Spotlight South Asia 2026 | SOSA Vancouver

Join us for an evening of thoughtful conversation and reflection at the inaugural Spotlight South Asia 2026 in Vancouver, hosted at .

Held in recognition of South Asian Heritage Month, this event brings together voices from the design community offering perspectives shaped by movement across cultures, regions, and professional landscapes.

Through candid storytelling and meaningful dialogue, our panelists will share not only their achievements, but also the challenges they faced, the cultural bridges they built, and the lessons learned along the way. In a moderated discussion, speakers weave personal narratives with industry insights, offering guidance and inspiration to professionals, students, and new immigrants navigating the Canadian architecture and design community.

At its heart, Spotlight South Asia is more than an event, it is a reminder that every journey matters, every story has the power to spark change, and together we are shaping a more inclusive future for architecture and design in Canada.

Architect AIBC, AAA, MRAIC, LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE, EDAC

Sangeetha Ramanan is an accomplished architect with over 24 years of experience, including more than a decade specializing in healthcare architecture. Her work spans mental health and addictions, acute care, and ambulatory facilities, reflecting both depth and versatility across complex project types.

She has led projects from early feasibility through to delivery across a range of procurement models, including Construction Management (CM), Design-Bid-Build (DBB), and Design-Build-Finance-Maintain (DBFM), and is currently engaged in the Alliance model as part of the Richmond Hospital Redevelopment project.

Beyond project leadership, Sangeetha is an engaging and sought after speaker. She has presented at CHES Alberta (2023) and CHES National (2025), and frequently contributes to panel discussions advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within healthcare infrastructure and the broader construction industry.

Outside of her professional role, Sangeetha is a mother and an immigrant with South Asian roots, perspectives that continue to shape her commitment to creating space for underrepresented voices.

Architect AIBC, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

Som Bose is Principal Planner for Science & Technology at HDR Vancouver, specializing in advanced research and lab environments across Canada and beyond.

With over 25 years of experience across Canada, the US, Europe, and Asia, his career reflects a rare breadth from a science architect to client advisor, to leading complex design-build projects and global planning initiatives.

His work includes major institutions and organizations such as UBC, TRIUMF, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, and global biopharma client, delivering highly specialized research and production environments.

A recognized thought leader in science and technology architecture, Som focuses on embedding biosafety, sustainability, and operational resilience into complex facilities. He has spoken at leading forums, including the AIA National Convention and the International Centre for Infectious Diseases.

His cross-continental journey continues to shape a design approach grounded in systems thinking, context, and long-term impact.

Together, the session offers a more advanced and reflective conversation on how identity, movement, and lived experience shape perspective and practice in the design profession.

Gayatri Manghat | Urban Design Planner, Arcadis

Society of South Asian Architects, Canada is the first community, based not-for-profit organization in Canada that represents the interests of South Asian architects and design professionals by embracing and advocating a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the professions of architecture and design. SOSA’s goal is to support communities by creating opportunities for mentorship, education, networking, and outreach.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

HDR, 601 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, Canada

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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