BOARD OF DIRECTOR EXPERIENCE
WORK EXPERIENCE
BRITISH COLUMBIA UTILITIES COMMISSION – Commissioner – February 1, 2011.
Team Analysis, Decision Making, & Writing Reasons
- Interpret, administer and regulate BC’s natural gas and electric utilities, through written and oral hearings; a quasi-judicial role involved in reviewing evidence, interpreting legislation and regulations, and collaboratively deciding (through a commission panel process) complex applications from various BC Utilities including BC Hydro and Terasen Gas.
VISION QUEST LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INC. – Consultant - 2002 – present
Strategic Planning, Problem Solving, Facilitating, Coaching & Public Speaking
- Mediated business, partnership, and workplace conflicts, as well as conflict resolution coaching and instruction; Clients varied from small business, to larger organizations such as Northern Health Authority, School District 57, BC Ambulance, CN Rail, College of New Caledonia, Telus, and Cariboo Real Estate Board. Mediations ranged from 2 to 20 people.
- Facilitated Strategic Planning sessions for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s); most recently led the Prince George Downtown Business Improvement District through their strategic planning session, helping the board recognize the 2015 Canada Winter Game, as a strategic focus.
- Support non-profits in creating strong governance policy, aligning vision, with strategy and goals, counseling them to incorporate the results of strategy sessions into regular activities.
WEATHERLY & BROWN LAW CORPORATION
Prince George, B.C. 1989 to 2007
Executive Director/Partner
Business Development, Negotiation, Managing People & Resources, Project Management, Research & Analysis
- Established and developed a successful law partnership; marketing initiatives included renovating a heritage style building in the downtown core; sharing space with other lawyers to provide a full suite of services; board and community involvement; hosting various community events at our offices; sponsoring children’s soccer.
- Counsel for 300+ small to medium sized businesses, providing legal advice, business advice and strategic planning advice; negotiated land exchanges between clients and the provincial government, involving multiple parties, eco-sensitive land, and first nation issues.
- Created stream lined automated precedent systems to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and consistency; new legal staff from other firms often praised the diligence of the system.
- Practice areas include corporate and commercial; commercial and residential real estate; wills and estates; tax and estate planning; and mediation; extensive negotiation experience.
- Oversaw over $20,000,000 cash flows in trust accounts annually.
- Sold practice in July 2007; continuing on as counsel to one forest industry SME client
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Sessional Instructor
Communication, Organization, Consideration of Teaching to Diversity
- Taught training and development for performance, summer 2008
- Teaching Strategic HR management; Organizational effectiveness; and Values Based Leadership 2010-2011
COLLEGE OF NEW CALEDONIA
Sessional Instructor – Business Law 2002-2004
Continuing Education Facilitator – Conflict Management 2004-2005
PRICE WATERHOUSE (PWC)
Vancouver, B.C. 1988 - Toronto, Ontario 1986-1987
Tax Specialist/ Assistant Manager, Taxation
Research, relationship building and customer focus
- Corporate and personal tax planning and consulting for major public companies, including IBM and Canfor
PEAT MARWICK (KPMG)
Prince George, B.C. 1987 - 1988
Tax Specialist
Managing Professional Staff
- Managed and administered the tax team, responsible for 1100 tax returns to be filed accurately and on time; Updated the system for managing Canada Revenue Agency enquiries and Appeals
- Compiled “review” and “audited” financial statements for corporate and personal income tax returns
MORRIS/ROSE/LEDGETT
Toronto, Ontario 1985-1986
Articling Student
- Analyzed and researched legal issues, prepared memorandum of law, and attended court
Board and Tribunal Experience
Strategic Planning, Team Decision Making and Systems Thinking
Current
Prince George Airport Authority, Director, 2005 – 2007; 2009 – present; was on the Finance Committee; Committee; currently on the HR Committee
Canadian Bar Association (BC) Benevolent Society – treasurer, since fall 2000 to October 2007; director from October 2007 to present
Environmental Appeal Board and Forest Appeal Board – November 2009. This is a hearing panel of a quasi-judicial nature, hearing environmental matters and infractions under the Forest Practices Code
Oil and Gas Appeal Tribunal – October, 2010. This is a new hearing panel of quasi-judicial nature, hearing appeals from the Oil and Gas Commission
Past
ICBC – director from Jan 2008 until Jan 2011; member audit committee (past); recently on the HR & compensation and governance committees; responsible for director education.
Prince George Folk Fest Society – Treasurer 2003 – 2005
Expropriations Compensation Board – member, administrative board
St. Patrick’s House Society – Treasurer 1989 – 1993
Toronto Red Cross Society – Treasurer – 1986 – 1987
Other Interests
Strategic Thinking and Managing Volunteers
Political Campaigns - involved since 1996, acted as campaign manager and Financial Agent in provincial elections; participated in the strategic plan and implementation of campaigns; participated in local civic elections from door knocking to official agent. As a campaign manager in the 2005 provincial election, achieved a significant win, provincial, in a very tight, competitive race.
Project Management and Business Development
Property Development – acted as general contractor in three house projects; involved in numerous renovations; subdivided properties with rezoning, land use, and geological issues; developed a property on Salt Spring Island, by moving a recycled house; currently working with a partner to develop, sustainably, Mayne Island properties with recycled cottages.
EDUCATION
FIELDING GRADUATE UNIVERSITY
Jan. 2010 M.A. Human Development, January 2010.
Winter 2012 Expected defense Phd. Student, Human and Organizational development – research interests include organizational change, diversity, team performance, board governance and corporate social responsibility
Sep 2009 INSTITUTE OF CORPORATE DIRECTORS
Directors Education Program; affiliated with the Segal Graduate School of Business.
June 2007 ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY
M.A. Leadership
Thesis/major project: Community economic development and collaborative leadership; Worked with the Community Futures Development Corporation as a sponsor; presented research and
conclusions to the Board of Directors and to Community Stakeholders.
2003 JUSTICE INSTITUTE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Certificate in Conflict Resolution
1993 CERTIFIED GENERAL ACCOUNTANT ASSOCIATION OF B. C.
C.G. A. designation
1985 UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO
LL.B. London, Ontario, 1985
1985 UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR
B.Comm
1988 CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
In-depth Tax Course: three year program