Meet the team
Jana Petrone, Director, Academic & Career Development
As a proud alumnus of UBC’s Okanagan campus with a BA in International Relations, I went on to complete a Master’s Degree at Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom and spent over a decade traveling and working in the UK, Cote D’Ivoire, Vietnam, and Toronto. I was excited to return to UBC Okanagan to help support students explore their career and life pathways during university and beyond.
Christine Squire (she/her), Manager, Career Development
Christine started life on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Mississauga, in the territory covered by the Williams Treaty in southern Ontario. Growing up in such a beautiful place was instrumental in encouraging Christine to explore this wonderful country and its lands.
Like all great adventures, her journey has been a twisty one starting with a degree in Marine Biology from Dalhousie University in lovely Halifax Nova Scotia. After realizing that being a Marine Biologist is not like “on TV” she decided after much reflection, and many on campus jobs, to move into Student Services at Dalhousie. Residence Life and Advising were her chosen paths but then when it was time for a change she decided to create her own job and became the only student recruiter for Dalhousie that lived away from campus, specifically in Vancouver.
She joined UBCO as an Academic Advisor in 2013 and fell in love with the people and land. Being a guest on the traditional and unceded lands of the Syilx Okanagan nation means she has undertaken the responsibility to learn from elders and respect her place here, while guiding students on their personal journeys of success. Looking back you can find many moments of career development practice in her journey so it is no wonder she wound up here on the Career Development team.
As the Manager of Career Development it is Christine’s job to work with on and off campus partners to bring transformational career experiences to our students and community partners. Please connect with Christine if you are interested in learning more about how the Career Development Team supports these groups.
Carly Cameron (she/her), Industry & Employer Engagement Specialist
Carly came to Kelowna in November of 2020 from Waterloo, Ontario, situated on the land traditionally cared for by the Haudenosaunee, Anishnaabe and Neutral Peoples. Carly joined the Academic & Career Development team in August of 2021 in a new role as the Industry and Employer Engagement Specialist.
Carly holds a Masters of Economic Development & Innovation from the University of Waterloo, with a special topic on connecting innovation to industry. Carly has been working in post-secondary institutions for the past 7 years in experiential learning, entrepreneurship, and employer relations.
Carly is passionate about bridging the gap and building relationships between external industries and employers with the University of British Columbia Okanagan. There are so many talented and hard-working students that deserve to be recruited at an early stage and Carly is excited to support the networking, and connections between employers and students.
Outside of work, Carly spends time being part of the Okanagan Young Professionals Committee, a Connector for the COEDC Connector Program, and spending time exploring new hikes with her golden retriever, Tilly. Carly truly lives for the four-season Kelowna weather!
Luke Penner (he/him), Career Development Specialist
Luke, a member of the Red River Métis, came from Winnipeg, Manitoba, located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples as well as the Homeland of the Red River Métis. He visited Kelowna many times in his youth, with his parents buying land in 2007, but he officially made his move permanently in November 2021 from Vancouver, BC after joining the Academic and Career Development team. He is currently the Career Development Specialist.
Luke holds a Master of Business Administration from San Diego State University, an Advanced Coaching Diploma from the National Coaching Institute – Toronto, and a Master of Science in Biomechanics from the University of Manitoba. Due to these experiences and being a dual citizen, Luke has had the privilege of learning, working, and growing in vastly different cultures.
Luke enjoys the career exploration process and loves coaching students to realize, identify, and understand their talents and abilities. He is eager to help you explore your journey and be a part of your support network at the University of British Columbia – Okanagan. Whether it is networking, resume review, job search techniques, or anything in between, Luke is happy to assist!
In his spare time, Luke coaches basketball throughout the year. His passions lie in developing meaningful relationships with athletes and helping them develop their abilities. Luke’s natural curiosity with the world has resulted in using data to find solutions to problems, exploring every new place he lives in and seeing what they have to offer, as well as learning the stories of the individuals he meets. He looks forward to hearing your story!
Doug Surtees (he/him), Industry & Employer Engagement Specialist – International
Doug grew up in in the lower mainland of BC and has a BBA from the University of the Fraser Valley and a post graduate diploma in Immigration Consulting. Shortly after graduating, Doug solo road tripped coast to coast across Canada and discovered his love of meeting new people. Hearing the stories of people from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds and learning about the wide range of skills and talents people possess inspired Doug to seek a career in recruitment.
Having spent the last 10 years working with employers and job seekers to match rare talent with careers in a range of industries such as engineering, finance, healthcare and technology for both large and small firms. As a result of searching for the best talent, Doug developed knowledge around global mobility and eventually pursued formal education in immigration.
Joining the UBC team in 2023, he is keen to use his understanding of employment processes and practices, industry connections and problem solving abilities to better connect employers with the top international talent graduating from UBC every year. By understanding org hierarchies, processes and common systemic barriers Doug strives to ensure the UBC’s international students are not only considered for great roles upon graduating, but that businesses are equipped to help those hires perform their best.
In his spare time, Doug is found at his cabin, on his motorbike, or in his garden. He loves talking to strangers and would love to hear from you if you have any questions about building a career in Canada.
Leonardo Santos (he/him), Career Development Specialist – International
Leonardo is a curiosity-driven person, passionate about the potential of education to shape the future of work. With nearly ten years of experience in the educational field, Leonardo has focused on designing and implementing experiential learning activities that develop education-to-career skills.
Leonardo’s curiosity has taken him to universities throughout North and South America and Europe, where he has gained a better understanding of the challenges facing higher education worldwide. He has been inspired by the various ways institutions are rethinking traditional learning models. He is ready to support students explore their career pathways, designing, and achieving meaningful goals.
His non-traditional career journey has led him to commit to making the higher education experience even more impactful and transformative for students. Leonardo holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from UFMG and a Specialization in Instructional Design and Educational Technology from UFSCAR.
Emilio Freire (he/him), Program Coordinator, On-Campus Work Integrated Learning
Originally from Ecuador, Emilio moved to Canada in 2017 to pursue his studies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in political science from UBCO. At UBC Okanagan, he worked closely with international and domestic students as an orientation leader, a teaching assistant, and a student representative in the UBC Okanagan Students’ Union. Further, he completed UBCO’s Co-op program as Project Coordinator at the Global Engagement Office (GEO).
Outside work, he served as president of the Latin American Students Organization, leading events to represent Latin American culture on campus. He also sits on the National Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Youth Advisory Group, which serves as a forum for engagement between youth and policy-makers on a wide range of immigration issues.
Throughout his professional journey as a student, he recognized the importance of Experiential Learning in shaping his development. Driven by this, he is committed to contributing to creating opportunities for other students.
In his free time, you can find Emilio playing soccer, swimming at the lake, or volunteering in the community.
Josie Leung (she/her), Advising & Involvement Centre Representative
I graduated with a Bachelor of Management degree from UBC’s Okanagan campus and have experience in marketing, administration, and research. I am excited to work at my home university, providing resources and assistance to students as they explore their academic and career opportunities. My goal is to create a welcoming and supportive environment for students, ensuring that they feel heard and providing guidance in the right direction. Feel free to visit me in UNC 207 for a chat, and I’ll be happy to assist you!
Location
Academic & Career Advising
UNC 207 (University Centre)
3272 University Way
Kelowna, BC Canada
V1V 1V7
