Equity Office Staff Profiles
Terri Kennedy
Terri Kennedy, Equity Advisor, works with students, staff and faculty to help resolve complaints of discrimination and harassment; provides training and educational sessions on human rights and diversity issues; and plans and delivers systemic initiatives to promote equity at UBC.
Terri's interest in, and commitment to human rights and equality issues stems largely from her past work experience with several social justice and equality seeking organizations. Much of her focus in these positions was on developing and implementing capacity building programs and initiatives with a preventative aim. She has experience in developing and facilitating discrimination and harassment training to employers, employees and other groups, and has developed numerous resource materials that promote understanding, acceptance and compliance with human rights laws and principles.
Wendy Liew
Wendy Liew, Equity Advisor, joined the Equity Office in February 2007. Prior to joining the Equity Office, Wendy worked as an Advocate in the Human Rights Clinic at the B.C. Human Rights Coalition where she provided representation to individuals with human rights complaints before the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal. As an Advocate, Wendy negotiated resolutions to human rights complaints which included the development of policies and procedures for discrimination and harassment, employment equity and accommodation.
As an Equity Advisor, she works with members of the University community to assist in the resolution of discrimination and harassment complaints; provides training and educational sessions on human rights and diversity issues; and plans and delivers systemic initiatives to promote equity at UBC.
Anne-Marie Long
Anne-Marie Long, Senior Equity Advisor, develops and implements strategies and educational programs that support the University’s Policies on Employment Equity and Discrimination and Harassment. In addition to supervising case management of discrimination and harassment complaints, Anne-Marie also works with students, staff and faculty to help resolve human rights complaints of discrimination and harassment, and facilitates educational and training sessions. Positive Space, one such initiative, works to address patterns of invisibility on campus that lead to the exclusion, discrimination and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, two-spirit, inter-sex (LGBQTTI), genderqueer and questioning students, staff, faculty and the denial or erasure of their issues. By training resource persons and identifying Positive Spaces on campus, the campaign works to make UBC more visibly welcoming to and supportive of its LGBQTTI population.
Anne-Marie has a Master's degree in Women's Studies from Dalhousie, Mount Saint Vincent and Saint Mary's Universities and degrees in Psychology and Women's Studies from Queen's University where she was also engaged in human rights, social justice and equity work. Her academic and activist interests include feminist and queer theory and politics, transfeminism, sexual and gender fluidity, issues of embodiment, the performativity of gender and sexuality, queer parenting and the paths to creating our families.
Tom W. Patch
Tom W. Patch, Associate Vice President, Equity, is responsible for administration of the University’s equity policies including those dealing with discrimination and harassment and employment equity. His mandate includes all UBC students, faculty and staff and covers the campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna. He is currently a Director of the Community Legal Assistance Society, and sits on its litigation and human rights committees. After completing his law degree at UBC in 1988, Tom worked in the litigation department of Russell & DuMoulin (now Fasken Martineau) until his appointment to the BC Council of Human Rights in 1991. He was subsequently appointed to the BC Human Rights Tribunal and was an adjunct professor of law at UBC, instructing a seminar on human rights. Tom completed his LL.M. degree in 2005. His LL.M. research focused on both equality theory and its practical application.
Paras Roshani
Paras Roshani, Administrative Assistant, joined the Equity Office in November 2008 and brings along a wealth of experience as an Office Administrator in the corporate sector. Her strength in organizational and communication skills complements her current role in which she is responsible for case management data and providing administrative support for the office. Paras also assists the Associate Vice President Equity in ad-hoc assignments, and manages various logistics for educational workshops and training sessions.
Paras, who has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from UBC, has established herself as a qualified career-minded professional in the service industry for more than 10 years. Paras’ ultimate goal is to help establish and support systems that advance equal rights and equity, and that will provide equal opportunities for individuals to grow and flourish in the work environment.
joanne m. ursino
Joanne M. Ursino, Equity Advisor, joined the Equity Office in April 2009. Joanne brought with her over 20 years of experience in employment equity, having previously worked with the Federal Labour Program both nationally and regionally. Active in the trade union movement, Joanne was a National Officer with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), and has developed and facilitated numerous workshops on employment equity and human rights, most recently with the Joint Learning Program, a partnership between the PSAC and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS).
As an Equity Advisor with a focus on Employment Equity, Joanne works with members of the University community in the development and implementation of the UBC Employment Equity Plan and related initiatives to assist UBC in meeting the requirements of the Federal Contractor's Program, updates the Census Workforce Analysis and facilitates employment systems reviews.
Joanne is a graduate of Brock University, with a major in Politics specializing in International Relations. She undertook graduate studies at Carleton University in Conflict Analysis. Joanne studied at both Georgetown University and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Joanne is a textile artist - contributing to the power of political expression through the creation of quilts. She is a past member of the Board of Pride in Art and a contributor to the 2008 PIA Festival: Gender Twist.
Poh Peng Wong
Poh Peng Wong, Administrator, has her discipline in Business Studies and Commerce from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Widely experienced in office and organizational systems, Peng has worked in Singapore and Australia prior to joining UBC in 1989. In addition to managing the Equity Office and its budget process, Peng coordinates the activities and initiatives of the Equity Office, and is responsible for planning and developing strategy related to the Federal Contractors Program and UBC’s employment equity census. Peng also manages visits for government officials, and oversees projects and publications that are integral to the communications strategy of the Equity Office.