Beauny was born and brought up in India, where she completed a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. She came to Canada in 2019 to pursue Public Health and has now graduated. Beany now works as a cook at Daniel’s Alehouse in Sydney and as a rehabilitation worker at the Cape Breton Community Housing Association.

Beauny joined the IAT in 2021.

Joseph Chatindo was born and raised in Zimbabwe, in the nation's capital city of Harare. He spent his childhood and most of his adulthood in Zimbabwe. Joseph immigrated to Canada in 2016 and currently works with his local school board as a computer technician.

When he's not working, Joseph enjoys exploring Cape Breton's scenic and natural beauty.

Jovelyn Del Rosario is originally from the Philippines and came to Cape Breton in 2017. She has worked in the hospitality industry in the Philippines, Singapore, and Canada for more than 10 years.

Jovelyn holds a Bachelor Degree of Science, Hotel and Restaurant Management and a Diploma in Financial Management. Currently, Jovelyn manages a small, family business called Jovy’s Place in Sydney.

Meet Pankaj (Punky) Joshi, a dedicated professional and volunteer, who came to Canada from India in 1997. Punky has lived and worked in Cape Breton for the last 16 years and is not only a proud Canadian citizen, but also a proud Cape Bretoner.

Punky is known to CBRM area students through her work at the NSCC Marconi Campus Bookstore, to local parents as the mother of two teenagers, and has had a tremendous impact on our community through her time volunteering with YREACH. She has had a voice in both program design and delivery of YREACH services and is a trusted colleague and friend of their clients and staff.

Punky is also a valued member of the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership's (CBLIP) Immigrant Advisory Table (IAT). She understands firsthand the obstacles newcomers sometimes face, sees how far our island has come in welcoming newcomers, and recognizes there is still work to be done. She is passionate about helping support the integration of newcomers and feels that being a member of the IAT is an important way to give back to her community.

Pankaj Joshi - mother, colleague, friend, and dedicated community volunteer is a proud Cape Bretoner, who says her favourite thing about living here is, "the natural beauty of the island."

Originally from Nigeria, Baba, as he is best known, has over 12 years of experience in the creation, implementation and coordination of marketing and sales strategies and plans. He has extensive experience in business proposition and implementation, sales intelligence and development.

Baba holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Regional Planning, with an MBA in marketing, both from Nigeria. He is currently doing a diploma at CBBC in community social work.

Baba is a member and a past president of Rotary International D9110.

He enjoys meeting people and socializing.

Originally from Manila, Philippines, Des came to Canada with her family in 2019. She completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from Shannon School of Business (CBU) and is currently working as a communications coordinator and at the same time doing communications support work for a not for profit and a small business in North Sydney, NS.

Hisham Sleem is the founder and President of Association for New Canadian and Refugees in Nova Scotia (ANCRNS) a non-profit incorporated organization to help with the settlement and integration services for immigrants and refugees in the Cape Breton Island. It provides settlement assistance as well as social activity programs, languages and other services to support all aspects of new immigrants and refugees.

In 2013, he received his PhD in Chemistry at Memorial University. Dr. Sleem has over 20 years of research experiences in Canada and internationally including Memorial University and Cape Breton University. Dr. Sleem has volunteered in many different places which support immigrants and new comers such as life line Syria, CBRM and now he sits on the IAT for the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership.

Five years ago I was fortunate to settle in beautiful Cape Breton!  I was happy to bring my twenty years of experience in international tourism assisting people, developing multi-tasking, organization, and management skills to the great team at Cape Breton Realty.  I am excited and find it rewarding to use all my skills to meet the needs of my clients to find the place they are looking to call home.  As a recent newcomer myself, I appreciate so much what this great country is.  Because I am so passionate about welcoming and assisting others who want to live here, I volunteer with the Cape Breton Local Immigration Program.  I have found Cape Breton is an incredible and welcoming place to live, work, play, and explore. I specialize in properties in Richmond and Inverness Counties, Cape Breton.  While my mother tongue is Ukrainian, we can also converse in your choice of English, German or Russian!

Lan is currently working as a Business Growth Advisor for the Cape Breton Partnership. Prior to her current role, Lan worked as an Export Consultant and Project Coordinator with the Cape Breton Partnership.

Lan received a student excellence award during her time studying at Nova Scotia Community College. Lan holds a Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development from Cape Breton University, a diploma in International Business Administration from NSCC, and a diploma of foreign trade English at Chengdu University, China. She gained the designation of Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) in 2017. After she graduated from Nova Scotia Community College, she worked as an international sales manager in Victoria Co-operative Fisheries from 2016 to 2018.

Lan had over 10 years of work experience in international business before she came to study in Sydney in 2012. She secured a position at China Chengdu International Techno-Economic Cooperation Co., Ltd. Before being promoted to Purchasing Officer, Lan performed logistic operations in coordinating shipments to Italy, German, Poland, and other European countries. During 2008 to 2014, Lan managed her own trading company (Hong Kong Economic Development Industrial, Co., ltd).  She was responsible for company sales and her sales reached US$3 million in 2012.

Lan has also operated her own marketing consulting business since 2016. She is passionate about helping local businesses develop new markets outside their communities as well as bringing investment opportunities to Cape Breton. Lan became a member of the Immigration Advisory Table in 2019. She is very proud to be part of this effort to help and support newcomers in Cape Breton.