Brian works at the intersection of community, finance, and innovation, where he’s helped design and launch multiple social finance and impact investment vehicles now capitalizing social purpose organizations across Canada.

He is also the co-founder of Persephone Brewing Company — affectionately known as The Beer Farm — a Certified B Corp that pioneered regenerative agriculture and social enterprise in the craft beer industry. Located on a working farm in British Columbia, Persephone is also Bee Friendly and Salmon Safe certified, and known for its award-winning beer and grassroots activism.

Today, Brian serves as Managing Director of Engagement and Market Development at Boann Social Impact, one of three federal wholesalers of Canada’s $755M Social Finance Fund. His team is responsible for identifying and developing investment-ready social finance intermediaries and social purpose organizations nationwide — with a strong focus on equity, systems change, and catalytic capital.

Lee-Ann McEllister is the Board Chair of Habitat for Humanity Okanagan, where she leads initiatives to increase access to affordable housing and strengthen community impact. She also serves as Senior Director of Sales at MCAP, one of Canada’s largest mortgage finance companies, supporting a national team of business development managers. With a passion for purpose-driven leadership, Lee-Ann brings insight into how business and community can grow together, supporting a national team of business development managers.

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.

Kelly (she/her) brings the strengths of her ancestry to her work as a leader. Through 30 years of on-the-ground engagement, Kelly came to see relational breakdown as the central barrier to meaningful change and came to understand that revitalizing and centering Indigenous ways is key to turning this around. She co-founded IndigenEYEZ and kinSHIFT as a means of supporting natural champions in communities to better respond to the impacts of colonization.

Kelly is focused on the role of relationships in systems change and is sought out for her capacity to help deepen relations at a time when building connections across differences is essential. She has a BSW, MA, Executive Coaching Certification, and extensive training in creative facilitation through Partners for Youth Empowerment (PYE Global). She lives on her family’s ancestral homelands on the Blind Creek Indian Reserve in unceded syilx territory in the Similkameen Valley.

Thi Dao (she/her) is a social purpose leader focused on strengthening organizational resilience in the social impact sector through capacity building, systems thinking, and meaningful partnerships that run deep. She is the Director of Engagement Strategy at Technology Helps, supporting social purpose organizations through digital transformation and operational support. A former Director of Partnerships at Future of Good, Thi is also a board member at Purppl and co-host of Connect Money Impact, where she brings people together around bold ideas and shared purpose.

Andrew Greer is the Managing Director at Purppl. He’s been working in social enterprise and community development for 10+ years. He’s also the BC Interior Lead, board member, and co-owner at Thrive Impact Fund. In the past, Andrew held several roles with Accelerate Okanagan, supporting tech companies through entrepreneurial development programs in the Okanagan and throughout BC. He is also a former top Canadian sales manager for Xerox. He has diverse experience working in, starting, and serving as a Board member to nonprofits, co-ops, and social enterprises. As a specialist at Purppl, he likes to spend time with leaders on impact strategy, impact measurement, business model and revenue development, and governance structures.

Cody Lowry is a purpose-driven entrepreneur and devoted family man who values authentic connection and collaboration. As Director of Business Development for Chandos Construction in Kelowna, Cody plays a key role in supporting clients’ visions, empowering teams, and fostering a strong, inclusive corporate culture. Chandos is a national technical builder at the forefront of innovation and social impact in the Canadian construction industry. As the largest B-Corp Certified contractor in North America and 100% employee-owned, Chandos is committed to building a better world through inclusive hiring, sustainability, and community-driven values.

One passion that Em has a knack for: creating experiences that meet the diverse needs of the people in the room. Back in their days as both a managing barista and a yoga teacher, Em took great satisfaction in understanding and fulfilling each person’s unique preferences, a skill that deeply influenced their professional approach.

As Social Procurement Consultant, Em applies their skills in understanding and collaboration to drive forward social procurement, community wealth building, and community benefit efforts across BC and Canada. For community benefits in construction projects, Em manages regular coordination, training, and consultation with the owners, general contractors, and major subtrades. Em is responsible for managing deliverables that support the project team, collecting community benefit data from all parties, providing feedback for shared learnings, and developing project reports to share back to the project teams. Em is also active with public purchasers on advocating for social procurement and community wealth building. Em has spoken at BC regional local government associations and other elected official groups, manages the BC Social Procurement Initiative, created Social Procurement Guides for public bodies, and co-authored Ownership Matters policy paper. This work is close to Em’s heart as they help to advance a socially and locally rooted business economy, and community-led resilience.

Aaron brings over 15 years of leadership experience in the community foundation sector, earning national recognition for his dedication and innovative approach to community impact. He is a sought-after speaker, advocating for the evolution of impact strategies within community foundations on the national stage.

Under Aaron’s guidance, the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen (CFSOS) has emerged as a national leader in impact investing, innovative grant-making, and pioneering new tools for community impact. Since joining CFSOS in 2009 as its first full-time employee, Aaron has driven the Foundation’s growth by more than tenfold. He takes immense pride in the exceptional team he collaborates with daily and the remarkable achievement of zero staff turnover during his tenure.

Aaron is a devoted father to two outstanding young men, both studying at UBC Vancouver, and has been happily married since 2003.”
Emily (she/her) is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) with a BA in Political Science, and holds her ICD.D. She has 20+ years of experience working in the public, non-profit and private sectors. Emily brings tenacity, flexibility, a sense of humour and a genuine love of people to her work. Her critical thinking, risk management, communication and leadership skills make her an asset to any team, and are supported by a solutions focus and a people-centered approach to problem solving.

Mark brings extensive experience in project design and entitlement, strategic planning, debt and equity financing, and portfolio management. Having lived and worked in three countries in Asia, as well as on projects across North America, Mark’s role has often involved building consensus among many stakeholders.

Mic Werstuik is the CEO of the Westbank First Nation Group of Companies and a leader in Indigenous economic development. With a strong focus on sovereignty, self-determination, and community well-being, Mic works to build economic models that centre Indigenous values while creating long-term, sustainable impact.

Thomas Tumbach is the owner of LocalMotive, a sustainable farm and local food distributor based in the Okanagan. With over a decade of experience in regenerative agriculture, Thomas is committed to building healthy food systems that support both people and the planet.

Owner of Peter’s Your Independent Grocer. 27 years in the retail food industry in Kelowna.vPeter is originally from the Lower Mainland and has been living here in the beautiful Okanagan for 30 years now. He enjoys spending time at the beach in the summer, skating on his backyard rink in the winter, and spending some quality time with his family.

Liz is a systems change practitioner, with 15 years of experience in sustainability program creation and implementation, policy planning and development, and community engagement. An early passion for waste reduction and recycling education and program development set the foundation for her food systems work. Liz has loved working in and with the community on projects ranging from zero waste schools curriculum delivery and community composting initiatives in Western Australia, to shifting community behaviour change at the District of North Vancouver.

Meredith Funston  is one of two Chief Operating Officers of the Good Food Programs at Community Connections Society of Southeast BC. Since 2017, she has led the development of nonprofit initiatives that build resilient, community-based food systems. Her work includes launching a food recovery program, supporting a volunteer-led produce garden, administering a commissary kitchen, establishing a hydroponic farm, and developing the KimCran Food Network—a coalition of food-focused nonprofit leaders in the Cranbrook-Kimberley region. Most recently, she oversaw the purchase of a commercial building that will serve as a permanent home for these initiatives and as a long-term community food-systems hub. With a background in political science, Meredith is passionate about collaborative action and advancing inclusive, financially sustainable, food-centered community projects.

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.

As a Board Member at Okanagan College, Ben’s role in corporate governance is backed by hands-on experience from serving as Director At Large for the Students’ Union and a rich history in sales at RONA. Currently, in pursuit of his Bachelor of Business Administration with an expected completion in April 2026, he is dedicated to bringing practical insights and strategic thinking to the boardroom, ensuring the college’s growth and excellence in service to the student community.