The 2025 BCIT Alumni Association (BCITAA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Feature Presentation was hosted by Herb Gill, BCITAA Secretary & Treasurer, and held at the BCIT Downtown Campus Tech Collider. The event brought together nearly 300 BCIT alumni, students, and community members for an evening of connection, reflection, and optimism for the future.
The evening began with networking reception where attendees had the opportunity to reconnect with peers, forge new connections, and engage with event sponsors BCIT School of Business + Media and BCITAA affinity partners, TD Insurance and Manulife. Representatives from BCIT Human Resources and the Centre for Workplace Education were also in attendance as well, seeking to recruit top candidates from the pool of exceptional BCIT alumni. Attendees were also offered complimentary professional photos at the Headshot Photobooth to boost their careers and hone their brands.
The formal program commenced with powerful words of welcome from Squamish Nation Elder and BCIT alumnus Dennis Joseph (Xwechtaal), who brought insight, tradition, and spiritual grounding to the event. Attendees were honoured and showed their appreciation of Elder Dennis’s long-standing contributions to Indigenous education and community building with a heartful round of applause.
BCIT President Dr. Jeff Zabudsky shared BCIT’s new strategic plan, which focuses on strategic growth, industry partnerships, and innovation. Since joining BCIT in 2023, Dr. Zabudsky has prioritized an updated strategic plan designed to meet the province’s demand for a growing workforce. With over one million job openings anticipated in the next decade—80% of which will require post-secondary education—BCIT is rising to the challenge. Before concluding his remarks, Dr. Zabudsky emphasized the importance of alumni in advancing BCIT’s mission, through mentorship, financial support, and engagement on advisory boards.
Herb Gill delivered the BCITAA’s President’s Report on behalf of Sean Poole. The report outlined the Association’s four key strategic priorities: philanthropy, alumni engagement, student support, and connecting with past leadership. The past year marked notable growth, with a 57% increase in digital engagement, 32% higher event participation, and a significant 82% rise in revenue. Events such as the professional development workshop, How to Talk to Strangers, and the BCIT Alumni Social & Vancouver Whitecaps FC Match at the BC Sports Hall of Fame helped strengthen the alumni community.
Financially, the Association remains stable. While event-related expenses rose due to a return to in-person gatherings, increased engagement and partner support contributed to a healthy cash position. It was reported that the Association has now donated over $1.4 million to BCIT, funding more than 1,100 student awards.
The meeting concluded with the acclamation of board nominees Amanda Gomes, Reza Bafandeh, Sergey Bukharov, Mandy Harris, and new student representative Shervin Laghaie. With this, the 2025-2026 Board of Directors was officially formed.
The feature presentation, Growing to Advance Your Career, was moderated by BCITAA Board Director, Farhan Virji, and featured four remarkable leaders:
Scott Comfort, President of Seagate Mass Timer and BCIT alumnus, shared his insights from his career in construction and emphasized the importance of tailoring resumes for each opportunity and showcasing transferable skills especially when transitioning to a new industry.
Chris Hudson, BCIT’s Vice President of People, Culture, and Inclusion, and BCIT alumnus discussed his journey in HR leadership. He highlighted the transformative power of building relationships and seeking out good mentors as they can help uncover new opportunities.
Kara Kingston, Chief Public Affairs Officer at BC Hydro and BCIT alumna, reflected on navigating communications leadership and having the courage to recognize potential, not only in building teams, but also in oneself.
Lastly, Edoardo De Martin, CEO of Industrio AI and former Microsoft GM, encouraged attendees to embrace flexibility and be open to beautiful accidents.
Together, the panel offered invaluable advice on leadership, continued growth, future-proofing careers, and the competitive employment landscape.
To watch the video recording of the 2025 AGM and Feature Presentation, keep your eye on your inbox for the next alumni newsletter. Not sure if you’re on our mailing list? Update your contact information to stay in the loop about upcoming alumni events, mentorship opportunities, and BCIT news.
For all the photos, see the event album.
Read the BCIT Alumni Association 2024/25 Annual Report.
Thank you to the generous sponsors of the BCIT Alumni Association 2025 Annual General Meeting and Feature Presentation.
- Manulife
- TD Insurance
- BCIT School of Business + Media
- BC Lions
- FreshPrep
- Mark’s Commercial
- Modo Car Share
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Vancouver Rise FC
- Aromatears
The BCIT Alumni Association (BCITAA) is a registered non-profit society governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and financed by affinity partnerships, sponsorships, and Institute support. Through this work, the BCITAA supports a global community of more than 210,000 passionate alumni who promote the excellence of BCIT.