The slate of qualified candidates running for PMI Toronto Board of Directors for fiscal years 2024-2025

 

Vassilis Anastasiadis, PMP, MSc

Vassilis’s journey in project management started in 2013 where, while working for an Oil & Gas company in the UK, was trusted with delivering the IT portfolio of the organization’s international growth. Since then, Vassilis had the opportunity to work for a number of organizations in the legal, tech, and financial sectors where he led IT programs with a global outreach, budgets of over 20 million USD and global teams of more than 20 people. During this time, Vassilis earned a number of professional certifications, including the PMP.

In 2020, Vassilis moved to Canada with his family and joined, initially, BDO Canada and then Norton Rose Fulbright as a Global Senior IT Project Manager. In his current role, Vassilis is leading a number of IT transformation initiatives that enable Norton Rose Fulbright to standardize their IT offerings and move closer to achieving the firm’s Cloud first strategy.

A volunteer with PMI Toronto since 2020, Vassilis is always looking for ways to promote project management, give back to the community and share his knowledge, skills and experience. Since he joined PMI Toronto, Vassilis has worked with different portfolios and communities to organize events that add value to the Chapter’s members and promote innovative ways of managing projects.

A lifelong learner, Vassilis seizes every opportunity to learn a new skill, directly or indirectly related to Project Management, learn from others, and be inspired by the community. Over the last few months, Vassilis has been researching ways he can integrate workplace psychology and mindfulness into project management. He also likes to spend his free time traveling, cooking and exploring Ontario.

 

Liban Gaashaan, PMP, CSM, MBA, BSc

Liban is an accomplished and dynamic Project Manager who specializes in delivering large business transformation projects in both the public and the private sectors. He is passionate about creating an open and agile working environment that encourages communication between various stakeholders and streamlines the overall customer experience. Some of his clients during his career of over 25 years include Virgin Mobile, WIND Mobile (now Freedom Mobile), Eastlink, Rogers Communications, AT&T, Canada Post, and CIBC, just to name a few. He is currently leading a complex multi-year business transformation project that will support the delivery of infrastructure investments at the City of Toronto.

Liban, who has an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and a BSc. in Computer Science from York University, is a local leader with international experience and is passionate about giving back to the PMI Toronto community. In his spare time, he enjoys public speaking, coaching and mentoring, as well as hiking and exploring nature, and drone photography.

 

Latif Hassanzay, PMP, OCT

Latif Hassanzay, PMP, OCT currently serves on the PMI Toronto Board of Directors and is an active volunteer with chapter Toronto since 2017. He is currently working at Infrastructure Ontario having previously been at Greco Construction.

Latif’s previous work experience includes Project Manager and Internal Safety Auditor. He advocates for workers’ health and safety and believes in providing every worker a safe work environment. Latif has streamlined the Health and Safety management system, and processes which resulted in Greco Construction achieving IHSA - Certificate of Recognition (COR).

Latif has a passion for giving back to the Project Management community. Within the Academic Outreach and Professional Mentorship Portfolios, the mentorships programs help guide newcomers and up and coming Project Managers towards a path to align with the many opportunities that the chapter and the GTA offer. He has created strong relationships with local educational institutions to advocate best practices in the academic setting.

Latif mentors students and young professionals to guide them in growing within the profession and looks forward to seeing them become future leaders. He advocates for youth in project management, and he has been part of the Organizing Committee since the inception of the Ontario Project Management Competition (OPMC) and Youth Conference (OPMYC).

Latif graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Education. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Construction Management from George Brown College and Advance Diploma in Architectural Technology from Centennial College.

In his leisure time, he loves to continue to grow and learn about Leadership, Business and Real Estate through listening to podcasts, reading books, and attending educational seminars.

 

Iain Shao, PMP

Iain joined PMI in 2013 and contributed to the development of the newly established PMI Toronto Government Community. Since 2015, he has supported the growth of the community, volunteers, event management and mentored members on professional career development.

As an experienced relationship manager and performance coach professional, he is driven by a 'how can I help' mindset, and strives to remove barriers and improve enablement for his peers. He brings close to a decade of public practice and over 25 years of experience with diverse perspectives from Rogers, Peel District School Board and Symantec.

In addition to his primary job functions, Iain has been recognized by his peers and supervisors for his extraordinary commitment to building inclusive partnerships and engaging stakeholders. Iain has an insatiable desire to bring the best out-of-you and actively contributes his time volunteering for Ontario Public Services Diversity networks, Ride for Heart and at his community church. Iain looks forward to support the PMI 4.0 initiative and championing the Project Manager leaders of tomorrow by continuing to serve members and volunteers as elected member of the PMI Toronto Board of Directors.