Sharon has a BSc. Pharmacy, is a medical and general officer manager and a former Kelowna Mayor (2005-2011), City Councillor (1996-2005), and Central Okanagan Regional District Director (1997-2005). Prior to becoming an elected official, she was a neighbourhood advocate and president of Kelowna Secondary School Parent Advisory Council. Sharon has been a leader in many sporting associations including tennis, soccer and skiing and continues to advocate for the importance of children and youth initiatives.  Click here to see a profile we posted about Sharon on the ETSI-BC LinkedIn page.

Paul Donald is a member of the Simpcw First Nation and is the CEO of Simpcw Resources Group (SRG). SRG is an award-winning, resource-based, First Nation owned business focused on construction, forestry, pipeline maintenance and environmental monitoring. SRG has more than 175 direct employees and employs many more through contracts and joint ventures. Paul’s previous roles included Executive Director at the Little Shuswap Lake Band and 30 years of banking and finance including 6 years as the CEO of All Nations Trust Company. Paul has been a member of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) Board of Governors since 2016. Paul is the NVIT Board Vice-Chair as well as the Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee. Paul served for many years as a board member (2012-2020) and past Chair of the Simpcw Resources Group of Companies. Board experience also includes the Kamloops Native Housing Society (11 years), the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society (2 years) and the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO), where he served three years as National President. Click here to see a profile we posted about Paul on the ETSI-BC LinkedIn page.

Dr. Barker is a molecular biologist and biochemist and was appointed Vice Principal Research at the University of British Columbia`s Okanagan campus in 2015. He was previously a professor in the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery and Anatomy and Cell Biology at McGill University.  Click here to see a profile we posted about Phil on the ETSI-BC LinkedIn page.

Susan is currently serving a second term as the Electoral Area F Director in the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK). She has held leadership positions with national corporations and nonprofit organizations across Canada. Susan’s career has focused on sales, marketing, communications, leadership development and organizational improvement, always with supporting people to succeed as her primary motivation. Click here to read more about Susan.

Diana was born in Trail and raised in Salmo. Diana was first elected to Council in 2015, becoming Mayor in 2018. She has always been an active volunteer and is very passionate about volunteerism. She is a proud member of Salmo Lion`s International. She has been in nursing for the last twenty years and loves her line of work.  Click here to see a profile we posted about Diana on the ETSI-BC LinkedIn page.

Sue has enjoyed her roles as Mayor since 2014 and Director of the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen, Okanagan Basin Water Board and the International Oosyoos Lake Board of Control. Sue holds a Bachelor of Education degree and worked as a primary teacher at Osoyoos Elementary School for 34 years. Click here to see a profile we posted about Sue on the ETSI-BC LinkedIn page.

Kevin Acton is a 5 term Mayor for the Village of Lumby and has been Chair of the RDNO for 4 consecutive years. Kevin has been a small Business owner for most of his working life and for the past 22 years has been a partner of a wellness centre in Lumby BC.  Kevin has a strong background in local government with a Level 3 Certificate of Excellence in Local Government Leadership from the LGLA (Local Government Leadership Academy) and has an Executive Certificate in local government from Dalhousie University. Click here to read more about Kevin.

Sue Cairns is passionate about Kimberley’s small mountain town community and natural environment. Sue worked for 25 years with B.C. natural resource agencies and with Indigenous governments and brings extensive experience in collaboration, relationship building, problem solving, policy, planning, administration, public service and natural resource stewardship. Sue was a Registered Professional Forester for 27 years and holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from UBC.  She dedicates her energy now to constructive community dialogue with climate resilience and equity as the foundation.

Peggy is a Financial Advior with Edward Jones. Previously Ms. DeVries was Bank Manager and Account Manager at CIBC as well as Bank Manager, Human Resources Office and Recruitment and Training Officer for Bank of Nova Scotia. She has worked in the financial services industry for over thirty years. Active in her community, Ms. DeVries is a Member of the Rotary. Previously she was a Director with Osprey Community Foundation and McDougall House in Edmonton. Ms. DeVries is a Certified Financial Planner with FP Canada. Click here to see a profile we posted about Peggy on the ETSI-BC LinkedIn page.

Alan is a longtime resident of the community, having graduated from Salmon Arm Senior Secondary in 1977. He attended both Okanagan University College and UBC, graduating with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. Alan’s teaching career began in Tumbler Ridge in 1983 where, at a young age, he was elected to the Tumbler Ridge Council as a Councillor from 1985 to 1987. Alan returned to Salmon Arm in 1988 and was elected as a Councillor from 1990 to 1996. He was re-elected in 2005 and served as Councillor through 2018. Alan retired after a 29 year career as a school principal. This is his second term as Mayor.  Click here to read more about Al.

Wayne is dedicated to social and economic development through incubating new aboriginal businesses and offering ISO 9000 management system services and electronic business solutions. Wayne has over 25 years experience in aspects Quality Management, Project Management, and Technical Management, in both the private and public sector.  Click here to see a profile we posted about Wayne on the ETSI-BC LinkedIn page.

Julie is a Councillor in her first term at Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality. She was first introduced to ETSI-BC in her role at CF Thompson Country, where she was a Rural Business & Community Recovery Program Advisor, Julie says, “The better I got to know the organization and those involved behind the scenes, the more I was inspired by their work.”  For Julie, being involved in community leadership is very important. Being from a region comprised of many smaller rural and semi-rural communities, she looks forward to providing a voice for the region and is dedicated to assisting communities within her region to grow in a positive, and sustainable, way. Click here to read more about Julie.

Steve was raised in Fruitvale, he owned and operated an Auto Repair business in Trail B.C. before moving on to a 27 year career in management with the local School District as their Director of Operations. Steve was elected to Fruitvale council as a councillor in 2014, and as Mayor in 2018, and is a Municipal Director on the RDKB. Steve currently sits on the committee planning the Green Link a proposed commuter trail connecting the 5 communities from Rossland through to Fruitvale, and the West Kootenay Eco-Society Committee leading 10 member communities to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Steve has always been active in the community and held numerous volunteer leadership roles in minor sports and junior hockey in the community prior to election to council. In his spare time he is an avid back country and cross country skier in the winter, and cyclist in the summer. Click here to see a profile we posted about Steve on the ETSI-BC LinkedIn page.