University of Victoria entrepreneurship professor Mia Maki, who operates Quimper Consulting and is a tireless and passionate mentor in the region’s tech sector, is receiving the Colin Lennox Award for Technology Champion.
It is considered the local tech industry’s highest honour and will be presented to Maki during the 17th annual VIATEC Technology Awards gala on June 15 at the Royal Theatre.
“Mia has participated and supported our local tech community since 1993 and she deserves to be held up as an example of what a technology champion looks like,” said Dan Gunn, VIATEC’s chief executive. “From being behind the scenes on some of Victoria’s largest private placements, to starting up the precursor to VIATEC’s CFO Roundtable, working her way up as CFO and COO of IVL Technologies and then starting her own consulting firm — Mia has shown determination, passion and longevity in Victoria’s tech community.”
“Not only has she worked in the tech community and consulted for some of Victoria’s most well known tech firms, but she has also shaped some of our community’s brightest minds and provided major opportunities while teaching entrepreneurship at the University of Victoria,” said Gunn. “If you give me an hour to talk about Mia Maki, it still won’t be enough time.”
The VIATEC awards ceremony will held at the Royal Theatre for the first time, allowing for 1,400 to attend, instead of the prior limit of 800.
The awards celebrate the achievements of technology companies responsible for making Greater Victoria the fastest growing technology region in B.C., as well as the leaders, creators and innovators who have driven the local tech sector to $4 billion in annual sales, creating Victoria’s largest private industry.
After sifting through a record-breaking 181 nominations, 54 finalists from 44 companies have been selected for 11 award categories, and an additional five recipients were selected for awards.
For the first time, VIATEC’s Member of the Year is going to two individuals instead of a company — Jim Hayhurst (Pretio Interactive) and Ian Chisholm (Roy Group), for their dedicated involvement in bringing F*ckUp Nights to Victoria and continuing to champion it.
StarFish Medical will receive the Community Champion award for their outstanding charity efforts throughout the year.
Hannes Blum has been selected by Capital Investment Network as Angel of the Year.
