Ajay Puri

PRINCIPAL AT PĒ′PƏL & JEDI FACILITATOR AT UBC

Ajay is a movement builder, strategist, and Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) facilitator. He has over 20 years experience in empowering communities and creating social change in the non-profit, academic, government and social innovation sectors. He currently is an JEDI Facilitator at the University of British Columbia, and runs his consulting agency Pē′pəl; which seeks to deepen engagement using JEDI principles.

Mr. Puri was acknowledged for his work as a featured TEDx speaker and recognized as one of Canada's top five volunteers in CBC's Champions of Change contest. He has spoken to over 200 audiences nationally and internationally on topics dealing with social movements, social innovation, leadership, digital engagement, and healthcare transformation.

He has co-founded many movements including: LeadNow, #EastVanLove, BeeVancity, RangiChangi Roots, Candians for Obama and Changemakers Vancouver. He has also worked in the healthcare system for 15 years in the fields of addictions, elder care, racialized and other marginalized communities; most recently, he led the digital media and engagement team for the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council.

He currently sits on the Advisory Boards of the City of Vancouver Climate Emergency Working Group and Civic Asset Naming Committee, Inner Activist and Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week.

Academically, Ajay holds his Masters of Health Administration from UBC and started his PhD but decided to put it on hold. He has published five peer-reviewed articles on health policy.

In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his toddler and partner, foraging for fungi, gardening, meditating & bhangra dancing.