Board of Directors

The BC Achievement Foundation is governed by a dedicated volunteer board of directors. Their knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise from a wide range of backgrounds, including business, law, finance, social justice, Indigenous innovation, arts and culture, economics, and public service guides the Foundation’s strategic direction.

Walter Pela

Walter Pela, FCPA, FCA
Chair

Biography

Walter Pela, FCPA, FCA is KPMG’s Regional Managing Partner leading BC’s largest and oldest professional services firm with over 1,650 team members in 12 offices across the Province. He also serves on KPMG’s National Clients & Markets Committee, overseeing client service and market development across Canada. With a 30-year career at KPMG, Walter enjoys leading conversations with clients, business leaders and organizations on the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of digital transformation, business model disruption, and changing environmental, social and economic dimensions affecting businesses and their broader stakeholders.  Walter has been recognized as a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA), as a Champion honouree by the Association of Women of Finance, is part of the President’s Group representing BC’s Accessible Employers, currently sits on the Executive Committees or Boards of the Business Council of British Columbia, the Greater Vancouver Area Board of Trade, the Pacific Autism Family Network, and is a past Governor of the Canadian Tax Foundation and past Finance Committee Chair of UNICEF Canada. 

Why BC Achievement? 

British Columbia is built by truly remarkable people doing incredible work in varied fields throughout the province. They deserve to be recognized and celebrated, and their achievements amplified, inspiring all of us in our ambitions to make an impact.

– Walter Pela

Full Bio
BCAF - Christopher Gaze

Christopher Gaze, OBC
Vice Chair

Biography

Christopher Gaze is best known as the Founding Artistic Director of Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. Christopher plays a leading role in British Columbia as an advocate for the arts, and his passionate dedication to Bard on the Beach has fuelled its growth into one of the largest professional theatre companies in Canada, drawing more than 1.9 million patrons since he founded it in 1990. Christopher hosts the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s ever popular Tea & Trumpets series and, for the past twenty-eight years, has also hosted their annual traditional Christmas concerts. His many honours include Canada’s Meritorious Service Medal, Honorary Doctorates from UBC & SFU, the Mayor’s Arts Award for Theatre and the Order of British Columbia.

Why BC Achievement? 

BC Achievement reaches every corner of British Columbia and recognizes the excellence and the good that the people of our Province do for the betterment of all. Being honoured has a massive impact on individuals, their family and their friends. I am deeply proud to serve on the Board and to play a small role in furthering this noble mission.

– Christopher Gaze, OBC

Full Bio
BCAF - Kevin Bent

Kevin Bent
Treasurer/Secretary

Biography

Kevin Bent is Founder and President of Hula Management Consulting Inc. where he provides strategic direction for digital start-up companies. He was previously Executive Vice President of Postmedia Inc. and President and Publisher of Pacific Newspaper Group Inc., publisher of The Vancouver Sun and The Province print and digital editions. Kevin has a business degree from the University of New Brunswick and has been a board member and past chair of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Sunnyhill Foundation, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and New Car Dealers of British Columbia. Kevin currently serves as board chair for Streetohome.

Why BC Achievement? 

As a proud British Columbian, I believe it’s important to recognize and celebrate excellence in our province. This helps strengthen and build community spirit and inspire present and future generations.

– Kevin Bent

Full Bio

Aisha Amijee

Biography

Aisha is a proud British Columbian, mother of three and an award-winning community leader and educator. Born and raised in Surrey, BC, she fills her heart up with countless initiatives in her hometown of Surrey as well the Muslim, South Asian, Fijian, Arts and Soccer communities she belongs to. She is the founder of a women’s leadership registered charity, Voices of Muslim Women Foundation. She holds a BA from UBC and a MEd in Justice, Law & Ethics in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from SFU. She is also the founder of Vancouver based brunch club and podcast: Legacy Brunch Club. Aisha loves to balance motherhood with her own passion for the art of living well, travel, growth, leadership, and legacy.

Why BC Achievement? 

It is an absolute honour to serve with an organization which is dedicated to uplifting entire communities from every corner of British Columbia. From our small towns to our bustling metro cities, when we recognize individuals who serve their communities, we inspire and connect all of the communities we belong to. It is a chance to celebrate each other and our collective united spirit as British Columbians.

Full Bio

Greg D'Avignon

Biography

Greg D’Avignon is a partner at Canadian Strategy Group, a prominent public affairs firm serving global and local private sector clients, as well as Indigenous Nations across western Canada. Previously, he served as the President and CEO at the Business Council of British Columbia. During his 12-year tenure, he provided leadership to the province’s 250 largest firms and leading institutions, contributing to economic growth, innovation, reconciliation efforts, and the advancement of B.C.’s low-carbon trade to address global and domestic emissions. His diverse background includes roles in the Minister of Justice’s office and the Prime Minister of Canada’s office, and leadership positions in regulated industries within the financial, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors.

Greg currently serves as the Chair of the YMCA of B.C. and the Pacific Autism Family Network. He has previously chaired the B.C. Cancer Foundation and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation BC/Yukon. His past involvement in community service includes various board roles, such as the Indigenous Business Investment Council, the Academic Health Sciences Network, and community youth sports organizations.

Why BC Achievement?

We are living in a complex and challenging time of change. BC Achievement’s ability to encourage excellence that brings us together and celebrate those making a difference is vital to ensuring we have thriving, healthy and inclusive communities.

 – Greg D’Avignon

Full Bio

Anne Giardini, OC, OBC, KC
Past Chair

Biography

Anne Giardini, OC, OBC, KC, has had a long career in law and business and as a corporate director. She has also been active in environmentalism and the arts. Anne has been a journalist and a newspaper columnist and is the author of two novels and co-editor of a collection of writing advice. In 2016, Anne was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for her contributions to the forestry sector, higher education and the literary community. In 2018, she was appointed to the Order of British Columbia.

Why BC Achievement? 

The achievers among us inspire us all to reach beyond the everyday version of ourselves. Watching, learning, reaching, doing, we create a better world together.

– Anne Giardini, OC, OBC, KC

Full Bio
Carol Lee

Carol Anne Lee, CM, OBC

Biography

Carol Anne Lee is chair and co-founder of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation. With long standing family ties to the history of Chinatown, she is strongly committed to the revitalization of the area. She is active at UBC – her alma mater – and is the acting co-chair of UBC Properties Trust and is on the Faculty Advisory Board of Sauder Business School. Carol was also a member of federal Finance Minister Morneau’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth, a member of the Leadership Council of the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics in Waterloo and the Rideau Hall Foundation. She is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia, an Honorary Doctorate of Technology from BCIT and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2022 she received the Order of British Columbia and in December 2023, Carol was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.

Why BC Achievement? 

It is an honour to be involved in an organization that celebrates the incredible contributions and achievements of our fellow British Columbians. It is wonderful to recognize accomplishments that inspire us all. Building stronger, more inclusive communities across BC is so important for the future of our province, now more than ever.

– Carol Anne Lee, CM, OBC

Full Bio
BCAF - Scott McIntyre

Scott McIntyre, CM, OBC, LLD (Hon.)

Biography

Scott McIntyre is best-known for his role as co-founder, publisher and CEO of the pre-eminent Canadian publishing house Douglas & McIntyre. His career embraced over 40 years of government relations and industry association work, including 20 years as an advisor to the Federal government for the Cultural Industries during all of Canada’s recent trade negotiations. His many Board positions have included the Writer’s Trust of Canada, Creative BC, the Canadian Coalition for Cultural Diversity, the Bill Reid Foundation, the UBC School of Journalism, and the Association of Canadian Publishers. He is currently a Board member of the Vancouver Institute, the Global Reporting Centre, Green College, and the Museum of Anthropology, all at UBC, and PEN Canada. Awarded the Order of British Columbia in 2019, Scott is a Member of the Order of Canada and holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws from SFU.

Why BC Achievement? 

Honouring British Columbians of exceptional cultural and social achievement is a compelling mandate, one that makes an important contribution to the province. I am enormously proud of having been involved with BC Achievement since its establishment in 2003.

– Scott McIntyre, CM, OBC, LLD (Hon.)

Full Bio
BCAF - Judith Sayers

Cloy-e-iis Judith Sayers, OC

Biography

Appointed as Vancouver Island University’s third chancellor in 2020, Dr. Judith Sayers is a member of the Hupacasath First Nation; she was elected President of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council in September 2017. Judith has worked as a Strategic Adviser to First Nations and corporations and is an adjunct professor at the Peter Gustavson School of Business and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. She was the elected Chief of the Hupacasath First Nation for 14 years and Chief Negotiator for 15 years. Judith’s educational background includes a business and law degree and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Queen’s University. She has an extensive background of practicing law for 18 years in both Alberta and British Columbia, working in international forums, lobbying governments and other agencies for the promotion and protection of First Nations rights and title. A champion for sustainable development in Indigenous communities, Judith was appointed an officer to the Order of Canada in 2018.

Why BC Achievement? 

I really enjoy being able to work with BC Achievement to identify people to honour in the various areas we do awards. It is such positive work setting the stage to find people we can hold up and say to the world, “this is what they have achieved.”

– Cloy-e-iis Judith Sayers, OC

Full Bio

Tamara Vrooman, OBC

Biography

Tamara Vrooman is President & CEO of Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR), Canada’s second busiest airport. Prior to this, Tamara was President & CEO of Vancity, Canada’s largest community credit union with $28 billion in assets, and served as the Deputy Minister of Finance for the Province of British Columbia; the Secretary to the Treasury Board; and CEO of the Public Sector Employers’ Council. Her expertise has been sought by organizations, leaders and governments at all levels— including national and international-whether on the economy, social change, or environmental sustainability, and often at the intersection of all three.

Tamara currently serves as a Board Director of the Airports Council International (North America) where she is appointed as Vice-Chair of the Canadian Airports Council. She is a  Director of the Board for DRI Healthcare Trust; and is a member of Canada’s Disability Inclusion Business Council. Tamara is also past board chair of the Canada Infrastructure Bank. She currently serves as Simon Fraser University’s 12th Chancellor and chair of the Rick Hansen Foundation, in addition to other board roles. Tamara is the recipient of the Order of British Columbia (2019), the Peter Lougheed Award for Leadership in Public Policy (2016) and the BC CEO of the Year Award (Major Private Company) from Business in Vancouver (2015) among many other citations.

Why BC Achievement?

As a lifelong resident of BC, I am pleased to support BC Achievement in recognizing and celebrating excellence throughout our province.

– Tamara Vrooman, OBC

Full Bio

Denise Williams

Biography

Denise Williams is most recognized as the long time, celebrated CEO of the First Nations Technology Council and the architect of the country’s first Indigenous Digital Equity Strategy and Indigenous Innovation Institute. During her time with the FNTC she became a fierce community and Indigenous rights advocate, sought out advisor to government, industry and academia, and a trusted board member in numerous communities that she is committed to.

Over her years of enthusiastic contribution, Denise has received a number of acknowledgements from her community including BIV Top 40 Under 40, 500 Most Influential Leaders in 2021 and 2022, Mother Board’s Human of the Year, Women in Leadership Community Champion Award and is the 2022 recipient of Simon Fraser University’s Outstanding Alumni Award, where she earned her MBA in 2015.

Why BC Achievement? 

Acknowledging and appreciating the beautiful gifts that people from across the province share to make our world a better place is an absolute honour. Achievement takes many forms and I look forward to shining the light on those doing incredible things in and out of plain sight.

– Denise Williams

Full Bio

Government Appointed Members

Premier David Eby

Hon. David Eby, KC

Biography

Prior to politics, Premier David Eby’s work on human rights and democratic freedoms was recognized by the United Nations Association in Canada, and the B.C. Human Rights Coalition. He was an adjunct professor of law at the University of British Columbia, president of the HIV/AIDS Legal Network, and served on the Vancouver Foundation’s Health and Social Development Committee. From 2009 to 2013, he also ran the B.C. Civil Liberties Association as executive director.

As British Columbia’s longest-serving Attorney General in the last 30 years, he got big money out of B.C.’s elections and cracked down on money laundering in casinos and real estate. He took on opioid manufacturers and delivered a first-of-its-kind settlement to hold corporations accountable for the overdose crisis. And he removed legal costs from the ICBC process to reduce car insurance rates by an average of $400 a year for drivers. Thanks to his leadership as Minister of Housing, thousands of new middle-class homes are now being built all over the province, and hundreds of people experiencing homelessness have been moved from unsafe encampments to more secure housing.

As BC’s 37th premier, he hit the ground running, taking immediate action on issues important to people. From rate freezes and credits to help British Columbians with rising prices, to a public safety and prolific offenders plan, to increasing internationally trained doctors and nurses, to protecting renters from evictions and removing barriers to help more build more housing across the province, Premier Eby is continuing to focus on tackling problems impacting British Columbians.

Full Bio
The Honourable Lisa Beare

Hon. Lisa Beare

Biography

Lisa Beare was elected as the MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows in October 2020 and serves as the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. She previously served as the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport and Deputy House Leader and was first elected in 2017.

Lisa grew up in Maple Ridge and has been raising a young family in the community. She previously worked as a flight attendant.

Lisa demonstrated her commitment to good governance early on, with a diploma in local government management from the University of Victoria. Long a passionate advocate for social causes and a committed volunteer, Lisa got her start in politics in 2014 when she was elected as a member of the local school board. Her time on the school board and her own experiences as a mother led her to become an advocate for quality public education for all British Columbians.

Why BC Achievement? 

The BC Achievement Foundation recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary accomplishments of people in this province. The Foundation highlights the best among us, and in doing so, inspires a spirit of excellence that helps build strong and prosperous communities. I’m proud to serve on the board of the Foundation and delighted to have the opportunity to exemplify those whose remarkable achievements contribute to our growth and success as a province.

– The Honourable Lisa Beare

Full Bio

Kelli Paddon, MLA

Biography

Kelli Paddon was elected MLA for Chilliwack-Kent in 2020 and is the Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity. She has served as Chair of the Special Committee to Appoint a Representative for Children and Youth, and is a member on the Legislative Review Committee, the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, the Select Standing Committee on Agriculture, Fish and Food, The Select Standing Committee on Education, and the Special Committee to Appoint a Police Complaint Commissioner.

Prior to running for provincial office, Kelli dedicated her career to supporting families and people in the community living sector. Kelli served as a community support worker, youth employment counsellor, university instructor, and led the provincial team for Policy & Government Relations as part of the Strategic Initiatives team at Community Living BC. She has also dedicated her time to volunteering in the community for local groups that support youth, as well as community corrections and RCMP victim services.

Kelli is French-Canadian, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Law, and a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a dual focus in Equity Studies and Work, Organization & Leadership. Her most recent research on the impacts of COVID-19, gender, and the BC Legislature has been published in the Canadian Parliamentary Review.

Why BC Achievement? 

The amazing and diverse people of B.C. are the heart of our province. The BC Achievement Foundation gives well deserved recognition to incredible British Columbians and, in turn, inspires us all to explore our own excellence.

– Kelli Paddon, MLA

Full Bio

Hon. Rachna Singh

Biography

Rachna Singh was elected as the BC New Democrat MLA for Surrey-Green Timbers in May 2017 and re-elected in October 2020. She is the Minister of Education and Childcare. She is also a member of the Planning and Priorities Committee, the Appointment Orders Committee, the Cabinet Committee on Social Initiatives, and the Government Caucus Committee on Social Initiatives. She was previously the Convener of the Special Committee to Appoint a Police Complaint Commissioner as well as the Special Committee to Appoint a Conflict-of-Interest Commissioner. Rachna moved from India to Canada in 2001 and chose Surrey to build a better life for her young family. She has worked as a drug and alcohol counsellor, a support worker for women facing domestic violence, and a community activist. Rachna has two children and is married to radio journalist Gurpreet Singh.

Why BC Achievement? 

To celebrate and acknowledge the incredible work of British Columbians, in various fields, across our diverse province. BC Achievement honours excellence and serves as an inspiration to all of us to strive to do the same.

– The Honourable Rachna Singh

Full Bio

Past Board Members

The BC Achievement Foundation is grateful for the guidance of its founding and past board members. Their service, vision and stewardship was integral to establishing and advancing BC Achievement’s mission to honour excellence and inspire achievement in the province of British Columbia.

George M. Abbott*

Kathleen Bartels

Dr. Robert J. Belton

Pat Bell

Bill Bennett

Mike Bernier

Iain Black

Shirley B. Bond*

Ron Burnett

Gordon M. Campbell*

Ida Chong*

Christy Clark

Christopher (Chris) Derickson

Peter Y.L. Eng*

Peter Fassbender

Stephanie Forsyth

Yuri Fulmer

Sonia Furstenau

Wendy Grant John

Virginia J. Greene*

Kitty Heller*

Carol G. Henriquez

John Horgan

Marvin Hunt

* Founding Member 

Olga Ilich

C.T. (Manny) Jules

Janice S. (Fanny) Kiefer*

Kevin Krueger

Blair Lekstrom

Jack Lohman

Robert Louie

Ron Lou-Poy

A. Keith Mitchell*

John Montalbano

Patrick H.B. Nagle*

Coralee Oakes

Sophie Pierre

Horst Sander*

Joseph Segal*

Dennis Skulsky

Dr. Michael Stevenson

Ben Stewart

Ian H. Stewart

Jackie Tegart

Rick S. Thrope*

Prem Singh Vinning*

Max Wyman