APOblog

Every year Supply Chain Canada, the country's largest professional supply chain association, recognizes a diverse group of individuals working in the supply chain profession. This year their initiative acknowledges the contributions of Canadian immigrants working in supply chain, especially contributors and role models to others, and those emerging as a leader. The nominees are nominated by their employers for their achievements, education and career potential.

Ladan Rafee, Associate Director of Global Packaging Procurement at Apotex, was an awardee of the 2020 Canadian Immigrants Impacting Supply Chain from Supply Chain Canada.

Ladan immigrated from Iran where she started her career in supply chain, in 1996 she left everything behind to start over in Canada. While she continued evolving rapidly in her career in Supply Chain, she balanced life between starting a family and attending school at night to study supply chain Management in Canada while holding her day job. Ladan made many sacrifices on her journey but she came to Canada to start a new life and was passionate to make a difference in her supply chain career here. In 2006 she joined Apotex working in pharmaceutical procurement and by 2010 progressed to be a People Leader. Today she leads a team of procurement professionals and oversees global strategic initiatives that make a significant contribution to Apotex.

In 2019, Ladan and her team won a Global award for Continuous Cost improvement at Apotex. It focused on changing packaging of one of our products to be more cost effective and give Apotex a competitive edge without compromising quality.The team worked quickly to obtain regulatory and quality approvals and faced challenges to but with innovative thinking and perseverance they managed to successfully have the product repackaged in a year.

"It means a lot to me to receive this recognition, I just try to do my best at every circumstance, without recognition or reward in mind so its fulfilling to pause and look back on what I have achieved in my career." said Ladan. "Being an immigrant; moving countries and enduring all of the challenges that come with it, I feel proud of my accomplishments. I am so fortunate to live in a country that has given me opportunities, and to have great mentors to guide me through my development path."

She advises people looking to grow in their careers to never be happy with the status quo, to be innovative, make a change and, not to give up on the challenges you face because they are your best opportunities.

Join us in congratulating Ladan for her latest accomplishment!