Finance
Phil Mullen has been named leader of Mercer Canada’s wealth business for Vancouver. Mullen joins the Canadian team from Ireland, where he held a global role with Mercer for more than 10 years. Mullen has also worked in Seattle, where he led Mercer’s retirement business in the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Hospitality/Tourism/Convention
Sandra Ruff has joined the Pacific National Exhibition as vice-president of finance and corporate services. She was previously vice-president of finance at Diamond Resorts Canada Ltd.
Josh Gale has been appointed executive chef at Juniper Kitchen + Bar. Gale, a self-taught chef, has had advice and mentorship from chefs at restaurants such as Hawksworth and Café Bolud as well as New York’s Gramercy Tavern. Prior to his current appointment, Gale was at Wildebeest, and has also worked at Fable and Nicli’s Next Door.
Alexander Buonassisi has joined Oyen Wiggs as an associate of the firm. His practice will focus on all aspects of intellectual property law.
Legal
Ryan Copeland has joined the partnership at Roper Greyell LLP. Copeland joined the firm in 2008 and will continue to provide clients with legal representation and strategic advice in all areas of workplace law. Copeland’s background as a construction worker, tree feller and forestry firefighter informs his approach to workplace law.
Jesse Ahuja has been promoted to equity partner at MEP Business Counsel. As a member of the corporate practice group since the firm’s inception, Ahuja’s primary practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and strategic business transactions, with an emphasis on the technology sector.
Non-profit
Karin Kirkpatrick has been appointed CEO of Family Services of Greater Vancouver. Kirkpatrick comes to Family Services from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia, where she is an adjunct professor in the organizational behaviour and human resource division. Previous positions include assistant dean of the Sauder School of Business; CEO of the Private Career Training Institutions Agency, a provincial Crown corporation regulating the private post-secondary sector; and CEO of the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, a grant-making organization supporting non-profit groups in sustainable housing projects.
Public
Mariano Costamagna has stepped down from the board of directors at Westport Fuel Systems Inc. while continuing in his ambassador role with the company. Costamagna was Fuel Systems’ chief executive officer from January 2005 to May 2016. Upon the closing of the merger between Fuel Systems Solutions and Westport Innovations, he joined the board of Westport Fuel Systems and began his role as ambassador, both effective June 1, 2016. The Westport Fuel Systems board currently consists of: Warren J. Baker (non-executive chairman), Nancy Gougarty (CEO), Brenda J. Eprile, Anthony Harris, Colin S. Johnston, Scott Mackie, Rodney Nunn and Peter Yu.
Resources
Jason Sutherland, a partner at the law firm DuMoulin Black LLP, has been appointed to the board of directors of AsiaBaseMetals Inc. Sutherland practises in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, corporate and commercial law and proxy contests in a range of industries, including mining, oil and gas, technology, biotechnology and food and beverage.
Maribel Jordan has been appointed chief financial officer at Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd., replacing John Morita, who resigned on December 31, 2016. Jordan, who has been with the company since 2014, has more than 25 years of finance, accounting and management experience in a variety of industries, including the mining industry.
Gerry Peereboom and Paul Sullivan have joined Steelhead LNG as vice-president, integration, and vice-president, projects, respectively. Peereboom has more than 38 years of international experience on major oil, gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects for companies such as Noble Energy, BP and Amoco. Sullivan has more than 25 years of experience managing LNG import and export projects, and most recently held the position of senior vice-president of global LNG and floating LNG at Worley Parsons Group.
Technology
Trevor Westerlund has been appointed head of business development at Radical I/O Technology Inc., a Vancouver-based digital development studio. Westerlund has been working with startups as a mentor and entrepreneur; previous roles include VP of business development at Atimi and Hatch Interactive, working with various sports teams and their sponsors on fan-focused apps.
Hats Off
NAI Commercial donated $22,128 to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund to continue the fund’s education efforts and to help support burn victims. Each year, almost 700 children and adults from around B.C. are admitted to the burn, trauma and plastics units at Vancouver General Hospital and BC Children’s Hospital suffering serious trauma.
The Amir & Yasmin Virani Foundation donated a $10,000 grant to Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. These funds will help the organization match at-risk girls with a supportive mentor through its one-to-one Study Buddy mentoring program.
The City of Surrey’s staff and management donated $230,438.29 to the United Way of the Lower Mainland. The funds will be used to help children, families and seniors in need in the Lower Mainland.
North Shore Community Foundation donated $2,500 to Children of the Street Society to support the delivery of the society’s school-based prevention workshops for young people living on the North Shore. Last year, the society presented more than 70 workshops for more than 2,600 children and youth on the North Shore. Province wide, it reached over 27,000 young people through almost 550 workshops.
RBC donated $20,000 to the BC Epilepsy Society. The funds will be used to help provide support services and programs for children and adults living with epilepsy. Over 40,000 people in B.C. are living with epilepsy.
The Port Moody Oldtimers Hockey Association held its annual Christmas Burger and Beer event at the Burrard Public House with all proceeds benefiting Crossroads Hospice Society; $1,280 was donated to the society.
Avison Young’s annual day of giving, held in October 2016, donated a total of $31,875 to five local non-profits. Avison Young staff volunteered at Westminster House Treatment Centre for Women (see BIV issue 1409; October 25-31) and also raised funds for Atira Women’s Resource Society, Covenant House, Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative and Children of the Street Society. •
