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 worked as a civil engineer in the construction industry since 1988. She is the owner-operator of both a construction contracting business and a consulting business based in Coquitlam. Her project ranges from single-family homes to townhomes, low-rise apartment buildings, and 12-storey hotels across the Greater Vancouver area. 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.
BehnazFazli-fard
Secretary
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.
Shirley Huang
Board Director
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.
Alireza Fadaie
Board Director
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.
Meer Anwar
Board Director
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.
Alvin Chen
Board Director
Jianming (Alvin) Chen, MPA (University of Regina), MA (Simon Fraser university), is a Notary Public commissioned by the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Alvin practices non-contentious law and serves the Tri-City residents in residential and commercial real estate, Wills and personal planning and other legal services. Prior his Notary Public career, he has been an account manager and a mortgage advisor over 15 years with various banks in British Columbia. Alvin has been an active volunteer for Tri-City communities. He is committed to promote multiculturalism and increases the public awareness of the Asia art and culture diversity in Lower Mainlandcommunities.
Tariq Ghuman
Board Director
My name is Tariq Ghuman. Since arriving in Canada from Sargodha, Pakistan, in 1976, I have dedicated my life to the twin pillars of professional excellence and community service.
A mechanical engineer by trade, I have always believed that growth requires continuous learning. Over the decades, I have expanded my technical expertise including in electrical circuit analysis, building science and industrial mechanics. This knowledge empowered me to excel in my field and to lead successful ventures in real estate, construction and property management.
For me, living in Canada is a profound honor. This gratitude has fueled a lifelong commitment to civic engagement, where I have had the privilege of serving as an advisor and volunteer across all levels of government. My heart has always been in philanthropy; whether supporting hospital foundations, mental health initiatives, disaster relief or youth programs for higher education, I consider it my duty to serve those in need and mentor the youth of our community.
I believe that our contributions define us, and I remain steadfast in my mission to give back to the society that has given me so much.