Board of Directors

Justine Arsenault, Co-Chair

Justine Arsenault is a Program Planning Analyst with BCIT’s SITE Centre and responsible for assessing the knowledge, skills and experiences of adult learners and advising them on educational pathways based on the APPL method. She also manages the BCIT Legion Program, providing prior learning assessments as well as career development and transition support to Canadian Armed Forces members.

Nicole Borhaven, Co-Chair

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.

Raj Brar, Director

Raj Brar is a reliable, committed and result-focused individual. With over 20 years of progressive experience in education and employment programs, she has experience in project management, event coordination, fundraising, as well as educational and employment counseling within the public and non-profit sectors. Raj Brar has a Bachelor of Science and Pharmacy from India, and holds the designation of Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP). Raj previously worked at BCIT in the School of Business for over two decades. She joined PICS in 2018 as a FCR Program Manager to work with the Internationally Trained Professionals (ITPs). Raj Brar has proven to exceed expectations while providing superior service and solutions.

Susan Forseille, Director

As the Director, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) at Thompson Rivers University, 22-years as a career-educator, and an enthusiastic researcher, Susan Forseille has been privileged to work in, and conduct research around, multiple intersections of career development, prior learning, and education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University, a Master of Education from Thompson Rivers University, and is currently completing her PhD with the University of Leicester. Susan is a passionate PLAR advocate believing adult learners acquire great amounts of knowledge and skills through life and work experience.

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.

Janet Morris-Reade, Director

Janet Morris-Reade is the CEO of ASPECT BC (Association of Service Providers for Employability and Career Training).  She works to provide leadership, education, advocacy, and public awareness in support of community-based workforce development service providers, working with government and stakeholders to ensure that the needs of those seeking a meaningful and sustainable livelihood are met. With over 20 years’ experience in the non-profit sector, she serves on a number of boards and committees in BC and Canada.

Skel7áw̓s/Naomi Narcisse, MEd.  St'át'imc Nation, Director

Director, Indigenous Initiatives for People, Equity, and Inclusion Portfolio 

Manager of Indigenous Education & Affairs Capilano University

Proud NVIT, SFU, & UBC Alumni, Naomi has over eight years of experience working with Indigenous Adult Learners. In September 2023 Naomi will be starting her PhD journey at UBC within the Faculty of Education. Naomi completed her MEd in Educational Administration & Leadership at UBC & NVIT in 2021, BA degree at SFU, and AAD at NVIT. She is also actively learning St'at'imc language from her local language authorities, accredited by Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (BC’s sole Indigenous Public Post Secondary school).Naomi is passionate about student success, from recruitment to career guidance, and is a strong advocate in curriculum that is inclusive of Indigenous ways of knowing. As a lifelong learner, protecting & sharing traditional knowledges, Naomi is always eager to support students and her teams. Naomi’s traditional St'át'imc name is Skel7áw̓s and this means ‘leader/education’. While experiencing firsthand the barriers Indigenous learners face in higher education, she is a leader in sharing transition paths and backing academic success in post-secondary.

Tákem nsnek̓wnúk̓w7a (All My Relations)