BC Library Conference 2017

Kyla is the Member Engagement Officer with the BCIT Faculty & Staff Association. With almost two decades of experience in non-profit administration, governance, fundraising, engagement and communications, Kyla is an active volunteer having served on many boards including Check Your Head, PEDAL, Kiwassa St. David's Preschool, Rising Star Co-op, and Next Up. She currently sits on the executive for the PAC at her son's school, serves as a Director with the BC Library Trustees Association (BCLTA), and is a 2017 participant in the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference. In her final term with VPL she is honoured to be serving as the Chair. To fill in her free time Kyla loves to read and is lucky to have a child who still loves to be read to.

Karen is in her second term as President of CUPE 2950. She is no stranger to UBC as she graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Lit and Political Science. She came back to UBC in 2007 where she started as a temp in Staff Finders and then went on to become the Assistant to the Director at the Irving K Barber Learning Centre until 2013 when she was elected President of CUPE 2950.
Karen is actively involved in the labour movement.
She was elected General Vice-President of CUPE BC at the 2015 convention and currently chairs the CUPE BC Library and CUPE BC Women’s Committees. She also represents the local on the CUPE BC Universities Committee. She represents BC as the co-chair of the CUPE National Library Workers Committee and was elected as Trustee for the national union at the 2015 CUPE National Convention.
Karen also represents CUPE BC as an Officer of the BC Federation of Labour.
In 2012 Karen was selected as one of Canada’s 230 emerging leaders at the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference.

Alex Hemingway’s work focuses on the state of BC’s public services, including education, healthcare, social services and regulation, particularly in the face of growing societal challenges that require a collective response. He also investigates the taxation system and its relationship to inequality and the capacity of government to provide high-quality and accessible public services.

Carlos currently works as the Labour Staff Representative at the United Way of the Lower Mainland. As part of his role at the United Way, Carlos works with provincial, national and international unions towards a better understanding of the work the UW does in the community as well as how to engage members during community impact campaigns. Originally, as a member of CUPE Local 402 (Surrey City Workers) Carlos worked as an executive at large and communications rep for 10 years. During that time, Carlos participated and  completed the NextUP Leadership Program led by the Canadian Centre for Public Policy. Carlos also facilitates the Labour Community Advocate program at CLC Western Region Winter School and is the host of the Labournauts podcast.

Kiersten Duncan is in her second term on Maple Ridge City Council. Duncan is a full time Geography student at the University of the Fraser Valley with a focus in environmental science and urban development. She serves as the council liaison on the following committees - Active Transportation Advisory Committee, Public Art Steering Committee, Parks and Leisure Services Commission, Ridge Meadows Recycling Society and the Audit Committee.