Top row from left to right: Shaila Nagpal, Ava Mirfendereski, Wilma Suen, and John Richardson
Bottom row from left to right: Arthur Kong, Jimmy Lou, Francesca Taddeo, and Tina Wang
National
Shaila Nagpal joins as VP of Communications for CFLSE at the national level. Shaila is a 2021 LSE graduate, with an MSc in Global Health Policy. Most recently, she has been working with the United Nations World Food Programme in social media and communications. Shaila enjoys building robust relationships with a diverse network of people and hopes to continue developing strong connections in her new role. In her spare time, Shaila loves spending time with family and friends, trying out new restaurants, and travelling.
Vancouver Chapter
Ava Mirfendereski is Co-Chair of CFLSE Vancouver. Ava obtained her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley; and holds a Master’s degree in International Development from the London School of Economics. She has over 20 years of experience in operations management, project management, and client experience. She has held leadership positions in banking, financial services, and Fintech. Ava’s passion for business operations, standardized systems, and continuous improvement led her to manage a number Fintech projects. She was a founder of a charity organization, In Unison, where she helped asylum seekers and new migrants settle in the lower mainland.
Wilma Suen joins Ava as Co-Chair of CFLSE Vancouver. A Vancouver native, Wilma was a Commonwealth Scholar at the LSE, where she completed an MSc (Econ) in International Relations. She also holds a BA (Hons) in Political Science with International Relations from UBC and a PhD from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, where she researched multiparty-strategic alliances in the fuel cell vehicle, information technology, and airline industries. She subsequently published “Non-Cooperation: the Dark Side of Strategic Alliances” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2005). In her spare time, Wilma is training a new German shepherd puppy and learning how to curl.
Calgary Chapter
John Richardson is Chair of CFLSE Calgary. John graduated with an MSc. Comparative Politics (Political Economy) in 2020, with a dissertation on the diversification of Alberta’s economy. Since returning to Calgary, John has leveraged his research as Manager, Corporate Development at Invest Alberta, bringing investment and jobs to the province. Though missing the George IV Pub, John looks forward to connecting with LSE Alumni in Calgary and welcoming recent graduates to the city.
Toronto Chapter
Arthur Kong joins Defne Tuncer as Co-Chair, CFLSE Toronto. Arthur has been very active in the Toronto chapter, most recently as Chair, Events. He holds an MPA, Public & Economic Policy, from LSE. Arthur is currently the Director of Project Development at Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen), where he works with companies and governments to develop collaborative R&D funding and projects for advanced manufacturing technologies. Prior to joining NGen, Arthur was the Head of Science, Innovation, and Policy with the British Consulate General, Toronto. Arthur looks forward to engaging Toronto’s vibrant LSE alumni and strengthening CFLSE Toronto’s profile.
Ottawa Chapter
Jimmy Lou (M.Sc. International Political Economy ’17) is Chair of CFLSE Ottawa. He is currently a Policy Advisor at Privy Council Office (PCO), the Government of Canada. He is passionate about building communities, designing better public policies, and ensuring effective policy implementation. Prior to his current role with the federal government, he served as Policy Advisor in Global Affairs Canada, where he led numerous international economic and development relations files, and a researcher at numerous companies, think tanks and international institutions. He is an avid football fan, a multi-instrumentalist and enjoys poetry, historical fiction, and all things outdoors.
Montreal Chapter
Francesca Taddeo is Co-Chair of CFLSE Montreal. She graduated from the LSE in 2011 with a MSc in Public Policy and Administration. While in London, she lived at Goodenough College, and has many great memories of her year in London. After completing her master’s, she returned to Montreal to study law at McGill University. She is currently a lawyer in the litigation department of Norton Rose Fulbright’s Montreal office. Francesca is very excited to be involved in the CFLSE community!
Tina Wang joins Francesca as Co-Chair of CFLSE Montreal. She graduated in 2022 with a MSc in Media and Communications from LSE. She is based in Montreal and currently works in consulting with a focus on Human Capital transformation. An accomplished cross-cultural and multilingual communications scientist, she wrote her dissertation on Asian Canadian media representation and identity, something she is very passionate about. Holding an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences in Communications and Political Science from the University of Ottawa, she also studied at Université Panthéon-Sorbonne on exchange, in Paris, and previously worked at the Parliament of Canada, Dentons LLP in Beijing and Chengdu.
