Podcast Team
Qais Al Jafari
Podcast Manager
Qais is a fourth year student majoring in economics, politics and philosophy. I enjoy spending my time hiking, at the beach, and with friends exploring Vancouver with my favorite spot being the Beavers Lake at Stanley Park. I am excited to start this term with IONA and start making enjoyable and informative podcasts with my team for you to tune in to.
Saumya Pandey
Podcast Manager
Saumya is a third-year Bachelor of International Economics student, with an interest in gender, labour, behavioural, and development economics, and political economy. She is excited to continue her involvement with IONA this year and lead the podcast team. She hopes to contribute meaningfully to her community of fellow students (and podcast junkies!). Her favourite part of IONA is the community, the camaraderie that accompanies it, and the ability to work with other people deeply interested in economics and its interaction with the world.
William Co
Podcast Contributor
William is a third year economics student with an interest in international financial economics. After serving in the podcast team last year he will be in the podcast team this year. He hopes to be a successful economist and gain experience in academia, central banking, quantitative finance and the IMF. Outside of school, William swims and plays water polo.
Uddhav Kalra
Podcast Contributor
Uddhav is a fourth year Economics Honours student who is interested in game theory and monetary policy. This is his second year working at Iona Asks as a podcast contributor and hopes to continue building on and improving the episodes. Through the podcast he hopes to show the fun side of economics while also showcasing how it affects the world around us.
Faith Young
Podcast Contributor
Faith is a fourth year Bachelor of Commerce student specializing in finance. She is passionate about environmental sustainability and social impact. She is excited to be a part of the IONA Asks team and be able to learn from others and share research and current events to inspire and inform UBC students interested in economics.
Sarina Chen
Podcast Contributor
Sarina is a second-year arts student. She holds an avid interest in political science and economics. This year, she is ecstatic to hold the positions of marketing leader and podcast contributor. She joined Iona Journal to gain invaluable insights on economic research while applying her knowledge of econometrics in the podcast team. She hopes to engage more students in scholarly discourse and make economics a fun and accessible topic.
Gloria Tin Hang Wu
Podcast Contributor
Gloria is a third-year BA student, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Economics, with an interest in political economy journalism. She has always found inspiration in podcasts and is excited to apply her interests to her work at IONA Ask. Gloria is passionate about exploring the intersection of economics and politics and brings a combination of political insight and economic curiosity to the team. Her goal is to facilitate engaging discussions with team members and make nuanced conversations about politics and economics more accessible and relatable to people's daily lives.
Himanshi Wadhwani
Podcast Contributor
Himanshi Wadhwani, a first-year Bachelor's student in International Economics, is a driven and enthusiastic individual embarking on a journey of self-discovery and growth. Her leadership experience as the former President of her school's Student Council has honed her skills in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. With a profound passion for making a positive impact and aspirations of entrepreneurship, she actively seeks innovative solutions that can change lives. Beyond academics and leadership, she finds joy in dance and remains committed to continuous learning and personal development. Currently volunteering in Business Development and Events at the Vancouver School of Economics Career Centre, Himanshi is dedicated to her path of growth and achievement.
Muskan Dave
Podcast Contributor
Hello! My name is Muskan Dave. I am a 3rd year majoring in Economics with an interest in policy analysis. I am interested in the workings of global trade markets and monetary policies. As for this podcast, I plan to focus on current events with an economic lens. When I'm not buried in textbooks, you can find me in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes, hitting the hiking trails, or lost in the world of captivating music and podcasts. I'm thrilled to join the IONA podcast team, collaborating with fellow economics enthusiasts and contributing to the journal's insightful work.
Akshat Kumar
Podcast Contributor
Akshat Kumar is a second-year student in the Bachelor of International Economics program from India. He has always had a passion for Economic policy and how it interconnects with our daily lives. An avid podcast enthusiast, he wants to combine his passion for economics and podcasting to created engaging content for the Iona Asks Podcast. He is thrilled to be a part of the Iona Journal team.
Khushi Khanna
Podcast Contributor
Hey, I'm Khushi, a second-year Arts student planning for an Economics major. I love long walks, exploring new cafes, and striking up random conversations. As a commuter, catch me with earphones in, either engrossed in a podcast or chatting with strangers about anything under the sun. I’m looking forward to engaging in insightful conversations and expanding my knowledge in the field of economics through IONA this year!