Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society (VAHMS) has a Board of Directors and staff with a passion for bringing together the Asian Canadian community and others, and for sharing in unique intercultural events through explorASIAN during the month of May and throughout the year.
June Chen McIntyre
President
June Chen McIntyre has been working as a civil engineer in the construction industry since 1988. With a long experience in the building industry, she operates her railing fabrication business and runs a consulting service located in Coquitlam. She has been an active volunteer in the community and has served on the Multiculturalism Advisory Committee board for the City of Coquitlam and Event Committee for the Coquitlam Foundation. June also was elected as a community leader representative in 2017 for the FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities). Her dedication to her profession and community service underscores her commitment to making a positive impact on the socio-cultural landscape of the Lower Mainland.
Dr. Nessim Tariq
Vice President
Dr. Nessim Tariq has been working as an instructor of mathematical sciences for over four decades at post-secondary institutions in several countries around the world and across Canada. He currently teaches at Fraser International College, Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, and as an educator, he has been recognized for teaching excellence. He received BSc as well as MSc from King’s College, University of London in London and PhD (Mathematics) from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. He has supported various community and cultural organizations throughout in several roles in the Lower Mainland. As a multilingual and multicultural professional, Nessim is committed to promoting the diverse Asian cultures by serving VAHMS.
Maryam Rostamy
Secretary
Maryam Rostamy, MA Education (University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur), has been working as an English language educator, and she currently teaches English language and communication courses at universities in Vancouver. Since 2009, Maryam has served with different community organizations, and she started an English conversation circle in Toronto’s Centennial library to assist immigrants in language skills development. As a dedicated marathon and ultra-marathon runner, she achieved fourth place in a Victoria Ultra-Marathon and served as an official pace leader for the BMO Vancouver International Marathon. Fluent in Turkish, Farsi, and English, she advocates for diversity and promotes Asian arts in the Lower Mainland community.
Cristiana Ripeanu
Board Member
Cristiana Ripeanu, a theatre director and educator, has been staged at several state theatres in Romania and performed in multiple languages at festivals across Europe, such as Balkan Theatre Festival, International Theatre School Festivals (Greece, Netherlands, Albania), and Freistil Festival (Germany). She has been an acting teacher and director for independent theatre companies and organizations in Canada and Germany. She also works in community-building and social outreach programs with sociocultural organizations in Germany. After living and working in Germany, she relocated to Vancouver where she contributes to the Canadian theatre scene. Co-founder of Exact Resemblance, which is a Vancouver based theatre company, Cristiana has co-produced and directed a highly successful first season and runs two mentorship programs for emerging directors.
Meer Anwar
Board Member
Meer Anwar is a multipreneur with over two decades of experience in e-Governance, Digital Transformation, & Entrepreneurship across Canada, KSA, & South Asia. He is also founder of PixelPaddle Canada, the first blockchain-based sports metaverse; and an advisor to global tech incubators and accelerators. Recognized with international awards in Digital Transformation, Impact Investment initiatives, he serves as a board member/advisor for organizations such as PCTA, Founder Institute, UFV, AI Mentor Network, and Canada Startup Association, etc. He also holds board positions at various public sector academic institutions, driving innovation and global collaboration to bridge the gap between industry & academia. Committed to empowering small businesses and artisans, he served UNIDO, EU, ADB, SAARC, and World Bank projects digitizing different initiatives, enhancing global outreach.
Shirley Huang
Board Member
Shirley Huang is a business owner with over 20 years of experience in international education programs. Her work has been widely recognized for its impact on international education and institutional collaboration. Beyond her professional achievements, Shirley is deeply committed to community service and actively leads two community organizations. She is passionate about building meaningful connections, supporting cultural initiatives, and promoting lifelong learning. As a VAHAM Board Member, she brings extensive experience in cross-cultural collaboration and a strong commitment to community development, education, and social engagement.
Yansi Liang
Board Member
Yansi Liang is an experienced educator with over six years of expertise in student advising, program development, and community engagement. As an Account Manager, she builds strategic partnerships, delivers impactful presentations, and drives engagement through tailored outreach initiatives.
Yansi has a proven track record in organizing events, facilitating workshops, and creating opportunities to foster student success and inclusion. She is a recipient of the Governor of Ontario Community Volunteer Award, recognizing her commitment to community service and leadership.
As a board member of the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society (VAHMS), Yansi is passionate about advancing the organization’s mission to celebrate Asian-Canadian arts and culture, foster collaboration, and address critical issues within the community.
BehnazFazli-fard
Board Member
BehnazFazli-fard holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tehran and has worked as an immigration consultant since 2010. After studying Event Planning at Vancouver Community College (VCC), she transitioned into a career as an event planner.
She is an active community volunteer and has served on the Multiculturalism Advisory Committee for the City of Coquitlam. In her spare time, Behnaz enjoys painting and exploring mythology and ancient civilizations.
Alireza Fadaie
Board Member
Alireza Fadaie is the founder of Westlife Financial Services, a boutique insurance and financial planning firm. After working with some of Canada’s largest financial institutions since 2004, he recognized the need to offer clients independent and unbiased advice.
Known as the Financial Sensei, Alireza blends his extensive experience in both martial arts and personal finance to deliver a unique approach to financial guidance. He is the author of two books and the creator of the online course Black Belt Money Management.
His accomplishments in martial arts include winning two silver medals for Canada at the World Martial Games, and serving as a board member for provincial martial arts organizations.
Alireza also holds professional financial designations, including Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Certified Health Insurance Specialist (CHS). An active and well-known figure in the Iranian-Canadian community, he proudly serves as a board member of VAHMS.