Watch them lead with purpose and passion.
Meet your 2026–2027 IGNITE Board of Directors. These student leaders were ratified by you and are ready to help shape what student life looks like across Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber this year.
This year’s board is made up of students from a range of programs, backgrounds and experiences, each bringing their own perspective to the table. Whether it’s improving access to opportunities, building stronger communities or advocating for student needs, they’re stepping into these roles with one common goal: creating meaningful impact.
For the first time, IGNITE didn’t go through a traditional election period. According to IGNITE bylaws (Articles 5.1 and 5.3), when nominees don’t exceed the number of available seats, no election is required. As a result, all candidates were acclaimed.
Now, they officially step in as your representation at IGNITE, helping guide decisions around advocacy, student experience and community initiatives throughout this year.
So, who are the students behind the titles? Let’s get to know them a little better, shall we?
Shivan Ahluwalia – Lakeshore campus
Serving as the Chair for this term, Shivan Ahluwalia is a final-year Bachelor of Commerce — Accounting student. His driving force is to ensure that student voices are represented where decisions are made. Through past leadership experiences and conversations with students, he has gained firsthand insight into the challenges many students face balancing academics, finances and campus life.
“With leadership experience, strong communication skills, and financial knowledge, I can contribute to informed decision-making and help create real, visible and lasting impact for students,” Ahluwalia said.
Gracy Narewal – University of Guelph-Humber campus
A business major with a passion for collaboration and leadership, Gracy Narewal will serve as the Vice-Chair for the board. She is especially interested in creating opportunities that help students feel more connected to their future careers and professional communities.
Gracy believes networking opportunities should be accessible throughout the year, and with that, she hopes to support initiatives that encourage students to build confidence, gain industry exposure and make meaningful connections beyond the classroom.
“I am well-connected with UofGH students across different programs and can understand and represent issues that affect a wide range of students,” Narewal said.
Sehaj Bajwa – Lakeshore campus
A digital communications student, Sehaj Bajwa is driven by the impact student leadership can create. As a current staff member in the Dean’s Office, he has worked closely in administrative settings and understands both sides of the system and how to bridge them better as a Director. His goal is to ensure student feedback leads to visible improvements rather than getting lost in the process.
“Serving on the Board would allow me to help shape IGNITE’s direction and strengthen it as an experiential resource that turns student feedback into lasting impact,” Bajwa said.
Rish Diwan – Lakeshore campus
Rish Diwan brings a strong sense of accountability and transparency to the board as a Commerce – International Business student and business owner. His focus as Director? Making sure student resources are used effectively to support initiatives that actually matter to students.
“I want to be a dependable voice for students and help ensure student resources are used in ways that genuinely benefit them,” Diwan said.
Brandy Laurent – Lakeshore campus
A Marketing student with experience across multiple campuses and a global perspective, Brandy Laurent is a Director passionate about equity, accessibility and representation across all campus initiatives. He wants to help break barriers for diverse student communities and ensure students from all backgrounds feel included and supported on campus.
“Having studied across two campuses and lived on three continents, I understand that representation in governance matters and that students deserve leaders who understand their realities and work toward meaningful solutions,” Laurent said.
Abdul-Moiz Saeed – North campus
Abdul-Moiz Saeed is stepping into the role of Director, while also serving as the Vice-President of the Humber Muslim Student Association. He is a Mechatronics Engineering student with a strong commitment to volunteering. His involvement in student communities has helped him develop teamwork, advocacy and communication skills while learning the importance of representation and inclusion.
“I am motivated to serve on the IGNITE Board to represent student voices [and] support initiatives that enhance the student experience…” he said.
Purab Sharma – Lakeshore campus
Purab Sharma, from the Bachelor of Commerce – Finance program, brings a sharp, business-minded lens to governance. He’s focused on balancing long-term sustainability with immediate student impact during his term as Director without losing sight of what students actually need.
“I understand how decision-making can drift away from student realities and am confident in speaking up to close that gap,” Sharma said.
Surjeet Singh – North campus
A Fitness and Health Promotion student, Surjeet Singh’s focus is on inclusivity and community-building. As an international student himself, he understands how overwhelming campus life can sometimes feel when students are adjusting to a new country, culture and environment.
He hopes to encourage activities and initiatives that help students connect with one another and build a stronger sense of belonging on campus.
“Many activities do not fully bring out student potential,” Singh said. “I believe more diverse and inclusive activities can help bring different cultures and communities together.”
Maryam Zahid – North campus
As a nursing student, Maryam Zahid brings empathy, compassion and a strong focus on mental health to the board. She’s driven to create a more compassionate and student-first campus environment where students feel safe, respected and supported throughout their academic journey.
“As a nursing student, I understand the importance of mental health, fairness, and community,” Zahid said. “I care deeply about students feeling heard, supported, and respected.”
They’re ready to meet you, too
Our Board of Directors may have different stories, but they all share one mission: to show up, speak up and make things happen!
Over the next year, these student leaders will help guide conversations around services, campus experiences and student needs while working to represent the voices of students across campuses.
Keep an eye out for opportunities to meet them at events. So if you see them around campus, don’t hesitate to say hello, share your ideas or speak up about the issues that matter to you. These are the students helping bring those conversations to the table.
Feature image courtesy of IGNITE
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