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.
Elizabeth Aman-Hume, ACE
Executive Director of Port Hardy & District Chamber of CommerceElizabeth’s background includes 30+ years of management experience in the nonprofit sector, including almost 9 years as Executive Director for the Port Hardy Chamber of Commerce, where she has also been responsible for destination marketing for Port Hardy, as well as in a partnership role with Vancouver Island North Tourism. She is an Accredited Chamber Executive and a Certified Superhost Instructor. As an experienced and effective grant writer she has brought in over $700K in Provincial funding to address training gaps, create collaborations and to produce Shop Local initiatives. Prior to joining Chamberland she worked for many years in senior marketing and fundraising roles with symphony orchestras in the USA, the UK and as a CEO in Canadian orchestras.
Elizabeth’s leadership style is collaborative and collegial and includes the core belief that ’just because we have always done it that way’ is not a good reason. Thinking outside of the box and rising above the noise of daily work is key to success in these interesting times. In all things Elizabeth has learned that relationship building is the most important skill one can have. In her private life Elizabeth lives on a beach near Port Hardy and is married to Bob, they have three grown children, a Blue Heeler named Lily and adore their three beautiful grandchildren. If you want to see pictures of them, she will oblige, very willingly.
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.
Laurel D'Andrea
Executive Director of Kitimat Chamber of CommerceLaurel D'Andrea has served as the Executive Director for the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce since 2020, a role that also includes overseeing tourism initiatives. Before moving to the stunning surroundings of Kitimat, Laurel spent 25 years in Kelowna, where she gained diverse experience across various sectors. She worked with TELUS for over 20 years before pursuing her passion for media by starting her own magazine. Laurel also played a key role in the success of a Business Improvement Area (BIA) in Kelowna.
Outside of work, Laurel enjoys walking her dogs and dedicating time to charity work—a cause she has been passionate about since she was 15.
A passionate advocate for business, community, and politics, Laurel is known for her proactive, sometimes bold approach—often preferring to "ask first and beg for forgiveness later." She thrives on driving change and is always excited to collaborate with others who share her commitment to progress. Laurel is also an open book, eager to share her experiences and knowledge, and she was honored to be asked to participate in the forum.
Hon. David Eby
Premier at Government of BC
Dr. Andrew Gemino
Professor, Management Information Systems & Associate Dean, Executive Education, SFU Beedie at Beedie School of Business SFUDr. Andrew Gemino is an award-winning teacher whose distinctions include two TD Canada Trust Distinguished Teaching Awards from the Beedie School of Business and the Teaching Excellence Award from SFU. His primary research interests include information technology project management and business analysis techniques. Andrew has also co-authored an award-winning textbook and is the past President of the AIS Special Interest Group on Systems Analysis and Design.
Mary Ellen Schaafsma
Founder and Purpose Advisor of Purpose PathwaysMary Ellen Schaafsma is founder of Purpose Pathways Consulting and has been the Purpose Advisor to over 40 businesses, helping them uncover and integrate their optimal Social Purpose into the core of their company. She is the former director of the United Way BC Social Purpose Institute, which played a lead role to catalyze social purpose business in BC and across Canada. Mary Ellen is also a Canadian Purpose Economy Project Ambassador, helping accelerate and mainstream social purpose in business. Purpose elevates the reason your business exists beyond the transactional to begin to power good in the world by doing business. That is good for business, good for society, and good for the economy. She brings a depth of knowledge on the range of benefits of having a Social Purpose, how to define your Purpose, how to integrate it into all you do and how to collaborate with others to achieve it. She has a contagious enthusiasm for empowering leaders to change the world through business.
Tiffany Hetenyi
Executive Director of Fort St John and District Chamber of CommerceTiffany Hetenyi is the Executive Director of the Fort St. John & District Chamber of Commerce, where she champions local business advocacy, economic growth, and community collaboration. With a strong background in event coordination, tourism, and stakeholder engagement, Tiffany has successfully led initiatives that foster regional partnerships and drive economic resilience in her year with the chamber.
Most recently, she spearheaded the 2025 Creating Energy Conference, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to discuss the evolving energy landscape and economic growth in Northeast BC. Prior to her role at the Chamber, Tiffany held key positions in municipal event planning, tourism development, provincial government and business management, demonstrating a proven ability to connect businesses, local governments, and community organizations for shared success.
Tiffany’s leadership reflects her passion for strengthening regional economic partnerships, making her a valuable voice on the Strength in Unity: Stories of Collaboration and Regional Impact panel.
Stewart Muir
Founder & CEO of Resource WorksStewart Muir is a globally recognized expert in energy and natural resources. He has a background in journalism and a Master's in environmental history. As the founder of Resource Works, he promotes responsible resource development, balancing economic growth, environmental sustainability, and Indigenous partnerships.
Muir's extensive experience in journalism gives him a deep understanding of public discourse and policy. Under his leadership, Resource Works facilitates critical conversations on energy security, economic growth and Canada's role in global supply chains. He also founded the Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase (IPSS) and hosts the Power Struggle podcast.
Furthermore, Muir is a driving force behind Unleashing Canadian Potential (UCP), an initiative focused on the future of Canada's natural resource economy. He is a leading advocate for Canada's resource industries, taking a fact-based, research-driven approach.
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.
John Rustad
Leader at Conservative Party of BCJohn Rustad is the Leader of the Official Opposition in the BC Legislature and Conservative Party of BC MLA for Nechako Lakes.
John was born and raised in Prince George, married in 1995 to his wife Kim and has spent his entire life living in Northern British Columbia.
John has been a champion of resource development and economic reconciliation. As Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation John signed more than 400 agreements that have created economic opportunity for both the province and First Nations.
John has championed farmers, forestry workers, trades people, cattle ranchers and every British Columbian who wants to build a prosperous and secure future in BC to raise their families. He believes we must create a province where young people see a future and the private sector can thrive.
Prior to being elected, John worked in the forestry industry for more than 20 years. He formed a technology company, Western Geographic Information Systems Inc, a consulting service for the resource sector.
John currently leads the largest opposition caucus in BC history after leading the Conservative Party of BC from zero elected members to 44 MLAs.
Maureen Young
Vice President, Social Purpose at Coast Capital Savings Federal Credit UnionAs Coast Capital’s Vice President, Maureen leads the development and implementation of Coast Capital’s long-term social purpose impact plan and the integration of social purpose across company operations. This work was recognized in 2022 at the Platinum level in Corporate Knights’ rating of social purpose companies and in 2024 with a Benevity Moonshot Award for Coast Capital’s innovative and bold approach to corporate purpose. Maureen also oversees Coast Capital’s sustainability initiatives, including its net zero commitments, B Corp certification, and leads Coast Capital’s community investment program, which sees 10% of Coast Capital’s budgeted bottom line reinvested into the community.
Maureen is a member and co-founder of the Canadian Purpose Economy Project which seeks to accelerate the transition to the purpose economy. Maureen also serves as Past Chair of the Youth Futures Education Fund, an initiative she helped found, focused on ensuring youth from the foster care system can achieve their post-secondary education, and she serves on the Boards of the BC Co-op Association and the Victoria Forum, a partnership with the University of Victoria and the Canadian Senate. In 2024, Maureen was the recipient of the Gary Gillam Award, which honours individuals within the BC and Ontario credit union systems who have demonstrated cooperative values and made significant achievements in social impact.