Partner, PwC Canada Age 39 Joining the partnership of PwC Canada has been a significant career highlight for me. It felt very special because I spent most of my career life working in a different market, culture and language at PwC Europe in Vienna, Austria. Joining the partnership allowed me to become part of an incredibly supportive and collaborative group of individuals, here in Vancouver and nationally. Additionally, it provided me with the opportunity to drive initiatives and make an impact in areas that I deeply care about. The decision to move and ultimately stay in Canada, a country where we did not know anyone, was a significant turning point in my life. Leaving behind our family, friends and professional network in Europe was not easy, but we wanted to see the world and live new experiences. We moved when our children were just two and four years old, which meant we could not rely on the support system we had back home. Adapting to a new market and building new connections required me to step out of my comfort zone and embrace new opportunities and challenges. I strive to lead by inspiring others to achieve their best, work as a team and make continuous improvements. Fostering a collaborative environment can be challenging with a globally dispersed team, but I take the time to get to know my colleagues personally. I want everyone to feel empowered, valued and engaged. I encourage my team to take ownership, ask critical questions and bring new ideas. The biggest lesson I have learned in business is to focus on what I can control and let go of the rest. In the fast-paced and ever-changing business environment, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by factors beyond our control. By concentrating on what we can influence, we can make more effective decisions and maintain a positive mindset. I never played tennis but hear tennis players—such as Bianca Andreescu in her kids’ book Bibi’s Got Game, which I like to read with my daughter— talk about this often. A great piece of advice I got is: “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” This resonates deeply with me because you never know what people are going through in life. Moreover, a simple act of kindness, or just a smile, can make a significant difference in our interactions, no matter if they are personal or professional. Success, to me, is about making a positive impact while achieving personal and professional growth. I strive to make a positive impact by helping others be successful—connecting people and bringing growth opportunities, being a cheerleader and a sounding board. I want to make a positive change in my field and in my community working with my clients and colleagues on meaningful projects and initiatives that improve the status quo, often leveraging technology and data. I am most passionate about family, youth, youth sports, technology and entrepreneurship. Spending quality time with my family is incredibly important to me, and I love being involved in activities that support and inspire young people. Youth sports are a particular interest, as they teach valuable life skills such as teamwork, resilience and perseverance. I have a keen interest in technology and enjoy staying updated on the latest advancements, and I am passionate about supporting the startup ecosystem. There are still many exciting projects left to accomplish, and many more to come in the future, particularly those involving innovation and challenging how we think and act to embrace change. I am enthusiastic about technological disruption and the changes it brings in my field of work. The non-profit boards where I am a director have ambitious goals that I want to support. There are other projects around the topics I am passionate about. I am always on a mission. I would like to thank my husband, children and my family for always being here for me. My fellow PwC partners, in particular Jason Boyer, and my colleagues and alumni for supporting me and giving me opportunities to grow, as well as creating many fun memories. I would also like to thank my clients and the community for the opportunity to work together. “Keep going!” First I heard this phrase being used in sports when I came to Canada. It is so valuable for life Tyler Robinson Foundation supporting pediatric cancer families, the West Vancouver Foundation supporting causes on the Vancouver North Shore, and others Walks on the beach and water sports, such as paddleboard, kayak, sailing or swimming. Dundarave Beach in West Vancouver—I love that there is a small beach bar for dinners with sunsets Casa Mia in West Vancouver with a very pleasant private party area I have a habit of continuously learning new things and meeting new people, I really enjoy it Anna Sainsbury, co-founder and CEO of GeoComply—she is a great mentor and role model I am an artistic swimmerAsana Stock Becomes An AI Play (Ratings Downgrade)
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Altcoin Season Goes Explosive: 3 Must-Watch Cryptos for Winter 24/25!FANS of I'm A Celebrity have spotted how there is a missing part of the show, with many pleading for it to be reintroduced. The iconic ITV show made a triumphant return last weekend, with a selection of famous faces uniting in the Australian jungle in the name of reality TV. Advertisement 7 Many fans are pointing out how eating trials haven't yet taken place on the show this season Credit: Eroteme 7 Fans of I'm A Celeb have spotted a major part of the show that is 'missing' Credit: Eroteme 7 Most trials this year have featured confined spaces Credit: Eroteme 7 Eating trials are a huge part of I'm A Celeb Credit: Rex Features 7 Eating trials are a fan-favourite Credit: Rex Features But fans have noticed that a fan-favourite part of the show is missing and has been since the show began on Sunday. On Reddit, fans have spotted how the celebrities in this year's series are yet to do a proper eating trial. "We’ve now had 4 trails and none of them have been an eating trail, just seems kinda strange as there is usually one in the first 4 or so," said one person. Another agreed, "Yeah all they have had is confined space trials this year." Advertisement Read More about I'm A Celeb not happy Dean McCullough 'looks fuming' as Ant takes another swipe at him after 'row' GUT PUNCH I'm A Celeb's Dean in swipe at Ant in awkward moment as he quits another trial "They're probably so desperate for a bit of animal protein thanks to Dean they'd probably wolf down whatever was put in front of them without thinking too much," said a third. A fourth then penned, "Has it only been like 4 days, and it started with a gross milkshake," referring to the disgusting shake the celebrities were given when they arrived. While a fifth said, "Eating trials seem to be quite popular. They maybe waiting for the right time. I'm guessing Saturday to help gain the viewers maybe?" And a sixth added, "I'm glad. I think they are the most boring." Advertisement Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 Exclusive 'FIGHTER' Tulisa's ex makes surprise admission about her changing face amid heath battles Exclusive FAMILIAR FACE Maura Higgins breaks her silence on awkwardly sharing a camp with ex’s dad Mum's the word Inside I'm A Celeb star Tulisa's turbulent relationship with mum beaten down I’m A Celeb’s Sam Thompson begs producers to check on 'missing’ campmate FANS PLEAD FOR EATING TRIAL Meanwhile, on X, formerly known as Twitter, fans are also questioning when an eating trial might take place. "Me patiently waiting for the eating trial," said one, along with a meme. Watch moment Ant McPartlin breaks his silence after viewers accuse him of being in a ‘feud’ with campmate "We can't be far away from the eating trial??" asked a second. And a third echoed, "Why no eating trial yet?" Advertisement This comes after two new arrivals joined the 2024 lineup of the beloved show. NEW ARRIVALS Last night, former Love Island star Maura Higgins entered the jungle with Reverand Richard Coles. I'm A Celebrity 2024 i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher. Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth." When they arrived, the duo was thrown straight into the Jungle Junkyard - which may have looked disgusting, but actually had hidden advantages. Advertisement When Maura arrived at the camp, she was fuming over the living conditions. Read more on the Scottish Sun COMIC'S CASTLE Still Game star takes £150,000 hit to offload luxury £4m Scots castle HITTING THE HIGH NOTES Much-loved pub named best music bar in Scotland "It’s not liveable, we have nothing, this camp sucks," she fumed after seeing the camp for the first time. She then added, "I’m going to ask Richard to say a prayer for us tonight because I’m gonna need one." 7 Fans are counting down the days until an eating trial is announced Credit: Eroteme Advertisement 7 This year's line up will likely have some eating trials coming up soon Credit: Eroteme
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Polls close in election considered important test for African democracyThe latest design in Bernews’ weekly series features a festive Bermuda flag high heel, beautifully surrounded by gifts, perfectly capturing the holiday spirit in style. You can find more . The design is available in two sizes; a Facebook profile cover image and also in a vertical format, ideally sized for use as a mobile phone wallpaper, WhatsApp status image or Instagram story. You can download both sizes below, and check back on Bernews every Wednesday for our latest free graphic download. To access more phone wallpapers with Bermudian themes, as well as social media cover graphics, visit , and if you would like to request a specific Bermuda-related phone wallpaper design, please feel free to email us at support@bernews.com. : ,
Former Halifax mayor Mike Savage installed as Nova Scotia's lieutenant-governorWith 2025 on the horizon, Strathmore Mayor Pat Fule looks back on the successes achieved through the year and what is soon to come for the town. “I think we are pretty happy – there has been a (large) increase in development permits. We have had 186 residential permits issued, we have got some major development projects that are close to being ready, or else they have started construction,” said Fule. “We have the Shasta seniors care community complex development on Park Lane Way, we have got construction started at the old seed cleaning plant ... it is a multiplex of apartment buildings, and we have had some really good construction and infrastructure starts.” He explained the town is looking forward to issuing development and construction permits for more residential-type applications in 2025 and expanding Strathmore’s capacity to house members of the community. Between the 37 industrial, commercial, and institutional permits issued, $27 million in building value was added to Strathmore. Prior to releasing council until the start of the new year, the Town of Strathmore passed their new IDP framework bylaw which had been developed in partnership with Wheatland County, and was mandated by the province to be completed before the end of 2024. “Another exciting thing for 2024, we were able to host for the second year in a row, Premier Danielle Smith during our Strathmore Stampede, and that kind of thing creates a buzz around the parade and the Strathmore Stampede,” said Fule. “I think we are starting to be recognized as a destination for great events and for community things going on.” In May, the Town of Strathmore approved the Physician Sponsorship Grant pilot program, which aims to attract more physicians into town, making access to medical services easier and more reliable. The program was initiated after hearing from local residents that doctor availability is tough in Strathmore. By offering grants to support local medical offices in town, Fule said the town hopes to help relieve some of the pressure on the local medical systems, as well as make community life a little bit easier. Additionally, Frontier Diagnostics has expressed interest in and has put forward a proposal to bring a CT scanner into the Strathmore hospital. “Not only will the CT scanner at the Strathmore hospital help with residents in our region who need medical scanning treatment in a quick and efficient manner, but we think that having this kind of a scanner in our town may, as another benefit, attract young doctors who want to be able to have access to this type of scanning technology that is cutting edge,” said Fule. “They can also be working in the emergency department – it gives them a well-rounded bevvy of things that they can do in their professional practice rather than just being the old-style family doctor. They can actually be really accessing and having readouts on scans from the top-level professionals to help them in treating their patients.” Fule said he hopes going into the new year, the Town of Strathmore and Wheatland County will be able to better collaborate on regional partnerships such as what was able to take place with the development of the IDP framework. As the town approaches a population of 15,000 people, Fule is bracing for the inevitable funding model shift that will take place regarding the local RCMP once that threshold is breached. For towns below 15,000 people, the federal government pays 70 per cent of RCMP costs and the Town is responsible for the remaining 30 per cent. Beyond 15,000 people, the funding formula changes to 10 per cent being covered by the federal government, and 90 per cent being covered by the town. The tax increase which will be experienced in Strathmore in 2025 is among the lowest in Alberta, having been restricted to approximately 3.6 per cent. “It is very problematic for a town to have a zero per cent tax increase. When you do that, the town does not keep up with inflation and you are basically kicking problems down the road,” said Fule. “The town has to pay for inflationary raises in things like gas, diesel fuel, automotive and mechanical parts, deliveries – everything goes up with inflation. It is really difficult and problematic for a town to go for a zero per cent.” With approximately eight months remaining of this council’s term and the next election waiting in the wings, Fule commended council’s efforts and achievements throughout their time serving together. “This council has done some really good things. We have worked hard, we have worked well together,” he said. “When we focus on the big-ticket items and when we focus on our strategic plan that we lay out ... we have done some really good things and we have managed to control and keep a good tax increase for next year. “We have got some big projects done; we are looking to the future; we are going to be working hard to manage the growth in the early part of 2025. I am still excited by the job – I still feel a great deal of satisfaction when we accomplish good things as a group.” Fule specifically noted that on behalf of the town, administration and staff, he wished the local community a Merry Christmas, as well as a safe and happy New Year. “I am looking forward to 2025,” he said. “I am ready, I am energized, and I am ready to go.”Married men tend to age slower than singles — for women, it’s complicated
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Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020