Community Leadership Program

Financial Management for New Immigrants 

Halifax, Nova Scotia

May 13-14, 2023

 

Program Chair: Fazley Siddiq (UNB)

Fulbright Research Chair Alumni

May 13th 2023

Morning: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm

Breakfast 8:30 am- 9:30 am

Community Leadership Program Inaugural: 8:30 – 9:30 am

[Moderator: F. Siddiq, Fulbright Alumni; Lyra Carr, U.S. Consul General for Atlantic Canada; Honourable Steve Craig, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Government of Nova Scotia; Honourable Mike Savage, Mayor, Halifax Regional Municipality; Robert Summerby-Murray, President, Saint Mary’s University].

  

Plenary #1: Personal Financial Management: 9:30 – 10:45 am Panel Discussion: Critical Issues in Personal Finance [Making investment decisions: Retirement (RRSP, RRIF); Education (RESP); TFSA, ETF, stocks versus bonds; wills, bequests]

Moderator: R. Nason (Dalhousie)

Panelists: G. Hebb (Dalhousie), M. Siddiquee (MSVU), A. Zaman (SMU)

 

Health Break: 10:45 – 11:15 am

 

Plenary #2: Consumer Credit: 11:15 am – 12:30 pm [Credit score, credit cards, auto loans, home appliance and personal equipment financing]

Chair: A. Zaman (SMU)

Speakers: R. Khokhar (SMU); M. Pacurar (Dalhousie); R. Slaunwhite (RBC)

  

Lunch & Learn: 12:30 – 2:00 pm

 

Luncheon Speakers:

Saeed El-Darahali, Simply Cast No Code Hyperautomation Platform

John Keating, Regional Vice President, Real Estate Finance, Corporate Finance, Canadian Commercial Banking

Afternoon: 2:00 – 5:00 pm

 

Plenary #3: Real Estate Management: 2:00 – 3:15 pm [Renting versus home ownership; CMHC step-by-step scheme to home buying; buying and renting income-earning investment property; loans and mortgages; fixed term (short term or long term?); variable rates]

Chair: G. Hebb (Dalhousie)

Speaker: H. Eslami (SMU); J. Keating (CCB); M. Rozario (eXp_Realty)

 

Breakout #1 (3 x 15): Financial Dilemma (3:45 – 5:00 pm) [Privacy protection, detecting fraud and scams; organized criminal activity targeting the elderly and newcomers to Canada]

Chair: R. Khokhar (SMU)

Breakout Facilitators: M. Davies (Health Canada), A. Hassan (IG), R. Rahman (RBC_WM), M. Rozario (eXp_Realty)

 

Networking Dinner: 6:00 – 8:00 pm

 

Theme: Breaking the Glass Ceiling

Speakers: M. Rahaman (SMU); Jennifer Watts, CEO ISANS.

May 14th 2023

Morning: 9 am – 12:30 pm

Breakfast 9:00 am- 9:30 am

Breakout #2 (3 x 15): Career Choices: 9:30 – 10:45 am

[Matching skills/education/credentials with career goals; financing, launching, and growing a small business; optimizing employment and business opportunities; finding the right niche for long term success]

Chair: M. Pacurar (Dalhousie)

Breakout Facilitators: R. Akhter (MC), N. Chatterjee (RBC), M. Shamsuddin (Dalhousie)

 

Health Break: 10:45 – 11:15 am

 

Plenary #4: Taxation (11:15 am – 12:30 pm) [Taxation in Canada: filing personal income tax, software choices; salary versus dividends as compensation; taxation on interest income, capital gains, and eligible Canadian dividends; probate and estate taxes]

Chair: G. Hebb (Dalhousie)

Speakers: N. Gendron (MSVU); I. Hassan (RBC)

 

Closing Luncheon: 12:30 – 2:00 pm

 

Luncheon Speakers:

Harjeet Bhabra, Dean, Sobey School of Business, SMU

Presentation of Certificates: Honourable Brian Wong, Minister of Advanced Education, Government of Nova Scotia.

Committees

Strategic Committee: M. Rahaman, F. Siddiq, A. Zaman (Chair)

Steering Committee: N. Atallah (ISANS), J. McPherson (SMU), M. Rahaman (Chair), F. Siddiq

Event Coordinator: J. McPherson

 

Program Description: This community leadership program (CLP) is an excellent opportunity for ambitious new immigrants to gain a comprehensive understanding of financial management, with a focus on personal finances. Led by leading academics and experts in the field, the program will cover a range of topics, including banking, investments, behavioural finance, retirement savings, pensions, education funds, real estate management, loans, mortgages, wills, bequests, charitable donations, and privacy protection. The program will also address the tax implications of each financial decision as appropriate.

In addition to plenary educational sessions, the program will feature breakout sessions and group exercises designed to help participants network, develop leadership skills, and establish key contacts with experts in banking, wealth management, academia, the public and non-profit sectors, and community organizations.

To ensure a high-quality learning experience, space is limited, so interested participants are encouraged to apply early. The program will provide breakfasts and lunches on both Saturday and Sunday, as well as dinner on Saturday evening. Tea, coffee, juices, and light refreshments will be provided during health breaks. Participants who attend all sessions will be eligible to receive a certificate of attendance. Overall, this program will be an invaluable opportunity for participants to develop professionally by gaining a better understanding of personal finances and career enhancement tools.

 

Fazley Siddiq, Fulbright Canada Grant Recipient

Executive-In-Residence

Ian Smith headshot.jpg

Ian D. Smith | Chief Executive Officer

Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership

Ian D. Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of Clearwater Seafoods.  Mr. Smith joined Clearwater in May 2010 and has over 33 years of international experience in the food and consumer products industry.  Prior to joining Clearwater, Mr. Smith held senior leadership positions at the Campbell Soup Company within Canada, the United States and China.  Prior to his time at Campbell’s, Mr. Smith held various marketing, sales and international business development positions with Allergan, Colgate-Palmolive and the Gillette Company.

Mr. Smith currently participates as a director on a number of boards and advisory councils focused on international trade and public policy including; The Business Council of Canada and the Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council of the Asia Pacific Foundation.  He is a graduate of McGill University (BA Economics, MBA), a former Captain in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve and currently serves as Honorary Colonel of 36 Canadian Engineer Regiment located in the Province of Nova Scotia.

Alumni-In-Residence

Wendy Luther | President and Chief Executive Officer

Halifax Partnership

Wendy Luther Proud Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. EMBA’08

Wendy Luther is a leader in economic and export development, with vast experience promoting Nova Scotia and its assets globally. Halifax Partnership is Halifax’s public-private economic development

organization. Wendy joined as President & CEO in 2019. In 2023, Halifax

Partnership was honoured with four Excellence in Economic Development

Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)

including Gold for Economic Development Organization of the Year. Prior to joining Halifax Partnership, Wendy was President & CEO of EduNova, a co-operative association of public and private-sector education providers committed to promoting Nova Scotia’s knowledge economy internationally. Under her leadership, EduNova was honoured with the prestigious international PIEoneer Association of the Year Award in 2017. Earlier in her career, Wendy worked in export development with the Atlantic Canada World Trade Centre and Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) where she led trade missions to over twenty countries and has mentored and advised hundreds of Nova Scotian exporters on how to be competitive in international markets. At NSBI, through her role as Nova Scotia’s first Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO), she was appointed by the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank to connect entrepreneurs and institutions to opportunities funded by International Financial Institutions. Wendy has served on and led numerous boards and committees including advisory boards for two private sector companies (Canada and U.S. based). Currently, Wendy serves on the Board of Directors and the Management Resources and Compensation Committee of Canadian-owned LED Roadway Lighting; the Board of Directors and as Vice Chair of the Governance Committee of Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization focused on increasing Canada’s innovation competitiveness; and is Membership Chair on the Executive Committee of the International Women's Forum (IWF) Atlantic Chapter. Born in Vancouver, Wendy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA from Saint Mary’s University. She holds a Certified International Trade Professional designation (CITP) and is an alumna of the Caribbean Canada Emerging Leaders Dialogue and Royal Canadian Navy Canadian Leaders at Sea (CLaS) Program. In November 2023, she attained her ICD.D designation through the Institute of Corporate Directors, Director Education Program and is really geeking out on governance! In March 2023 Wendy was honoured with Atlantic Canada's 25 Most Powerful Women in Business award.