Herneet Dhillon is the Vice President of People and Culture (HR) at University Canada West (UCW). Under her strategic direction, UCW has experienced exponential workforce growth, mirroring its expanding international student population. She has been instrumental in aligning people strategy with institutional goals, championing diversity and inclusion by building a workforce representing 58 nationalities, and ensuring that faculty and staff reflect the global backgrounds of UCW’s students.
Herneet is a human resources leader with a demonstrated hitory of working in private equity and the education management industry. She has led the HR function through periods of rapid growth and complex change-management challenges. A graduate of the University of East London (UK), Dhillon began her career as an educator before transitioning into recruitment and private equity. Upon returning to Canada, she rejoined the education sector and went on to become a senior leader at UCW, where she has been a catalyst for progressive and people-centred change.
Herneet is a passionate advocate for mentorship and women’s empowerment. As a mentor with Young Women in Business (YWiB) at Simon Fraser University, she supports emerging female leaders in building confidence, navigating career pathways, and expanding their leadership potential. Her commitment to equity is reflected in UCW’s workforce, where over 60% of employees are women.
In recognition of her leadership and impact, Herneet was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Vancouver in 2024 and 2025, and in 2025 was also recognized as one of HRD: Canada’s Elite Top 25 Women in the HR Industry.
