ICC AGM 2026 nominations
Ms. Arghavan Emami: Ms. Arghavan Emami has provided all documents requested in the nomination announcement. She is currently an active member and has been a member in good standing for more than a year.
Ms. Saba Safdar: Ms. Saba Safdar has provided all documents requested in the nomination announcement. She is an active ICC member, upon reviewing her membership history, it was realized that she does not meet the nomination criterion of being a regular member with “good standing for at least one year prior to the election” as outlined in the by-laws. It will be asked from the members to allow her to join ICC board in the ballots of AGM 2026.
Mr. Hossein Rafiei Renani: Mr.Hossein Rafiei Renani has provided all documents requested in the nomination announcement and has been a member in good standing for the past year.
Mr. Mehdi Shams: Mr. Mehdi Shams has provided all documents requested in the nomination announcement but he is not a member in good standing therefore he cannot run for the board of directors.
According to the ICC by-laws, candidates, who do not meet the criterion of being an active member with good standing for at least one year prior to the election, can request for an exemption from the members. To facilitate such a request, members will be asked if they are in favour of granting such an exemption in this election on the election ballot. If approved by the members, candidates who are an active ICC member but do not meet the 1-year requirement, i.e. Ms. Saba Safdar , will be exempted, and if elected, can serve as an ICC director.
Having said the above, the following four candidates will run for the upcoming ICC election to fill the two spots on the Board of Directors. (ordered alphabetically):
3- Ms. Saba Safdar
4- Mr. Hossein Rafiei Renani
As communicated previously with you, the next ICC annual general meeting (AGM) will be held on August 2 from 1 PM ET (10 AM PT) through a videoconferencing platform. Please note that only ICC members who have joined/renewed their membership by July 24, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET will be entitled to attend the upcoming AGM and vote in the election.
The ICC election committee
Introduction of AGM 2026 candidate Saba Safdar
Dr. Saba Safdar is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Guelph and Director of the Social Practice and Transformational Change (SOPR) Ph.D. program. For more than two decades, her work has focused on immigration, multiculturalism, identity, and building more
inclusive communities.
Her research examines the experiences of immigrants and refugees, exploring how factors such as culture, gender, discrimination, and public policy shape integration, belonging, and well-being. She has worked closely with diverse communities in Canada and internationally to better understand the opportunities and challenges newcomers face and to identify practical approaches that foster social inclusion.
Dr. Safdar is committed to ensuring that research informs public policy and community practice.
Through collaborations with community organizations, government agencies, and international partners, she has contributed to initiatives that promote intercultural understanding, equity, and the full participation of diverse communities in society.
She has authored more than 80 scholarly publications and has held numerous international leadership roles, including serving as President of the International Academy for Intercultural Research (2023–2025). She currently represents Canada at the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) and directs EDUCATE, the educational initiative of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology.
As a nominee for the Iranian Canadian Congress Executive Board, Dr. Safdar brings extensive expertise in immigration, multiculturalism, and community inclusion. She is committed to fostering civic engagement, strengthening connections within the Iranian Canadian community, and contributing research-informed perspectives to support the Congress's mission.