Learn more about the work of CMS Community Advisory Board member, Lily Grewal.
Lily is a creative, solution-focused leader with more than 20 years of experience in community development, governance, and public service. In her current role, she oversees provincially funded services and supports for newcomers to British Columbia. She has led complex policy and program initiatives across the non-profit, community and public sectors, including the delivery of multi-million dollar programs focused on strengthening outcomes for people and communities. Her expertise includes values-based leadership, partnership development and engagement, program design and policy development.
Lily holds a BA from UBC, a MSW from the University of Toronto, and the Chartered Director designation in board governance. She has served on the boards of numerous Lower Mainland organizations.
Your career is deeply rooted in a passion for immigrant integration. How did you first become interested in this field, and in what ways are you able to implement your interests and passion through your work in the Provincial Government?
My interest in migration stems from my own experience as the child of immigrant settlers in BC. I often say that immigration has shaped both how I see the world and how the world sees me. From early on, I was drawn to work that supports newcomers through the lifechanging transitions of moving to a new country and building a new life. Through my role in government, I have the opportunity to help shape programs and policies that support that journey. One of the things that continues to motivate me is ensuring that the newcomers remain at the forefront of our thinking when we design programs.
You lead large-scale immigrant integration initiatives that require collaboration across the settlement sector. What do you see as key considerations for building effective and successful partnerships?
Building effective partnerships starts with recognizing that we each have different roles to play and that there are power differentials amongst us. I think it is important to be open about those realities and to approach partnerships with honesty and respect. Government must operate within legislation, policy, and procurement requirements that are intended to ensure fairness and transparency, but those same requirements can sometimes create challenges when trying to engage and collaborate in flexible ways.
I have found that successful partnerships are built on being clear about what can and cannot be changed, maintaining transparency wherever possible, and taking the time to understand one another’s perspectives and operating contexts. Curiosity is one of the qualities I value most in those working for the public service. Being open to different viewpoints, asking questions, and being willing to think differently can help build stronger relationships and ultimately lead to better outcomes.
You have shared valuable advice with CMS students in the past. What guidance would you offer students interested in bridging their research and policy skills with the demands of the public sector?
My advice would be to stay open and curious. Many of the skills developed through research, such as critical thinking, analysis, writing, and evidence assessment, are highly valuable in the public sector, even if the connection is not always immediately obvious. I encourage students to think about how their skills and experiences might transfer in non-traditional ways. I often use the term “dream job adjacent” meaning that you may not land what you consider your dream job right away, but there are often opportunities that can move you closer to that goal while helping you build experience, understand systems, and expand your professional network. Many people begin their careers in government in roles that do not perfectly align with their long-term aspirations, including myself, but those roles can provide invaluable insight into how government works and open doors to future opportunities.
For students conducting research on immigrant integration and settlement, how can their research become of interest for the provincial government?
I think an important reality for researchers to consider is the broader context in which their work exists. Understanding the policy environment, current public discourse, and the realities facing decision-makers can help make research more relevant and impactful. Researchers should be aware not only of the issues they are studying, but also of the environment government is operating within and the pressures that shape policy choices. From my perspective, research is often most valuable when it helps decision-makers address the issues they are working on and encourages them to think differently about those issues. Research that provides practical insight, identifies emerging trends or offers evidence that can inform policy and program decisions is particularly useful.
How can research institutions such as CMS make their research accessible and supportive for the Province at a programmatic level and at a policy and decision-making level?
One challenge is that academic research does not always align neatly with government mandates or the practical realities policymakers face. Research questions and priorities may differ from immediate policy needs, and recommendations could overlook costs, resources, implementation challenges, jurisdictional limits, risks and uncertainty. This can create a gap between research findings and actionable recommendations. Decision-makers work in complex environments with competing priorities and need advice that is balanced, evidence based and grounded in a clear understanding of these constraints. Researchers can support this decision making by making their research more accessible. This can be done through prioritizing clear, concise, plain language reports, that communicate key findings, implications and practical applications over lengthy academic publications. Effective research can alert decision makers to emerging issues, support changes in direction, or surface things that decision makers aren’t fully aware of yet.
What would you say are the Province’s policy priorities and approaches on immigrant integration?
The Province’s approach to immigrant integration is focused on supporting newcomers to successfully settle, participate in their communities, and achieve positive employment and economic outcomes. Immigration and integration policies and programs are intended to improve newcomers’ ability to thrive in British Columbia while also contributing to the Province’s broader social and economic prosperity. Through settlement and integration supports, government seeks to create the conditions that help newcomers succeed and ensure that communities across the province benefit from their contributions.
