Lesley Esford has been appointed president at LifeSciences BC. Esford has worked with the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program, helping more than 100 entrepreneurs at every stage from concept to commercialization. Her career path has taken her from B.C. to Boston, developing a broad knowledge base in human life sciences along the way.
Legal
Elyot R. Waller has joined Michael, Evrensel & Pawar LLP, also known as MEP Business Counsel, in its entertainment group as counsel. Waller brings expertise in animation, film and television, as well as merchandising and licensing, to the entertainment law practice.
Media
Sandi Richter Cooper has been appointed B.C. film commissioner and director of production services at Creative BC, effective May 1. Richter Cooper has more than 25 years of industry experience and most recently held the role of executive producer for virtual reality startup VRCinematic. Prior to that, she was partner and executive talent manager at Strategic Transitions Inc., where she provided consulting to founders and C-level executives in media tech and major networks.
Non-profit
BC SUPPORT Unit, the provincial patient-oriented health research organization, has welcomed four new staff members. Hubert Wong is the new methods cluster lead for real-world clinical trials, and is seconded from University of British Columbia (UBC), where he is an associate professor at the School of Population and Public Health, program head of biostatistics at the Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, and associate head of methodology and statistics at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Canadian HIV Trials Network.
Nick Bansback and David Whitehurst have been appointed methods cluster co-leads for health economics and simulation modelling. Bansback is seconded from the School of Population and Public Health at UBC, where he is an assistant professor. Whitehurst, an economist who has specialized in the areas of health and health care throughout his career, is seconded from the faculty of health sciences at Simon Fraser University.
Leanne Currie has been appointed methods cluster lead for data sciences, seconded from UBC’s School of Nursing. Prior to joining BC Support Unit, Currie collaborated with Vancouver Coastal Health in areas of student practice education, clinical education and guidelines for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Real Estate
Jim Stewart, a Nanaimo-based realtor with 460 Realty, has been elected as the 2017-18 president for the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA). Stewart was president of the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) in 2011 and has served for many years as a volunteer at both VIREB and BCREA. Joining Stewart as officers of the association are president-elect James Palanio of Chamberlain Property Group in Penticton, past president Deanna Horn of Re/Max Treeland Realty in Langley and chief executive officer Robert Laing. BCREA also welcomes new directors Ray Harris (Port Coquitlam), Kyle Hislop (Chilliwack), Cory Raven (Vancouver), Michael Trites (Surrey) and Mark Sakai as public director. Returning directors include Brenda Jackman (Victoria) and Gisela Janzen (100 Mile House). Diane Dou, public director, is also returning.
Resources
Karina Briño, president and CEO of the Mining Association of British Columbia, has resigned. Briño is taking on a new industry assignment in her native Chile in early May. Prior to joining the association, Briño was an assistant deputy minister in the Ministry of Energy and Mines.
Technology
Claude Letourneau has been appointed president and chief executive officer at Inventys, developer of the VeloxoTherm System, a next-generation carbon dioxide capture process. Before joining Inventys, Letourneau served in senior-level management roles in mining, metallurgy and construction as well as innovation-driven enterprises.
Hats Off
Compass Group Canada donated $25,000 towards student scholarships and bursaries at Langara College.
KidzFirst Canada donated $10,000 to the Arts Club Theatre Co. The funds will be directed to the Kids Theatre Lab, benefiting inner-city kids in the Renfrew/Collingwood neighbourhood.
Recent donations given to SOS Children’s Village BC include: Sentinel Secondary School’s Youth and Philanthropy Initiative group in West Vancouver, $5,000; Arlin Foundation, $2,000; Ralph Webster and Leann Farnsworth of CIBC Wood Gundy, $2,000; Qoola, $2,000 toward the Undercover Superhero appeal; and Heather Locke, registered massage therapist, $310.
Hyatt Regency Vancouver supported Make-A-Wish Foundation’s B.C. and Yukon chapter through its 2016 Gingerbread Lane holiday display. The display is free to the public, with a donation box that generated $4,100. The Art Institute of Vancouver won prize money from placing first in the professional category at the event and donated its cash prize as well. •
