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Jen Harris

Senior TA Program Lead and Executive Search

As Senior TA Program Lead & Executive Search at Tru Cooperative Bank, Jen is responsible for shaping and advancing the organization's talent attraction strategy through the design, transformation, and leadership of programs that attract, engage, and develop exceptional talent. 

With more than 20 years of experience in talent attraction and human resources, Jen is a strategic and forward-thinking leader recognized for building innovative talent programs that drive organizational growth and strengthen the employee experience. Her work is guided by a deep appreciation for cooperative banking and a belief that people are the foundation of long-term success. 

At Tru Cooperative Bank, Jen leads the development and evolution of key talent initiatives that support the organization's workforce strategy and future growth. Her portfolio includes the Student Internship Program, Employee Value Proposition, Talent Attraction technology and innovation, AI-enabled recruiting capabilities, orientation and onboarding programs, and executive search. She is passionate about creating and revitalizing programs that enhance how the organization attracts, connects with, and develops talent. 

Known for her ability to turn vision into action, Jen works at the intersection of people, strategy, and innovation. Whether implementing new technologies, modernizing talent practices, strengthening the candidate experience, or building scalable talent programs, she focuses on creating solutions that deliver meaningful impact for both prospective and current team members. 

A particular passion of Jen's is executive search, where she partners closely with senior leaders and executive candidates to identify opportunities that will shape the future of Tru Cooperative Bank. She believes that supporting executives in finding opportunities where they can make their greatest impact is critical to building the next wave of leadership and ensuring the organization's continued success. 

From students launching their careers to executives defining their next chapter, Jen is committed to connecting people with meaningful opportunities to learn, grow, and lead. Through every stage of the talent journey, she helps create pathways that enable individuals and Tru Cooperative Bank to thrive together. 

Away from work, Jen enjoys spending quality time with her family in the Comox Valley. 

Prachi Parekh

Talent Attraction Specialist

Prachi is passionate about helping people and organizations grow together. With over five years of experience in human resources and talent attraction, Prachi has partnered with leaders through growth, change, and transformation, helping shape teams, strengthen employee experiences, and bring talent strategies to life. As a CPHR professional, she combines business insight with a genuine understanding of people, bringing a thoughtful and balanced approach to every opportunity and challenge.

Naturally curious and people-focused, Prachi enjoys connecting talent with opportunities that align with their strengths, goals, and potential, creating meaningful and tangible impact for both individuals and organizations.

At Tru Cooperative Bank, Prachi is proud to contribute to a culture built on care, collaboration, and community. She believes that meaningful careers are built through trust, curiosity, and the courage to embrace new possibilities.

Outside of work, Prachi enjoys travelling, golfing, discovering hidden café gems, and making memories with family and friends.

Cara Watmough

Team Lead, Talent Attraction

Cara is a natural at connecting with people, and connecting them to others with shared interests and goals. With more than 20 years of recruiting and human resources experience, including various positions at Tru Cooperative Bank, formerly First West Credit Union, since 2006, she’s created opportunities for hundreds of people to grow their career.

In recent years, Cara played a key part in advancing the credit union’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging strategy and activities. With this passion, she is currently focused on building relationships with candidates and community members for exciting roles at Tru Cooperative Bank.

Cara is hands-on throughout the journey of welcoming new people to the organization—facilitating introductions, conversations, and questions and on-boarding. Working with her team and team members across the organization, she helps individuals flourish in roles that strengthen their career and contributions.

Ask what she enjoys about her job, and Cara describes the meaningful impact she makes to her community through giving back to and partnering with local charities, universities, Indigenous communities, and organizations supporting people with diverse abilities.

First West feels like home to Cara, and you’ll feel just as welcomed when meeting her. As someone who finds great joy from spending quality time with others, she’s often found in pursuit of new connections, outdoor adventures, and experiences with her family and dog, Kona.

Arveen Sidhu

Talent Attraction Specialist

Arveen Sidhu is a people person through and through. As a Talent Attraction Advisor, she is passionate about helping people discover opportunities where they can grow, thrive, and feel a true sense of belonging. Arveen brings warmth, curiosity, and authenticity to every conversation, creating meaningful connections with everyone she meets.

Throughout her career, Arveen has enjoyed learning about each candidate’s unique story and guiding them with confidence through their career journey. Arveen believes that every interaction is an opportunity to make a lasting impression, and she is committed to ensuring each experience is thoughtful, positive, and memorable.

Arveen’s approach is mindful, relationship-driven, and grounded in genuine care for others. She understands that exploring a new opportunity can be both exciting and overwhelming, so she strives to make the process personal, transparent, and encouraging from start to finish.

When Arveen’s not connecting talent with opportunity, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring local communities, and discovering the best spots for great food and coffee. Whether you’re actively considering your next career move or simply curious about future possibilities, Arveen is always happy to connect and chat about where your journey could take you.

Kate Hartley

Senior Talent Attraction Specialist

Kate wants to know everything you’re looking for in your next role. As a Talent Attraction Specialist, she loves working with people to help them grow their career in any direction—and she’s thrilled when a new connection turns into an opportunity to help someone flourish!

As a person who’s passionately committed to achieving her own goals, Kate understands what those who are hoping to elevate their career are looking for. She’s driven to make the best match between job-seekers and Tru Cooperative Bank, ensuring that people feel inspired by our co-operative values and can flourish as part of our fast-growing credit union.

When you first meet Kate—in an interview, or perhaps a chance encounter while she’s exploring the beautiful BC outdoors—she’s likely to be curious about your interests, talents and aspirations. And that could be the start of a whole new path for your future.

Start the conversation with Kate now to discover new opportunities at Tru Cooperative Bank!

Danya Shima

Reconciliation & Inclusive Workplace Advisor

Danya is of Cree/Metis and European decent, a citizen of White Bear First Nation in Treaty 4 territory, residing on the unceded territories of the Semiahma (Semiahmoo), sc̓əwaθenaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsawwassen), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), kwikwəәƛ ̓əәm (Kwikwetlem), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen) and q̓ic̓əәy̓ (Katzie) First Nations. She has deep, personal understanding of the impacts that equity-deserving groups experience, and is active in Tru Cooperative Bank’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) culture. Including co-chairing the Indigenous Peoples Circle, an employee network group at the credit union. Her work includes bringing consistent focus to indigenization within the workplace, through which organizations can welcome Indigenous people, thought, and unique policy making into the inner workings of the organization.

Danya can tell you everything about the experience of working at Tru Cooperative Bank, formerly First West Credit Union, as her own career and influence have grown with new opportunities—from helping members in the Lower Mainland build their wealth to welcoming new people into the organization as a Talent Attraction Specialist. Having a background in collaborative management, and as an advocate for inclusive spaces, she is a guide for those in equity-deserving groups to build a trusting, safe and supported relationship with colleagues as the explore and enter a career at Tru Cooperative Bank.

As a big believer in living well—and a longtime lacrosse fan, the medicine game—Danya’s personal time is often spent at a lacrosse arena across Turtle Island, cheering loudly! Her appreciation for the positive impact of physical fitness is also evident in the many hours she dedicates to supporting Indigenous youth through local sports programs.