Congratulations to Jin Roh, the inaugural winner of the Matt Dowdle Leadership in IRHR Award!
The award was established by the CIRHR in memory of Matt Dowdle (MIR 2004), an alumnus of the MIRHR program who remained actively engaged in service for the CIRHR and was also actively engaged in his professional community. The award will be presented at each convocation to a graduating student from the Master of Industrial Relations and Human Resources program who has displayed qualities of leadership and team building during the course of their studies. The award will also be awarded annually to one alumnus of this program who has displayed these qualities within their professional career.
Throughout his academics, Jin has dedicated himself to student life. During his MIRHR studies, Jin served as President of the Association of Students in Industrial Relations and Human Resources (ASIR-HR) and as a member of the Board for the University of Toronto Graduate Students' Union (UTGSU), among others.
Those roles lead to some of Jin’s favourite memories of the CIRHR. He notes in particular the Christmas party organised by ASIR-HR in December 2019: “ASIR-HR’s top goal was to create a strong sense of community at the CIRHR, so the entire team was pleasantly surprised to see nearly 70 people come out to show support and enjoy the night!”
Prior to beginning the MIRHR, Jin received his BA from the University of British Columbia and later worked in corporate relations. It was in that role, he says, that opportunities to drive change—through technology implementation and process improvements—helped him uncover a passion for helping organizations reimagine the future of work.
This fall, Jin will be joining Deloitte’s human capital practice as a management consultant. He says he is “eager to develop into a trusted advisor who can solve complex business problems through a people-centered approach.” With travel plans put off by the pandemic, Jin says his plans for the months until his new job begins include cycling, reading, and spending quality time with family.
As he marks the end of his studies at the CIRHR, Jin has advice for students just beginning the MIRHR program.
Jin calls consistency—through time management and prioritization—the key to a “smooth, rewarding ride” through a challenging program. He emphasizes the benefits of starting early and being proactive with your approach in taking control of your academic and professional career.
And, as he joins the Centre’s alumni community, Jin reminds new students of the importance of developing a strong network. “Take full advantage of this opportunity to develop relationships with fellow MIRHRs working at your dream company, industry, or city!”
Return to the CIRHR's June 2021 convocation main page
A Convocation Message from CIRHR faculty, staff and instructors