Report: 2025 UBC Partnering in Research Conference

“Partnered research strengthens our academic and research mission, makes learning more impactful for students, and ensures that the knowledge created here doesn’t stay within our walls, but moves into action where it’s needed most. It also contributes to BC’s economic and social fabric. By working together, across sectors, disciplines and communities, partnered research fuels innovation, strengthens industries, and creates opportunities that benefit the entire province.” 

— Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon, UBC President and Vice-Chancellor 

Message from Co-Organizers

As we closed this year’s gathering, we did so with deep gratitude for the people, conversations, and commitments that shaped our time together.  

Partnering in research means holding steady in the face of systems and challenges that don’t always make relational work easy: competition for limited funding, complex and conflicting perspectives on information ownership, protective protocols and processes that seem important but feel bureaucratic, loss and its profound impact on partnership. It means going beyond good intentions: digging into ourselves to understand why we want to partner in research, being brave enough to share our real motivations with each other, and patient enough to listen so partnerships can form without individual compromise.  

The conversations at the 2025 PiR Conference were honest, sometimes uncomfortable, and often inspiring, just as community-engaged research demands. This year, in response to feedback from 2023 conference goers, we prioritized activities designed to spark meaningful conversations and help us build community.  

In a time of polarization and uncertainty, this gathering reminded us of the power of connection and the importance of continuing to walk this path together. Thank you to everyone involved for dedicating yourselves to accountable, reciprocal, and respectful research. 

— Genevieve Creighton, Manager, UBC Knowledge Exchange and Katie McCallum, Director, UBC Community Engagement

Jump to Section

UBC’s Partnering in Research conference took place at UBC Robson Square, which is situated on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.  

These lands have nurtured the knowledge, relationships, and cultural practices of their respective people since time immemorial. As we gathered there to focus on building collaborative and reciprocal partnerships within and beyond academia, it was essential that we honoured these living relations and histories. 

“My biggest learnings and much-needed reminders came from Indigenous community partners’ questions and comments in the sessions I attended. I appreciated the diverse audience for this very reason.”

— Conference attendee, post-event survey

Co-written by Amila Li and Rhea Mann. Amila was a recent PhD student in UBC’s Department on English and Literatures. Rhea is a fourth-year undergraduate student in the same department. Amila and Rhea were invited to report on the conference and share their personal reflections. 

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, 245 faculty, staff, graduate students, and community partners gathered at UBC Robson Square for the second UBC Partnering in Research Conference.

Convened by UBC’s Knowledge Exchange Unit, Indigenous Research Support Initiative, Office of Community Engagement, and Centre for Asian Canadian Research and Engagement, the conference explores the messy, rewarding, and transformative world of partnered research. As UBC commits to expanding reciprocal partnerships and accelerating the societal impact of research, this event serves as a vital platform for collaboration, reflection, and action—especially in a time of polarization, austerity, and systemic inequities. 

We, Amila and Rhea, arrived with different frames of reference. For Amila, the conference was a space to explore possibilities beyond the often-abstract work produced within the university. For Rhea, the purpose and impact of partnered research were still unclear. 

The day’s programming included a keynote talk, facilitated exercises, and concurrent sessions organized around three themes—Engage, Impact, and Transform—all designed to foster collaboration. 

Keynote speaker Atlanta Grant set the tone for the day with her address, Decolonizing the Self: Navigating Cross-Cultural Research Partnerships. A harm reduction coordinator, independent consultant, and MA graduate from UBC, Grant emphasized the importance of the “before” stage in partnered research. “Knowledge,” Grant explained, “is a process,” and mutually respectful research requires an exchange of knowledge systems. She stressed that intent matters: the language and concepts used should resonate with, not alienate, the community involved. Grant concluded by asking researchers to consider their commitment to community-engaged work—particularly in the absence of virality, profitability, or public attention. 

Following the keynote, facilitator Zena Sharman led a series of exercises to support reflection and connection. We had the opportunity to speak with several attendees—including UBC faculty, community partners, and graduate students—who shared their enthusiasm for the collaborative possibilities the day offered. 

Engage: Exploring the Fundamentals of Partnership 

During the first round of concurrent sessions, Amila attended Strengthening Research Partnerships with BC’s Non-Profit Sector, presented by community partners Prairie Chiu, Chris McBride, and Angela Contreras. The presenters highlighted the tension between the expectations of researchers and those of community members who may not identify as researchers themselves. Chiu (pictured on the right), Director of Engagement and Advocacy at Vantage Point, put it, “Historically, research has been conducted by those who have more power on those who don’t have as much power.”  

Chiu added: 

“Having something like this [conference] is important to continue sharing power. I trust that every researcher who takes the time to attend an event like this today will take away something that will shape the control that they have over a research project or a study and how they might engage with a non-research party in their projects.”

For Amila, who recently left her PhD program to pursue more community-engaged work, this critique hit close to home, underscoring the need for more equitable models of engagement. 

Impact: Driving Change Through Respectful Collaboration 

Next, Amila joined Building Collective Wisdom for Indigenous-led Research, a Roots Circle hosted by UBC staff Sophie Carriere and Sam Filipenko, with Elders Rosie George-Dapp and Duane Jackson. The circle centred Indigenous values of relationality, tradition, and reciprocity.

Carriere (pictured on the left), Research Coordinator for a collaboration between UBC’s Human Early Learning Partnership and the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health, described how the event helped counteract the institutional fatigue she had felt earlier in the week:

“It’s really nice to come here and think, okay, it’s not just me. It’s this collective force, and everyone is experiencing the same challenges. Once we’re able to connect, we’ll be stronger as a unit to help push back against the things that don’t work for us. A lot of us are staff or researchers, but we’re also the people who will become the next leaders.”

The session’s collective learnings were later turned into a graphic report titled Collective Wisdom for Indigenous-led Research co-authored by the Human Early Learning Partnership, the Indigenous Research Support Initiative, and the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health. To honour each voice from the sharing circle, the graphic includes individual contributions rather than a themed analysis, and it is intended for each of us to reflect on our values, feelings, challenges, and opportunities to create change.

Transform: Reimagining Research Through Art and Dialogue 

For the final session, Rhea attended Art, Access, and Radical Engagement, with artists and curators Stephanie Bokenfohr, Carmen Papalia, and Olumoroti Soji-George. In response to Rhea’s question about the nature of partnered research, Papalia (pictured in the center of the photo on the right), a non-visual social practice artist, explained that there are “flavours of partnership”—some more extractive than others—and that researchers must continue to engage respectfully with communities and unfamiliar spaces. “A lot of people who are developing new practices and new ideas about expansive models for accessibility that go beyond [the norm], they’re artists.” For Rhea, this framed art as both a research method and a form of activism, expanding her understanding of how knowledge is created and shared. 

While Rhea explored art’s transformative potential, Amila spoke with Dr. Saraswathi Vedam (pictured on the left), Lead Investigator of the Birth Place Lab and Professor of Midwifery at UBC. Dr. Vedam participated in Building Your Path in Partnered Research, a session designed for graduate students to connect with mentors and university resources. Both Amila and Dr. Vedam appreciated that graduate students were positioned as leaders in the conversation. “There are unexpected benefits,” Dr. Vedam said, “to this day that’s structured with a lot of discussion without being just banking-style education” —referring to traditional, one-way teaching where students are seen as empty vessels rather than active participants in learning. As Vedam reflected: 

“We need more opportunities both for transdisciplinary conversations and for trainees of all levels to just be together and learn together across professions.”

The 2025 Partnering in Research Conference invited attendees to reflect on the fundamental questions that shape research: What is it? What does it do? Who does it, and who does it serve? Through candid conversation and collective problem-solving, the event advanced UBC’s strategic goals to partner with purpose, discover for impact, and cultivate a university culture that supports reciprocal, community-engaged research. By creating space for connection beyond traditional research outputs, the conference planted seeds for future collaborations—ones that may be spontaneous, unanticipated, and truly transformative. 

“I’m a patient partner without a huge research background. I thought I might feel out of place or that what I had to say would be simplistic — so, boy, was I surprised when I realized how inclusive researchers are! How human, unpretentious, kind, compassionate. I was seriously impressed and extremely happy to encounter kindred spirits.”

— Conference attendee, post-event survey

9:00 am – 9:30 am: Welcome and Opening Remarks

Katie McCallum, Genevieve Creighton, Elder Roberta Price, Melanie Stewart, and Benoit-Antoine Bacon

9:30 am – 10:00 am: Decolonizing the Self: Navigating Cross-Cultural Research Partnerships

Atlanta Grant

Description

How do we navigate cross-cultural research in ways that do not perpetrate harm on the communities we aim to partner with? 

Looking through the experience and lens of Indigenous research partnerships, are there ways even within good ‘intentioned’ research in which colonial violence and oppression attach itself to the work?

How do we navigate research that is attached to settler-colonial institutions and in relationship with communities such systems actively oppress and erase? 

Hard and complex questions to answer externally—but can there be work internally that begins now, before the research begins to embark on a decolonial practice in cross-cultural engagement. Through the illumination of the ‘ego’ and employment of decolonizing methodologies, such as ‘language reframing,’ Atlanta will share how projects can avoid such colonial oppression and instead, reinstate Indigenous Laws to accomplish safe, decolonized, and abundant outcomes for community flourishment and cultural revitalization. 

Full Speaker Info:

  • Atlanta Grant, Harm Reduction Coordinator, Independent Consultant

10:00 am – 10:30 am: Reflect and Connect

Zena Sharman

Description

A facilitated exercise that will invite reflection on why we’re here and what we hope to gain from and bring to the conference while seeding connections among conference participants

Full Speaker Info:

  • Zena Sharman, Principal, Zena Sharman Consulting

10:45 am – 11:35 am: Concurrent Sessions (Engage)

Community-Engaged Research: Ask Me Anything – Insights, Challenges and Wisdom for the Road

Katherine Cheng, Michelle Stack, and Bruce Moghtader

Description

So what is community-engaged research and how can we do it effectively? This interactive “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) session is designed for researchers, students, community partners, and anyone interested in collaborative research practices. Bring your questions—big or small—about building equitable partnerships, designing meaningful projects, navigating ethical considerations, and translating research into action. Whether you’re just starting or looking to refine your approach, this is your chance to get insights, share experiences, and learn from real-world examples. Join us for an open and engaging conversation!

Full Speaker Info:

  • Katherine Cheng, DTES SRO Collaborative, Manager of Intercultural Organizing and Research
  • Michelle Stack, Associate Professor, Faculty Associate, UBC Faculty of Education, UBC Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice
  • Bruce Moghtader, Officer, Community Based Experiential Learning, UBC Centre for Community Engaged Learning

Strengthening Research Partnerships with BC’s Non-Profit Sector

Prairie Chiu, Chris McBride, and Angela Contreras

Description

Join us for a session exploring the unique characteristics, challenges, and opportunities within BC’s non-profit sector. We’ll begin with an overview of the sector, highlighting research gaps and the sector’s strengths — including its agility, community responsiveness, and diversity. We’ll then examine the realities of non-profit organizations, discussing the pressures they face, their relationships with funders and decision-makers, and the growing need for research partnerships to navigate shifting political landscapes. The session will also explore principles and practices for community-engaged research, including equitable engagement and planning with non-profits, recognizing power dynamics, and navigating ethical considerations. Participants will have a chance to hear from non-profit leaders in small group discussions and learn from a successful case study of partnership, leaving with practical insights to build meaningful and impactful research collaborations. 

Full Speaker Info:

  • Prairie Chiu, Vantage Point, Director of Engagement and Advocacy
  • Chris McBride, Spinal Cord Injury BC, Executive Director
  • Angela Contreras, Verapax, Director and Principal Consultant

Indigenous Perspectives on Research Engagement: “Do I Engage with My Aunties When I Join Them for Tea?”

Shandin Pete, Jessica Barudin, Hanna Paul, Sam and Filipenko

Description

Indigenous researchers often wear multiple hats and work across very different contexts when conducting their research. Navigating these contexts and balancing differing responsibilities requires a thoughtful and intentional approach, which can be both beneficial and challenging. Join this session and hear from the experiences and perspectives of three Indigenous researchers as they talk about engagement in partnered research, and what institutions can do to better to support their work. This session will be hosted as a Kitchen Table, an informal approach to gathering, sharing, and storytelling. 

Full Speaker Info:

  • Shandin Pete, Department of EOAS, Assistant Professor of Teaching
  • Jessica Barudin, UBC, Assistant Professor of Indigenous Community Planning in the School of Community and Regional Planning
  • Hanna Paul, UBC-O Office of Research Services, Indigenous Research Facilitator
  • Sam Filipenko, UBC, Research Program Manager, Indigenous Research Support Initiative

Evidence as a Community Asset – Establishing a Circular Data Model to Support Integrated Knowledge Exchange

Lindsey Richardson and Johanna Li

Description

Activities that are motivated by community engaged research principles inevitably contend with complex contextual dynamics that can challenge whether we effectively translate our intentions into positive impacts for community in a good way. In the context of the Assessing Economic Transitions (ASSET) Study and, in an effort to move away from extractive data collection practices, key community partnerships supported the development of a platform to channel usable data back to community organizations in real time, what we term a “Circular Data Model.” As identified by both research staff and community partners, this project navigated key questions of how to understand community, how to create tangible benefits for community in a sustainable way, and how to navigate shifting political and cultural environments within the larger ecosystem of change. The successes and challenges of this project illustrate complex dynamics surrounding how research and community seek to operationalize value in community engaged projects.

Full Speaker Info:

  • Lindsey Richardson, UBC Department of Sociology, Associate Professor
  • Johanna Li, EMBERS East Side Works, Former Director

Funding Partnerships that Work: Insights from Mitacs, SSHRC, CUES and CCEL

Jacquie Kwok, Shayla Walker, Danica Kell, and Mahtab Nazari

Description

Curious about how to fund research that makes a real-world impact? Join this dynamic panel featuring representatives from Mitacs, UBC Centre for Community Engaged Learning, UBC SPARC, and UBC Community Engagement to explore how different funding models are advancing community-engaged research and cross-sector collaboration. Panelists will share insights on what they look for in strong proposals, how they support equitable partnerships, and ways to align your project with the right funder. Whether you’re a researcher, community leader, or practitioner, this session will offer practical takeaways and inspiration for building meaningful, well-supported partnerships.

Full Speaker Info:

  • Jacquie Kwok, UBC Centre for Community Engaged Learning, Educational Programs Coordinator
  • Shayla Walker, UBC Community Engagement, Program Manager
  • Danica Kell, UBC SPARC Office, Social Sciences & Humanities Research Development Officer
  • Mahtab Nazari, Mitacs, Advisor, Business Development

12:35 pm – 1:35 pm: Conversations that Matter

Zena Sharman

Description

An array of facilitated conversations on topics that matter to conference participants. 

Full Speaker Info:

  • Zena Sharman, Zena Sharman Consulting, Principal

1:45 pm – 2:35pm: Concurrent Sessions (Impact)

Learning in Community: Stories of Impactful Collaborative Research in and beyond the Classroom

J.P. Catungal, Felicity Gutierrez, Elaina Nguyen, Desiree Gabriel, and christina lee

Description

How can collaborative and community engaged research be incorporated into course curricula and implemented in ways that are meaningful and impactful both to learners and to community collaborators?

This roundtable brings together faculty, community members, and undergraduate and graduate students to share their personal stories of engaging in collaborative research as part of ACAM 320J: Asian Canadian Community Research & Engagement, a hands-on community-oriented research course that centres ethical, reciprocal community engagement in every step of its design and delivery. Drawing from their specific perspective as instructor, researcher, community partner, research assistant, or student, each speaker will reflect on their experiences of pursuing collaborative research in a course context. Together, they will explore the possibilities and challenges of pursuing collaborative teaching, research, and engagement with and for the community. Along with sharing key learnings from their experiences, the roundtable will also address key issues in collaborative research in and beyond the classroom, including the stewardship of relationships, practices of reciprocity, public communication of findings, and possible afterlives of collaboration.

Full Speaker Info:

  • J.P. Catungal, UBC Centre for Asian Canadian Research and Engagement
  • Felicity Gutierrez, UBC ACAM
  • Elaina Nguyen, AMSSA, Program Coordinator
  • Desiree Gabriel, UBC, Master’s Student, Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems
  • christina lee, hua foundation, director of community capacity + strategic initiatives, adjunct faculty

Making it Make Sense: The Art of Science Communication

Cissy Suen

Description

Clear, inclusive science communication is essential for turning research into real-world impact—but translating complexity into clarity requires more than simplification. It demands connection, context, and care. 

In this workshop, physicist and science communicator Cissy Suen draws from her background in quantum materials research and her experience as a science communicator to explore how scientists can communicate in ways that resonate with diverse audiences. Together, we’ll examine how to move beyond jargon, engage community perspectives, and build trust in science through storytelling.

Participants will leave with practical tools to:

  • Share research more clearly and ethically.
  • Communicate across differences in knowledge and experience.
  • Foster public engagement that supports—not just informs—collaborative, community-driven research.

Whether you’re a researcher, student, or partner in engagement, this session invites you to rethink how science is shared – and how it can make a difference.

Full Speaker Info:

  • Cissy Suen, UBC, PhD Student

Building Collective Wisdom for Indigenous-Led Research

Sophie Carriere, Sam Filipenko, Duane Jackson, and Rosie George-Dapp

Description

Join the hosts of the Roots Circle (https://roots.ubc.ca) for a sharing circle that explores fostering research partnerships with Indigenous communities, collectives, and organizations. Over four rounds of guided discussions, participants will reflect and collaborate, drawing on the Roots Circle’s values and teachings to understand what it means to hold space for Indigenous-led research. This session will use a relational approach to exploring Indigenous-UBC research partnerships, ensuring that all attendees are heard and included. By the end of the discussions, participants will have co-developed an understanding of the principles and practices needed to decolonize their own spaces in support of Indigenous-led research. We all hold a piece of the puzzle to ensuring that research with Indigenous partners is relational, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial – and you’re invited to join our circle!

Full Speaker Info:

  • Sophie Carriere, Human Early Learning Partnership, School of Population and Public Health, Research Coordinator
  • Sam Filipenko, UBC, Research Program Manager, Indigenous Research Support Initiative
  • Duane Jackson, Gitanmaax Band, Gitxsan Nation
  • Rosie George-Dapp, Tsleil-Waututh Nation

But is it Ethical?: Navigating Ethics Review for Community-Involved Research

Wendy Bond and Asma-na-hi Antoine

Description

This interactive session will look at ethical research practices in the context of community-based research and shed light on the behavioural research ethics board’s (BREB) review practices. Designed for researchers (including faculty and students) and community partners, the session highlights the unique challenges faced when aligning institutional ethics review processes with a community’s practices.

Participants will explore real-world examples that illustrate common ethical dilemmas, such as ensuring authentic engagement with communities, navigating power dynamics, and balancing academic requirements with community priorities. Presenters will share practical strategies for addressing these challenges while fostering meaningful, ethical collaboration between researchers and communities. Feel free to bring your own scenarios for discussion.

Full Speaker Info:

  • Wendy Bond, UBC Office of Research Ethics, Research Ethics Project Officer
  • Asma-na-hi Antoine, UBC, Indigenous Research Project Officer

Stories of Partnership: Importance of Relationships and Reciprocity for Impact

Kshamta Hunter. Zaida Schneider, Caroline Beninger, Akuzike Limbanga, and Mutuma Caelan

Description

Join us for a special edition of the Stories of Partnership series, highlighting community-university collaborations that foster reciprocity.

Listen to students, staff and community partners from Be The Change Earth Alliance and False Creek Friends reflect on lessons learned and share insights from years of working together in climate-focused partnerships. Through distinct yet interconnected initiatives, these partnerships engage youth and communities in climate action and environmental stewardship, with students playing a key role in shaping the work.

Rather than focusing on project details, the session will explore how these collaborations are sustained—highlighting principles like adaptability, reciprocity, and shared decision-making. The conversation will also touch on funding challenges and strategies, including co-applying for UBC’s Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) Fund.

This session is ideal for anyone interested in practical insights into the structures and relationships that support effective and lasting community-university partnerships.

Full Speaker Info:

  • Kshamta Hunter, UBC, Lecturer, Faculty of Education
  • Zaida Schneider, False Creek Friends, Lead Campaigner
  • Caroline Beninger, Be the Change Earth Alliance, Education & Grants Coordinator
  • Akuzike Limbanga, UBC Geography, Environment & Sustainability, UBC Student
  • Mutuma Caelan, UBC, International Relations & Human Geography, UBC Student

2:50 pm – 3:40 pm: Concurrent Sessions (Transform)

Transformative Learning: How Patients and Students Benefit from Participation in the UBC Interprofessional Health Mentors Program

Cathy Kline, Mandy Young, Carmen Golnaraghi, Karen Firus, Lelainia Lloyd, and Ashley Moller-Hansen

Description

Join us for an engaging and inspiring exploration of the UBC interprofessional Health Mentors Program — a groundbreaking initiative where teams of health professional students learn with and from patient mentors who live with chronic conditions, disabilities, or who are caregivers.

Discover how this innovative model, founded on the principles of self-directed learning and reciprocal relationships, has transformed both student and mentor experiences, sparking adoption in five other countries, including France, Switzerland, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina.

The session will open with a brief, dynamic presentation of the research highlighting the program’s transformative impacts, followed by a mixed panel of Health Mentors and past students who will share their personal journeys of growth and change. Through Q&A and small group discussions, participants will dive deeper into how authentic relationships, shared expertise, and patient-led learning foster lasting changes in professional values, beliefs, and behaviours.

Leave with fresh insights and a deeper understanding of how lived experience can powerfully shape future health care practice.

Format:

  • Research presentation
  • Mixed mentor/student panel discussion
  • Q&A session 
  • Final thoughts and takeaways from the panel

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the key elements and structure of the UBC Health Mentors Program.
  • Identify the transformative impacts of patient-partnered, longitudinal learning on students’ personal and professional development.
  • Explore how self-directed, relationship-based learning communities foster reciprocal knowledge exchange and shape values, beliefs, and behaviors.
  • Reflect on ways to integrate principles of patient-partnered learning into their own educational or professional settings.
  • Recognize the global influence and adaptability of the Health Mentors model across diverse cultural and institutional contexts.

Full Speaker Info:

  • Cathy Kline, UBC Patient & Community Partnership for Education, UBC Health, Assistant Director, Patient & Community Engagement
  • Mandy Young, UBC Patient & Community Partnership for Education, UBC Health, Community Engagement Coordinator
  • Carmen Golnaraghi, School of Kinesiology, UBC, Student
  • Karen Firus, Patient and Community Partnership for Education (PCPE), UBC HEALTH, Patient Partner / Health Mentor / Educator
  • Lelainia Lloyd, UBC Interprofessional Health Mentors Program, Health Mentor
  • Ashley Moller-Hansen, UBC School of Biomedical Engineering | Faculty of Applied Science and Faculty of Medicine, Research Coordinator

Braiding Knowledge Through Breath, Language, and Movement: A Multisensory Guide for Healing and Revitalization

Jessica Barudin and William Wasden Jr.

Description

This interactive workshop explores multisensory approaches to community engagement through a Community Guide developed from Jessica Barudin’s doctoral research. Rooted in Indigenous planning, trauma-informed wellness, and language revitalization, this guide was co-created with a community advisory committee and is paired with an award-winning short documentary. The film and guide spotlight culturally rooted, trauma-informed yoga practices and embodiment workshops held with Kwakwaka’wakw community members. Participants will experience segments of the film, a live performance of two healing songs by a Knowledge Holder, and engage in dialogue on research as ceremony. A companion handbook is currently being developed to support adaptation of this work in other First Nations contexts and languages. This session offers a transformative and relational approach to knowledge sharing grounded in movement, breath, and ancestral teachings. 

Full Speaker Info:

  • Jessica Barudin, UBC, Assistant Professor of Indigenous Community Planning in the School of Community and Regional Planning
  • William Wasden Jr., Kwakwaka’wakw artist, singer, composer and cultural leader

Reciprocal Storytelling in Community-Based and Indigenous-Led Research

Derek Thompson, Julie Gordan, and Oliver Mann

Description

Storytelling is a powerful tool for sharing the impacts of community-university collaborations, yet it must be approached with care to avoid perpetuating harm. In the context of university communications, the pressure to fulfill institutional goals—such as boosting funding or recruitment—can distort narratives, leading to harmful practices like portraying researchers as saviors, excluding community voices, or oversimplifying complex identities. Such approaches can undermine trust, damage partnerships, and harm institutional credibility.

This panel spotlights experts in Indigenous storytelling and communications who are shaping how UBC shares narratives of Indigenous engagement and community-based research. Together, they will unpack principles of reciprocal storytelling—an approach that centers community voices, respects diverse knowledge systems, and fosters genuine collaboration. 

In addition to Indigenous perspectives, this panel will include settler communicators who work closely with Indigenous and marginalized communities.  

Through practical insights and interactive discussion, participants will gain tools to: 

  • Recognize and mitigate harmful storytelling practices. 
  • Align narratives with community priorities and ethical principles. 
  • Embrace storytelling as a reciprocal process that amplifies community voices and builds trust. 
  • Develop actionable strategies to integrate these principles into their communications work. 

Whether you are a researcher, communicator, or community partner, this session will inspire transformative approaches to storytelling that honour reciprocity, integrity, and shared purpose.

Full Speaker Info:

  • Derek Thompson, UBC Faculty of Medicine, Director, Indigenous Engagement
  • Julie Gordon, Julie Gordon & Associates, Principal
  • Oliver Mann, UBC Community Engagement, Communications Strategist

Art, Access, and Radical Engagement

Stephanie Bokenfohr, Carmen Papalia, and Olumoroti Soji-George

Description

Join us for a panel conversation hosted by the Vancouver Art Gallery, featuring artists and curators whose work centres around expanding the boundaries of engagement through art. 

In this session, we will discuss the need for art institutions and practitioners who work within them to meaningfully engage with community, and what is required to do so. Hear how public art projects such as the Disability Justice Dreaming Sessions and Gallery Gachet’s Emblematic Elusions: Facets of the Black Venus think beyond the limits of institutions like universities, museums, and galleries and the histories they carry. Learn how art can act as a catalyst for meaningful engagement and ways to enact necessary rule-breaking to engage historically excluded and under-represented audiences. 

Full Speaker Info:

  • Stephanie Bokenfohr, Vancouver Art Gallery, Public Programs Coordinator, Adult Programs
  • Carmen Papalia, Non-Visual Social Practice Artist
  • Olumoroti Soji-George, Gallery Gachet and the Black Arts Centre in Surrey, Curator, Writer, and Educator

Transformative Approaches to Protecting Researchers and Communities from Online Harassment

Heidi Tworek, Chris Tenove, and Netheena Mathews

Description

As researchers increasingly use digital platforms to share expertise and engage the public, they face growing risks of online harassment. This can take forms such as doxing, stalking, and threats of violence, impacting academic freedom, researcher well-being, and career progression. Institutions play a key role in mitigating these risks through proactive policies and strong support systems.

This interactive session builds on research by the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions (CSDI) regarding the online harassment of health communicators, researchers, and public officials. Participants will engage in scenario-based exercises to assess institutional response pathways and identify policy gaps.

Through facilitated discussions, this interactive session will:

  • Examine forms of online harassment and their impacts on academic freedom and researcher well-being.
  • Explore best institutional practices for responding to harassment.
  • Equip attendees with strategies to respond to harassment as targets, bystanders, or colleagues.

Designed for people engaged in research and knowledge translation, this session will provide actionable insights to help foster a safer and more supportive environment.

Full Speaker Info:

  • Heidi Tworek, UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, Canada Research Chair and Professor, Director, Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions
  • Chris Tenove, UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, Assistant Director, Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions
  • Netheena Mathews, Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions (CSDI), Graduate Research Assistant

2:50 pm – 3:40 pm: Grad Student Mentorship—Building Your Path in Partnered Research

Kinwa Bluesky, Kaylee Byers, Koyali Burman, Sara Nelson, Signy Madden, Saraswathi Vedam, christina lee

Description

This interactive session invites graduate students to explore the diverse and evolving landscape of partnered research alongside experienced mentors and resource units from across UBC.  

You’ll have the chance to: 

  • Connect with peers, mentors, and UBC resource units involved in engaged research and scholarship 
  • Learn about different career pathways that bridge research, policy, advocacy, and community collaboration 
  • Gain practical advice from mentors who will share insights on how they got started, the skills that helped them most, and what they wish they had known during grad school 

Whether you’re just beginning or already engaged in partnered research, this session offers space to connect, reflect, and get inspired. Open to graduate students at all levels, it’s an opportunity to explore the “messy, rewarding, and transformative” world of community-engaged research. Bring your questions, challenges, and aspirations! 

Thank you to UBC Graduate and Post Doctoral Studies for sponsoring this session! 

3:50 pm – 4:25 pm: Pathways to Action

Zena Sharman

Description

A facilitated exercise that will give participants the opportunity to identify key learnings from the day and pathways for applying those learnings after the conference.

Full Speaker Info:

  • Zena Sharman, Principal, Zena Sharman Consulting

4:25 pm – 4:35 pm: Closing

Genevieve Creighton and Katie McCallum

“Definitely the best conference I attended this year! I appreciated the open dialogue, that there was a podcast being recorded, the frankness about power structures, and the organization. I enjoyed going to different workshops and having the option to choose ones that were most relevant to my areas of interest.“

— Conference attendee, post-event survey

Thank you to our amazing event photographers Clare Kiernan, Jadi Ng, Amila Li, Rhea Mann, and Oliver Mann! Click through the images using the arrows below or go here to view the full photo gallery.

2025 UBC Partnering in Research Conference

“The program was extremely well-designed, capturing so many aspects of partnered research, from funding to patient-oriented research to ethics. It shows thoughtful conference design. Kudos to the CE and Kx teams at UBC!” 

— Conference attendee, post-event survey

Listen to live-recorded sessions from the conference. Audio recorded by Jared at We Film Events and edited by Oliver Mann. Stay tuned for a third and final podcast.

“It was really impactful to come together with others invested in this work. You can see the interest in partnered research has grown, and it’s more important than ever to have a common set of principles and approaches to ensure UBC is developing meaningful partnerships that improve socio-economic outcomes for citizens of B.C.”

— Conference attendee, post-event survey

Growing demand for partnered research events 

The PiR 2025 gathered 245 attendees at UBC Robson Square. Registration closed within a month, and nearly 100 people remained on the waitlist despite cancellations being filled. This response confirms strong and growing interest in institutional events that support equitable, community-engaged research. 

A broader and more intentional participant mix 

This year’s conference aimed to balance participation across four key groups: faculty, staff, students, and external community partners. The final mix—19% students, 37% staff, 26% external partners, and 18% faculty—reflects progress toward that goal. Student participation, in particular, increased significantly from 3% in 2023 to 19% in 2025. Faculty representation also rose slightly. This shift indicates that PiR is becoming more accessible and relevant to a wider range of university and community actors. 

Key learning outcomes

PiR 2025 focused on strengthening understanding of partnered research: from its community and institutional impact, to practical tools for action. 

Post-event evaluation data shows: 

  • 80% said they better understand the impact of partnered research in communities and universities.
  • 74% gained new insights into common barriers and how to address them.
  • 74% learned more about starting, strengthening, or sustaining a partnership.
  • 58% reported improved understanding of how to help advance institutional change to support this work.

Facilitated dialogues built momentum

In response to 2023 feedback, the 2025 conference introduced three facilitated dialogue sessions designed in collaboration with Zena Sharman Consulting. These sessions created space for reflection, exchange, and action planning. 

94% of participants said the dialogues generated good energy and atmosphere.

Most reported stronger connections, clearer next steps, and inspiration to continue learning. The sessions also helped center attendee interests and surfaced key questions for ongoing work. 

Priority areas for UBC support 

Participants identified several priorities for institutional action: 

  • Fair, timely compensation and accessible funding pathways for community partners and students. 
  • Practical guidance on securing diversified funding sources. 
  • Stronger systems for cross-disciplinary and cross-campus collaboration. 

These themes align with long-standing gaps in UBC’s infrastructure for supporting equitable research partnerships. 

Participant suggestions for future events 

Participants offered clear feedback to improve the next PiR conference: 

  • Increase interactive small-group activities. 
  • Offer more “how-to” sessions with concrete takeaways. 
  • Expand participation across disciplines. 
  • Improve accessibility, particularly around physical space and sensory supports. 
  • Consider a longer, multi-day format to allow for deeper engagement. 

What’s next: Building on what works 

Participants were clear—they want more of what PiR already offers. Several ongoing initiatives and upcoming opportunities can support continued learning and connection: 

Tools and guides: The UBC Indigenous Finance Guidelines, developed by the Indigenous Research Support Initiative, provide essential direction for supporting gift giving and compensation in reciprocal, respectful collaborations between Indigenous partners and the university. UBC Community Engagement has also released a new Honoraria Toolkit to help faculty and staff issue honorary payments to community partners. Participants may also revisit our 2024 workshop, Demystifying UBC’s Financial System, to gain greater clarity on supporting fair and timely payments for community partners.

Skills workshops: In 2026, PiR will offer a new series of online and in-person workshops. Programming is in development, but you can explore our 2024 workshops here.   

Storytelling and success cases: Our Challenges in Partnered Research interviews and Stories of Partnership series will continue to share concrete examples of community-university collaboration, with a focus on partner perspectives and practical insights. 

Communities of practice: Staff are invited to join the Community Engagement Network, a space for peer learning and shared problem-solving. Additional communities of practice for faculty are in development. 

“The sheer breadth of partnered research is truly amazing. Sometimes we forget how far the reach of UBC has (or can have) within society.”

— Conference attendee, post-event survey

“Partnering in Research” (PiR) is a collaborative venture between the Knowledge Exchange Unit and Indigenous Research Support Initiative of UBC’s Vice President Research and Innovation, the Office of Community Engagement under the Vice President External Relations, and the Centre for Asian Canadian Research and Engagement in the Faculty of Arts.  

Inspired by the success of the inaugural UBC Partnering in Research Conference in June 2023, our teams are committed to offering regular programs that uphold and promote excellence in partnered research across UBC. This initiative is designed for UBC researchers, students and staff engaged in partnered research, as well as community partners already collaborating with UBC. 

Contact Information

For any inquiries regarding the conference, please contact us at PiR.Support@ubc.ca. 

Thank you

Thank you to all the participants, hosts, presenters, sponsors, and partners that made this conference possible! 

LEARN MORE ABOUT PARTNERING IN RESEARCH