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Meet Our Board of Directors & Team

Committees

TIABC is looking for volunteers from its membership to assist the committees.

Please contact us to inquire.

I feel we must speak with one voice and work hard to unify our tourism industry. This board helps us do just that.

Sandra Oldfield

Policy Committee

The Policy Committee develops and updates fact-based policies that clearly communicate the industry’s current concerns and influence decision makers. The Committee utilizes a range of tools to ensure the policy positions it recommends to the Board of Directors reflect the memberships’ views and are supported by research.

Committee members:
1. Michael J. Ballingall (Committee Chair) – TIABC Director
2. Brenda Baptiste – TIABC Director
3. Beverley DeSantis – TIABC Member
4. Barrett Fisher – TIABC Member
5. Katherine MacRae – TIABC Member (Commercial Bear Viewing Association)
6. Joss Penny – TIABC Member (BC Lodging & Campgrounds Association)
7. Paul Vallee – TIABC Member (Gaining Edge)
8. John Wilson – TIABC Member (Wilson Transportation)

Membership & Communications Committee

The Membership and Communications Committee assists the Board in its role of providing input and strategic direction on membership generating activities and communications strategies to support TIABC.

Committee members:
1. Mike Retasket (Committee Chair) – TIABC Director
2. Brenda Baptiste – TIABC Director

3. J.J. Belanger – TIABC Chair
4. Jamie Cox – TIABC Director
5. Ceri Chong – TIABC Member (Tourism Richmond)

6. Nicole Ford – TIABC Director
7. Dennis Innes – TIABC Director
8. Chris Lewis – TIABC Director
9. Joanne Burns Millar – TIABC Director

Finance & Audit Committee

The Finance Committee assists the Board in its fiduciary responsibilities. The Committee also plays a key role in the sustainability of the organization by overseeing the monthly financial statements and reporting back to the board at each meeting.

Committee members:
1. Sandra van Steijn (Committee Chair) – TIABC Director
2. J.J. Belanger – TIABC Chair
3. Jamie Cox – TIABC Director
4. Sandra Oldfield – TIABC Director

Governance Committee

The Governance Committee acts as a working group to assist the Board in ensuring that the organization has the necessary governance structure and policies, including appropriate bylaws, to be an independent and effective tourism industry association on behalf of operators, sectors, DMOs and key stakeholders.

Additionally, the Governance Committee is responsible for ensuring that the Board includes individuals with the skills, experience and broad industry perspective to effectively govern the organization. The process of recruiting qualified nominees for vacant Board positions is overseen by a sub-committee of the Governance Committee.

Committee members:
1. J.J. Belanger – (Committee Chair) – TIABC Chair
2. Brenda Baptiste – TIABC Director

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Reconciliation Sub-committee

The purpose of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee is to assist the Board in its role to establish key metrics and a path forward to ensure TIABC becomes a fair and equitable association well represented by all underserved parties in the tourism industry. Given the current challenges, the Committee will play a key role in establishing the right path forward of the organization.

Committee members:
1. Sandra Oldfield – (Chair) TIABC Director
2. Jarrett Bachman, TIABC Member (Fairleigh Dickinson University)
3. Lisanne Ballantyne, TIABC Member (Tourism Kelowna)
4. Brenda Baptiste – TIABC Director
5. J.J. Belanger – TIABC Chair / Director
6. Barrett Fisher – TIABC Member (Tourism Whistler)
7. Miranda Ji – TIABC Director
8. Chris Lewis – TIABC Director
9. Sandra van Steijn – TIABC Director

🎉 Shoutout to the City of Parksville and Mayor O'Brien for joining us in celebrating #TourismWeekCanada2024! Your support means the world to us as we showcase the beauty of British Columbia. #BCTourismCounts 

📹 @parksvillecity
🎉 Exciting News! 🎉

Fraser-Nicola's own MLA, Jackie Tegart, is thrilled to rally behind #TourismWeekCanada2024! She recognizes the immense positive impact tourism has on BC and firmly believes that #BCTourismCounts.  Let's continue to promote and celebrate the beauty of British Columbia together. 

📹: @tourismhcc
Happy Tourism Week! 🌍

Curious about the vital role tourism plays in our communities? Look no further! Hope Cascades region MP Mark Stahl shares his insights on why tourism matters now more than ever.
TIABC Director Dennis Innes (VCC Dean of Hospitality, Culinary & Baking) and CEO Walt Judas joined term 8 hospitality students, industry leaders, recent graduates, and faculty for a Philosopher's Cafe to discuss the state of the tourism and hospitality workforce this week at VCC's downtown Vancouver campus.
TIABC CEO Walt Judas with Tourism Abbotsford’s Barb Roberts & Clare Seeley, as well as VCM’s Chad Wetsch on a site visit to a land-based Tilapia fish farm owned and operated by the Sumas First Nation who are expanding their Fraser Valley holdings with ambitious plans to bolster Abbotsford’s tourism infrastructure and experiences.
As he does regularly, TIABC CEO Walt Judas recently presented to tourism students and faculty at @westerncommunitycollege's (WCC) Surrey campus, focussing on industry issues and TIABC's advocacy priorities. Walt also serves on WCC's Program Advisory Committee (PAC), as well as the PACs of @capilanou and @myvcc.