Email: keikoi@nanaimohospice.com

Keiko Ishihara is a bilingual (English/Japanese) marketing and community engagement professional with more than a decade of international experience across healthcare, digital health, recruitment, and education sectors in Japan, the United States, and Canada.

Currently serving as Marketing & Social Media Coordinator at Nanaimo Community Hospice Society, Keiko supports digital communications, storytelling, and community outreach initiatives that help strengthen compassionate care in Nanaimo. She also works in Digital Marketing & Engagement at Vancouver Island University’s Career Centre and is pursuing her MBA at Vancouver Island University (2025–2027), with a focus on business leadership and organizational improvement.

Prior to relocating to Canada, Keiko built her career in Tokyo and San Francisco. In the Bay Area, she worked in healthcare program coordination and served as a nationally certified Healthcare Interpreter, supporting patients, families, and multidisciplinary medical teams in culturally sensitive settings. She later worked as a Customer Success Specialist at a digital healthcare company, where she contributed to international business development efforts, supporting expansion into Asian markets, cross-border partnerships, and client engagement initiatives.

Keiko also advanced into senior-level recruitment consulting within the medical device and healthcare industries, earning recognition for building trusted partnerships and delivering impactful hiring solutions. Throughout her career, she has led and supported Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives that promote accessibility and inclusive hiring practices.

She is deeply passionate about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and mental health awareness, and is committed to fostering psychologically safe, inclusive environments where individuals and communities feel supported and empowered.