Fariborz Birjandian is the co-chair of the national Afghan resettlement operation and has supported refugees for the past 35 years. As CEO at CCIS, he leads 385 staff members and 1,800 volunteers who deliver 96 programmes and services to aid the settlement and integration of immigrants and refugees in Calgary, Alberta, and its surrounding communities. Mr Birjandian has served on numerous committees, boards and task forces related to immigration, refugees, diversity, equal rights and the cultural arts at the local and international levels. He has been instrumental in designing and initiating numerous methodologies related to settlement and integration including the UNHCR Settlement Handbook that is used nationally and internationally. In recognition of his work in support of refugees, Mr Birjandian has been given numerous awards including the Government of Canada’s Citation for Citizenship, the Alberta Centennial Medal, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award. Mr Birjandian is a former refugee who left his home country of Iran in 1987.