2025 Ascend Vancouver Year End Gala: Bridging Cultures, Lasting Connections

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate the achievements of the past year and look forward to new horizons. The Ascend Vancouver Year End Gala 2025 promises to be a night of unparalleled networking, entertainment, thought-provoking discussions and a heartfelt celebration of leadership excellence.

This exciting event will bring together influential leaders, industry pioneers and rising stars from various sectors. Engage in enriching conversations, share insights and connect with like-minded professionals in a vibrant atmosphere dedicated to knowledge sharing and connection. As you mingle with fellow attendees, you will have the chance to forge new relationships, strengthen existing ones, and explore potential partnerships that can lead to exciting ventures in the year ahead.

This year, our theme is "Building Bridges, Lasting Connections".

There will be dynamic discussions moderated by James Beng Lee with a panel of speakers including Dr. Bruce Choy (President & Vice Chancellor, KPU), Chef TJ Conwi (Owner & Founder, Ono Vancouver), and Chantelle Krish (CEO, Big Sisters of BC). Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a transformative evening that honours excellence and fosters collaboration across our community. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Your ticket purchase also includes a sit-down full course dinner, drink tickets, and table gifts.

(President & Vice Chancellor, ) - Speaker

Dr. Bruce Choy is a Canadian-Australian academic scholar who became Kwantlen Polytechnic University's President and Vice-Chancellor in September 2025. Dr. Choy is a recognised specialist in governance and risk management, where he has authored a book on quantitative risk assessment in the environment, several book chapters on financial risk management, and numerous journal papers and industry reports on a broad range of risk topics. He taught for four years at the University of Sydney, Australia, in the field of engineering and four years at the University of Toronto, Canada, in the field of finance. Before joining KPU, Dr. Choy was chair of the Board of Governors for the George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology.

His academic career began at the University of Sydney, Australia, where he was awarded a doctorate for his research on mathematics for risk management. He was a University and R.A. Priddle medallist from the university's Faculty of Engineering. Early in his career, Dr. Choy was a tenure-track academic at the university in the faculty of engineering with a focus on environmental protection. He is a Sloan Fellow from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business and was an adjunct professor with the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Choy is an experienced independent board director and is accredited with a directors designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. He has led governance functions for organizations in both the financial services and post-secondary education sectors. Additionally, Dr. Choy is a highly experienced financier and management consultant who has held a number of senior leadership positions in the corporate sector. He was a General Manager with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia during the period where the once government owned bank transformed into one of the world's largest financial services conglomerates. Additionally, he was a Partner and risk consulting practice leader with the international professional services firm PwC.

(Owner & Founder, ) - Speaker

TJ Conwi’s passion for food bridges West Coast and Asian cuisines, rooted in his Filipino heritage and shaped by his experiences in kitchens in Taiwan and Chile. His dishes are creative, flavourful, and guided by a commitment to sustainability.

After formal training under French chefs at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, TJ refined his craft at The Arbutus Club and within the hotel industry—most recently as Executive Chef at Delta Hotels Vancouver Downtown Suites by Marriott. He was also part of the opening team at the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel before the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Throughout his career, TJ has executed large-scale hotel functions for hundreds of guests and orchestrated elaborate galas for the Japanese, Filipino, and French Consulates. His culinary leadership has also been showcased at major events, including the BC Food & Beverage Awards and his own fundraiser series, A Night of Too Many Chefs.

Today, as the owner of Ono Vancouver, TJ combines his expertise, creativity and community focus to make a lasting impact in the local food industry. Ono’s services—event catering, private dining and kitchen consulting—all fuel his mission to:

• Fight food insecurity
• End food waste
• Ensure all children have access to healthy lunch at school

Read more about Ono Vancouver's community impact and visit ReRoot Kitchen, where they turn surplus food into healthy, frozen meals.

TJ also serves on the Chefs' Table Society of British Columbia Board of Directors as Education Co-Chair, continuing to mentor and inspire the next generation of culinary professionals.

(CEO, ) - Speaker

Chantelle Krish is a transformative, community-driven executive with multi-sector experience and a leadership style rooted in collaboration.

Throughout her career she has spearheaded advocacy initiatives to advance systemic change and addressed systemic barriers to gender equality, leading to policy changes at all levels of government.

Chantelle is currently the CEO of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland, a leading non-profit organization that ignites the potential of youth—serving almost 500 girls and gender-diverse youth per year.

She has implemented a range of initiatives that have fueled the agency’s growth, including the recent launch of ‘My Voice, My Power!’—a gender-based violence prevention program in BC schools.

Chantelle has been recognized with several personal honours including Drishti Magazine’s Inspiring Women Award, Business in Vancouver’s Forty Under 40, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal and serves on boards such as YWCA Canada.

A communicator at heart, Chantelle’s mission is simple—to empower girls and youth to one day change the world.

(Executive Director, /Life & Leadership Coach, LiveHolystic Coaching) - Moderator

James is an Aussie-Malaysian-Chinese-Canadian with over 25 years of diverse global leadership experience across the corporate, startup, and non-profit worlds. He is dedicated to helping people flourish through complexity and currently leads a Canadian non-profit that cares for vulnerable children with disabilities, coaches professionals to pursue whole-of-life success, and runs a men’s community called Brave Men. Based in Greater Vancouver with his wife and two sons, James enjoys cooking curry laksa, baking anything mochi, and training in jiu-jitsu.

Live performances included:

• Bollywood dance from Downtown Bollywood (dancers Roshan, Jatin, Melinda, and Pallavi)
• Hip Hop dance from dancers Kiara, Deborah, and Shyia
• Instrumental music from the UBC Chinese Music Ensemble

Ascend Canada was founded in 2012 to enhance the presence, visibility and influence of current and future Pan-Asian business leaders. With the support of our numerous corporate partners, our objectives are to develop the full potential of our 3,000+ members by leveraging our networks and providing programs and events that inspire, as well as educate.

Ascend is the largest, non-profit Pan-Asian organization for business professionals in North America. Ascend reaches 60,000 people with 40+ student chapters and 18 professional chapters located in both the United States and Canada around major business hubs and educational institutions.

Develop and advance Pan-Asian talent by building meaningful and engaging experiences which elevate our Members.

To build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive Canada where Pan-Asian talent may achieve their full potential.

Visit us at https://ascendleadership.ca or contact us at [email protected] with any questions.

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