Featured Speakers | BRC Conference

Team

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Welcome to the 2024 BRC Conference where we bring together a diverse group of influential speakers.

Our speakers are experts in their fields and are excited to share their knowledge and experiences with you. Get ready to be inspired and gain valuable insights from our lineup of thought leaders.

Click on their photo to learn a little more about who they are.

We are looking forward to hearing what they have to say, and learning, sharing and applying all the new information

Steve Newton President / CEO Innomergence Solutions

Steve Newton has over 37 years of operational emergency management experience in British Columbia. 23 of those years were in wildfire operations incident command, where he also ran the Aviation Management Section and participated in international program training and development. He then spent 7 years in the provincial government as a Regional Manager in EMBC, now the Ministry of Emergency Management & Climate Readiness. For the last 6 years Steve has operated a small consulting firm specializing in strategic and operational emergency management planning for First Nations, local governments and private sector clients. Steve currently appears to be the most active operational practitioner of the PPOST methodology for disaster recovery planning in British Columbia, and possibly in Canada. Steve also has an active play in the application of technology for emergency management and has a new company that is developing some artificial intelligence based tools. He is very proud of the fact that he has been called “rogue” and “innovator” and “disruptive” and “influencer” by leadership and peers in his career. To him, these are very necessary traits in the pursuit and early adoption of innovation.

Sharmalene Mendis - Millard Director, Partners for Action

Sharmalene Mendis-Millard is the Director of Partners for Action, an initiative of the Faculty of Environment at University of Waterloo that aims to empower Canadians to become flood resilient through applied research with an equity lens, and by promoting awareness and preparedness actions that are inclusive and evidence-based. A mixed-methods geographer by training, She has worked for several interdisciplinary research centres that aim to advance community well-being and social justice through partnerships, program evaluations, and learning programs. She is passionate about community engagement, applied research, and the not-for-profit sector, with experience that includes being the Board Vice Chair and serving on the Equity Committee of Reep Green Solutions after having been an employee. Sharmalene's focus is now on multi-hazard resilient retrofits, community engaged preparedness, and equity in climate risk reduction and adaptation strategies such as managed retreat.

Carie- Anne Hancock Senior Geoscientist, BGC Engineering

Carie-Ann Hancock, M.Sc., P.Geo. (BC, AB), is a geoscientist with expertise in airphoto and lidar interpretation, debris flow and debris flood geohazard and risk assessment, post-wildfire assessments, terrain interpretation, and glaciated soil engineering geology. Her focus is on landslides and floods and the risk they pose to First Nations, local governments, and infrastructure. Carie-Ann completed the aerial damage surveys and infrastructure mitigation triage during the November 2021 flooding in British Columbia.

Steve Mark Director of Operations Integraded Cadastral Information Society

Steve Mark is the Director of Operations at the Integrated Cadastral Information Society (ICI Society), where he passionately leverages geospatial data and social connections to drive transformative change. With a commitment to fostering collaboration, Steve is dedicated to facilitating the sharing of location intelligence, empowering better decisions and outcomes for members and communities across British Columbia.

As the leader of the Operations Team, Steve manages the Society’s business and staff, ensuring a safe, secure, and productive workplace. He oversees the overall management and administration of the ICI Society and is responsible for successfully delivering the strategic plan set by the Board of Directors. Reporting directly to the Chair of the Board, Steve plays a crucial role in guiding the organization’s operations, ensuring alignment with the strategic priorities while enhancing positive external relations to meet members’ needs.

In addition to his operational responsibilities, Steve oversees communications and stakeholder engagement, developing innovative approaches to create improved value for the Society and its members. He believes in the power of collaboration and invites connections to explore how the synergy of data and teamwork can shape resilient communities.

Cameron Baughen Consultant Baughen Consulting

Cameron Baughen worked with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) for over 16 years coordinating garbage, recycling and composting programs. He worked in the Emergency Operations Centre dealing with multiple fires, floods and landslides serving in various sections with a focus on Information Officer. In 2021 he starting his own consulting service and contracted for the Thompson Nicola Regional District managing fire and flood debris. This included sitting on the Integrated Project Management team for debris management for the Village of Lytton and developing curbside collection of debris for the City of Merritt. In 2023 he held a full day workshop bringing together solid waste and emergency managers for the City of Victoria and Capital Regional District on disaster debris management. Cameron has presented on disaster debris management for Provincial and international solid waste associations. He was a board member for the Recycling Council of BC and currently the administrator for the BC Product Stewardship Council which engages with solid waste staff for every Regional government in BC. He lives in Penticton and continues to contract with the RDOS EOC.

Jason Brolund Fire Chief City of West Kelowna

Jason serves as the Fire Chief for the growing community of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nations. Jason led hundreds of firefighters through the devastating McDougall Creek wildfire in the summer of 2023, evacuating over 25,000 residents and saving thousands of homes from destruction. Previously, Jason served as Deputy Fire Chief with the Kelowna Fire Department. Jason has been involved in emergency services for the past 28 years. He was directly involved in the emergency management component of major wildfires and floods in British Columbia and as a Venue Fire Commander during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in technology with a specialization in Emergency Management. He has been awarded the British Columbia Provincial Fire Services Long Service Medal, the Canadian Fire Services Exemplary Services Medal and the King Charles III Coronation Medal. In 2022, Jason was named West Kelowna Citizen of the Year. Jason is passionate about protecting communities from Wildfire and serves on the board of the Fire Chiefs Association of British Columbia and FireSmart BC.

Hannah Swift FireSmart Program Lead FireSmart BC

Hannah works as the Program Lead for the FireSmart BC Program and Chairs the BC FireSmart Committee. She has been with the BC provincial government for eight years, most recently as a Regional Manager with Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, and previously as a Training Analyst, Information Officer, and Wildland Firefighter with the BC Wildfire Service. Hannah holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is passionate about creating and sharing public education campaigns that can help communities learn about wildfire resilience and prepare for wildfires.

Greg Baxter Senior Researcher FPInnovations

Greg is FPInnovation’s lead research for Post Fire Documentation research across Canada. Greg’s area of focus is firefighter safety, fire behaviour analysis and community protection.

Tim Conrad President Butterfly Effect Communications

Tim is a seasoned public relations professional who excels in difficult and high-pressure work. Tim has worked
in various industries, including natural resources, municipal utilities, dental services, construction, pet
services, finance, and events.
He has held leadership roles in emergency management, communications and post-disaster engagements in
some of Canada’s largest emergencies. These include record-setting 2023 wildfires in BC’s Cariboo,
Squamish-Lillooet and Columbia Shuswap regions, three record-setting British Columbia wildfire seasons from
2017 to 2021, health care and post-secondary education during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2013
southern Alberta floods. His work in emergencies has been studied by academics worldwide and adopted in
California, New Zealand and Australia.
Tim received the prestigious Shield of Public Service Award from the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS)
for his exemplary efforts during and after the 2017 wildfires and the Lamp of Service Award in 2022 for
distinguished and dedicated volunteer service leading CPRS professional development nationally for nearly a decade.

Brittany Seibert Regional Emergency Manager City of Kelowna

With over 15 years of experience in the emergency management field, I’ve had the opportunity to wear many hats—beginning my career in 2008 with the BC Wildfire Service, where I served as both support staff and as a firefighter. This foundation sparked a passion for community resilience, leading me to transition into private consulting, where I specialized in FireSmart education and programming for local governments. From there, I joined the City of Penticton as the FireSmart Coordinator, later stepping into the role of Emergency Program Coordinator.

In 2024, I embraced a new challenge as the Regional Emergency Manager for the Central Okanagan, and now oversee an emergency program that protect a growing and dynamic region. In addition to my professional commitments, I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Disaster and Emergency Management, which continues to deepen my understanding of the complexities and evolving nature of emergency management. I also remain involved with the BC Wildfire Service, moonlighting as a Structure Protection Specialist.

My approach to emergency management is grounded in the belief that collaboration, adaptive management, and innovation are key to addressing the ever-changing risks our communities face. I’m passionate about finding practical solutions and building partnerships that empower communities to thrive in the face of adversity. I’m excited to be attending the Building Resilient Communities Conference, where I look forward to sharing my experiences and lessons learned with others. My hope is to inspire fellow practitioners to take action and contribute to building more resilient and adaptive communities.

I acknowledge that I live and work on the unceded and traditional territories of the Syilx people of the Okanagan Nation. As an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking and exploring the natural beauty of the Okanagan with my dog, I am grateful for the privilege of spending time in these incredible landscapes.

Sarah Desrosiers Social Development Coordinator City of Penticton

Sarah Desrosiers is the Social Development Coordinator at the City of Penticton. She received her Master of Social Worker with the University of British Columbia in 2022. With the City, her work focuses on partnerships, strategy, cross-sectoral collaboration, program management, and evidence-based research, evaluation and development. Her portfolio includes accessibility, truth and reconciliation, equitable access to food, inclusive safety

and well-being, community services for at-risk youth and seniors, and much more. She has worked with seniors and non-profits to enhance the emergency preparedness of older adults in Penticton and is curious about weaving equity into emergency management processes. She’s grateful to be in a role where her personal and professional interests can intersect, such as climate change, anti-racism, food security, politics and accessibility. Originally from Quebec, she’s been in the Okanagan since 2015, having previously lived in the Lower Mainland and Saskatchewan. She’s an avid camper, paddleboarder and snowshoer, and enjoys attending community events, playing video games and reading in her down time.

Edward Matley Crisis & Resilience Lead PwC Canada

Neha Nat, Senior Manager, PwC, Crisis & Resilience

Neha is a Senior Manager with PwC’s Crisis and Resilience practice in Vancouver where she leads large-scale projects for the Western Canada region. She specializes in Business Continuity Planning, Crisis Management, including Crisis Communication, and Emergency Management.

Neha has helped private and public sector clients enhance their capability for managing and responding to disruptions. She has advised and coached leadership teams across all major industry sectors, including financial services, energy, insurance, utilities, real estate, and not-for-profit, to design and implement their crisis and continuity programs.

Neha sits on the Board for the Building Resilient Communities Society, which is a non-profit organisation designed to connect local governments, First Nations, emergency response agencies, and BC businesses together to build stronger, more resilient communities.

Leila Daoud, Media Relations and Crisis Communications Specialist, Dynamite Public Relations

Leila Daoud is a media relations and crisis communications specialist with more than 18 years of experience. She is a media trainer, published author, and panellist. Leila holds a double major from the University of Alberta and a post-graduate public relations certificate from Mount Royal University.
After several successful years as a public safety spokesperson with law enforcement and disaster management organizations, Leila founded Dynamite Public Relations. Through her consultancy, she has helped a diverse portfolio of clients enhance their reputation, land millions in earned media coverage, and navigate complex media landscapes.

Sybille Sanderson President, Sybille Sanderson Collaborative Consulting

Sybille Sanderson has been active in the world of Emergency Management since 1998 and in 2004 became the Emergency Support Services Director for a regional Emergency Program and in 2009 also took on the role of Emergency Program Coordinator. During that time, we responded to floods, smaller wildfires, landslides, gas leaks, numerous apartment fires, and planned events such as the North American Indigenous Games.

Dealing with communities in crises heightens our own stress response and we often struggle with experiencing vicarious trauma. There are numerous support systems like Critical Incident Stress Management, Disaster Psychosocial Services, Debriefing, Defusing, Counselling, Resilient Minds, etc. working to help those impacted directly or indirectly by emergencies or disasters. Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is unique in several ways:

a scientifically proven system that teaches us how to turn off the stress response, create safety for ourselves and process traumatic events effectively
can be used individually anytime and without expensive training
works in group settings to help reduce cortisol and elevate decision-making
quickly helps defuse stress before, during and after significant events

As a certified Clinical EFT Practitioner, Sybille coaches individuals and groups how to reduce the stress response and process traumatic events effectively and quickly using EFT techniques.

On a personal note, I have four grown children and 11 wonderful grandchildren. I enjoy knitting, reading and walking in nature.

Deb Borsos Community Recovery

Since 2003 Deb has been involved in Emergency Management in various roles, particularly as a dispatcher with her local fire crew.
Since 2012 she has worked more specifically in community and regional recovery within BC in small, rural and remote communities in all regions
of the province.

She has various certifications from the Justice Institute of BC and is a subject matter specialist in community recovery.
Nationally and internationally she has given presentations to various groups regarding community recovery and continues to collaborate on
projects that focus on this topic.

This past summer Deb reverted back to a response position and as lead Dispatcher/Logistics/Admin, supported her local fire crew colleagues in Argenta, during the Argenta Creek Fire N71058. Following response, she carried on with supporting the community in their recovery efforts post wildfire and she is now assisting the community in coming full circle in the EM pillars - from Preparedness to Response, then Recovery to Mitigation as the community begins the work with the Ministry of Forests in rehabilitation of the fire guard.

When not in the midst of, or following, disasters Deb enjoys travel, gardening and is a practicing visual artist.
Currently, she works as a recovery contractor out of her home office in Argenta at the north end of Kootenay Lake in the SE region of BC.

Sumana Mitra Research Assistant Partners for Action, University of Waterloo

Sumana Mitra is a Research Assistant at Partners for Action, an initiative of the Faculty of Environment at University of Waterloo that aims to empower Canadians to become flood resilient through applied research with an equity lens, and by promoting awareness and preparedness actions that are inclusive and evidence-based. With an interdisciplinary background in civil engineering, transport planning and climate change, she has over 6+ years in the field of infrastructure consulting. Sumana specialises in cost-benefit analysis of highway projects and has been involved in several such projects in Africa, India and UK funded by leading multilateral donor agencies. Driven by a commitment to building resilience, she is deeply interested in climate adaptation strategies for infrastructure. Sumana’s goal is to create connected communities with transportation systems that are both economic and environmentally sustainable.

Dean Monterey Principal, Monterey Management Consulting Co.

Dean has over 45 years of demonstrated experience in the fields of environmental protection, emergency management, emergency medical service, and fire service. His experience includes managing services and responses to over 200 major incidents, involving multi-million dollar budgets and large teams with multiple stakeholders.
He is recognized as an international expert in the use of the Incident Command System and has assisted governments and private organizations around the world in implementing the system including, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Australia, Malaysia, UAE, Kuwait, and others. Dean developed and introduced the PPOST methodology to the ICS Canada curriculum.
Dean is well-connected with many International and National professional associations that allow him to access the most current best practices from around the world.

Rebecca Bishop Program Officer, Union of BC Municipalities

Rebecca Bishop is a Program Officer with the Union of BC Municipalities, which she joined in 2017 to help launch the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund. As a grant officer, she administers the CEPF program as well as the Community Resiliency Investment program for wildfire mitigation.

Paul Gipps, Chief Administrative Officer District of Lake Country

Paul started in local government in Terrace in 1990 as a building official. During his time there, he worked in various capacities with the City of Terrace including Business License Inspector, Bylaw Compliance Officer, Animal Control Manager, Director of Regulatory Services, Director of Special Projects and Deputy CAO. Paul also held the CAO position in Houston, Gibsons and the Deputy CAO position in Mission, CAO at the Fraser Valley Regional District and West Kelowna prior to his current position as CAO District of Lake Country..

Paul's experiences within local government include overseeing, parks and recreation, public works and engineering, finance and human resources. In addition, he was a Volunteer and POC fire fighter in Kemano and Terrace. He has a Diploma in Local Government Management as well as a Senior Certificate in Local Government Administration. However, for Paul, his best education came from working in and experiencing local government.

Paul has also served on the board of the Building Official's Association, including as President.

Jan Mansoor, Commander & Director, Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT)

Jan Mansoor is the Central Okanagan Commander and Director for the Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT) . Although this position is relatively new to Jan, she has worked in partnership with ALERT during disasters to help provide logistics for evacuees through the non profit that she co-founded called Lend a Paw Pet Food Foundation. Jan presently oversees Operations from Peachland to Lake Country while pitching in to help in the South Okanagan/Similkameen, as needed.
 
Jan’s entire career has been spent in Law Enforcement, first as a Correctional Officer, and then as an RCMP Officer until she retired in 2018. Her background allowed her to have a very clear understanding of ALERT’s procedures involving incident command, emergency preparedness, and crisis/emergency management. Jan is a team player who enjoys helping others develop skills and focus on their strengths.

Daryl Meyers, President & Information Officer Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT)

Daryl Meyers is the President and Information Officer with the Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT) and has been an active member since 2018. Under her leadership, ALERT continues to focus on enhancing animal welfare during emergencies and disasters. Daryl’s commitment to animals and emergency response reflects her passion for community service and animal advocacy. Her extensive expertise in Crisis and Risk Management has significantly contributed to ALERT’s mission of ensuring that during an emergency or disaster people know there is an organization that recognizes animals are family, and their safe evacuation gives way to human evacuation. Along with her volunteer work with ALERT, Daryl is the BC Director for the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club of Canada and is an Instructor and Judge of canine scent detection with C-WAGS (Canine Work and Games).

Lynsay Pacey, Program Officer, Local Government Program Services, Union of BC Municipalities

Lynsay Pacey is a Program Officer with UBCM and works primarily within the Community Resiliency Investment Program and the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund. She also administers the Community-to-Community Program, as well as the Asset Management Planning Program.

She has lived on the island for the past 12 years and is grateful to work, play and learn on the traditional unceded territory of the Lekwungen and WSÁNEĆ peoples.

Mark Stephens, Manager of Emergency Programs, Regional District of Kootenay Boundary

Mark Stephens has been working in local government for over a decade, coming to the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) in 2019. He started as Interim Manager of Emergency Programs before becoming permanent Manager in 2020. Since arriving at the RDKB, Mark has led the department through critical projects such as developing the Regional Flood Response Plan, Regional Evacuation Route Plan and currently the Emergency Management Indigenous Engagement Project. He has also led the Emergency Operations Centre through numerous activations, including the 2020 and 2023 Boundary Freshet, which saw kilometres of TigerDam and earth berms deployed to protect the City of Grand Forks and Village of Midway from floodwaters and the villages of Fruitvale and Warfield in recovery from overland flooding. When not responding to emergencies in his capacity with the RDKB, Mark serves his community as a paid-on-call firefighter and Secretary of the Webster Elementary School PAC. He enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids, skiing, hunting and help spreading awareness about pediatric cancer with a number of BC based charities.

Dale Wheeldon, President, BC Economic Development Association

Dale joined the BCEDA team in 2007. As the President and CEO he is responsible for leading the association through the development of programs and initiatives to support communities and economic development organizations. With over 25 years of economic development experience, Dale has successfully developed several award winning economic development programs, developed strategies and other initiatives in small and large communities. His excellent working relationships with all levels of government and industry associations have helped to ensure that BCEDA is well positioned to provide member services. Dale works extensively with other organizations including the International Economic Development Council as a course instructor, and with other Provincial economic development associations developing partnerships across Canada.

Team

Steve Newton

Sharmelene Mendis-Millard

Carie - Ann Hancock

President/CEO

Innomergence Solutions

Director

Partners for Action, University of Waterloo

Steve Mark

Cameron Baughen

Hannah Swift

Greg Baxter

Jason Brolund

Tim Conrad

Senior Geoscientist

BGC Engineering

Consultant

Integrated Cadastral Information Society

Director of Operations

A/ Firesmart Program Lead

Senior Researcher

Fire Chief

City of West Kelowna

Baughen Consulting

President

BC Firesmart Committee Chair

FP Innovations

Butterfly Effect Communications

Brittany Seibert

Regional Emergency Manager

Sarah Desrosiers

Social Development Coordinator

City of Kelowna

City of Penticton

Edward Matley

Consultant

PwC Canada

Neha Nat

Senior Manager

PwC Canada

Leila Daoud

Senior Media Relations Director

Dynamite Public Relations

Sybille Sanderson

President

Sybille Sanderson Collaborative Consulting

Deb Borsos

Community Recovery

Partners for Action, University of Waterloo

Sumana Mitra

Research Assistant

Dean Monterey

Principal

Monterey Management Consulting Co.

Rebecca Bishop

Program Officer

Union of BC Municipalities

Paul Gipps

Chief Admnistrations Officer

District of Lake Country

Jan Mansoor

Commander & Director

Animal Lifeline Emergency Responose Team

Daryl Meyers

President & Information Officer

Animal Lifeline Emergency Responose Team

Lynsay Pacey

Program Officer

Local Government Program Services

Mark Stephens

Manager of Emergency Programs

Regional DIstrict of Kootenay Boundary

Dale Wheeldon

President

Naomi Yamamoto

President

Christine Buttkus

Executive Director

BC Economic Development Association

President