url="https://migr. cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2025/04/Abstract_Brunner.pdf"][ /buttons]
Dr. Lisa Brunner is a migration researcher specializing in higher and adult education\, immigrant settlement\, and global justice. As part of the Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides p roject\, she examines citizenship and belonging in an increasingly digitali zed world. Her PhD research introduced the concept of edugration—a three-st ep economic immigration process shaped by international student recruitment —analyzing its ethical and policy implications. A Regulated Canadian Immigr ation Consultant since 2014\, Dr. Brunner has extensive expertise in Canadi an immigration and citizenship policy. She has worked on refugee resettleme nt research and curriculum design with organizations in Canada and the U.S. and previously served as an International Student Advisor for over a decad e. She is a member of Canada’s Pathways to Prosperity Standing Committee on Student and Junior Scholar Engagement and UBC’s Scholars at Risk Advisory Committee.
Valeriia Pelevina\, Master’s Student\, Commun ity\, Culture and Global Studies\, UBC Okanagan
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Valeriia Pelevina' s research explores the concept of ghost citizenship in Malaysia\, examinin g the experiences of stateless individuals who reside in their own country but are effectively “ghosted” by the state. Despite having genuine ties and histories in Malaysia\, these individuals lack citizenship\, leaving them without access to social services or formal belonging. Her work investigate s how citizenship status privileges certain groups while disadvantaging oth ers\, shedding light on the structural inequalities within the Malaysian st ate.
Vince Hopkins\, Assistant Pr ofessor\, Political Science\, UBC Vancouver
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Dr. Vince Hopkins speci alizes in Canadian politics with a focus on applied social policy. His rese arch examines the low take-up of government programs\, exploring how politi cal and psychological barriers prevent citizens from accessing essential se rvices. His current work aims to improve participation in employment and in tegration services among jobseekers\, young adults\, and newcomers. Why do people who could benefit from public services not apply? How can government s increase take-up? Vince addresses these questions through field experimen ts designed to enhance the lived experiences of low-income and marginalized populations in Canada. With over a decade of experience in behavioral and data science\, he has worked as a Senior Behavioural Scientist for the Brit ish Columbia Government and as a Policy Analyst for the Government of Canad a.
Angela Andersen\, Sessional Lecturer\, Creative Studies\, UBC Okanagan
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Angela Andersen’s work explores the intersection of arch itecture and migration\, focusing on place\, movement\, and adaptation. Her research examines internal and urban displacement through architectural ev idence\, analyzing how migrants navigate and reshape new environments. In h er teaching\, she incorporates art and architecture created by and for migr ant and diasporic communities\, using these works to document and communica te their experiences.
Irene Bloemraad\, CMS Co-Direct or and Professor\, Political Science and Sociology\, UBC Vancouver
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< p>Dr. Irene Bloemraad is a Political Science and Sociology Professor\, the inaugural President’s Excellence Chair in Global Migration\, and Co-Directo r of the Centre for Migration Studies at the University of British Columbia . Her research focuses on how immigrants are incorporated into political co mmunities and the impact of migration on politics and conceptions of member ship. Her work lies at the intersection of migration studies and political sociology\, with a broad interdisciplinary and international scope. Before coming to UBC\, Dr. Bloemraad held the 1951 Chair in Sociology at the Unive rsity of California\, Berkeley\, where she also directed the Berkeley Inter disciplinary Migration Initiative.[/accordion]
[accordion titl e="Panel 5: Precarious Mobilities"]
Discussant: Antje Ellermann \, CMS Co-Director and Professor\, Political Science\, UBC Vancouver
Dr. Antje Ellermann is a Political Science Professor and Founder and Co-Dir ector of the Centre for Migration Studies at the University of British Colu mbia. Their research focuses on the politics of migration and citizenship i n the global North. Their current projects include several community-engage d research collaborations at the intersection of citizenship\, belonging\, and decolonization in Metro Vancouver\, alongside a comparative study of im migration bureaucracies in Canada\, Australia\, and the UK.
C hair: Eliza beth “Biz” Nijdam\, Assistant Professor\, Central\, Eastern\, and North ern European Studies\, UBC Vancouver
Dr. Elizabeth "Biz" Nijdam is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Department of Central\, Eastern\, a nd Northern European Studies at UBC\, where she also leads the Narratives R esearch Group at the Centre for Migration Studies and co-leads the Comic St udies Research Cluster. Her research focuses on the representation of histo ry in comics\, comics and new media on forced migration\, and the intersect ions between Indigenous studies and migration studies. Prior to UBC\, Biz t aught at Whitman College and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Freie U niversität in Berlin. She is also the Equity Chair for German Studies Canad a and serves on various executive committees\, including the International Comic Arts Forum and the Comics Studies Society.
Carlos M-Castro\, Maste r’s Student\, Spanish/Hispanic Studies\, UBC Vancouver
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Carlos M-Ca stro's current research examines the impact of migration and displacement o n the works of Nicaraguan contemporary authors who left their home country at a young age (during childhood or adolescence) and have since built their lives and literary careers abroad.
< a href="https://migration.ubc.ca/profile/maham-kamal-ahsan/">Maham Kamal Ah san\, Master’s Student\, Educational Studies\, UBC Vancouver
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Maha m Kamal is a Master of Arts student in the Educational Studies department. Her research will explore current issues and lived experiences of internati onal students\, and immigrant learners. Maham aims to use a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods to better understand and info rm policies made in educational and migration institutions. Maham has an un dergraduate degree in International Relations from UBC and works at UBC in fundraising and education administration.
Regina Baeza Martinez\, Sociology and Anthropology\, Master’s Student\, Simon Fraser University
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Regina Baeza Martinez’s r esearch focuses on how Indigenous Mayan migrant workers from Guatemala crea te livable worlds in rural Canada\, using decolonial ethnographic methods t o highlight collective agency. Regina's interdisciplinary work bridges Soci ology\, Anthropology\, Migration Studies\, and Indigenous Studies to bring Indigenous perspectives to migrant labor research. She is the Project Manag er for Transnationally Indigenous\, a project exploring Indigenous transnat ional activism and diplomacy\, led by Dr. Glen Coulthard (UBC) and Dr. Mich ael Hathaway (SFU). Regina also works as a Research Assistant on a project examining Mayan migrant farmworkers in Canada\, under Dr. Evelyn Encalada G rez (SFU).
Eric de Roulet\, Doctoral Student\, Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies\, UBC Okanagan
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Eric de Roulet’s dissertation research investigates the roles of age ncy and subjectification in Chinese and Taiwanese prospective international graduate students’ academic career planning. Through interviews and fieldw ork\, he analyzes how these students perceive opportunities and obstacles i n the domestic and international higher education markets\, including the h uman security risks that come with studying abroad. By examining the experi ences of prospective graduate students\, this project avoids the survivorsh ip bias built into numerous studies of the experiences of those who have al ready moved to their destination country.[/accordion]
[accordion titl e="Roundtable Discussion | Making Research Matter: Strategies for Policy-En gaged Scholarship"]
Moderator: Antje Ellermann\, Professor\, Po litical Science\, UBC Vancouver
Dr. Antje Ellermann is a Political Sc ience Professor and Founder and Co-Director of the Centre for Migration Stu dies at the University of British Columbia. Their research focuses on the p olitics of migration and citizenship in the global North. Their current pro jects include several community-engaged research collaborations at the inte rsection of citizenship\, belonging\, and decolonization in Metro Vancouver \, alongside a comparative study of immigration bureaucracies in Canada\, A ustralia\, and the UK.
Dr. Vince Hopkins specializes in Canadian politics with a focus on applied social policy. His research examines the low take- up of government programs\, exploring how political and psychological barri ers prevent citizens from accessing essential services. His current work ai ms to improve participation in employment and integration services among jo b seekers\, young adults\, and newcomers. Why do people who could benefit f rom public services not apply? How can governments increase take-up? Vince addresses these questions through field experiments designed to enhance the lived experiences of low-income and marginalized populations in Canada. Wi th over a decade of experience in behavioral and data science\, he has work ed as a Senior Behavioural Scientist for the British Columbia Government an d as a Policy Analyst for the Government of Canada.
Sandra works at the UBC Centre for Migration Studies as a Postd octoral Fellow researching the burdens and supports related to citizenship acquisition and migration pathways of economic migrants\, with a focus on t he intersections between immigration and education policy. She has worked a t Global Affairs Canada as a senior research fellow in their International Education Division and has recently started a new role as Senior Economist for the BC provincial government in their Immigration Policy and Integratio n Branch within the Ministry of Post-secondary Education and Future Skills.
Lily Grewal is a p rincipled and collaborative administrator with over 20 years of community a nd government experience. As the Director of Immigrant Integration\, she ov ersees the Province’s funded services and supports for newcomers. During th e past 15 years\, she has worked in the field of immigration with the Provi nce and has held various positions\, including program manager\, policy ana lyst and manager of program development and promotion. She enjoys working c losely with partners to spearhead complex programs and initiatives that enh ance programs and services for BC newcomers.
Daniel Hiebert' s research interests focus on how immigration reshapes cities\, examining t he relationship between immigrants and urban economies\, immigrants and hou sing markets\, and the social reordering of cities due to immigration. He i s also interested in the concept of "superdiversity" and its implications f or social relationships. Recently\, he contributed to the analysis of immig rant entry in the 2016 Canadian census.
Dr. Irene Bloemraad is a Professor of Political Scien ce and Sociology\, the inaugural President’s Excellence Chair in Global Mig ration\, and Co-Director of the Centre for Migration Studies at the Univers ity of British Columbia. Her research focuses on how immigrants are incorpo rated into political communities and the impact of migration on politics an d conceptions of membership. Her work lies at the intersection of migration studies and political sociology\, with a broad interdisciplinary and inter national scope. Dr. Bloemraad has significant experience engaging with medi a\, government\, and policymakers. She has authored reports for the Migrati on Policy Institute\, the World Bank\, and the U.S. National Academy of Sci ences.
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