JOIN US BC INDIA BUSINESS NETWORK – A MEMBER-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION
BCIBN is a new organization dedicated to building and maintaining economic & cultural ties between British Columbia and India through trade. With one of the largest, most successfully multicultural communities in the world, BC’s connection to India is long-established. BCIBN’s goal is to build on those vibrant connections and create lasting trade relationships.
India’s GDP is set to grow by more than 7% in 2016. This will put India ahead of China as the fastest growing economy in the world. As a member of the Commonwealth and the largest democracy on earth, India’s shared connections to British Columbia make for obvious trading partners.
BCIBN has assembled a team of Directors and Advisors with deep personal connections on both sides of the Pacific and over 100 years of combined experience promoting bi-lateral trade. Our membership will add to the relationships that the Province of B.C. has independently initiated over the past two decades. With that, our members will be able to take advantage of an expanded network of potential trade partners for the benefit of both Indians and British Columbians.
We are looking for great members like you who want to help us increase bi-lateral trade in sectors like small, medium & large-scaled business, tourism, investment, film production, agriculture, clean energy, education, infrastructure development and transport.
BCIBN Board of Directors
VIVEK SAVKUR
PRESIDENT & FOUNDER
VIVEK SAVKUR
PRESIDENT & FOUNDER
Vivek Savkur is the Managing Director of Anand Commercial Services Pvt Ltd. Mumbai and Owner of Savkur International Agencies in Vancouver.He has been actively connected with Indo-Canadian Bilateral Trade since the last 30 years. Before immigrating to Canada form Mumbai, India he held several positions in the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber (ICBC), Mumbai and was on it’s National Board for several years and it’s National President for three consecutive years. He is well connected in India and in BC and is conversant with all sectors of trade in the BC-India Business Corridor.
HEMA BHATT
VICE PRESIDENT
HEMA BHATT
VICE PRESIDENT
Hema Bhatt is the Vice-President and founder of Natu’Oil Services. In partnership with her husband, she set up a Malaysian office in 2004 and a manufacturing plant to cater to the demands of customers followed by Global Agritrade Corporation in 2006.
Natu’Oil Services specializes in international trade of palm oil based ingredients for the animal feed and food manufacturing industries. It is the largest importer of packaged palm oil and energy supplements and the first company to introduce sustainable refined palm oil into North America. Its mission is to be the premier supplier of oils and fats to all industries using highly streamlined logistics, customer service par excellence and products of the highest quality. Natu’Oil Services also distributes the Olera brand of certified sustainable palm shortenings and oils, as well as, Copia Coconut Oils, and is a member of Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil with a certified supply chain status.
DAWOOD SHAKIR
DIRECTOR
DAWOOD SHAKIR
DIRECTOR
Dawood Shakir is a vivid International business advisor with depth and breadth of experience in consultancy and delivering business projects in Canada, UK and India. Gained an impeccable track record from working for the Ministry of International Trade, BC government as Trade Commissioner for British Columbia and in UK Trade & Investment at the British Deputy High Commission in India. Along with my industry experience, I collectively offer nine years of experience. Successfully landed FDI projects of more than 100 Million dollars in Canada and UK and continue to help companies interested to enter the Indian and the Canadian market.
NARGES NIRUMWALA
DIRECTOR
NARGES NIRUMWALA
DIRECTOR
Narges Nirumvala is the Founder and CEO of ExecutiveSpeak Coaching International. She is an award-winning serial entrepreneur, world-renowned leadership communication expert, official TEDx speaker coach and international keynote speaker. She is the author of the Amazon bestselling book “Capture the Spotlight”. Her writing on the subject has been published and circulated to 106 countries worldwide.
Narges is also a humanitarian, community leader and passionate advocate for the economic empowerment of women. She has served on numerous not-for-profit boards and committees over the years. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of TiE Vancouver, a global organization originally founded in Silicon Valley that fosters entrepreneurship on all levels.
Narges has numerous awards and accolades, most recently she won the 2018 Shakti Award for Business and Entrepreneurship and was nominated for RBC Women of Influence 2019 Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for the third time in a row. She lives in the Lower Mainland with her husband and family.
SOBHANA JAYA-MADHAVAN
DIRECTOR
SOBHANA JAYA-MADHAVAN
DIRECTOR
Born in Malaysia and raised in India, Sobhana has an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Calicut University (Kerala, India) and a postgraduate degree in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai, India). Sobhana completed her Ph.D. candidacy in Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria (BC, Canada). Since 1991, Sobhana has worked in the non-profit, public and private sectors in India, Malaysia, and Canada.
After immigrating to Canada in 1995, Sobhana worked in a minimum wage job at GM Place before joining the British Columbia (BC) Government and serving in various front line and senior management positions (including Executive Director and Acting Assistant Deputy Minister) over two decades. In 2015, Sobhana was nominated for the BC Medal of Good Citizenship award which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the well-being of their communities. In 2019, Sobhana received the Woman of the Decade Award for being an education champion.
“In addition to academic excellence, we greatly honor the empathetic leadership of Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan. With her vital values of community connection and humanitarian outreach, she has enriched the education ecosystem with exemplary leadership toward creating a better world for all,” Harbeen Arora, global chairperson, WEF and All Ladies League (ALL).
From 2015-17, Sobhana worked at NewGen KnowledgeWorks (Chennai, India) as Head HR and Associate Vice President. At NewGen Sobhana championed organizational excellence. In 2017, Sobhana returned to Canada and joined Simon Fraser University (SFU) as Associate Vice President, External Relations. In this senior leadership role, Sobhana engages with all levels of government, international/national/provincial/local organizations, internal/external partners and diverse communities to strengthen strategic relationships, provide strategic advice and work on shared goals. At SFU, Sobhana is also the co-facilitator for the Indigenous reconciliation initiative and was the institutional lead for Women Deliver 2019. Sobhana also works closely with SFU's senior executive team on various issues and initiatives including equity, diversity and inclusion.
Sobhana has been a volunteer since the age of 16 when she became President of the Rotaract Club in her home town Palakkad, in Kerala, India. Since then she has volunteered for the Guild of Service, Aga Khan Foundation and many other organizations in Canada and India. Sobhana has also played/plays an Advisory role for many organizations including HashHackCode and TechDiva (India), AstraZeneca and Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival (Canada). She currently is part of The Inclusion Project board (BC).
Sobhana is also a mentor for youth, professionals, immigrants and refugees and has been a homestay parent for over 50 international students visiting Canada. Sobhana lives in Burnaby with her two sons and mother.
GEORGE
DIRECTOR
GEORGE
DIRECTOR
A dynamic go-getter, George is a gifted leader from Richmond, British Columbia. A passionate communicator, George is enriched with the wealth of diverse experiences in Sales, Marketing and Finance. Having spent his adolescent years in Muscat, Oman, George brings about a unique perspective to business. George’s forte has been in the realm of Sales and Marketing and he has consulted multiple companies. He is also an owner of a Paleo Restaurant called Festal Cafe which is located at Coal Harbour in Downtown Vancouver which is the first 100% Paleo restaurant in British Columbia.
A keen sports enthusiast, George spends his free time playing soccer, basketball, table tennis and football. His also loves to play the guitar to harmonize the lives of the less fortunate and help the community. Whatever surplus he has, he uses it to feed the homeless and helps out at recovery addiction centres by singing and playing the guitar. His main goal in life is to make a difference in people’s lives by influencing media, governments and the marketplace. He eventually wants to open schools, orphanages, and hospitals through which he can share grace and love to the world.
KATHLEEN MCGARRIGLE
DIRECTOR
KATHLEEN MCGARRIGLE
DIRECTOR
Ms. Kathleen McGarrigle is a seasoned financial executive and former Chief Operating Officer
of Coast Capital Savings, Canada’s largest credit union by membership. She was a respected
member of the executive team that led the transformation to one of the strongest performing
Canadian credit unions, delivering outstanding performance in retail banking and wealth
management. She also co-created a workplace culture that has been recognized as one of
Deloitte’s Best Managed Companies, Canada’s 10 Most Admired Cultures and one of BC’s Top
Employers.
Ms. McGarrigle has extensive experience managing large and complex businesses in Canada
and internationally. Prior to joining Coast, she was Senior Vice President Premier Banking for
HSBC Bank Canada, where she led the HSBC Global Premier strategy that propelled the
business forward and positioned Canada as one the top regions globally. Prior to this, she held
the position of Regional Vice-President for CIBC.
Ms. McGarrigle has played leading roles in several community organizations including,
Canadian Board Diversity Council for Canada, Women’s Executive Network, YWCA, Canadian
Breast Cancer Foundation, B.C. Children’s Hospital, Cops for Cancer and the United Way. She
has also served on corporate and community boards across Canada including Canadian Breast
Cancer Foundation, Zajac Foundation, Glentel Inc., NEI Investments and the Salvation Army.
Ms. McGarrigle has been recognized for her leadership and community service numerous times
throughout her career. She was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, British
Columbia’s Top 20 and Surrey Business Leader of the Year.
Ms. McGarrigle is a graduate of the Queens University Executive Program, Institute of
Corporate Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers.
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BCIBN ADVISORY BOARD
HON. HERB DHALIWAL, PC
ADVISORY BOARD
HON. HERB DHALIWAL, PC
ADVISORY BOARD
Herb Dhaliwal, PC, is a graduate in commerce of the University of British Columbia (1977). He was a senior Minister for Western Canada in the federal Cabinet of Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Between 1997 and 2004 he successively held the portfolios of National Revenue, Fisheries & Oceans and Natural Resources in Ottawa.
Prior to entering national politics, Herb was – and since retiring from public life continues to be – an entrepreneur, business owner, corporate director and advisor, with interests in transportation, building maintenance, housing construction and real estate development. Before sitting in the Parliament of Canada as M.P. for Vancouver- South/Burnaby constituency from 1993 to 2004, Mr. Dhaliwal had been appointed by the B.C. Government as Vice-Chair of the B.C. Hydro and Power Authority board of directors, where he chaired the budget and audit committees. In 2000 the VANCOUVER SUN called him one of the Top 100 most influential British Columbians in the last century.
DR. LANE TROTTER
ADVISORY BOARD
DR. LANE TROTTER
ADVISORY BOARD
Dr. Lane Trotter joined Langara College as President and CEO in January of 2014. His career in Canadian higher education spans more than 24 years, including previous roles as Senior Vice President, Academic at Fanshawe College, and Dean, at both BCIT and St. Clair College. He also spent many years serving in BC’s Ministry of Advanced Education. Dr. Trotter is the author of many papers and presentations on higher education and is active in a variety of national committees, and local, provincial, and national boards. He currently serves as Chair of the Council of Presidents of BC Colleges. He earned his Doctorate of Education from Simon Fraser University (2010) and holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria (1992).
BOBBY PAWAR B.A., M.B.A
ADVISORY BOARD
BOBBY PAWAR B.A., M.B.A
ADVISORY BOARD
MR. GURMINDER SINGH PARIHAR
ADVISORY BOARD
MR. GURMINDER SINGH PARIHAR
ADVISORY BOARD
MR. GURMINDER SINGH PARIHAR
Gurminder S. Parihar has been a Partner with Parihar & Associates, CPA, CGA public practice firm in Surrey BC since 2004. Previously, he was a Senior Accountant with Delves Freer Anderson Regina Cain, CGA, Kanester Johal Chartered Accountants and CA firms in England.
He has a wealth of experience in general accounting, tax planning, and business consultation combined with a superlative track record in public engagement as well as significant experience in board and committee leadership. Mr. Parihar holds his Certified General Accountants and Chartered Professional Accountants designations. Currently Mr. Parihar is holding an appointment as board of directors of the College of Optometrists of British Columbia.
DR. ARUN GARG
ADVISORY BOARD
DR. ARUN GARG
ADVISORY BOARD
Dr. Arun Kumar Garg is a Clinical Professor of Pathology in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry from the University of Saskatchewan, Doctor of Medicine from the University of British Columbia, Fellowship in Medical Biochemistry from Royal College of Physicians and surgeons of Canada.
For last several years he is working on awareness amongst South Asian community of high prevalence of Chronic Diseases. Founded Canada India Network Society (www.thecins.org; www.twitter/thecins) in 2010 to build strong links between Canada and India in Life Sciences and Health Services. He is actively working with several partners and organizations in India and Canada to promote better health and health care. He is medical director of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and Medical Lead for South Asian Health Institute in Fraser Health (www.fraserhealth.ca).
SANDEEP GOEL
ADVISORY BOARD
SANDEEP GOEL
ADVISORY BOARD
Sandeep Goel is the President and Chief Executive Officer of ICICI Bank Canada since July 2019.
In this role, he is responsible for leading the growth of the bank in the Canadian marketplace.
Previously, Mr. Goel was the Chief Risk Officer for the North American operations of ICICI Bank,
overseeing all areas of risk management and regulatory relationships in both the United States
and Canada.
Before joining ICICI Bank in North America, Mr. Goel was a core member of the transformational
risk team at ICICI Bank UK PLC based in London, United Kingdom. Mr. Goel has also previously
held a key position in the bank’s relationship team in New Delhi, India.
Prior to joining ICICI Group, Mr. Goel worked on critical software and hardware automation
projects with Indian Railways based in various cities in India.
Mr. Goel supports a number of business and non-for-profit organizations and involved in a
variety of charitable activities in the community. He is currently a member of the Foreign Banks’
Executive Committee of the Canadian Bankers Association. He also serves on the Board of the
Canada-India Business Council and the Canada India Foundation.
Mr. Goel graduated from Delhi University with Honours in Engineering and holds an MBA from
the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, India.
MANISH
ADVISORY BOARD
MANISH
ADVISORY BOARD
Mr. Manish is a career diplomat and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1997. In his over
twenty-two years of diplomatic career, he has served in Indian Missions in Moscow, Tashkent,
Prague, Colombo and Jakarta.
In between his overseas assignments, he served in New Delhi at the Ministry of External
Affairs first as Under Secretary in the US & Canada Division and Foreign Service Institute; and then
as Deputy Secretary in the United Nations Political Division from August 2004 to July 2007. Prior to
being appointed as India's Consul General in Vancouver, he served as Joint Secretary in the
Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service from November 2017 to April 2018 and then as Joint
Secretary managing India’s bilateral relations with ASEAN countries, Australia, New Zealand and
Pacific Island Countries from April 2018 to November 2019. As Joint Secretary, Overseas Indian
Affairs from November 2019 to August 2020 he implemented policies for engagement with Indian
diaspora. He serves as Consul General of India in Vancouver from 30 August 2020.
Consul General holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Physics and Bachelors of Law degree from
University of Delhi, India. He speaks Hindi, English and Russian.
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Email: info@bcibn.com
2150-550 Sherling Place, Port Coquitlam, BC Canada V3B 0J6