InBC’s Board of Directors is comprised of members appointed from public service as well as representatives from industry, finance, academia and other areas of leadership in the province. Their breadth of experience and expertise are invaluable to InBC as we execute our mandate to invest in the growth of B.C. businesses.

Jonathan Michel Dubé has over 17 years of experience in the BC Public Service. He is Acting Deputy Minister of Finance and Secretary to Treasury Board within the Ministry of Finance, and was formerly Associate Deputy Minister and Deputy Secretary to Treasury Board. Jonathan has also served as Acting Deputy Minister for the former Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions; as Associate Deputy Minister, Health System Operations at the Ministry of Health; and has held two Assistant Deputy Ministers positions with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. His prior experience in the Ministry of Finance includes seven years with Treasury Board Staff in progressively more senior roles. As Executive Director in the Performance Budgeting Office, he developed and oversaw budget plans for several ministries including Attorney General, Children and Family Development, Public Safety and Solicitor General, Social Development and Poverty Reduction and key social programs including in housing and childcare. Jonathan has an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Georgia and a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University’s School of Law.

Stefan Larson is a Venture Partner in the venture capital group of Sectoral Asset Management. He also serves as a director on the board of Prilenia Therapeutics and Radiant Biotherapeutics, and is a long-standing member of the Board at MaRS Discovery District. Previously, Stefan was Entrepreneur-in-Residence and later Venture Partner at Versant Ventures, where he led the establishment of its Toronto-based Discovery Engine and was the founding CEO of Northern Biologics. He was co-founder of two medical device companies: Perimeter Medical Imaging and Tornado Spectral. Stefan began his career at McKinsey & Company in San Francisco and Toronto. He has a B.Sc. in Biology from McGill University, M.Sc. in Molecular and Medical Genetics from University of Toronto, and a Ph.D. in Biophysics from Stanford University.

Monty Sikka is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor and business leader with over two decades of experience building and scaling companies across healthcare, technology and global commerce. He is the Founder and CEO of Monark Ventures, a Vancouver-based investment and operating platform with a global footprint. Monty has led the development of high-growth companies in healthcare services, pharmaceutical access and cross-border logistics, with a focus on improving access, affordability and operational efficiency in complex, regulated industries. He has extensive experience driving strategic partnerships, international expansion and technology-enabled transformation. He is also an active investor and advisor to emerging companies. Monty is a Distinguished Alumnus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University and is involved in philanthropy through the Sikka Foundation, supporting education, community development and youth empowerment.

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Get to know our four new Board Directors as they share their vision for British Columbia and why they are excited to serve on InBC’s Board.

Heather Conradi

What is your vision for British Columbia and how do you see InBC playing a role?
I envision a more diverse economic base for British Columbia, spanning across sectors and industries, regions and communities. This will enable resilient growth for the province, driving opportunities for the people of B.C. into the future. InBC’s role investing in early-stage innovative companies play a key role in contributing to this vision.

What excites you about joining the InBC Board?
The InBC team and its inaugural Board have done tremendous work since inception to successfully launch the fund and I’m excited to contribute my skills and background to the ongoing efforts to grow B.C. businesses and make a difference in the province.

Tell us one thing we may not know about you.
After living in four provinces, and loving every part of the country, I am happy I made the decision to make beautiful British Columbia my home.

Natascha Kiernan

What is your vision for British Columbia and how do you see InBC playing a role?
I would like to see B.C. build its reputation as a place for innovative and ambitious companies to grow and thrive. In particular, I think we have a number of companies working on exciting innovations involving technology, AI, healthcare and the energy transition and I hope we can support them as a province and attract more talent and investment to B.C. 

What excites you about joining the InBC Board?
I have been watching InBC’s progress from the outset and I am excited to be part of an organization that supports growing B.C. companies and funds while focusing on a triple bottom line mandate.

Tell us one thing we may not know about you.
I have two young children — a nine-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy. They keep me very busy but also keep me focused on wanting to work with organizations that will help create a better future for future generations. 

Dr. Carol Liao

What is your vision for British Columbia and how do you see InBC playing a role?
My vision is for B.C. to be positioned as a global climate leader in net-zero carbon emissions, with thriving, sustainable and diverse communities. I see InBC as a catalyst to help the province tap into its potential to be a leading green economy for the nation.

What excites you about joining the InBC Board?
These are profoundly consequential years for our planet and I am excited about InBC’s mandate which merges four important and interconnected objectives of climate action, Indigenous reconciliation, inclusivity and prosperity in the province.

Tell us one thing we may not know about you.
I have three daughters that live and breathe soccer, and I already know we are going to be the biggest fans of new professional women’s Northern Super League in Canada. Vancouver Rise, we are ready for you!

Dr. Daniel Muzyka

What is your vision for British Columbia and how do you see InBC playing a role?
My vision for B.C. is that we have an economy that is productive and competitive, provides opportunity for all of its residents and that generates the required resources for our society to address its most critical needs. InBC is important as a supporter of economic growth and productivity. It helps empower and drive a thriving community of entrepreneurs who create new growth opportunity and aid in regenerating the economy.

What excites you about joining the InBC Board?
What excites me most about joining the InBC board is the opportunity to work with a group that is helping entrepreneurs to convert ideas and innovations into economic growth, creating wealth that supports our citizens and communities — and at the same time helps address local and global social and environmental issues.

Tell us one thing we may not know about you.
I had an unusual and rewarding undergraduate education in astrophysics. It provided me with the opportunity to work at a NASA installation, participate in a government sponsored solar eclipse expedition to Kenya, and work at a radio observatory associated with Caltech in California and the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy.

We also welcome back existing members Suzanne Trottier (Chair), Iglika Ivanova, Carole James, Fazil Mihlar and Heather Wood.

Lastly, we want to thank our outgoing Board Directors for the invaluable advice and oversight they have provided us in the last few years. Our inaugural Board was instrumental in the development of InBC as we built our operations, defined our investment strategy and completed our first investments. We recognize their contributions in helping to shape a better tomorrow for British Columbia.

The post Q&A: Get to Know InBC’s New Board Directors appeared first on InBC Investment Corp.

InBC’s nine-member Board of Directors is comprised of two members appointed from public service and the remaining as representatives from industry, finance, academia and other areas of leadership in the province. Their breadth of experience and knowledge are invaluable to our team as we advance our mandate to invest in a more prosperous, sustainable and inclusive future for British Columbia.

We also thank our departing Board Directors for all their advice and oversight of InBC during their terms.

“I’m pleased to welcome Heather Conradi, Natascha Kiernan, Dr. Carol Liao and Dr. Daniel Muzyka onto the board of directors at InBC, and congratulate Suzanne Trottier on moving into the role of board chair. InBC plays an important role in the growth and development of our provincial economy, and the tremendous range of experience each brings to the board will contribute to the strong leadership and financial stewardship demonstrated by InBC.”

– Honourable Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation

Heather Conradi was the Director of Impact Investing at Vancity where she led private market fund investing initiatives. Heather has a deep background sourcing, structuring and managing complex financings across a wide variety of industry sectors. She has worked with start-up technology and life science companies, social enterprises, environmentally focused firms and multi-sectoral venture capital funds, through the provision of capital and as a Board Director and member of Limited Partner Advisory Committees. Heather has also been involved with many community organizations including serving as the Director and Investment Committee Member of the Co-operators Community Funds, Treasurer and Director of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland, Director of the Vancouver Enterprise Forum and mentor to the McConnell Solutions Finance Accelerator. Heather holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Queens University, an MBA from the University of British Columbia and the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

“I am honoured to be able to serve on InBC’s board and contribute my experience in impact investing and advising start-up companies to support the corporation’s important work backing B.C. businesses, growing the economy and creating positive impacts for British Columbians.”

 – Heather Conradi

Natascha Kiernan is a lawyer, independent director and strategic advisor. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the BC Energy Regulator and as an independent director of Soma Gold Corp. (TSXV: Soma), Empress Royalty Corp. (TSXV: EMPR) and Green Impact Partners. She also serves on the Project Selection Committee for Cycle 6 of Canada’s Digital Supercluster. Natascha has extensive experience with chairing public company committees, including governance, compensation and ESG committees, and with serving on audit committees. Her legal background includes advising on some of the world’s largest and most complex infrastructure and energy projects, including renewable energy and cleantech projects. She also has experience serving on the boards of several non-profit charitable and educational organizations and she currently serves as a Regional Ambassador for Women Get on Board, an organization whose purpose is to promote women in leadership positions.

“I am honoured to be joining the board of InBC Investment Corp. It is exciting to have the opportunity to support growing B.C. companies and venture funds, while focusing on InBC’s triple bottom line mandate of people, planet and profit.” 

– Natascha Kiernan

Dr. Carol Liao is Associate Professor at the UBC Allard School of Law and the UBC Sauder Distinguished Fellow of the Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics at the UBC Sauder School of Business. She is Chair and Principal Co-Investigator of the Canada Climate Law Initiative, a national research centre advancing director knowledge on the latest in climate science, climate risk disclosures and fiduciary obligations. She is internationally recognized for her expertise in corporate law and sustainability, climate governance, ESG and EDI, and has widely published in these fields. Dr. Liao is a director of the Canadian Foundation for Governance Research at the Institute of Corporate Directors, YWCA Metro Vancouver and the Pacific Canada Heritage Centre – Museum of Migration Society. She also sits on the Advisory Committee of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers BC, the Advisory Council of BCBusiness, and the Solicitors’ Legal Opinions Committee of BC. Prior to academia, Dr. Liao was a senior lawyer in the New York Mergers & Acquisitions Group of an international law firm, where she represented private and public multinational corporations in a variety of transactional and governance matters.

“I am deeply honoured to serve on the board of InBC and support its objectives of accelerating climate action, advancing reconciliation, elevating inclusive communities and investing in the future for the betterment of our province — we must be committed on the path to net-zero emissions in B.C.”

– Dr. Carol Liao

Dr. Daniel Muzyka is Dean Emeritus of the UBC Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia. He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Conference Board of Canada and as Vice-President and Chair of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). He was previously the Dean and the RBC Financial Group Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Sauder School of Business at UBC, as well as the Dean of the Faculty of Management at UBC Okanagan. Dr. Muzyka has been a board member and consultant to several other business and not-for-profit organizations, including as Vice Chair and a public director of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), the Vancouver Board of Trade (Past Chair), Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), New Ventures BC and the European Venture Capital Association. Dr. Muzyka also chaired the NSERC Expert Advisory Committee on Partnerships and Innovation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Astrophysics from Williams College, a Master of Business Administration in Corporate Strategy from the Wharton School and a Doctor of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.

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As I witness InBC’s team identifying and evaluating promising and impactful companies, I am consistently impressed with the amount of talent in our province. From innovating entire industries to driving climate action and bringing lifechanging healthcare to communities, these companies and entrepreneurs are building a better future for all of us and making impacts that will be felt for generations. InBC is playing an important role by filling a critical capital gap, helping these companies to grow, and stay, in B.C. 

Now that we are past the organization’s initial launch, InBC is shifting into a new phase as it advances its investment strategy, and is seeking new Board members. Being on InBC’s Board of Directors is an opportunity to provide expertise and experience, through a strategic and practical lens, to guide an organization investing in the economic, social and environmental future of our province. Each decision InBC makes considers the impacts to British Columbia, both presently and far into our future.  

I encourage all those passionate about creating change in British Columbia to consider applying. InBC’s Board is comprised of representatives across industry, finance, academia and other areas of leadership in the province. We are also seeking representatives from across the province representing diverse communities. The Board’s responsibility is to provide strategic guidance and oversee accountability of the corporation.   

– Christine Bergeron, Board Chair  

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