Board of Directors
Justine Arsenault, President
BCPLAN & Program Coordinator, BCIT Experience-Based Placement & Legion Military Skills Conversion Program
Justine is the Coordinator of Experience-Based Placement and the Legion Military Skills Conversion Program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). Dedicated to advancing recognition for adult learners and reducing barriers to higher education, she collaborates with post-secondary institutions, employers, and community partners to develop innovative credential pathways and strengthen prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) practices. Through her work with the Legion Military Skills Conversion Program, she facilitates recognition of military learning and experience to support the successful transition of Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans into credential pathways and meaningful career opportunities.
As an active member of BCPLAN, Justine values the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with an incredible network of PLAR professionals, engage in ongoing learning and knowledge sharing, and collaborate with colleagues across the province who are passionate about expanding access to education and employment through PLAR.
| Jen Pelletier, Vice President
Senior Manager, Administration, Mechanical Engineering, UBC Jen Pelletier is the Senior Manager, Administration, for the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia, and an alumni of Thompson Rivers University, where PLAR formed a major component of her degree. A proponent of equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigeniety in education and society, she believes that PLAR provides an exceptional opportunity to acknowledge, value, and credit different types and ways of learning. |
| Nicole Borhaven, Secretary Nicole Borhaven is the PLAR Manager for Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC. In this role, she supports her department in strengthening the PLAR program and ultimately, service to the students. Before this, she was a PLAR Advisor for 11 years and has deep insight into the diverse needs of students and how to support those, though acknowledges that this learning is never-ending, especially in the world’s shifting landscape. For the past several years, she and the PLAR Department have been on the meaningful, imperative journey of decolonizing and Indigenizing PLAR. |
| Nadine Siriban, Treasurer Nadine Siriban is the Manager of the Flexible Learning Office at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where she leads the implementation of program-based Rapid Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). She has worked in the higher education sector since 2019. Guided by a commitment to lifelong learning and educational equity, Nadine is grateful for PLAR initiatives that honour and value people’s diverse learning journeys and lived experiences. |
 | Raj Brar, Director Raj Brar is passionate about helping newcomers succeed in Canada. As Director of Foreign Credential Recognition and Career Services at PICS, she supports internationally trained professionals in their journey to meaningful employment. With over 20 years of experience in employment programs, she has worked in project management, career counseling, and mentorship. Before joining PICS, she spent over two decades at BCIT’s School of Business, where she supported students in their professional growth and career development. She is also involved with the Women Economic Council of Canada and the BC Prior Learning Recognition Board, advocating for mentorship, entrepreneurship, and anti-racism initiatives. Grateful for the opportunity to serve her community, Raj has been honoured as a Drishti Inspiring Women Award recipient and a Surrey Board of Trade Women in Leadership finalist. |
| Naomi Narcisse, Director SFU Director of Indigenous Initiatives - People, Equity & Inclusion. Mom, Daughter, Granddaughter, Aunty, Sister, Warrior, and Another Coyote Skel7áw̓s is a current PhD student at The University of British Columbia (UBC) within the Faculty of Education Studies. She is a proud NVIT, SFU, & UBC relative and Alumni. Skel7áw̓s has over 11 years of experience working In Indigenous Higher Education. As a lifelong learner, protecting & sharing traditional knowledges, she fosters an environment of encouragement while nurturing holistic spaces. While experiencing firsthand the barriers that can take place in higher educational spaces, Skel7áw̓s is a leader in sharing innovative pathways while upholding equitable approaches. She is guided by her mentors, Matriarchs, Ancestors, tmicw (land) and Nxekmenlhkálha múta7 nt’ákmenlhkalha (traditional laws and way of life). Skel7áw̓s shares from a St’át’imc and Secwépemc women’s perspective, on the interconnection of traditional laws, education, lands, and language through oral stories. Tákem nsnek̓wnúk̓w7a (All My Relations) |
| Natalie Deveaux, Director Faculty, Coordinator Assessment Services Natalie Deveaux is the Coordinator of North Island College’s Assessment Services department. Her department is responsible for assessing NIC applicants’ knowledge and skills using Accuplacer, CARA and in house assessment tools. This work facilitates admission to NIC programs and the granting of course credit via PLAR. Natalie is currently working to improve NIC’s PLAR offering to Canadian Armed Forces members. Since 2022, she has been the co-host of the BCPLAN PLAR podcast. |
| Amy Poirier, Director Indigenous Student Support Advisor, Capilano University Amy is a current student at Simon Fraser University in the Indigenous Business Leader Executive MBA program. She is a proud Gitxsan mother, daughter, sister, and advocate for Indigenous voices to not only be heard but also valued. Her mother, originally from England, was gifted the name Ksim Hiihluwx when she was adopted into her father’s Gitanyow family. Her paternal grandmother, Nii Kyep, was a community leader. Amy has spent her career building pathways for Indigenous students and entrepreneurs, ensuring they have access to the resources, mentorship, and community support they need to succeed. Beyond education, she has also built a successful photography business, where she learnt firsthand what it takes to grow and sustain an Indigenous led company. |
| Susan Forseille, Director I am dedicated to transforming how learning is recognized and validated, whether gained in classrooms, workplaces, communities, or through life experience. As a PLAR advocate and systems-builder, I am proud to serve on BC PLAN, the Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment (CAPLA), and the editorial board of Prior Learning Inside Out(PLAIO) a leading international journal in the field. I was honoured to co-chair the 5th VPL Biennale in Kilkenny, Ireland (2021–2024), advancing global collaboration around “People, Validation, and Power: democracy in action.” |
My academic journey includes a BA from Simon Fraser University and an MEd from Thompson Rivers University. I am currently completing my PhD with the University of Leicester, where my research focuses on the impact of PLAR on career development. I am also an active researcher on PLAR persistence and learner success. I am actively involved in decolonizing and Indigenizing recognition practices; micro-credential assessment; and the powerful role PLAR can play in career development and lifelong learning. |
| Karime (Kay) Kuri, Director Karime (Kay) is the Coordinator of Experience-Based Placement at BCIT, overseeing programs like PLAR and Advanced Placement. Since 2015, she has been dedicated to creating pathways for individuals to leverage their skills and experiences, engaging with diverse groups like the Legion and Newcomers of Canada. Additionally, she leads the new TradeupBC Initiative, aiming to enhance innovation and excellence in the trades. Notably, the team has expanded from the School of Business to institute-wide in the last year under the Agile/WIL department, reflecting the commitment to broader impact. Committed to breaking barriers and championing inclusivity, Karime believes in providing everyone, regardless of their background, with the opportunity to unlock their full potential. Through her work, she contributes to the development of a skilled and diverse workforce for the future. |
| Dr. David Porter, Director Board member and independent consultant Dr. David Porter is the principal consultant at DP+Associates in North Vancouver, British Columbia. For more than three decades, he has championed the use of technology, open education, and innovative learning practices to expand access to high-quality educational opportunities. From 2016 to 2020, he served as CEO of eCampusOntario, where he worked with Ontario’s 45 colleges and universities to advance technology-enabled learning and explore emerging approaches such as micro-credentials—creating more flexible pathways for learners to build skills and pursue further education. |
Previously, David was Executive Director of BCcampus, where he led the team behind Canada’s first government-funded open textbook program in 2012—an important milestone for open education in Canadian higher education. His leadership experience also includes roles as Associate Vice-President of Educational Support and Innovation at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Dean of Innovative Learning at Humber College, and Senior Adviser—Higher Education at the Commonwealth of Learning.
Beyond Canada, David has contributed to open and distance learning projects in Mongolia, Vietnam, and India as a project leader and consultant. His contributions to educational innovation have been recognized with awards including the Canadian Network for Innovation in Education’s Leadership Award in 2018 and an Honorary Doctor of Laws by Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 2019 for his work advancing open, technology-enabled teaching and learning.