Michelle Ratcliffe
Sustainable Tourism Strategist + Storyteller at Alpenglow StrategiesMeet our Emcee!
Michelle is a sustainable tourism champion, integrating sustainability into corporate strategy and capacity building for the tourism sector. Relocating to the Okanagan in 2022, she brought a passion for community along with expertise in tourism, strategic planning, and business development. As general manager of the Whistler Chamber of Commerce, Michelle drove strategies that boosted the resort economy and fostered business resilience. In 2020, she earned a certificate in Sustainable Tourism from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, enhancing her ability to apply a triple-bottom-line lens to the visitor economy and broader business community.
Michelle‘s background includes work on the bid for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games and positions with various hospitality brands, including The Dorchester Hotel in London and Pinnacle International. Actively involved in the arts community, she chaired the board for Arts Whistler and currently serves on the board of the Kelowna Visual and Performing Arts Society. Michelle is also a writer, having penned a longstanding bi-weekly business column, THE BIG IDEA, for the Whistler Question newspaper.
Ash Amlani
Co-Founder and Principal of Bunyaad Public AffairsBUNYAAD is an award-winning public affairs firm based in North Vancouver on unceded Coast Salish territory. Principals Ash Amlani and Sherri Moore-Arbour co-founded BUNYAAD following decades of work in public health, education, strategic communication, and public affairs. BUNYAAD means Foundation in Urdu; at BUNYAAD we work with clients to build the foundations of a healthy, more inclusive society. BUNYAAD is proud to support the BC Chamber of Commerce's efforts to "Address the Labour Market Gap".
Honourable Brenda Bailey
Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation at Government of BCSmall businessperson, tech entrepreneur, and change maker, Brenda Bailey was elected MLA for Vancouver-False Creek in 2020 and named British Columbia’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation in December 2022.
Minister Bailey brings to her role a passion for expanding opportunity and economic innovation nurtured over a lifetime building new businesses, leading economic development initiatives, and serving the community. In every role she has taken on, she has worked to create a more inclusive community and economy.
Minister Bailey blazed new trails for women in tech as co-founder of Canada’s first women-owned and operated video game studio. She helped strengthen and diversify B.C.’s creative tech industry as head of British Columbia’s interactive and creative digital marketing association, DigiBC.
Today, as Minister of Jobs Economic Development and Innovation, Minister Bailey's focus is working with business, Indigenous and community leaders to drive the government’s Stronger BC Economic Plan forward. For Minister Bailey that means growing an economy that benefits all British Columbians with support for business, expanded access to post-secondary education and skills training, meeting our climate commitments, and fostering innovation across our economy.
Lisa Baiton
President & CEO of Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)Lisa Baiton is the 6th CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). CAPP represents the Canadian upstream oil and natural gas industry, and CAPP’s member companies operate from coast-to-coast and are responsible for 80% of Canada’s total oil and natural gas production. Since her appointment in 2022, Lisa has overseen the strategic realignment of CAPP’s priorities and advocacy efforts, re-establishing CAPP as a non-partisan evidence-based research advocacy organization and go-to resource on energy industrial policy.
Prior to joining CAPP, Lisa spent a third of her career through three CEO tenures on the global leadership team of one of the ten largest retirement funds in the world (CPP Investments) as Managing Director & Head of Global Public Affairs where she had responsibility for strategy development and program execution covering 56 countries. Lisa has held other leadership roles including as Vice President & Practice Lead at a North American public affairs firm, and within three federal and provincial governments in Canada.
Keith Baldry
Chief Political Correspondent and Legislature Bureau Chief at Global BCKeith Baldrey is Global BC’s chief political correspondent and legislature bureau chief and one of B.C.’s best-known political commentators. He joined The Vancouver Sun in 1984, and moved to The Sun’s legislature bureau in 1986, becoming The Sun’s legislature bureau chief in 1989. He joined BCTV (now Global TV) in 1995. He has covered 10 premiers, 10 provincial elections and 12 federal elections (along with numerous federal campaigns and party leadership races). He also writes a weekly syndicated column on B.C. politics for a variety of B.C. papers and websites, including the North Shore News and the Burnaby Now, and is a daily commentator on CKNW Radio. He has written numerous magazine articles, and co-authored (with now-Globe and Mail columnist Gary Mason) a book on former premier Bill Vander Zalm and his Social Credit government. In 2021, he was named Broadcast Performer of the Year by the B.C. Association of Broadcasters for his ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ariana Fotinakis
Co-founder of Reconciliation and Well-BeingAriana Fotinakis is a woman of mixed ancestry, with Anishinaabe roots and Greek roots. A daughter of a Sixties Scoop survivor, Ariana is proud to be reclaiming her heritage. As a trauma-informed decolonial facilitator, somatic coach and breathwork facilitator, Ariana brings a grounded, gentle, and compassionate approach that supports her clients as they decolonize their hearts and minds so they can share their medicine with the world.
Sonia Furstenau
Leader at BC Green PartySonia Furstenau studied at the University of Victoria, where she completed her BA and MA in History, and her Bachelor of Education degree. She has worked as a small business operator, a bookkeeper, as the National Administrator for Results Canada, and as a high school teacher in Victoria and Shawnigan Lake.
Sonia's advocacy in protecting her community’s drinking watershed led to her election in 2014 as Area Director for Area B of the Cowichan Valley Regional District. In 2017, Sonia was elected as the first B.C. Green MLA for Cowichan Valley and in 2020 was elected as the new leader of the B.C. Green Party and re-elected as MLA for Cowichan Valley.
Vanessa Lesperance
Co-founder of Reconciliation and Well-Being at The Mindful ManagersVanessa Lesperance (she/her) is a heart-centered mixed heritage Metis woman who is reclaiming her roots. The proud descendant of voyageurs and ancestors who were part of the Red River Resistance.
She founded The Mindful Managers to help people connect to themselves and others in a good way. Vanessa is a facilitator, speaker and connector. She holds a graduate degree in business from SFU and a masters degree in leadership with a focus on decolonizing business through workplace spirituality. She works with Indigenous entrepreneurs (women and youth) from across Turtle Island. Vanessa has also written on leadership and decolonizing in a few publications and co-teaches at the Justice Institute on Power & Privilege.
Peter Milobar
Shadow Minister for Finance at BC UnitedPeter was elected MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson in May 2017, and re-elected in October 2020. He is the Shadow Minister for Finance. Peter previously served as critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, critic for Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and the Official Opposition House Leader.
Before entering provincial politics, Peter was mayor of Kamloops for three terms, after previously serving two as councillor. He served as chair of the Thompson Regional Hospital District for five terms, and was a director for the Thompson-Nicola Regional District since 2005.
Peter has also worked on the BC Transit Board of Directors, at PRIMECorp, and on the Local Government Contract Management Committee.
Peter and his wife Lianne are lifelong Kamloops residents, and the proud owners and operators of a local small business. They have three grown children.
Dr. Eman Nasr
Executive Director of Beedie School of Business SFUDr. Eman Nasr is an accomplished academic and educational leader with expertise in higher education consulting, specializing in post-secondary programming, course design, and assessment.
Dr. Nasr's approach is data and research-driven, with a strong focus on process improvement. She is proficient in educational systems, technologies, and policies and has a proven publication record, particularly in interdisciplinary research. Her unique and innovative teaching style incorporates engaging techniques like classroom games, simulation games, mobile learning technologies, and role-playing.
Dr. Nasr is an inclusive leader, strategic thinker, and a dedicated team player with a strong focus on outcomes. She is also a researcher with published works in reputable academic journals. Her passion for teaching extends across online, blended, and on-site platforms. Dr. Eman is proficient in several programming languages and possesses professional communication skills, which have led to numerous presentations at international conferences.
Vaughn Palmer
Provincial Political Columnist at Vancouver SunVaughn Palmer has been the Vancouver Sun’s provincial political columnist, based in Victoria, since 1984. To date he has covered 11 BC premiers and counting. He also does a daily commentary on B.C. politics on radio station CKNW in Vancouver. Palmer is the recipient of the Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jack Webster foundation, a co-winner of the Jack Webster award for reporting, and a recipient of the Hyman Solomon award for excellence in public policy journalism from the Canadian Public Policy Forum.
Ravi Parmar
Parliamentary Secretary for International Credentials at Government of BCRavi was elected MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca in 2023. He believes in a government that takes real action to make life better for people.
Prior to his election as MLA, he served as Chair of the Sooke School Board, where he spent years working alongside John Horgan to deliver the largest expansion of public schools in the district’s history, including new schools like Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School and PEXSISEN Elementary School. He has a long record of standing up for people in Langford-Juan de Fuca — and getting results.
Raised in Langford by parents who immigrated to Canada in the 1990s, Ravi has been a champion for his community his entire life.
John Rustad
Leader at Conservative Party of BCJohn Rustad is the MLA for Nechako Lakes and the Leader of the BC Conservative Party.
John was born and raised in Prince George, BC. In 1995, he married Kim Royle.
In 2005, John was elected to the riding of Prince George–Omineca. In 2009, after the redistribution, John was re-elected to his seat, now designated Nechako Lakes. He has served there ever since.
John has been a champion of resource development and economic reconciliation. As Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, John signed more than 400 agreements with First Nations that have created economic opportunity for all British Columbians.
In Spring 2023, John became the leader of the BC Conservative Party, taking the Tories from 2% to 34% in twelve months. John looks forward to competing for government on October 19th, 2024.
Denise Williams
Advisor to the Dean, Beedie School of Business & Visiting Lecturer, Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser UniversityDenise is a visionary who centers connection, compassion, service, and humor in her approach to being a thought leader, governor, advisor, entrepreneur, ally, and friend. She is a well-known leader and speaker nationally and internationally on leadership, technology, innovation, and the importance of Indigenous ways of knowing in the design of humanity’s shared future.
She is most recognized as the long-time, celebrated CEO of the First Nations Technology Council and the architect of the country’s first Indigenous Digital Equity Strategy and Indigenous Innovation Institute. During her time with the FNTC, she became a fierce community and Indigenous rights advocate, sought out advisors to government, industry, and academia, and was a trusted board member in numerous communities to which she is committed.
Over her years of enthusiastic contribution, Denise has received several acknowledgments from her community, including BIV Top 40 Under 40, 500 Most Influential Leaders in 2021 and 2022, Mother Board’s Human of the Year, Women in Leadership Community Champion Award, and is the 2022 recipient of Simon Fraser University’s Outstanding Alumni Award, where she earned her MBA in 2015.
Joslyn Young
Manager, External Relations - Gateway at Vancouver Fraser Port AuthorityJoslyn Young joined the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority as Manager of External Relations – Gateway Strategy in 2020. In her role, she is responsible for building relationships with the small to mid-size business sector through associations and chambers of commerce, collaborating with external groups to partner on policy discussions, and connecting with international delegations interested in learning more about the port authority. She is the Vice-Chair of the Surrey Board of Trade and serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. She is also a member of the World Trade Centre Advisory Council in Vancouver. Prior to joining the port authority, Joslyn handled public affairs for CN Rail in British Columbia and held various roles over 13 years with the Union of BC Municipalities.