[image_spread img_url="https://migr.cms.ar ts.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2025/03/Featured-image_Revisioning-Ne wcomer-Settlement.png" caption="" width="website"]
< span class="NormalTextRun SCXW219769823 BCX0">Shifting public opinion\, red uced immigration levels\, and unpredictable funding structures are < span class="NormalTextRun SCXW219769823 BCX0">impacting the settlement and integration of Canada ’s newcomers during a time of both domestic and geopolitical uncertainty. G iven these challenges\, what would it take to collectively envision a more robust and secure newcomer settlement and integration sector?
This online panel brings together four different perspectives on the future of settlement and integration in Canada to spur creative\, big-picture\, forwa rd-thinking responses.
Katie Crocker (CEO\, AMSSA)
Afshan Paarlberg (Visiting Scholar\, CMS)
Lizeth Escobedo (Dir ector of Newcomers and Youth Services\, YMCA BC)
Patrick MacKenzie (CEO\, IEC of BC)
Neelam Sah ota (CEO\, diverseCITY)
[accordions collapsible=true active=false][accordion title="Katie Crocker"]
Katie Crocker is th e Chief Executive Officer of AMSSA\, a British Columbia provincial umbrella association that strengthens over 90 member agencies as well as hundreds of community stakeholder agencies who s erve immigrants and newcomers. Katie represents the BC Settlement Sector on the National Settlement and Integration Council\, sits on the Executive Co mmittee of the UBC Centre for Migration Studies and is the Co-Chair of Path ways to Prosperity. Along with her background in not-for-profit management and her knowledge of the settlement and integration sector\, Katie brings e xpertise in supporting neurodiverse children and their families as a mother of a child with Autism and the Chair of UNITI’s Board of Directors. In rec ognition of her achievements\, Katie was awarded the King Charles III Coron ation Medal in August 2024.[/accordion][/accordions]
[accordions collapsible=true active=false][accordion title="Afshan Paarlberg"]
Afshan Paarlberg is a lawyer and interdisciplinar y researcher who engages in policydriven work on philanthropy\, nonprofits\ , access-to-justice\, and immigration. She is currently conducting research in British Columbia with the support of Fulbright Canada\, comparing Canad ian and U.S. nonprofit responses to asylum seekers. She recently completed a Global Philanthropy Fellowship\, and she continues to serve as the Projec t Director of the Global Philanthropy Environment Index (GPEI) wh ere she leads a team to provide an updated mapping of the enabling environm ent for philanthropy across 95 countries and economies. She also serves as board director and secretary to The Appellate Project.[/accordion][/accordi ons]
[accordions collapsible=true active=false][accordion title="Lize th Escobedo"]
Lizeth Escobedo currently serves as the Director of Newcomers and Youth Services at YMCA BC. Originally from Mexico\, she has c alled Vancouver home since 2006. Lizeth is deeply committed to empowering c hildren\, families\, seniors\, and newcomers in the community by providing them with the necessary tools\, resources\, and support to thrive. Her dedi cation has earned her recognition\, including the Volunteer of the Year 201 3-2014 in BC award from the Federation of Francophone Parents and the YMCA’ s President’s Award of Excellence in 2017. Additionally\, Lizeth has been h onored with The Ohtli Award\, the highest recognition given by the Mexican Government to Mexican Nationals residing outside of Mexico\, for her effort s in assisting Mexican citizens and promoting their culture. Lizeth's recen t focus has been on supporting Temporary Foreign Workers.[/accordion][/acco rdions]
[accordions collapsible=true active=false][accordion title="P atrick MacKenzie"]
Patric k MacKenzie is the CEO of the Immigrant Employment Council of BC. He has made a career of public service from coast to coast\, working in policy and program areas aimed at supporting many of Canada’s most vulnera ble communities through economic and social development as well as internat ional relations. Previously\, Patrick spent 11 years working for Immigratio n\, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at its national headquarters in Ottawa and its regional offices in Vancouver. Throughout his career\, Patrick has worked with partners on matters affecting Indigenous and immigrant populati ons\, including immigrant economic integration\, provincial nominee program s\, credential recognition and labour mobility..[/accordion][/accordions]
[ accordions collapsible=true active=false][accordion title="Neelam Sahota"]< /p>
Neelam is a senior executive with 20+ years in social impact\, including 13 in C-suite roles. As CEO of DIVERSEcity since 2013\, she has led sig nificant growth and innovation. A champion for equity\, she advocates for d iverse women in leadership and serves on multiple boards\, including SFU an d the Surrey Local Immigration Partnership. She holds the Fellowship of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (FCPA\, FCGA)\, and ICD.D designations and has won numerous awards\, including BC Business Non -Profit Leader of the Year (2022). A sought-after speaker\, she addresses g ender equity\, leadership\, and economic justice while advancing truth and reconciliation in her community work.[/accordion][/accordions]
