Meet your 2021 Board of Directors
Biography
The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce is committed to advocating for a competitive business environment in Edmonton. This requires the Board of Directors to be relevant and aware of local and global issues that impact Edmonton while providing organizational excellence to the members.
Aziz is amongst the few Edmontonian who carry global business experience and expertise. As an Architect, Aziz has an adept understanding and profound respect for the business community, as well thorough experience in assisting the business community. Having worked internationally in the USA, India, the Middle East (including Dubai, UAE and Doha, Qatar) and Canada, Aziz can add value to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce by bringing a global business perspective and influence to Edmonton’s business community.
Born in Mumbai, India, where Aziz completed his undergraduate studies in Architecture, he then moved to the USA to pursue a Master’s Degree in Architecture. After working in Los Angeles for 8 years, Aziz moved to Edmonton in 1994 and has since been working with Kasian Architecture, currently as Vice-President, Business Development and Managing Principal for Edmonton and Doha. In 2012, Aziz successfully completed a Master’s in Business Administration at the University of Alberta. In addition, he is a Qualified Arbitrator and Mediator, certified by ADRIC (Alternate Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada). This varied experience and expertise has molded his personality into one that is committed to community development and mentoring.
Aziz is engaged in various community organizations and has been engaged with a range of both community and business groups over the years, including the Aga Khan Council for Edmonton, Canada Dubai Business Council, Mediator and Arbitrator, Edmonton Executive Association (EAA) and various professional institutions. He was the creative mind and founder of the “Edmonton Project” in 2018. His professional and academic training has made him a capable corporate governance manager with excellent listening and problem-solving skills through collaboration and inclusive engagement. Aziz is passionate about mentoring and was conferred as a Fellow by the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada in 2018. He was also recognized by the Canadian Immigrant for the value he places on mentorship, and featured in local media as one of the few Architects conferred with RAIC Fellowship.
Considering all of Aziz’s personal and professional achievement and successes, his commitment to community and family, his personal dedication to mentoring and growth, and his global vision, I nominate Aziz to be inducted as a member of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors for 2021.
Our mission is to bolster Edmonton’s business environment. What does this mean to you?
The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce has enabled businesses to succeed by providing confidence and being the voice for Edmonton businesses when it matters. To me, bolstering the business environment means impacting policies, helping businesses stay relevant and building organizational excellence. It is critical to change what we cannot accept and accept what we cannot change. The political, economical, social and technology factors impacting sustainable growth are undergoing constant change locally and globally. Understanding how these external factors impact the Edmonton economy, engaging thought leaders to mitigate the risks and influencing businesses to be more competitive to succeed will be key to bolstering the Edmonton business environment. Bolstering is about the ECC providing leadership through lessons learned, supporting businesses to survive and grow by seeking opportunities within the challenges. Assisting businesses to continue to adapt to the new reality by re-grouping will prepare them to operate in a rapidly evolving world.
How would you work to advance the Edmonton Chamber’s impact on the business community?
The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce (ECC) has been a great resource over the years for advocacy, education, and opportunities to connect. To understand the business community’s needs and continue ECC’s impact effectively, I will meet with focus groups to listen to our business community, understand pain points and develop responses and actions. Aligning with ongoing ECC activities, setting tangible objectives and celebrating achievements, I see myself engaging with local businesses through thought leadership, advocating for their concerns, providing opportunities to learn by partnering with sister organizations and global institutions, and connecting businesses to enhance capacity and grow their networks.
Powered by a personal desire to make Edmonton a sustainable, business-friendly, smart, and innovative city, I undertake the challenge to represent my fellow businesses; to listen, to strengthen the foundation of Edmonton businesses and build the edifice of the future through collaborative and inclusive dialog, to make Edmonton an independent and successful City of Choice.
What leadership skills, expertise and experience do you have to offer to the Board of Directors of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce?
My personal qualities of integrity, competence, dedication, and effectiveness define my brand. I am passionate about community service, and through my vision and leadership I look forward to serving alongside other qualified board members in the interest of the membership. As a practicing Architect, I excel at listening to client needs and providing a collaborative solution that meets client objectives and makes a sustainable contribution to the community. [In addition, as a qualified mediator I can maintain focussed discussion through effective listening, building consensus and collaborative problem solving to direct action towards bolstering Edmonton’s business community. I am process-oriented and believe that there is a solution to every problem if you are patient and willing to engage the collegiate and learn form sister organizations and local think tanks. Embracing organizational stewardship, I bring good governance and diligence to serve the interests of ECC and the membership.
Any closing comments?
On August 25, 1994, driving (migrating) from LA to Edmonton I was pulled over for speeding at the Calgary Trail and 23rd Avenue intersection which I eventually helped transform into South Edmonton Common. I have been asked numerous times “having lived in Bombay, Los Angeles and Dubai – why Edmonton?” Edmonton is a welcoming city for young families to succeed. From quality healthcare to caring for the aged, education, technology, small businesses, and large corporates, it’s a city everyone loves to call Home!
“Good to great” lies in the discipline to do whatever it takes to become the best and then to seek continual improvement from there.” I believe the power of mentoring assists in continual improvement. The Edmonton business community, with its strong entrepreneurial spirit, has the power to encourage, influence and mentor the youth for an even stronger Edmonton of tomorrow, a trend ECC can fuel.
Biography
Jason has been with DynaLIFE Medical Labs since its inception in 1996. Employing over 1400 Albertans, DynaLIFE is one of the region’s largest private employers. Over the last decade, Jason has dedicated his time to building relationships and working closely with executive team members within government and industry in order to structure and support new and innovative service models for health care, including the development of performance-based operating models for improving accountability and laboratory service to Albertans. DynaLIFE has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, consistently as one of Alberta’s Top Employers, and is recognized for its culture and community leadership. Jason personally participates in and leads various bio‐tech related industry groups, works with Economic Development and participates on various community committees and boards including Health City, Applied Pharmaceuticals Innovation, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry University of Alberta, Little Warriors, the Bissell Centre, and various other non-profit organizations. Jason holds a CPA designation with the Certified Professional Accountants of Canada. Jason was born and raised in the Edmonton region where he is a husband and father to six children.
Our mission is to bolster Edmonton’s business environment. What does this mean to you?
Edmonton is at a critical juncture in its journey towards a relevant and sustainable business community. The recent creation of Edmonton Global, the transition of provincial political strength back to Calgary, the upcoming municipal election, and the restructuring of EEDC has removed many of the historic platforms Edmonton businesses relied on for leadership and stability. Yet the Chamber remains. As Alberta and the Edmonton Region begin a new post-COVID and post-economic crisis recovery, the Chamber has an opportunity to take a leadership role in rallying, advocating, and executing critical decisions that will shape this City and our Province for decades to come. At a time where we see a "passing of the torch" not just from our business and community leaders of the Baby Boom generation but also the emergence of new torches related to parts of our new economy based on the resources of our innovators. The Chamber must be a critical leader in these transitions.
How would you work to advance the Edmonton Chamber’s impact on the business community?
Edmonton is at a critical juncture in its journey towards a relevant and sustainable business community. The recent creation of Edmonton Global, the transition of provincial political strength back to Calgary, the upcoming municipal election, and the restructuring of EEDC has removed many of the historic platforms Edmonton businesses relied on for leadership and stability. Yet the Chamber remains. As Alberta and the Edmonton Region begin a new post-COVID and post-economic crisis recovery, the Chamber has an opportunity to take a leadership role in rallying, advocating, and executing critical decisions that will shape this City and our Province for decades to come. At a time where we see a "passing of the torch" not just from our business and community leaders of the Baby Boom generation but also the emergence of new torches related to parts of our new economy based on the resources of our innovators. The Chamber must be a critical leader in these transitions.
What leadership skills, expertise and experience do you have to offer to the Board of Directors of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce?
Edmonton is at a critical juncture in its journey towards a relevant and sustainable business community. The recent creation of Edmonton Global, the transition of provincial political strength back to Calgary, the upcoming municipal election, and the restructuring of EEDC has removed many of the historic platforms Edmonton businesses relied on for leadership and stability. Yet the Chamber remains. As Alberta and the Edmonton Region begin a new post-COVID and post-economic crisis recovery, the Chamber has an opportunity to take a leadership role in rallying, advocating, and executing critical decisions that will shape this City and our Province for decades to come. At a time where we see a "passing of the torch" not just from our business and community leaders of the Baby Boom generation but also the emergence of new torches related to parts of our new economy based on the resources of our innovators. The Chamber must be a critical leader in these transitions.
Any closing comments?
First and foremost I was born here and I have raised my family here. I have six children who are just entering the workforce and making their decisions on their education and future. I believe Edmonton is big enough to make anything worth doing and small enough to get it done. People have always come to Edmonton for one thing. Opportunity. My goal is to build them an Edmonton of opportunity.