BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lee Davis
Board Chair
Lee directs the venture investing activities of Vancity Savings Credit Union. Since 1999, VCC has invested $40 million in small and medium-size enterprises in several BC industries including the sustainable sector. Lee joined VCC in 2000. Previously he spent 20 years with TD Securities/TD Bank involved with mergers & acquisitions, public equity and debt underwritings and corporate banking. Lee has an MBA from Queen's University and is a director of VON BC and the UBC Entrepreneurship Advisory Board.
Christopher E. Gora
Governance Chair
Christopher practices intellectual property and corporate law, primarily in the areas of alternative energy, internet/software and privacy for Farris, Vaughn, Willis, Murphy LLP. He is a member of BC Technology Social Venture Partners, a philanthropic foundation employing a "venture capital" approach to supporting positive social change in the community.
Linda Coady
Human Resources Chair
Linda Coady currently holds the position of Vice President – Sustainability, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). She manages a project portfolio that includes climate change, inner city inclusion, ethical purchasing and public reporting on VANOC's performance on its sustainability commitments.
Fred Leonard
Human Resources
Retired from both the public and private sectors after careers with the BC provincial public service and as a partner in a small consultancy. Currently volunteering as a co-chair of the Vancouver Board of Trade's Downtown Eastside Task Force.
Norman Silins
Finance
Norm Silins is currently the General Manager of Olympic Services for Bell Canada. He leads a cross functional team to deliver the Olympic Games first ‘all IP’ telecom solution. Norm holds an Engineering Degree from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and received his Masters in Business Administration from the University Of Toronto.
Hendrik Hoekema
Secretary Treasurer
Coordinator/Administrator (17 yrs) and Literature/Writing Instructor in UVIC/SFU Prison Education Programs (5 BC federal prisons/200 students); SFU Native Education Programs (5 yrs), Klemtu and Shuswap. Founder/Executive Director/Contract Manager (23 yrs) Vancouver Eastside Educational Enrichment Society (VEEES) Employment Programs: jobSTART, PACE2, newSTART, newCHAPTER.
Toby Barazzuol
Creative Industries Cluster Chair
Founder of Eclipse Awards, a leading supplier of crystal recognition awards. He believes that sustainability is the greatest investment that businesses can make towards their future success. As Vice Chair of the Strathcona BIA, he is working towards developing a green zone of sustainable businesses in Vancouver's inner city.
Gerry Salembier
Ex-Officio
Gerry Salembier, BComm (Honours); MA [International Affairs], began his career with the Institute for Research on Public Policy, and has 20 years of experience within the federal Departments of Finance and Foreign Affairs and International Trade. As Assistant Deputy Minister for Western Economic Diversification Canada (BC), Gerry is responsible for a wide range of economic development funding initiatives and is an advocate for strengthening and diversifying the economy of BC and the West.