Our talented staff

What are some of your responsibilities?

As a Security System Coordinator, I am responsible for managing, planning, and configuring all electronic security systems used to secure spaces at Concordia. This includes overseeing all security management platforms, alarms systems, and access control/card access systems. I ensure these systems are properly installed, configured, maintained, and optimized to provide reliable and effective security coverage.

I also act as a security consultant on most renovation and construction projects, working with stakeholders to ensure that security requirements are integrated into the design from the earliest planning stages. This involves reviewing plans, recommending appropriate technologies, ensuring compliance with standards, and coordinating the integration of new systems with the existing infrastructure.

Finally, I am responsible for managing the performance and lifecycle of existing systems. This includes planning preventative maintenance, coordinating upgrades, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring system continuity and reliability. Overall, my role combines technical expertise, project coordination, and strategic planning to maintain a safe and secure environment.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is completing a major project and seeing the real, tangible impact it has on our community. After months of planning, coordination, configuration, and implementation, there is a strong sense of accomplishment in seeing the security systems fully operational and performing as intended. Seeing our students, teachers and staff adapt to their new environment is very rewarding. Ultimately, knowing that my work contributes to a safer and more secure environment for our community is what makes the job truly rewarding.

Has your position changed you?

Yes, it has. My position has evolved significantly over the years, largely driven by the rapid changes in technology within the security field. As systems become more advanced and integrated, I’ve had to continuously adapt, expand my technical knowledge, and refine the way I approach projects and daily operations. I cannot stay put. I’m constantly learning new and better ways of doing my work. Sometimes it’s through hands-on experience, new technologies, or collaboration with the team around me.

What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?

One of my biggest challenges during my time here was leading the complete replacement of our video management platform over the past year. We transitioned from an older infrastructure to a new and more efficient system. This project involved planning the architecture, selecting and configuring equipment, migrating existing cameras, ensuring network compatibility, setting up recording and storage solutions, and validating system performance, all while minimizing disruptions to daily operations.

This project was demanding because my coworker left the university during that time. Balancing the day-to-day duties of the vacant position with the ongoing operational needs of a large-scale system upgrade required strong organization. Despite the workload and time constraints, I successfully completed the migration and ensured seamless continuity of service throughout the transition.

What is one of your favourite Concordia memories?

It’s hard to choose just one favourite memory because there have been so many meaningful moments and dedicated peoples along the way. I cannot point to one specific moment that defines my favourite memory. Rather, I would say that it’s the collective experience of being part of Concordia’s growth and contributing to a safer environment for students, faculty, and staff.

What are some of your responsibilities?

My responsibility is to help Concordia become a more sustainable university. This involves identifying best practices and opportunities to innovate to improve the three pillars of sustainability; environmental, social, and economic. Practically speaking, this involves measuring our sustainability impact, making waste sorting and reuse easier for Concordians, and supporting greening, sustainable transport, and other initiatives. These days, I am excited about my work on improving Concordia’s bike-friendliness, measuring air travel, and helping us procure more sustainably.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

One of the most rewarding aspects is getting to make a positive impact, ecologically, but also on Concordians’ experience on campus. A lot of my work is done in collaboration with a diverse cross-section of Concordians. I enjoy working with people from different vantage points. Helping them translate their ambition and innovative ideas into reality is fulfilling. I also enjoy applying my background in Engineering and my data science skills. I find that using data is one of the best ways to make the case for sustainability.

Has your position changed you?

I have remained 100% unchanged. Just kidding.  Navigating change at work means I have to be open to changing myself, as well as my ideas. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to sustainability.

What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?

Taking ideas from pilot projects to scale is a great challenge and has helped me appreciate how far we can go when we build on good relationships.

What is one of your favourite Concordia memories?

I have a lot of great memories of working here. One of my favorites is performing waste auditing. We wear safety gear, set up a scale, sort waste into categories, and weigh the categories. Although it can be a grueling experience, it is a perspective-changing one; it is easily learnt that the vast majority of our waste could be composted and recycled and totally changed my view on how to tackle the problem.

What are some of your responsibilities?

My responsibilities include incident management - ensuring that critical issues (or incidents) are addressed quickly to minimize disruption - and the coordination of third-party contracts, making sure the agreements are properly maintained and aligned with Facilities Management goals.  These responsibilities also allow me to identify gaps and problem solve, to develop and implement effective solutions as needed.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Simplifying, standardizing and making things more efficient; I really enjoy helping resolve complex problems.

Has your position changed you?

I have learned to thrive in stressful and chaotic situations that can come with incident management and process improvement; communication, collaboration and standardization are keys to efficiency.  My work had not only changed me, but it has also changed parts of Concordia; being heavily involved with designing, coordinating and implementing numerous processes over the years, that have become standard practice in Facilities Management.

What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?

With years of experience at Concordia (previously in the Office of the Provost and now in Facilities Management), I have seen many changes take place throughout the University. Often when there is a turnover of staff, they do not have the institutional knowledge of the past. I like to help to ensure people do not reinvent the wheel.

What is one of your favourite Concordia memories?

Constantly Living the Dream!

What are some of your responsibilities?

I provide guidance and training to managers on matters related to labour relations, such as the interpretation/application of collective agreements and personnel policies, performance management and administrative re-organizations. Within the Employee and Labour Relations team, I’m also responsible for activities relating to the labour relations applications (UNITY’s My Labour Relations), which involve working with our HRIS team for the design, implementation and on-going management of these modules.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Feeling that my contribution has made a meaningful impact - whether it’s collaborating with colleagues to move a project forward or providing guidance to help someone gain clarity or confidence in handling a situation. Knowing that my input can help people in their work is very rewarding.

Has your position changed you?

Definitely. Throughout my time at Concordia, I’ve been fortunate to work with highly knowledgeable colleagues and engage in a wide range of initiatives that have shaped how I approach my work. The insights that I’ve gained from being in this role are invaluable.

What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?

The work involved with the My Labour Relations applications in UNITY has been very different to anything I worked on previously. The modules incorporate processes from our 12 collective agreements; each have their own nuances and can evolve over time.

What is one of your favourite Concordia memories?

It’s difficult to choose just one. I have so many great memories from working with my ELR team. They are all individually amazing and I always enjoy it when we get a chance to get together as a whole team.

What are some of your responsibilities?

I am responsible for a diversity of safety and regulatory compliance. I oversee the safe use of ionizing radiation, lasers and strong magnetic fields, as three distinct safety programs applying mostly to research and teaching. I am a Designated Official for the Controlled Goods Program and an Authorized Agent for the Explosives Program, overseeing security and compliance with regulations. I authorize drone flights on campus for students, staff and contractors, ensuring Concordia remains in compliance with the regulations. I work closely with researchers, staff and students as well as student organisations, especially with the Faculty of Arts and Science, the Gina Cody School of Engineering, SAE, and SpaceConcordia.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

By far, the most rewarding part of my job comes from ensuring that work takes place safely and over the long term. There are many compliance and safety roadblocks that have to be overcome to pursue many of our research interests at the university. I ensure that all the right resources are in place and possible pitfalls have been identified to permit the research to be performed sustainably, without adverse impacts to the researchers and the institution.

The most satisfaction comes from interaction with students, where it feels I am helping to shape the researchers they will become. I am particularly proud of the role I played in establishing a for-credit safety course that is mandatory for graduate students in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering.

Has your position changed you?

I feel my work must have changed me. Family and friends often refer to me as mister safety. I cannot help but bring the skills I have acquired from my work at Concordia to bear on every facet of life outside work.

What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?

The biggest challenge has also been the most interesting part of the job. This is the constantly shifting safety and regulatory landscapes. The frameworks that are in place currently have not always been there. Keeping up with standards and best practices, industry safety initiatives, new safety equipment, and changing regulatory requirements has been a challenge, especially while still maintaining the same level of service to our community. This has been compared to changing a tire while still keeping your vehicle moving.

What is one of your favourite Concordia memories?

It is difficult to choose just one. I have very fond memories of past and current colleagues in EHS, especially in the laboratory safety group. We advanced some very important projects all the while keeping the EHS vehicle of progress in motion.

Some other memories that stand out include the successes of SpaceConcordia projects, both with the launch of their cubesat into orbit in 2023 that I took personal time away from work to attend, and the successful tests performed by the rocketry division on their Star Sailor rocket on the fields at the Loyola campus. The long hours of working with these students to get to the apex of their work is where I have my fondest memories. It was a privilege to work with so many dedicated students that were so diligent and responsive to compliance and safety concerns, procedure reviews, and that tried to incorporate safety into every aspect of their work.

What are some of your responsibilities?

My responsibilities as the head coach of our Men’s Hockey program are to develop and support our student-Athletes. This includes supporting and mentoring them to finish their degree and go play professional hockey after or direct them in the right direction for the workforce.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I enjoy seeing our players getting their degree and continuing to play pro or be successful in the workforce.  I also appreciate meeting the alumni of our program that are proud of what we are doing and their commitment to giving back to our program means so much to me.

Has your position changed you?

100%. Players and staff are challenging me to get better in so many ways.

What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?

The pandemic was a real challenge with all the unknowns and with losing players to go play professional hockey as they went on to pursue their hockey career. We had to find new ways to keep our student-athletes engaged and committed to their education and our program.

What is one of your favourite Concordia memories?

Winning our first ever Queens Cup (league championship) in Toronto was unbelievable.  We had such a special group of players. Great leadership and a tight group willing to do it all for the team. We were able to win the Silver medal at the National Championship.

What are some of your responsibilities?

In my role, I support both internal and external clients, guiding them through the full spectrum of event planning, from understanding their needs and optimizing campus spaces to preparing quotes, leases, and event documentation. I also oversee our event management systems (EMS, Grenadine, and others), ensuring they run smoothly and evolve to meet the needs of our community.  A big part of my work is creating processes, delivering training, and offering guidance so colleagues and clients can plan and execute events efficiently.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is supporting our community in meaningful ways. Whether it’s helping someone find the right space for an event or taking the time to understand their daily processes and build solutions in EMS that save them time and energy, I find fulfillment in knowing that my work helps others succeed. Being able to make someone’s experience smoother and more enjoyable is what makes this work truly special.

Has your position changed you?

At my core, I’m still the same person, but when I first started here, this was my very first career role, and I had so much to learn. The right leadership made all the difference. Over the years, having leaders who believed in me, trusted my judgment, and gave me the freedom to explore my abilities allowed me to grow in ways I never imagined. Two decades later, that growth has shaped not only who I am professionally, but also how the position itself evolved. It didn’t change me, I grew into it, and over time, it grew with me.

What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?

My biggest challenge has been navigating change over time. In nearly two decades, priorities, expectations, and roles naturally evolved, and learning how to adapt while staying true to my values has not always been easy. Each challenge pushed me to grow, expand my skills, and discover what I’m capable of.  Looking back, those moments of change became some of the most valuable opportunities for learning and personal growth.

What is one of your favourite Concordia memories?

One of my favorite memories came this year when I helped an alumnus propose in the same classroom where he and his partner first met as undergraduates. After coordinating with multiple internal departments, we were able to create a moment that will live with them forever. Being part of something so meaningful made it a core memory for me, one I will always carry with me.

What are some of your responsibilities?

As a Project Manager within the IITS PMO team, one of my main responsibilities is guiding IT projects from initial concept to final delivery. That starts with meeting project requestors and stakeholders to understand their needs, expectations, and objectives. From there, I develop structured project plans, manage budgets, identify and mitigate risks, and coordinate activities and teams to keep everything moving forward. My focus is always the same: delivering a solution that is aligned with the identified needs and is operational, on time, and within budget.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is being able to contribute in a meaningful way by identifying needs and root causes, helping shape effective solutions, and participate in seeing those solutions through to successful implementation. It’s fulfilling to support the department and the university in achieving their goals and to contribute, in my own way, to an institution whose mission is rooted in innovation, excellence in education, research, creative activity, and community partnerships. Equally rewarding is the opportunity to work with incredibly talented colleagues every day. Collaborating with dedicated and skilled professionals is both inspiring and energizing. It motivates me to continuously grow and improve.

Has your position changed you?

In the year since I joined Concordia, the role has definitely expanded both my knowledge and skill set. I have gained a deeper understanding of the unique environment and complexities of higher education, the roles of Concordia’s faculties and departments, and what it takes to run IT projects in this context.

I have also learned a great deal from the colleagues I work closely with, as well as those I meet along the way. Concordia is a very rich and diverse environment, and every person is always willing to share their knowledge and expertise. There is always something new to learn, and that constant learning has been one of the most valuable aspects of my experience so far.

What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?

Coming from a professional background primarily in the private sector, including business consulting, quality assurance services, and a tech company, my challenge has been learning to navigate the complexity of a large higher education environment. Concordia operates across many faculties, departments, processes, and layers of governance, and understanding how all these elements fit together while delivering projects has been a learning curve. I am still learning, but this transition has been made much easier thanks to everyone I have met or worked with since day one. They have kindly and patiently taken the time to answer my questions and share their knowledge with me. It has made a real difference, and I am very thankful for it.

What is one of your favourite Concordia memories?

Although I have not been at Concordia for very long, my time here is already filled with good memories, most of them rooted in the interactions I have had with colleagues and collaborators. One highlight was participating in the Concordia Shuffle. It was a wonderful experience to be part of such a large gathering of Concordians coming together in support of meaningful causes. There was a real sense of community and shared purpose. And, as a bonus, it was a beautiful day for a walk in excellent company!