81st Global Conference on Women in Business and Leadership (GCWBL)

Aurora Faundo Instructor, Business Management, Douglas College, Canada Aurora is a business management instructor with extensive experience in managing people and projects. Her most recent accomplishments include leading a team of instructors in developing the three human resource management programs and fulfilling the role of Human Resource Specialisation Committee Lead in the Business Management department of Douglas College. Moreover, she is also actively leading and working on collaborative international institutional projects sponsored by Douglas College. Aside from working in the academe, she also spent a number of years working in the food, manufacturing, consulting and alternative banking industries performing administrative, operational and extensive people management functions. Additionally, she worked as a corporate trainer delivering professional development courses to Accenture employees, as well as consulting work for a non-government organization for a number of years. Collectively, her teaching and non-teaching career spans over 25 years. Aurora’s education and training includes a Doctor of Education degree from Far Eastern University, Master in Business Administration degree from the Ateneo de Manila University, a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the Philippines and a BC Provincial Instructors Diploma from Vancouver Community College. Additionally, she has also taken a Payroll Compliance Administration certificate from the Canadian Payroll Association. She also has a CPHR designation from the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources BC & Yukon.

Dr. Michael J. Provitera Founder and President of Motivational Leadership Training Founder of the Level UP Leadership Model Business Expert Press Editor Certified Coach & Facilitator of the Reflective Best Self Exercise Management Consultant Dr. Michael J. Provitera is an Associate Professor of Management and Certified Positive Psychology Coach and Facilitator. Mike is an editor for Business Expert Press in the Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management Collection. His focus is on improving organizational effectiveness and enhancing individual success. He has trained over 1000 executives and taught management to over 2000 undergraduate and graduate students. Clients of his have been Pfizer, Trane, CEO Business, Interval International, and the City of North Miami.Michael is sought by reporters for quotes in prominent media such as Forbes, US News & World Report, The Daily News, Fox Business, Higher Ed Jobs, Hr.Com, NBC News, and The Washington Times. Michael has published over fourteen books and over one-hundred articles and case studies. His children’s book series is called Happy Go Lucky. His motivation books and leadership books have helped thousands of people not only lead themselves but also lead others. His children’s books have been sent to Tanzania, Eastern Africa, to an orphanage and school there.

John O’Fee K.C. Associate Teaching Professor, Thompson Rivers University John received his Commerce degree and Law degree from the University of British Columbia and commenced private legal practice in Kamloops immediately upon graduation. His work centered around real estate development, corporate transactions, wills and estates. John pursued community service while establishing and growing his practice. He was first elected to the Kamloops School Board in 1988 and served for eight years including three years as School Board Chair. In 1999, John was elected to Kamloops City Council where he served for eleven years in various capacities including Audit Committee Chair, President of the Kamloops Airport Authority Society, Hospital Board Chair, Municipal Finance Authority Member and Regional District Director. In addition, John served in various volunteer roles with the Thompson Rivers University (“TRU”) Foundation including six years as its board chair. In 2011, John left the private practice of law to become Chief Executive Officer of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc (Kamloops Indian Band). In this multi-faceted role John led a team of over 200 employees responsible for a wide variety of enterprises ranging from a working cattle ranch and retail gas station as well as providing band social programs and operating an elementary school. John joined the School of Business and Economics at TRU first as a sessional instructor 2010 and as full time faculty commencing January, 2014. His courses include Commercial, Employment and Real Estate Law but John has also instructed Business Ethics for TRU at the Tianjin University of Technology in China. In addition, John instructs Real Estate Transactions at TRU’s Law School. John recently received the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence from the School of Business and Economics. Besides his work at TRU, John serves as a board member and panel chair for the Health Professions Review Board of British Columbia. This organization acts as an appellate body for decisions rendered by professional medical colleges in the province. He has also served as a board member of the Provincial Health Services Authority and board chair of the Interior Health Authority. These organizations are tasked with the operation of large scale health facilities including the BC Children’s Hospital, the BC Ambulance Service, the BC Cancer Agency, the BC Centre for Disease Control and many others. Each organization operates on an annual budget well in excess of $2 billion. John has been recognized as a distinguished Alumnus of Thompson Rivers University in 1995, selected for a BC Community Achievement Award in 2011 and was designated as Queen’s Counsel in December 2015.