Presentation and Q&A

Elizabeth initially joined HEQCO as a research intern and transitioned into the researcher position. As a part of the HEQCO team, she has worked on projects related to various areas in higher education including student accessibility, graduates’ labour market transitions and international education in Ontario. Her experiences as an international student and student mentor fueled her passion for equitable access to postsecondary education, resources and support, as well as ways to improve the student experience. Elizabeth holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology from York University and a graduate certificate in Research Analysis from Humber College. 

Iain Wilson joined HESA in 2020 and has led many research teams from project inception through to distilling strategic and tactical advice. He brings 15 years’ postdoctoral research and consulting experience, primarily working for higher education institutions but also on behalf of municipal, provincial and federal governments. He has published a book and a number of academic journal articles on higher education and governance.
At HESA, Iain often takes on research projects that need to be tailor-made to client needs. His work has ranged from conceptual policy analysis to survey development and more advanced qualitative and quantitative analysis. He has particular interests in international education and how institutions can deploy resources effectively, which has included studies of how universities can share teaching contributions equitably among instructors, deploy physical space effectively, and organise student supports to promote their overall strategies.

Seerat Kaur Gill is postdoctoral researcher in Higher Education, Department of Leadership, Adult and Higher Education at OISE, University of Toronto. She also works as a part-time instructor at The Business School at Centennial College where she teaches Organizational Behavior and Strategic Management to diploma and post-diploma students. Her research interests centre on issues of privatisation in higher education, including policies relevant to postsecondary education, international students; and access and equity to higher education. She has also authored a children's illustrated book called One Amazing Sikh At a Time, which celebrates inspiring stories of Sikh individuals making a meaningful impact across diverse fields.

Joanny Bélair has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Ottawa, specializing in political economy, comparative politics and international relations. She is working as a research manager for the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBEI). She has extensive experience in qualitative research. Her current research focuses on the experiences of international students in Canada during and post-graduation. She is also working on retention issues, specifically from a local ecosystem perspective. She previously held a research position in scientific diplomacy for the Quebec Foreign Service in Rabat, Morocco, where she led capacity-building projects in higher education, and supported the development of international cooperation in the education sector.