Consultant Frank Bourree, principal and owner of Bourree + Associates, is the new chair of the South Island Prosperity Partnership, succeeding Craig Norris.
Norris, CEO of Community Marine Concepts Ltd., remains on the board as past chair.
The new board also includes Sean Midwood, a retired Royal Canadian Navy member; Deirdre Campbell, managing director Canada of Beattie Tartan; Tina Ryan, president of Visa Seminars International; Anna MacMillan, retired partner and counsel at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP; Jennifer Vornbrock, executive director of community and government relations at the University of Victoria; Kear Porttris, principal at Gwaii Engineering Ltd.; and Geoff Wilmshurst, vice-president partnerships at Camosun College.
Outgoing board members incldue Christina Clarke, corporate executive officer of Songhees Development Corp., and Kyman Chan, partner at Grant Thornton LLP.
SIPP noted several highlights from its 2019-2020 year:
• Convened the multi-sector Rising Economy Taskforce, the largest, co-ordinated industry-led COVID-19 economic recovery effort in Canada.
• Secured $100,000 in funding from Western Economic Diversification Canada to conduct a feasibility and business
• Case study for an Ocean Futures Innovation Hub for the region.
• With the Songhees Nation, co-hosted the first Indigenous Prosperity Gathering to explore collaborative projects that might benefit multiple Nations through equity, revenue-sharing and jobs.
• Launched the Invest Victoria & South Vancouver Island brand and campaign to attract companies to the region.
“This has been a year of deep challenges for our region, and SIPP is committed to speeding our recovery and creating a more resilient, diverse economy to withstand possible future shocks, ” says SIPP CEO Emilie de Rosenroll. “Our board members, both returning and new, bring the right blend of expertise and collaborative spirit to help steer us as we build our region back better than ever.”
