MICHAEL PHILLIPS
Chairman
Michael Phillips is retired as Senior Vice-President, Investments
of GrowthWorks Capital Ltd., which manages the Working Opportunity
Fund in British Columbia, Canada. The Working Opportunity Fund
is a uniquely Canadian form of financial institution dedicated
to providing risk capital to a wide range of entrepreneurial
business in B.C.
Prior to joining GrowthWorks Capital Ltd., Mr. Phillips spent over
twenty years with financial and venture capital businesses such as
Vencap Equities Alberta Ltd. and Business Development Bank.
Mr. Phillips is currently a director on the boards of nine Canadian
companies including Armstrong Group (owners and
operators of Rocky Mountaineer Vacations) where he has served as
a director since 1991 and as Chairman since 1998.
Mr. Phillips resides in Vancouver, Canada.
JIM DINNING
Jim Dinning serves as chairman of the board of directors of Western Financial Group. As well, he serves as a director on a number of public, private and not for profit boards.
Western Financial Group is a leading western Canadian-based financial services company with a focus on rural markets. The Company provides more than 180,000 customers with insurance, investment and banking services through its WFG Agency Network, Bank West and The Western Mutual Fund Company.
Until December, 2004 Mr. Dinning held the position of executive vice president, TransAlta Corporation. Prior to joining TransAlta in 1997, Mr. Dinning held several key positions during his 11 years as a member of the legislative assembly in Alberta. Of note is Mr. Dinning’s service as provincial treasurer from 1992 to 1997.
Mr. Dinning is a graduate of Queen’s University with two degrees: a Bachelor of Commerce in 1974 and a Masters in Public Administration in 1977. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Calgary in 2002.
Mr. Dinning is married with four children and resides in Calgary.
TOM CHAMBERS
Senior Advisor
Tom Chambers is an experienced professional accountant, senior executive, corporate director and business advisor having served for 26 years as as Partner in senior management roles with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP while advising a wide range of clients. He is an acknowledged leader within the profession and business community on strategic and corporate governance issues. He currently serves on the boards of Terasen, Norske, and the Victorian Order of Nurses among others.
JIM GOUK
Jim Gouk is semi retired after a career which included 22 years with Transport Canada and 4 terms as the Member of Parliament for BC Southern Interior. During his time in Parliament, Mr. Gouk served as Chief Opposition Transport critic and vice chair of the Standing Committee on Transport. He also owned and operated a residential construction company for 15 years.
Mr. Gouk is also a member of the Board of Directors of Nav Canada and an air transport industry consultant.
Mr. Gouk resides in Castlegar, BC and Surprise, Arizona. |
 |
LAURA-LEE ARMSTRONG
Laura Lee Armstrong is a native of Victoria, British Columbia. Her professional career encompasses a wide spectrum of experience within both the forest and tourism industries. Ms. Armstrong's forestry background includes positions within the U.S. rail, timber wholesale and export market segments with corporations such as Weldwood Industries and BC Timber. Her tourism experience includes FIT management experience with Gray Line Tours.
Ms. Armstrong graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry.
Ms. Armstrong offers a great deal of time to local major event charities and has contributed significant community volunteer time to Family Services of the North Shore, Kenneth Gordon School and Fraser Academy School.
Ms. Armstrong resides in West Vancouver, Canada.
SAMUEL H. GUDEWILL
Samuel Gudewill is the Chief Executive Officer of Innovex Equities
Corporation, an unaffiliated Vancouver-based investment firm.
Mr. Gudewill has been a director and a principal shareholder
of Versacold, a leading North American supplier of frozen and
refrigerated storage, distribution and processing services to
the food industry. He has also served as Chairman of the Board
of Versacold and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer.
In addition, he is a major shareholder in the Pacific Group
of Companies.
Mr. Gudewill resides in Vancouver, Canada.
AL DUERR
Al Duerr is a founding partner and Managing Director of General Magnetic Inc., a company that has developed and is currently producing leading edge permanent magnet motors and generators for the energy and propulsion industries. He is also involved with the Fort McMurray First Nation Development General Partnership, a group partnered with the Fort McMurray First Nation in the development of their land, energy and infrastructure resources. His holding company, Al Duerr and Associates, has operations in China and Canada, and has provided training, upgrading, international certification and labour force recruitment services.
From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Duerr was the CEO of the International Projects Group for a Dutch owned investment company. Mr. Duerr also served as the Mayor of Calgary, Alberta for twelve years, from 1989 to 2001. In this capacity, over subsequent terms of office, Mr. Duerr obtained the highest level of public support of any Mayor in Calgary's history. Mr. Duerr's political experience also saw him serve two terms of office as an Alderman for the City of Calgary.
Mr. Duerr's career has included extensive international involvement both in the public and private sectors, especially in Asia. He was a founder and President of an environmental technologies company in Malaysia, a Project and District Manager of an Alberta based Land Development Company, and a City Planner for the City of Calgary.
Mr. Duerr earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Urban Geography from the University of Saskatchewan and a Masters of Business Administration (Honours) from the University of Calgary. He has held and continues to hold numerous positions on Boards and Committees in Calgary and across the country.
Mr. Duerr resides in Calgary, Canada.
|
