President: Chantal Elias
Chantal brings a leadership style grounded in listening first, building genuine relationships, and creating spaces where people feel supported, connected, and curious to learn from one another. As President of the MBA Council, she is focused on fostering a culture where every voice is heard and where meaningful connection becomes the foundation for collaboration, growth, and community. Raised in England and Toronto and shaped by experiences abroad Washington, D.C., France, and Morocco, Chantal brings a global perspective and a deep appreciation for diverse viewpoints. She began her career in societal issue management and reputational risk at Gravity Research, advising senior leaders through complex, high-stakes moments—an experience that strengthened her ability to listen deeply, navigate nuance, and bring people together.
Chantal is currently pursuing her MBA at the UBC Sauder School of Business, specializing in climate, driven by her belief that businesses have a critical role to play in advancing decarbonization. Across her academic and leadership experiences, she has consistently prioritized community-building—drawing inspiration from the strong networks of mentorship and camaraderie that have shaped her own journey. Whether through Council initiatives or everyday interactions, Chantal is committed to cultivating a positive, inclusive MBA experience where people feel energized to engage, explore, and grow together. Outside of school, you can find her cycling, practicing yoga, or playing piano and guitar—anything that keeps her present and away from a laptop.
VP External: Yukari Inoue
Yukari believes people can define success on their own terms, and find new possibilities when they're ready for them. She's living that belief herself, pivoting her career from finance and accounting in the mining industry to marketing strategy and brand management in CPG. A natural relationship builder, she leads with curiosity, seeking out diverse viewpoints and stepping into unfamiliar spaces, just as she has navigating life across Japan, Australia, the UK, the USA, and Canada. As VP External, she's committed to the collective success of the MBA 2027 cohort, ready to celebrate every classmate at every step of the way.
Outside of school, she stays active in Vancouver's community, from summer beach volleyball to hiking and climbing. She's also involved in building sober and sober-curious community, and enjoys daily walks with her seven-year-old Jindo-Shiba dog. She's always on the lookout for new hobbies to enrich her life.
VP Internal:
Eva Galura
Meet Eva. She laughs a lot, when she’s happy, when things get awkward, or just because that’s how Filipinos are.
As a Product and Strategy Manager, she enjoys working with cross-functional teams to solve complex problems, balancing business growth, risk, and customer experience while creating meaningful impact.
She loves cooking (with a dash of sugar, because why not?), long walks, meditating, binge-watching, and hanging out with her two dogs, just as quirky as she is. She values deep conversations and making real connections, always happy to chat.
Eva approaches life with warmth, curiosity, and laughter sprinkled everywhere.
VP Finance: Raumil Ahuja
Hi, I'm Raumil, I'm from Delhi, and I'm VP Finance for the Class of 2027.
I spent close to half a decade valuing companies before the MBA, working out what a business is actually worth and what someone should do about that number. It's decent training for this role, which is the same question in a smaller frame. I also volunteer on CFA Society Vancouver's University Outreach Committee, so if finance is the direction you're headed, I can point you that way.
The rest of me: I've played snooker for over a decade and tennis since June, thanks to Vancouver, and the gap shows lol. My friends enjoy this more than I do. I cycle, I'm in the gym most days, and I do stand-up, usually on people who didn't ask for it.
If you've got an idea for something we should do, or you just want a game of snooker, come find me.
VP Communications: Malavika Rasakatla
Hi, I’m Malavika, and I’m VP Communications for the Class of 2027.
Before the MBA, I worked as HR Partner at Amazon, which meant a lot of people, a lot of conversations, and usually at least one thing changing at the last minute. It turns out that’s pretty decent preparation for communications too. My role now is mostly making sure important announcements actually reach you before they get lost somewhere between emails, group chats, and deadlines.
Outside of school, I love reading and I take my coffee very seriously. There’s a good chance you’ll find me with a book in one hand and a coffee in the other, probably pretending I’m taking a break while still thinking about everything I need to do.
If there’s something the cohort should know about, send it my way. And if you ever want to talk about books or coffee, even better.
VP Academics: Sydney Edwards
As Vice-President Academics, Sydney is passionate about helping people and supporting the cohort in getting the most out of their MBA experience. She enjoys creating opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and real-world applications, and is always eager to connect students with resources that help them succeed.
Her background spans running her own small business, e-commerce, and retail operations, and she has a strong interest in innovation and growing women-owned businesses. Outside of school, Sydney can usually be found at the barn with her horse, spending time with family and friends, or walking her dog, Stevie, through Campbell Valley Park. She’s excited to support her cohort and make this a memorable academic year.
VP Events:
Aditya (Adi) Soni
Aditya is a connector and community builder with a background in strategic HR and marketing. Originally from Mumbai, a coastal city sharing a multicultural heartbeat with Vancouver, he moved to BC ten years ago for his undergraduate degree at SFU. A driver of change and efficiency, Aditya spent years refining recruitment and HR operations before joining the MBA program at UBC Sauder, specializing in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
As Vice President of Events, Aditya is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces where his cohort can connect beyond the classroom. He aims to foster a vibrant community that supports both personal and professional growth. Looking ahead, Aditya is passionate about building systems and companies that redefine the "bottom line," seeking to balance long-term profitability with a positive, lasting socio-economic impact.
When he isn’t buried in cases, you can find Aditya balancing his love for hosting with much-needed downtime to reset. An "introverted extrovert," he thrives on bringing people together for a night of stand-up comedy or a spontaneous road trip, but equally treasures his time as a homebody. To stay active, he swaps the books for the gym, a swim, or a game of badminton. His curiosity extends far beyond the classroom, with interests ranging from deep dives into geopolitics and evolving health-tech trends to exploring the best of the Pacific Northwest with friends.
VP Student Development: Ali Riaz
Ali Riaz’s journey has taken him from mechanical engineering and entrepreneurship to healthcare operations, process improvement, and now a full-time MBA at UBC Sauder.
Before Sauder, Ali led businesses across healthcare and operations, managing teams, improving systems, and building organizations in environments where resources were often limited and execution mattered. More recently, his work at Fraser Health has focused on business process improvement, governance, and data-driven decision-making. Across these experiences, he has developed a strong interest in bringing people together, creating clarity, and turning ideas into practical action.
Student development has also been a consistent part of Ali’s journey. During his undergraduate studies at the University of Sheffield, he served as an International Student Ambassador, supporting students as they adjusted to university life and helping them connect with the right resources and community.
As VP of Student Development, Ali aims to strengthen the connection between students, clubs, and the MBA Society while creating more opportunities for students to contribute, lead, and learn from one another. His focus is on supporting student-led initiatives, encouraging peer learning and leadership development, and ensuring that the broader cohort has a meaningful voice in shaping the MBA experience.
Ali believes some of the strongest development opportunities already exist within the cohort;the role of Student Development is to help bring those people, ideas, and opportunities together.