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  • What We Do
    • Overview
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      • Consumer Marketing
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      • Municipal & Regional District Tax
        Program (MRDT)
      • Other Funding Sources
  • Learning Centre
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Board Of Directors

A sunrise over a lake in British Columbia

Kelowna | Andrew Strain

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How Destination BC is Governed

Destination BC is governed by a Board composed of up to nine private-sector directors, who are appointed by the minister responsible for tourism. All appointments are governed by the overriding principle of selection based on merit and are handled by the Crown Agencies and Board Resourcing Office.

There are four standing committees: Finance and Audit; Human Resources, Governance and the Tourism Marketing Committee. Destination BC’s Board of Directors provides strategic policy direction and leadership to the organization. Our CEO, Richard Porges along with our executive leadership team, manages the implementation of Destination BC’s operational policies and corporate goals.

 

MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dawn Black Chair

Dawn Black is a former Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and former three-term Member of Parliament, first elected in 1988.

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Dawn Black Chair

Dawn Black is a former Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and former three-term Member of Parliament, first elected in 1988.

Ms. Black attained national recognition for her advocacy on behalf of women, families, and the underprivileged. Prior to that, she worked as a sales representative for the Poul Moellar Agency and as an accounting clerk for the Vancouver Art Gallery and Traveller’s Insurance. Active in her community, Ms. Black volunteers for the Stephan Lewis Foundation and sits as a board member of the Broadbent Institute. She has worked with several international organizations such as UN Development Programme, the National Democratic Institute, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. She was also board member of the Legal Services Society. Ms. Black graduated from Fairview Commercial High.

Penny Roberta Wilson

Penny Wilson has more than 30 years of experience in senior marketing and executive leadership roles in the technology industry including Hootsuite CMO, Juniper Networks CMO, Macromedia CMO, Alias|Wavefront President and Merrill Lynch.

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Penny Roberta Wilson

Penny Wilson has more than 30 years of experience in senior marketing and executive leadership roles in the technology industry including Hootsuite CMO, Juniper Networks CMO, Macromedia CMO, Alias|Wavefront President and Merrill Lynch.

Ms. Wilson has a proven track record of delivering business growth and establishing market dominance through high performance teams and a strong customer focus. Penny enjoys spending her free time with family and friends, running, hiking and skiing.

Joel McKay

Joel McKay is the CEO of the Northern Development Initiative Trust, a $300 million-dollar regional development corporation focused on stimulating economic growth in Northern British Columbia.

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Joel McKay

Joel McKay is the CEO of the Northern Development Initiative Trust, a $300 million-dollar regional development corporation focused on stimulating economic growth in Northern British Columbia.

Mr. McKay joined Northern Development in June 2012, where he handled the Trust’s communications and marketing, economic research, and analysis. Prior to that, he was assignment editor at Business in Vancouver Newspaper and a journalist specializing in BC’s natural resource industries. Joel is editor of the Don Rennie Award-winning Small Town P.R. Playbook, a Jack Webster award winning journalist, and an alumnus of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. In 2016, Kwantlen Polytechnic University honoured him with a Distinguished Alumni award. Active in his community, he is the former Chair of Media Relations for the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George and volunteers with the Rocky Mountain Rangers Association. Mr. McKay holds a Bachelor of Applied Journalism from Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Nicole Vaugeois

Nicole Vaugeois is the Associate Vice President of Research at Vancouver Island University (VIU).

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Nicole Vaugeois

Nicole Vaugeois is the Associate Vice President of Research at Vancouver Island University (VIU).

Dr. Vaugeois held the BC Regional Innovation Chair in Tourism and Sustainable Rural Development from 2008-2017 and she was the Director of the World Leisure Center of Excellence in Sustainability and Innovation. She is currently a Director for the BC Rural Center and held former Directorships with the Travel and Tourism Research Association (Canada Chapter), Innovation Island, BC Rural Network, Tourism Vancouver Island and the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation. Dr. Vaugeois has had an active career as tourism researcher and her expertise has provided important insights for a range of stakeholders involved in tourism.

Douglas Neasloss

Doug recently served as Chief Councillor of the Kitasoo Band Council. Mr. Neasloss is a keen student of Kitasoo/Xai'xais history and culture.

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Douglas Neasloss

Doug recently served as Chief Councillor of the Kitasoo Band Council. Mr. Neasloss is a keen student of Kitasoo/Xai'xais history and culture.

Beginning his career as a bear viewing guide and Cultural Interpreter, he has spent 12 years becoming intimately familiar with Kitasoo/Xai' Xais Territory. As the Marine Use Planning Community Coordinator, He spent 6 years with the community, writing a marine use plan for their territory. He later moved on to become the Kitasoo/Xai' Xais Resource Stewardship Director and an elected Councilor. Active in his community, Mr. Neasloss serves as a Board member for Nature United, the Grizzly Bear Foundation, Coastal First Nations and CCIRA. In addition, he is the Executive Director of Spirit Bear Research Foundation and the Chairman of the Kitasoo Band Council.

Sheila Bouman Vice Chair

Sheila Bouman brings close to 20 years of experience helping organizations transform to have a higher impact. In her recent role as CEO of viaSport, Sheila worked with partners across sectors and government to champion changes so that more British Columbians can benefit from sport.

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Sheila Bouman Vice Chair

Sheila Bouman brings close to 20 years of experience helping organizations transform to have a higher impact. In her recent role as CEO of viaSport, Sheila worked with partners across sectors and government to champion changes so that more British Columbians can benefit from sport.

Partnering with business and community leaders to plan and implement innovative and positive change has been core to Sheila’s professional and volunteer work for over twenty-five years. Prior to viaSport, she worked with executive teams as a consultant and was then an executive for Cogeco Peer 1, a global technology company. She has also served as Chair of the Minister’s Tourism Engagement Council, an elected School Trustee, and President of the BC Organization Development Network. Her volunteer work continues today with a focus to advance gender equity in multiple sectors, through organizations like We for She, BC Tech, and Minerva.  Sheila graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education, and is also a certified Executive Coach. Her work today is with High Impact Lab, helping leaders and their teams increase their impact on employees, shareholders and community.  For fun Sheila is in the mountain as much as possible and exploring BC’s coast with her family.

Amy Blakeney

Amy Blakeney is the CFO of Sun Peaks Resort, a four-season tourist destination and the second largest ski area in Canada.

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Amy Blakeney

Amy Blakeney is the CFO of Sun Peaks Resort, a four-season tourist destination and the second largest ski area in Canada.

Amy joined Sun Peaks Resort in August 2015, where she is responsible for the management of the resort and its associated mountain, real estate and hotel operations.  Prior to joining Sun Peaks, she was the Vice President, Finance with a major real estate development company in Halifax. She has over 20 years of public and private sector experience in senior financial roles in commercial real estate, insurance, healthcare, and tourism. Amy and her young family live in the community of Sun Peaks and are avid skiers and mountain bikers.  Amy is a member of Financial Executives International and is a member of the Board of Tourism Sun Peaks.  Ms. Blakeney is a Chartered Professional Accountant, receiving her CGA designation in 2001, and holds a Master of Business Administration from St. Mary’s University.

Randy Wright

Randy has over 40 years of experience in the travel, tourism and marine business. He is President of the Harbour Air Group, and has been for over 20 years, overseeing the operations and business development of the company.

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Randy Wright

Randy has over 40 years of experience in the travel, tourism and marine business. He is President of the Harbour Air Group, and has been for over 20 years, overseeing the operations and business development of the company.

Randy was born and raised in Victoria and has over 40 years of experience in the travel, tourism and marine business. Randy began his career on the dock at the Oak Bay Marina, where his passion for the industry moved him through the ranks of management and into the position of President of the Oak Bay Marine Group. Now the President of the Harbour Air Group, for over 20 years, Randy has overseen the operations and business development of the company that welcomes more than 500,000 passengers annually. Randy continues to work, live and play in Victoria with his wife and 2 young children who all share his passion for the outdoors and the Island community.

Responsibilities

  • Set vision and strategic direction and empowering and directing management;
  • Ensure appropriate fiscal and management policies, controls and accountabilities are in place;
  • Approve the annual budget and service plan;
  • Ensure appropriate risk-management measures are in place;
  • Hold management accountable for defined performance measurements;
  • Ensure effective use of resources;
  • Develop strategies to engage and partner with key stakeholders in the marketing of tourism; and
  • Report to government, partners, and the public.

Kelowna | Andrew Strain

Board Governance Disclosure

Destination BC adheres to the disclosure requirements included in the Best Practice Guidelines developed by the provincial government.

The Chair is responsible for the effective leadership and performance of the Board and is the liaison between the Board and the Minister responsible for tourism. The Chair works with the CEO to ensure effective relations with tourism partners and government.

Directors have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of Destination BC. They are guided in fulfilling their mandate by Destination BC’s partners and, in particular, British Columbia’s tourism industry.

Role of Standing Committees

Tourism Marketing Committee

Committee Role: The Tourism Marketing Committee provides advice to Destination BC on a variety of topics including marketing strategies, alignment with industry partners, and performance measures.
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Chair: Richard Porges Board Members: Sheila Bouman, Penny Wilson, Randy Wright Others: 20 representatives from around BC

Finance and Audit Committee

Committee Role: The Finance and Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities related to internal controls, audit processes, compliance with laws, regulations and policies, risk management and other related financial management matters. The committee ensures that all necessary reporting is carried out in a timely manner.
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Chair: Joel McKay Board Members: Dawn Black, Penny Wilson, Douglas Neasloss, Randy Wright, Amy Blakeney

Human Resource and Compensation Committee

Committee Role: The Human Resource and Compensation Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its obligations relating to human resource and compensation issues.
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Chair: Penny Wilson Board Members: Dawn Black, Nicole Vaugeois, Douglas Neasloss, Randy Wright

Governance Committee

Committee Role: The Governance Committee ensures that the Corporation's business and affairs are carried out, directed, and managed in a compliant and ethical manner.
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Chair: Nicole Vaugeois Board Members: Dawn Black, Sheila Bouman, Amy Blakeney

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