BIABC Board of Directors
The BIABC Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers from member BIA respresentatives elected by the eligible membership at the association's Annual General Meeting each spring.
Philip Aguirre - Newton BIA (Treasurer)
Philip has been the Executive Director of the Newton BIA since 2014. He comes from a small business background being the owner of the Old Surrey Restaurant since 2007 located in the heart of Surrey, BC. He is also a Certified Professional Accountant and a graduate of the University of Victoria where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce. Philip has been a strong advocate for the community of Newton for many years.
Patricia Barnes - Hastings North BIA
Patricia is the Executive Director of Hastings North Business Improvement Association. The Hastings North BIA promotes the retail and commercial neighborhood of Hastings North within the City of Vancouver. Ms. Barnes serves on a number of committees including LOCO BC, the Employment Lands and Economic Review, the Vancouver Immigration Partnership and the Community Advisory Committee Hastings Park. She is also a past Co-Chair Living in Community: Balancing Perspectives on Vancouver's Sex Trade Industry Steering Committee and a past Director of the International Downtown Association as well as serving on IDA Canada. Ms. Barnes is currently the Chair of the Advocacy Committee for BIABC but has served on the Board of BIABC in the past. She is currently on the Vancouver Police Board. She has also been a speaker and presenter at many provincial and international conferences. Ms. Barnes holds a BA from University of Toronto and MBA from Dalhousie University.
Jeff Bray - Downtown Victoria Business Association (President)
Jeff grew up in Vancouver, B.C. After graduating from UBC, Bray embarked on a 13-year career with the BC Government. In 2001, Bray was elected the MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill. For 8 years Jeff was the Manager of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Shaw in BC. Jeff is currently the CEO of the Downtown Victoria Business Association. Jeff is President of the Former MLA Association of BC, Vice-Chair of the Royal BC Museum Foundation, Vice-President of the North Quadra Community Association is Co-Chair (with the Victoria Mayor) for The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. Fun fact: Jeff is a closet Star Trek fan……..original series of course!
Mark Burley – Downtown Kelowna BIA
Mark was a broadcaster for over 40 years in the radio business. Over that tenure he was on-air, a production manager, promotion manager and Program Director. During his time in Kelowna at Sun FM, Mark was named Small Market Program Director of the Year for 6 consecutive years at the annual Canadian Broadcast Awards. He was responsible for the 22 radio stations in the BC Interior during 12 years in Kelowna. Mark was also an early adapter of Music Master technology helping develop the Net Send/Net Merge function to merge music scheduled locally against network scheduled music. He joined the Downtown Kelowna Association in November 2018 as Executive Director. Mark has since worked closely with Downtown stakeholders on a variety of issues realizing excellent working relationships and creating a better image for Downtown Kelowna.
Bonnie Burnside - Downtown Surrey BIA
After 32 years running and owning a business, Bonnie moved into the world of BIAs. Currently the Operations Manager of the Downtown Surrey BIA, she has been on the Board of BIABC for seven years. She currently sits on the Conference Committee and the Partnership Committee. In her spare time, Bonnie is currently President of the Whalley Community Association; Chair of the Surrey Christmas Bureau; and a member of Surrey’s Parks, Rec and Culture Committee. Through her role at the Downtown Surrey BIA, she also sits on the Community Advisory Committee for Modular Housing and Shelters, WIST Committee (Whalley Integrated Service Team), Fusion Fest Committee, Tree Lighting Committee, and Party for the Planet Committee.
Jeremy Heighton – Kamloops North Shore BIA (Vice-President)
For almost 35 years, Jeremy has consistently found himself in a leadership role, whether it is consulting for the largest multi-national military organization on leadership and organizational dynamics, or coaching small business on start-up, operations and effective strategy. Jeremy is a passionate community leader who believes in the strength of servant leadership, effective process and policies, and the power of people (People, Process, Profit). Regardless of his role, Jeremy leans in and commits to finding the pathways which best serve the most people possible while focusing on the greatest outcomes.
Teri James – Downtown Langley Business Association
Teri, her husband Bob and their four children moved from Victoria to Langley in 2001 and immediately fell in love with the community. This was probably a very good thing because within six months of moving, she became the Executive Director of the Downtown Langley Business Association and in 2005 became the newest member of Langley City Council. Teri has been working for the DLBA since October 2001 and has sat on numerous panels, committees and advisory Boards in this role. Having served on City Council from 2005 to present day has provided Teri with much insight as to how BIAs and local government can work together productively and ensure that everyone gets along in the same sandbox. In September 2017, the DLBA was awarded Langley City’s tourism contract, Discover Langley City, and she now oversees both the DLBA and Discover Langley City in her role as Executive Director. Teri brings an honest, pragmatic and insightful look into what works, what doesn’t, and how all of these entities can support each other while respecting each other’s boundaries.
Isabel Kolic - Heights Merchants Association
Since 2004, Isabel has served as the Executive Director of the Heights Merchants Association, a BIA in Burnaby with approximately 350 businesses and 150 property owners. She has served on the BIABC Board in two different periods (once, in the mid-2000s, and again since 2017 until now. She has 30 years of experience working in communications strategy and marketing, community relations, publishing and events. More than half of that time was spent in economic development, including a stint in Ukraine with a business improvement NGO. She has worked in the public, private and non-profit sectors, and has owned her own business. Isabel has a degree in Communication and a post baccalaureate diploma in Community Economic Development (both from SFU). Isabel is committed to strong, connected communities, and sustainable and cooperative economies - with vibrant business districts at their core. Over the years, Isabel also served on the Boards of Volunteer Burnaby and Volunteer Grandparents, as well as various Burnaby Board of Trade Committees (including the Business Recovery Task Force during COVID-19) and the City of Burnaby Environmental Sustainability Strategic Task Force.
Maureen O'Brien - Ambleside-Dundarave BIA
Maureen O’Brien has been the Executive Director of the Ambleside Dundarave Business Improvement Association in West Vancouver since March 2020. She has always been passionate about supporting small businesses and the local economy, but this was highlighted even more when she joined the “Yellow Pages Shop the Neighbourhood” campaign in 2014. As part of the team, they worked with BIA’s, Chambers and local politicians and celebrities to encourage Canadians to shop local and support neighbourhood merchants. Their compilation video was multi-award winning, including a 2015 Cannes Award. In the short time she has been with the ADBIA, they have been recognized by both BIABC and BC Economic Development Association for creative initiatives. As an experienced publicist with a background in communications and marketing, she is committed to using her skillset to support economic vibrancy in West Vancouver.
Angelene Prakash - Downtown New West BIA
Angelene Prakash [pruh-KAHSH] is a community organizer and event professional who resides and works on the traditional and ancestral lands of the Qayqayt First Nation and other Coast Salish Peoples. Angelene has a background in working with vulnerable populations and within civilian sector of law enforcement. Her personal and professional lived experiences inform her lens as an advocate, serving as Co-chair of the United Way’s Period Promise Community Action Group and a volunteer with Free Periods Canada. She joined the BIA community in 2021 after working at the City of New Westminster for 6 years as a Youth Worker. Angelene’s role at the Downtown New West BIA as Membership Engagement and Events Manager allows her to incorporate her equity lens into all her work which she also hopes to bring to her role on the BIABC Board.
Laurey-Anne Roodenburg - West Quesnel Bsuiness Association
Laurey-Anne Roodenburg is the Executive Director for the West Quesnel Business Association, located in Quesnel, BC. This small unique BIA is one of three in the City of Quesnel. Despite being the smallest of three, WQBA is located on the west side of the Quesnel River and offers unique and eclectic opportunities for the community to shop and participate in community minded events, such as Christmas in the Village, August Night Market, Billy Barker Days Slam Jam, and the Great West Butter Tart Competition. If you have a chance to visit Quesnel, don’t hesitate to come on over to the “West Village”, where we can meet all your shopping needs.
Teri Smith - West End BIA
Teri is a leader in community and economic development. Her career with BIAs spans 20 years and five different commercial districts across the Lower Mainland. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the West End Business Association (RSBA) in Downtown Vancouver and is completing her sixth year on the BIABC Board, fourth as president. Teri holds a seat on the BC Small Nusiness Roundtable, is an active member of the Vancouver BIA Partnership and a past member of the IDA Canada Leadership Committee. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Simon Fraser University where she completed a double major in criminology and psychology. When not working, she’s a busy mom of two and can often be found on the soccer field cheering on her kids or planning new travel adventures.
Jane Talbot - Downtown Vancouver BIA
Jane Talbot is President and CEO of the Downtown Vancouver BIA. Jane joined Downtown Van in 2017 as the Director of Operations. From there she became Vice President and Chief Operating Officer before undertaking her current role. Originally from Pennsylvania, Jane moved to Ithaca, New York, to attend college. After graduating, Jane relocated to Vancouver and began her career in Canada as the Manager of health and Wellness at the YMCA. Since then, she has held leadership positions at Positive Living Society (formerly BC Persons with AIDS Society), the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon, the YMCA and the BC SPCA.
Colleen Van Mook - Downtown Prince George BIA
Colleen Van Mook is the Executive Director for Downtown Prince George, which is a non-profit society serving all the tenants and property owners in the Downtown C1 Zone. Colleen is proud to support the Board in their vision to support and grow the economic vitality and energy in Prince George’s downtown. Taking responsibility for the day to day operations and ensuring the implementation of programs, services and projects has been a rewarding role over the last five years. Before that, Colleen spent 25 years working for the City of Prince George as a coordinator, supervisor, manager, and director. As the Director of Community Services, she was responsible for the operations of all recreation facilities and the delivery of programs & services. Her proudest accomplishment during that time was leading Prince George’s bid to host the 2015 Canada Winter Games. She has been a consultant in the areas of strategic planning and leadership development and took on a senior volunteer role of Chair, Mission Services during the execution of the Canada Winter Games. In her role with Downtown Prince George she has been able to join a passionate Board and an amazing array of over 500 downtown businesses; along with committed partners and supporters to improve and promote downtown. Colleen and her husband Bert along with their two adult children, have been proud to call Prince George their home for over 31 years. Colleen enjoys, running, golf and working out at the YMCA in her spare time.
BIABC Administration
Lori Baxter
With more than 35 years as a senior executive in the social profit sector, Lori established Lori Baxter Consulting in 2010. Her client base includes a broad range of social profit organizations and local governments, including BIABC. Prior to establishing her business, Lori served as Director of Arts at 2010 Legacies Now, a partner organization of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. For ten years she was the Executive Director of the Greater Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture, where she worked extensively in advocacy efforts at all levels of government, as well as with the business community and the general public. Lori's has served on the boards of Performing Arts Lodge (PAL) – Vancouver, including three years as President, the Canadian Conference of the Arts, Tourism Vancouver and the Leon and Thea Koerner Foundation.