Board Profiles

The Board of Directors consists of 13 individuals - eight local government officials appointed by the regional advisory committees for a two-year term and five members-at-large appointed by the Provincial government for a three-year term.

The following directors were appointed by the regional advisory committees for a two year term beginning July 14, 2010:

Mayor Phil Kent, Duncan - Board Chair
Mayor Gerry Furney, Port McNeil - Board Treasurer

Mayor Bev Parnham, Port Hardy - Board Secretary

Mayor John Henderson, Sechelt 
Mayor Rob Hutchins, Ladysmith

Mayor Edward Lewis, Zeballos 
Mayor John Ruttan, Nanaimo

Joe Stanhope, Nanaimo Regional District

The following directors were appointed by the Provincial government and will serve until August 2012:

Bob Bennie - Retired after a lengthy career with financial institutions, including having served the last 15 years as the president and CEO of the Coastal Community Credit Union. Mr. Bennie is also currently a Chair of the board of directors of the Nanaimo Port Authority.

Dave Mannix Snuneymuxw First Nation, is the Chief Executive Officer of Coast Opportunity Funds. He has a background in private enterprise, having owned his own forestry company for twenty years, and has managed economic development for the Snuneymuxw First Nation for the past thirteen years.

Dallas Smith of the Tlowitsis Nation is also co-chair of the Ecosystem-Based Management Council of British Columbia's Central and North Coast. Currently a lead negotiator for 14 nations on several co-management agreements with the Province of British Columbia. Mr. Smith sat on the Coast Information Team Management Committee which was tasked with the development of the definition of Ecosystem Based Management (EBM).

Arlette Raaen has a background in economic development and organizational training.  She is Regional Campus Principal of Vancouver Island University and past President of the Powell River Regional Economic Development Society.  Arlette holds a M.A. degree in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University, and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Victoria.  She began her career with Canada Employment and Immigration, in Employment Counselling and Labour Market Analysis.  Her work in post secondary education started in the entrepreneural training and development area, and she has worked effectively to address, the human resource needs of the Powell River region.

Camela Tang (Board Vice-Chair) is the chair of Nanaimo Spirit of BC Committee and CVI Centre for the Arts - Nanaimo.  She is Past-President of the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership Society and Chair of the Arts, Culture and Entertainment Committee.  She was Chair of the 2008 Nanaimo Cultural Capital of Canada Organizing Committee, Past-President of the Nanaimo Art Gallery, Director of Theatre One, City of Nanaimo Parks, Recreation and Culture Commissioner and member of the Cultural Committee.  Ms. Tang is a recipient of the Positive Image Award from the Economic Development Group of Nanaimo, and recipient of the 2008 Honour in Culture Award from the City of Nanaimo.