Team Members

Bimla Kannangara

Originally from Sri Lanka, Bimla Kannangara is an Administrative Analyst at Vancouver Coastal Health, based in the Richmond Community Centre. With over a decade of experience in healthcare administration, project leadership, and e-commerce operations, she brings a diverse skill set and a strong commitment to organizational and community development.

Olivia Li

Olivia is a passionate community volunteer dedicated to welcoming and supporting newcomers in Richmond. She has extensive experience in community service, helping people connect with local programs and resources while fostering a strong sense of belonging.

Halas Rashid

Halas is Kurdish and originally from Iraq. She came to Canada in 2023 with her husband and son and is working hard to build a new life for her family. Before coming to Canada, she worked for 13 years as an auditor at the University of Sulaymaniyah and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. She also has experience working in human resources and natural resources.

Sylvia Li

Sylvia is an immigrant from China currently living in British Columbia. She holds a degree in fashion design, has 11 years of experience in human resource management for Fortune 500 companies, and is a certified E-RYT 200 yoga teacher who taught in China.

Nuh Topkaraoglu

Nuh Topkaraoglu was born in Germany and raised in Turkey. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Library Science and completed a Master’s degree in cataloguing digital photographs. He worked as a librarian at universities for nine years.

Yin Yao

Yin Yao has been a resident of Richmond, BC, for almost two years and appreciates living in such a highly international city. She has been welcomed by an incredible sense of community and diversity, from the cuisine and multilingual environment to the genuine interpersonal connections.