![Female Smiling](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2020-05/IMG_5029-1-e1582832739265-scaled_0.jpg?h=9cb23976&itok=LXgXNKqA)
Val Walker leads the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that brings together some of Canada’s largest companies and leading post-secondary institutions. As CEO, Val drives...
As Vice-President of Corporate Services for the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), Jennifer is responsible for leading BHER’s core operations and services. Her primary duties include internal operations, membership...
![Matt McKean](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2021-04/Matt.jpg?h=17730c63&itok=vXEZaexY)
Matthew McKean is BHER's Chief R&D Officer. He leads BHER with Val and Jenn and oversees the organization's diverse and growing member-driven research and programming agendas. Areas of focus include...
![Photo of Andrew smiling at the camera. He is wearing a striped navy blue button up, and standing in front of a brick building.](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2021-02/profile%2Bdistillery.jpg?h=20ee1d85&itok=MSVwXl4U)
As Director of Partnerships & Experiential Learning for the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), Andrew manages all aspects of research project development and delivery. Andrew joins from the Conference Board...
![Cindy Gabourie](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2024-06/20240531_110529.jpg?h=b9af9cb7&itok=kNL03Xvu)
Joining BHER as Director of Finance, Cindy brings over 20 years experience in the not-for-profit charitable sector. Cindy's previous roles include Director of Finance at Sunnybrook Foundation and CIFAR. In...
Sarah joins BHER as a Finance Analyst with over 12 years finance and accounting experience. She has a track record of providing timely and useful financial information & reports to...
![Cristina Evans](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2024-06/Cristina-6a.jpg?h=efd646d7&itok=EDp4Odub)
As Member Relations Manager, Cristina’s focus is cultivating Business and Higher Education Roundtable (BHER)’s member engagement through communication and collaboration. With a career rooted in the not-for-profit sector, Cristina brings...
![Sara Miller](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2022-10/Sara%20Miller%20Headshot.jpg?h=d78ff198&itok=_khXQ94w)
Sara has joined BHER as Program Manager and will be managing a pan-Canadian portfolio delivering work-integrated learning opportunities to post-secondary students. She is joining BHER with over 8 years of...
![Headshot of Sarah White](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2024-02/PXL_20240212_171621740.PORTRAIT~2.jpg?h=9215e9f1&itok=5pOgCOcv)
Sarah is a Senior Partnerships Coordinator and Stakeholder Relations with BHER’s Work-Integrated Learning team. She is an empathetic, experienced, and client-focused relationship manager who is practiced in creating and developing...
![Tiffany is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a red sweater and eyeglasses. Her hair is short and black.](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2021-09/Tiffany%20Headshot.jpg?h=d574c395&itok=PHNbZeHo)
Tiffany has 6 years’ experience working in employment counselling and programming with the Government of New Brunswick. She brings a client-centered approach to her work and focuses on building strong...
![Kris Erickson Kris Erickson](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2023-04/Erickson%20profile%20picture%20600%20%281%29.jpg?h=8471efd6&itok=GNsgr-MB)
Kris Erickson, PhD, is BHER's Senior Research Associate, bringing over 10 years of experience as an applied social researcher and educational leader in postsecondary education, youth employment policy, and cross-sector partnership...
![Michele Manocchi](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2024-01/Michele%20Picture%204.jpg?h=65326c02&itok=p2w3qIIi)
Michele brings over 25 years of research and consulting experience between Italy and Canada in various industries and sectors. After earning his Ph.D. in Comparative Social Research (University of Turin...
![Preet Mondair Preet Mondair](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2023-01/IMG_7754.jpeg?h=9dc95b1d&itok=LVjBPxId)
Preet joins BHER as a Senior R&D Associate. She previously held research positions with the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC, Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship, and Conference Board of...
![Husaina Lakdawala](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2023-06/Husaina.jpeg?h=49af021c&itok=z0G5J09u)
Husaina is a graduate candidate at the University of Toronto - Munk School, pursuing a master's degree in Global Affairs. With a keen interest in strategic thinking, global trade policy...
Carmela joins BHER as a Research and Development Associate. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Financial Management from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master’s in Research for...
![Nour is smiling towards the camera, with her open black shoulder length hair and is wearing a white shirt.](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2021-09/Nour%20headshot.jpeg?h=c9a55663&itok=rzcagKpI)
Nouran is a Junior Research and Development Associate at BHER. She previously conducted research on innovation and skills, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and work-integrated learning as an R&D Intern at...
![Headshot of Kirstie](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2023-08/Kirstie%20Gomes.jpg?h=ded12df9&itok=_pQQZcZQ)
As the Communications Specialist with Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), Kirstie develops and executes communications strategies to elevate BHER's brand identity and increase awareness. Prior to joining BHER, Kirstie spent...
![Photo of Sunny Chan](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2023-08/Sunny%20Chan%20headshot%202023.jpg?h=7ce04b30&itok=TfpmBLZj)
Sunny Chan is BHER's Senior Content Specialist. She holds a PhD in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has over seven years of experience in career education and WIL...
![Laura Romanese Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/4_5_scale_and_crop_medium/public/images/2024-06/Headshot%20-%20Laura%20Romanese.jpg?h=6b8dbe48&itok=II8DO7hT)
As the Events and Convening Specialist at the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), Laura is responsible for fostering innovative opportunities through strategic collaboration. With over 15 years of experience...