Speakers

EVENT HOST

Tassan Sung

Founder, SPOKEN Leadership & Education

Tassan Sung is a founder, facilitator, and community leader with over three decades of experience at the intersection of leadership, finance, education, and philanthropy.

With over 20 years experience in the financial industry, Tassan brings deep expertise in strategy, planning, and stewardship. She holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s in Higher Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

In 2024 and 2026, she was named one of Vancouver Magazine’s “Power 50” for her community impact, and in 2025 received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her work supporting vulnerable communities. Through SPOKEN, Tassan creates spaces where complex conversations are approached with humanity, clarity, and purpose—inviting leaders to reflect not just on what they build, but on what they leave behind.

PANELISTS

Dawn Jia

CEO/CIO UBC Investment Management

Manages $7 billion in assets for UBC, having previously held some of Canada’s most prestigious investment roles. Dawn began in Engineering in China, worked in Toronto and New York (State Street and Barclays) before moving to Vancouver 7 years ago.

Sasha Plavsic

Founder ILIA Beauty

Featured on The Failure Factor podcast

Founded clean beauty company, ILIA Beauty, from the ground up in Vancouver. ILIA was acquired by Famille C, the French parent company of Clarins.

Dr. Stephanie Simmons

Founder Photonic Inc.

As the founder of Photonic, Stephanie, an Oxford-trained PhD physicist, is one of the few women in “Deep Tech.” Already, she has secured a partnership with Microsoft and investments from RBC, TELUS and BC Investment Management.

Abi Coman Walker

COO, Nicola Wealth Management

Originally from London, England, Abi has worked in leadership roles internationally for decades in the UK, Egypt, Brazil, UAE, Hong Kong & Taiwan.