Michaela Arruda is the inaugural Executive Director of the Campbell River Community Foundation. Building upon the strong foundation laid in its first two decades by the working board, who grew the Endowment Fund and diligently managed the annual community grants program, Michaela joined the organization in 2022.

Since then, she has expanded the Foundation’s impact beyond traditional grantmaking, driving initiatives in advocacy, workshops and training for the non-profit sector, and convening the community for ‘Vital Conversations’ on pressing local issues. With a focus on fostering camaraderie and partnerships for success, and a knack for ‘thinking outside the box,’ Michaela is passionate about collaborative exploration of innovative strategies to strengthen the fabric of Campbell River’s well-being.

Kristi Rivait is a social entrepreneur with 20+ years of executive-level experience. In 2014, she co-founded Scale Collaborative and is their Director of Partnerships and Programs.

Kristi is renowned for her expertise in organizational transformation, sustainable financial growth and building community wealth. Kristi has coached and empowered hundreds of organizations to achieve greater societal impact through diversified revenue, scaling programs, asset and real estate acquisition, social enterprise, partnerships, and investment.

Kristi co-developed Thriving Non-Profits, initially a local initiative in Victoria, BC. Over the past three years, she has scaled the Thriving Non-Profits revenue diversification leadership program across Canada and transformed it from a single program into one of the country’s leading non-profit and social enterprise innovation and learning hubs.

Kristi is the co-founder and Board President of the Thrive Impact Fund, which provides patient, flexible capital to non-profits, charities, and social enterprises across BC. The fund offers investors the opportunity to achieve financial returns while making a deep impact in their communities.

Paul Lacerte, OBC is a Co-Founder and the Chief Purpose Officer for Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, the first Indigenous owned financial intermediary in Canada. Paul and his daughter Raven also co-founded the Moose Hide Campaign, a national grassroots movement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous men and boys working to end violence against women and children.

Paul is a member of the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation Band which is part of the Carrier speaking People in northern BC. He is a traditional cultural practitioner and loves to spend time on the land in his home Carrier territory. He is a former foster parent, an adoptive parent, the former Vice-Chair of the Vancouver Foundation, the former Board Chair for Reconciliation Canada, and a former representative to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. He was awarded the Order of British Columbia in 2014. He is also a practicing magician and a sub-average hockey player.

Julie Sperber is a connector, entrepreneur, and community builder whose career spans international hospitality, small business ownership, and the nonprofit sector. She is driven by a commitment to creating opportunities and connecting people.

As a business owner and leader in diverse ventures, she has built a strong reputation for fostering partnerships that create mutual benefit and drive positive outcomes.

Since 2017, Julie has dedicated her work to the nonprofit sector, applying an entrepreneurial mindset to strategic management, economic growth, and community development. She is known for identifying opportunities and bringing together capacity and resources to execute.

Now with the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, Julie is focused and aligned with the VIEA mandate of strengthening the regional economy by fostering collaboration, being active in reconciliation, supporting businesses, and turning ideas into action.

Jolynn’s hands-on experience assisting hundreds of small business from startup to expansion and her rich and diverse work experience combined with lifelong learning has created a business acumen steeped in business, human resources, project management, organizational development and nonprofit sector management. She is an entrepreneur at heart and has been self-employed. Jolynn graduated from Royal Roads University in 2005 with a Masters in Leadership and Training.

Jolynn joined the team of Community Futures Central Island (CFCI) in July 2010 as Executive Director. Community Futures, is a federally incorporated not for profit, providing capital to businesses whether operated by an individual, corporation or not for profit. CFCI offers small business finance to entrepreneurs whether a startup, expansion, acquisition or succession. They also provide technical assistance and advisory services for those who are navigating the ins and outs of operating a business in today’s complex world. Jolynn also manages GrowthWorks Vancouver Island Society and their impact investment funds focused on community health and wellness.

CFCI has been involved in both Thriving Non Profits and the Business Legacies Initiative. Revenue generation through diverse avenues is key to the ongoing success of not for profits. Jolynn has facilitated numerous strategic planning sessions for not for profit organization in the central island region and believes that the most important element of strategic planning is engagement/participation from all levels of stakeholders and creating a plan that is accessible and easily executed.

Jolynn and her partner Tim reside in Nanoose. Together they have four children. They are proud grandparents of their granddaughter, Hannah, now seven.

Burak is a seasoned expert in venture programming, clean technology, and impact investment, currently contributing at COAST as Director of Programming and Investment and as a Venture Partner at Emend Vision Fund. Previously, he served as Vice President of Impact & Sustainability at Alacrity Canada, managing key Cleantech and Industrial Transformation programs.

His extensive management experience includes C-suite roles at organizations such as Fox (News Corp), Motorola, McCann Erickson, Turkish Telecom, and various large retail operations. Burak’s diverse background makes him a valuable voice in discussions on innovation and sustainability.

Kimberley Worthington is an experienced senior executive with 15 plus years success in roles dedicated to tourism, business, and economic development across communities and regions. With considerable knowledge and experience in the public, private and not for profit sectors, Kimberley is well known for working collaboratively not only to develop strategy but also link it to successful outcomes. She has developed and implemented municipal investment attraction readiness programs, developed entrepreneurship training programs, one during COVID and is an entrepreneur herself. Her work in tourism has been impactful at local, regional, and international level.

Ms. Worthington enjoys facilitating stakeholder engagements, navigating political & relational nuances with diverse groups and competing interests to achieve consensus moving goals along and achieve what we could not do alone.
Ms. Worthington has an undergrad degree in International Relations (Okanagan University College) and a master’s in political science (Simon Fraser University). She has completed several economic development courses and is in pursuit of a CGLM. Most recently she accepted a position with the City of Campbell River as the Economic Development and Tourism Manager.
As a social justice seeker, Kimberley volunteers to support causes that help the underprivileged and exploited thrive, not just survive. In her spare time she supports her son’s passion for soccer and entrepreneurship, hikes with her two poodles- Ruthie and Ruffles, and sneaks in the occasional dose of Netflix.

her work to the nonprofit sector, applying an entrepreneurial mindset to strategic management, economic growth, and community development. She is known for identifying opportunities and bringing together capacity and resources to execute.

Now with the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, Julie is focused and aligned with the VIEA mandate of strengthening the regional economy by fostering collaboration, being active in reconciliation, supporting businesses, and turning ideas into action.

Gary Wilson, a proud Haiɫzaqv Nation member, born and raised in Bella Bella, BC. Gary and his family are grateful for the Snuneymuxw and Snaw-naw-as First Nations for allowing them to live, work and play in their traditional territory on Vancouver Island for the last 30 years.

Gary has 20 + years of Sr. level management experience over a variety of roles across First Nation Economic Development, Banking, Government, and the Not-for-Profit sector. As the CEO and Director of Economic Development of Tiicma Enterprises, a wholly owned company of the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k:tles7et’h’ First Nations, Gary provides strategic and operational oversight, planning, budgeting and technical guidance, advice and support to his Sr. Management team and staff.

Gary serves on several boards. He is serving a 5th term as President and Chair for the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA). Gary also serves as Vice Chair to National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. (NICHI) Board of Directors and as a Director for Vancouver Island Economic Alliance (VIEA) Board.

A strong believer in lifelong learning, Gary had attended post-secondary and received a Bachelor of Commerce class of 2008 from Royal Roads University and a Master of Business Administration, class of 2016 from Simon Fraser University.

Recognizing our First Nation community’s rich history of Nation-to- Nation Inter-tribal trade from a national and international perspective; Gary believes that by incorporating our Indigenous values and principals along with the best of modern day development practices, First Nations are well positioned to establish successful and sustainable opportunities to support national and international economic development partnership opportunities, creating sustainable socio-economic development for Indigenous citizens and the broader business community.

Maurita Prato is the Executive Director of LUSH VALLEY Food Action Society, a non-profit which supports the Comox Valley in gaining food-systems skills and knowledge to increase food security, self-sufficiency, and local food production across the region. LUSH VALLEY sees healthy, local food as a vehicle for empowerment, social justice, celebration and community well-being.

Jason Wilson is a member of the We Wai Kai Nation, part of the Kwakwak’awakw peoples from British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria. With experience in sales, marketing, business, and tourism development, Jason has also owned a consulting business focused on helping First Nations on Vancouver Island create market-ready tourism products.

Since March 2022, Jason has served as the Manager of Economic Development for the We Wai Kai Nation, working closely with leadership to develop a sustainable economic sector. His role includes managing projects, resources, and identifying opportunities that support locally owned member and nation businesses.

From August 2023 to December 2024, Jason served as Acting Director of Operations for the We Wai Kai Nation, implementing Chief & Council’s vision and overseeing administration, staff, and member relations.

Before joining the We Wai Kai Nation, Jason worked with the Alberta Indian Investment Corporation (AIIC) and Winfire Business Services Ltd. from October 2016, delivering business advisory services, creating business plans, facilitating entrepreneurship workshops, and organizing AIIC’s annual Alberta Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneur Camp.

Bradley T. Morris is the founder of Majik Media, a visionary creative studio that empowers entrepreneurs to bring their boldest ideas to life through education, entertainment, community, technology, and heart-centered strategy. With 20+ years as a creative entrepreneur, he’s launched viral videos, six-figure programs, transformative retreats, and thriving online platforms.

Bradley is also the founder & creative director at Majik Kids, a Fair Pay Publishing company and magical app (created with his 8-year-old son, Sauryn) featuring the world’s best audio stories for kids, music, imagination meditations, beautifully illustrated books, and empowering curriculum for families and homeschoolers.

He also co-founded Play Chi Ball in 2024, a wildly fun flow-inducing handball game that turns strangers into friends through movement and play.

Bradley leads with heart, purpose & play, empowering creators to thrive beyond social media; building meaningful, profitable businesses rooted in connection and creativity.

Dr. Majerbi is an associate professor of finance at Gustavson School of Business, and Director of the Impact Investing Hub at University of Victoria. Her recent research focuses on ESG, impact investing, climate-related financial risks and community energy transitions. She currently leads the business and finance innovation research area of the Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) initiative, a multidisciplinary, multipartners project dedicated to collaborating with communities to co-create equitable and resilient clean energy solutions that strengthen local economies. She is a recipient of multiple awards for research, teaching and community engagement, including BC Cleantech Educator of Year and Canada Clean50 Award.

Cordell founded Regenerative Capital Group with long-time mentor, business partner, and local Campbell River resident, Mike Miller in 2022. Leveraging their collective past experiences in running impact investment funds, and successfully acquiring, growing, and exiting many small-medium enterprises in a variety of sectors across Canada, they created the investment thesis and Fund in RCG. Investing in cohorts of NextGen entrepreneurs to search for, and acquire businesses seeking sale and ownership succession, and vesting equity to these entrepreneurs and their management teams as they evolve value creation strategies in these firms to address wider systems needs.

Kristi Fairholm Mader (KFM) has always worked in the social impact sector. After 10 years as a youth worker, she returned to school to complete a business degree, with a focus on social enterprise. Kristi founded and supported several employment social enterprises, and was Director of Social Enterprise for Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network. In 2014, Kristi co-founded Scale Collaborative to support growing a thriving social change sector. Within Scale’s family of organizations, KFM is the Managing Director of Thrive Impact Fund and Scale Institute Society.

Keith is a serial impact entrepreneur and investor. Keith has co-founded five ventures including Spring Activator, a Vancouver based organization that exists to change the world. To date, Spring has supported entrepreneurs in incubation, acceleration, and investment readiness in over 60 cities across 5 continents while its impact programs have helped over 3,000 entrepreneurs and 1,100 investors.

Keith also co-founded the Spring Investing Collective – Canada’s largest early stage impact investing network. Most recently, Keith co-founded Spring Impact Capital Fund, a pre-seed to seed stage fund focused at the intersection of People and Planetary Health.

Tanya Smith is a social purpose leader with over 20 years of experience building stronger communities through collaboration. She currently leads social purpose development and implementation at Coast Capital Federal Credit Union, a certified B Corp, where she oversees the organization’s national community investment strategy.
Her work focuses on fostering partnerships that drive innovation in social finance and support efforts to reduce income inequality. Tanya also manages Coast’s employee volunteer program and champions equity, diversity, and inclusion as co-chair of the Indigenous Affinity Network and a member of the Corporate Community Engagement Council. She is driven by a passion for collective action and believes in the radical change needed to create a more equitable and sustainable future.

Cassandra Hui is the founder of Heart, with years of experience designing both in-person and digital engagement strategies that build meaningful connections. Her work has focused on breaking down barriers between medical professionals and the communities they serve, particularly through her efforts at the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
At the Foundation, Cassandra played a key role in fostering trust and collaboration between surgeons, patients, and donors. Her commitment to accessibility, empathy, and innovation continues to drive her mission to create more inclusive and human-centered health engagement experiences.

Jennifer Anne Gallic is a dedicated community leader with a broad range of experience and education aimed at strengthening the Tseshaht Nation. Her vision is to build a safe, healthy, and sustainable community that places greater emphasis on supporting both Youth and Elders—key pillars for shaping the Nation’s future.
Jennifer advocates for community-driven approaches to economic development, employment opportunities, and improved services for both on- and off-reserve members. Her priorities include enhancing local infrastructure, increasing community ownership, improving safety through policy review, and expanding access to green and recreational spaces. Guided by the principle hisuk ʔisč̓awaak (“Everything is One”), Jennifer is committed to serving the Tseshaht Nation and contributing to a thriving future for all members.