Ravi Saxena, newly hired executive director, Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society – photo 250News

Prince George, B.C. – Ravi Saxena has been hired to succeed Baljit Sethi as executive director of the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society.

Originally from Delhi, India, Saxena immigrated to Canada over 10 years ago and settled in Prince George a year after that.

He’s known to many for his volunteer efforts – for example most recently he organized the Unsung Heroes of Northern B.C. event in February at the Coast Inn of the North (see story here).

He’s also been involved politically, including an unsuccessful bid for a council seat in the 2014 local elections in Prince George.

Saxena earned an MBA from UNBC in 2012 and most recently worked as an appliance salesman at Sears while managing his own event management company.

Considering Sethi’s long tenure (1975-2017) he knows he has some big shoes to fill.

“Oh, very big shoes to fill. I know the community has high expectations and I will try my best to fulfill those expectations.”

He started the job Monday and has some goals he’d like to achieve.

“Within six months you’ll see the changes. I have a very strong team here which will help me. We have our own building, we have a great diversified board,” says Saxena. “I also plan to be transparent and to bring in some revenue. Our long-term goal is to expand our child care centre.”

In the short-term he adds a Diversity Day is in the works for September. In the meantime, Saxena’s door is wide open.

“It’s open to everyone. They can come in and discuss their concerns and I’ll try my best to help.”

He says he’s also very thankful for the work of acting executive director Sharon Pannu during the transition period.

“On behalf of the Board and myself I’d like to congratulate her and the staff at IMSS for working very hard and providing great service for the community.”