Toby Louie
President

Toby works as an Executive Lead, Ministry of Finance in the BC public service. Previously, he worked in various policy, planning and communications roles in the public service. His volunteerism includes supporting youth softball and baseball, and he has served as a volunteer coach, association board member and softball association president. Born in Macau, China and raised in Victoria, Toby graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Master of Public Administration.

Miranda Ji
Vice President

Miranda is Executive Vice President Sales & Business Development at the Victoria Conference Centre. She has extensive experience in the hospitality and tourism sector and has served on various boards in this capacity. her family benefited from the services provided by ICA in her life, leading her to volunteer with the organization during her university years and eventually to her current role on the board. She has worked and travelled abroad and enjoys learning about different cultures. Growing up in Victoria, Miranda attended the University of Victoria and received her Bachelor of Education degree specializing in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Sambo Eam, CPA
Board Treasurer

Sambo was born in a refugee camp along the border of Thailand and Cambodia. In 1985, Sambo’s parents immigrated to Canada and began a new life in Victoria, BC. The ICA played an integral role in helping the Eam family navigate a new country with little resources. Growing up in Victoria, Sambo obtained a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria and holds a CPA designation. He started his accounting career as an external auditor at KPMG and now is the Manager of Financial Reporting at the Capital Regional District. In his free time, he enjoys family life with his two young daughters. As an ICA Board member, Sambo is excited to contribute his firsthand experiences and financial expertise to ICA’s purpose and mission.

Paul Smith

Paul was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and moved to Victoria in 1994 after attending St. Mary’s University where he studied Psychology and Criminology. Paul is a Staff Sergeant with the Saanich Police Department where he has served for the past 24 years. A true passion for coaching and mentoring was identified early in Paul’s life. These early opportunities led to a lifelong commitment to coaching and Paul has been highly involved in the Greater Victoria Community for the past 20 years with various local youth sports organizations. As an ICA board member, Paul looks forward to working collaboratively with other board members and community partners to ensure a smooth, successful transition for newcomers to our community.

Shiko Mungai

Shiko is a lawyer at the Ministry of Attorney General BC. She is originally from Kenya where she engaged in private practice, worked at the United Nations Environment Programme, Amnesty International and volunteered at other non-governmental organizations. She is currently a lawyer with the BC Public Service. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.  As a newcomer to Canada herself, Shiko is keen to support other newcomers and serves as the chair of ICA’s Policy Committee. She is passionate about community development, and as a board member of Work Her Dream Organisation, she actively supports education and welfare of girls in a slum in Eldoret, Kenya where she grew up. In her scarce free time, she loves to spend time with her family, garden, explore beautiful BC and {believe it or not}, cleaning!

Tiana Solares

Tiana Solares is a passionate public service manager with over 15 years of experience in the federal and municipal sectors. With experience in competitive and recreational sports, art galleries, museums and libraries, she grew her skills in relationship management, negotiations and strategy development during her time working with the newcomer and refugee service sector as Assistant Director of Settlement Operations with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Currently the Senior Manager of Recreation with Parks, Recreation and Community Services in Saanich Tiana is proud Atlantic Canadian, she is loving the West Coast island life with her charming husband Hector, and equally charming tornado of a son, Leo.

Zhila Alizadeh-Borji, BBM

Zhila is a Persian woman, a mother of a beautiful daughter and a proud aunt. Born and raised in Iran, she graduated from the University of Tehran with a degree in business. She has also completed the level 4 Certified General Accountant program and is in the process of obtaining her Certified Aboriginal Finance Manager Certification. She has worked in a variety of finance management positions in Tehran. She moved to Canada in 2001 and has been employed since then in a similar environment, as well as operating her own financial consulting business focused on trust reporting, trust audit, and the Law Society of BC’s rule. Currently, she works full-time as the Finance Manager for the Indigenous Perspectives Society. She has many passions which include artistic endeavors, family values, and her work.

David Laks

David is an investment professional and active community volunteer with the United Way of Vancouver, RBC Blue Water Project, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the Green Partnership Program at Fairmont Hotel & Resorts. He is a second-generation immigrant to Canada and his father’s family originally left Russia during the Russian Revolution. During this time, his family became refugees and lived in China and Australia before eventually moving to Canada in the 1960s. he has a genuine interest in other cultures and a desire to help newcomers feel welcome in his hometown of Victoria. In addition to earning an MBA from Queen’s University. Holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria.

Coco Zhu

Coco is a Senior Policy Analyst, Indigenous Services Canada. She is an active community volunteer, including as a Bridges for Women Society board member and a former ICA English Teacher’s Assistant. As an immigrant to Canada, Coco has directly benefited from similar non-profit organizations, which has inspired her to help ease newcomer transitions and use her education, professional and personal experiences to advocate for ICA and its mission, vision, values and clients.