Governance
Board of Directors
Dakota Koch
Vice President & Co-Founder
Dakota just graduated from UBC with a Bachelors of History in the Faculty of Arts. With a developed understanding of aquatics through his active involvement competing and coaching, he has gained an appreciation for the benefits of athletic activity. In addition, Dakota values the positive effects sports can have on social development and is eager to offer this to the refugee children.
Duncan Bernardo
Co-Founder & President Emeritus
Duncan recently graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of International Economics. He moved to Spain when he was 11 years old and was enrolled in a local public primary school. When he arrived, he didn’t speak any Spanish and it was only through his ability to play soccer and the school’s Spanish second language program that he was able to make friends. This has led Duncan to make it his goal to teach sports and English to recently arrived immigrant and refugee children, in order for them to have the tools they need to make friends in their new home.
Rizwan Somji
President
Rizwan Somji joined Cymax Group in 2015 as to lead the Technology Group and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2017, after co-founding ResponseTek, an enterprise Saas company in 2000. Since becoming CEO in 2019, his leadership has guided the company through a period of rapid growth and pivotal digital transformation and success across all brands, including Freight Club and Channel Gate. He is on the Board of Directors for Victory Square Technologies and a mentor in the UBC Tri-Mentoring Program. As a volunteer coach for the Shaheen Football Club for over 20 years, he believes that social responsibility is critical to both corporate and personal growth. In 2020, he was awarded the distinction of Business Person of the Year by the Burnaby Board of Trade. Rizwan is a resident of Vancouver and holds a Bachelor of Computer Science from the University of British Columbia.
Hijab Qaiser
Treasurer
Coming soon.
Jamie McCasland
Board Member
Jamie McCasland is an Assistant Professor in the Vancouver School of Economics at UBC, where she teaches courses in Development Economics and studies labor markets, firms, and job training programs in low-income countries. She has a special interest in migration as development policy and is a strong advocate of the potential for immigration policy to alleviate human suffering and improve human welfare. She has always enjoyed working with young people, as a camp counselor in high school, running a tutoring program for immigrant youth while an undergraduate at UCLA, volunteering with UCLA Unicamp, and running sexual and reproductive health peer educator programs as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya.
Babak Shahbazi
Board Member
Babak Shahbazi immigrated to Canada in 1990, a dedicated family man, Babak has been licensed as a Real estate agent since 2003. He established a soccer club in 1991 and currently manages two teams in the Vancouver Metro Soccer League, as well as being involved with a range of charity groups such as the Rotary Club of North Vancouver and the Canadian Iranian Foundation. Through his involvement with soccer, he has raised money for Lions Gate Hospital, Westminster House Society, and Razi Network for Disabled Children to name a few. Babak’s resume includes experience as a software developer and network support manager with companies such as Western Digital, ISMBC (a joint venture of TELUS and IBM), ResponseTek, and Sysco Technology. He studied at both Capilano University and Simon Fraser University, graduating with a degree in Computer Science.
Omar Abu Bakr
Board Member
Omar arrived in Canada as a landed immigrant when he was 12 years old, looking for a better life. Striving to adapt and to make new friends, Omar joined BC Newcomer camp at its early stages to become an instrumental member of the organization. Omar realized how linguistic barriers impede societal integration, therefore he decided to volunteer and assist in the translation department while serving a multitude of mentorship capacities for the kids at the camp. Moreover, Omar loves the harmony and discipline aspects of soccer as he played for his high school team. He grew an understanding of how sports can have a positive role in physical development as a camp activity. Additionally, Omar values creative thinking, prompting him to play chess. His love for the game grew as he made it to the national level representing the province of British Columbia. Omar plans on studying business and to continue in his endeavors to give back to the community.
Nader Soltani
Board Member
Nader immigrated to Canada in 1991 as a refugee from Iran. He and his family settled in North Vancouver where his father started playing for a local iranian soccer team and they instantly found a community. Nader attended school in North Vancouver where he played rugby and basketball, and was also a rugby coach and camp counsellor at North Vancouver Outdoor School. Nader completed his university studies with a Bachelor of Computer Engineering and Master of Business Administration, both from the University of British Columbia. While in University, Nader was the director of fundraising for Engineers Without Borders, UBC chapter. In his current professional life, Nader is the President of Sectra Canada, the Canadian branch of a global medical imaging leader Sectra AB. Nader is also co-founder and director of Camp Camp Ltd, an organization that promotes summer camps for adults to create community and commit to self empowerment and lifelong learning in natural landscapes. With BC Newcomer, Nader is looking to guide the development of technology-based and community-based programming to improve the integration of new refugee youth with life in Canada.
Noah Levy
Secretary
Noah is a Senior Consular Policy Advisor at Global Affairs Canada and a founding member of the BC Newcomer Camp. Prior to his current policy role, Noah has worked as an international development Researcher at the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute; as a Parliamentary Assistant for a BC Member of Parliament; and as a Trade Commissioner specialized in inclusive trade promotion at Global Affairs Canada. Additionally, Noah served as an academic tutor and piano teacher for youth for over 6 years. Informed by these experiences, Noah is a strong advocate for the transformative power of education to inspire confidence, build resilience, and foster community.
Hoda Hamouda
Board Member
Coming soon.
