Role
2024 Keynote Speaker
Originally from Jalandhar in Punjab, India, Navjot Dhillon is an award-winning Indo-Canadian journalist, having begun her career in 1995.
Her awards have included the 2023 Jagjit Singh Anand Memorial Award for Best Journalism and the Tara Singh Hayer Award in Journalism, awarded by the Chetna Association of Canada in 2019.
Her media journey began after completing a Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) at Guru Nanak Dev University, as well as a Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science at DAV College, both in Jalandhar. She was trained at The Indian Express and, while living in Jalandhar, worked for All India Radio, Hindustan Times, Doordarshan TV as well as being a remote presenter for Montreal’s Radio Humsafar.
Between 1998 – 2004, she served as the Head of the Department of Mass Communication and Video Production at Banarsi Dass Arya College in Jalandhar Cantonment (Cantt.).
Upon arriving in Canada, she became a talk show host and news reader at Red FM in Vancouver between 2005 to 2019. She took on the role of National News Director during her last year at the station. She then launched, and continues to host, the Navjot Dhillon Wall, a podcast on YouTube highlighting Punjabi literature, theatre and art, as well as other contemporary issues.
While also working at Sher-E-Punjab AM 600 between 2020 to 2023, Navjot Dhillon regularly covered Punjabi art and culture. Her show featured writers, theatre actors, playwrights, directors, painters, singers and music directors – including many Dhahan Prize finalists and winners.
She also headlined subjects on climate change, gender-based violence, gender equality, drugs, the exploitation of international students, mental health, LGBTQ+ people and caste discrimination.
“Punjabi literature has kept me connected to my roots.…To truly comprehend the roots of Punjabi culture and people, reading Punjabi literature is essential.”
-Navjot Dhillon
