Board of Directors
Suromitra Sanatani
Chair
Suromitra Sanatani is passionate about driving change within organizations that in turn benefits the social, cultural and economic development of society. Trained as a lawyer, she is former Strategic Counsel for HB Global Advisors Corp., a consulting arm of the law firm Heenan Blaikie LLP. From 2003 to 2006, Sanatani was Vice President, Corporate and Government Relations with Partnerships BC, a Crown Agency that implements public private partnerships to build and maintain public infrastructure. Prior to that, she was VP, BC and Yukon for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and also Chair of the Coalition of BC Businesses. Sanatani’s current community activities include serving as a Director of Victoria Airport Authority, Director of Canadian Blood Services and serving the federal Panel on Responsible Conduct of Research. She is fluent in English, French and German.
Susan Knott
Vice Chair
Susan Knott was born in Vancouver, and after a long and varied career in all levels of government (municipal, provincial, federal), she began her next career as an Organization Consultant specializing in event management with a focus on organizing, motivating, and directing volunteers. Previously, Knott was actively involved as a member of the British Columbia Board of Parole and the National Parole Board of Canada. Active in her community, with a particular focus on non-profit organizations, most recently a past director of Gastrointestinal Society of Canada. Knott attended Vancouver Community College and the Dubrulle Culinary Institute.
David B. Adams
David B. Adams is a partner at the Victoria law firm of Patterson Adams, where his preferred area of practice is commercial real estate and land development. Previously he served as a director of the Victoria chapter of the Urban Development Institute and was the President of the Union Club in Victoria. Mr Adams holds his law degree from Queen’s University.
Daphne Corbett
Daphne Corbett is an independent businessperson with over 20 years’ experience in the financial industry. From 1981 to 2003 Corbett worked in various senior and executive positions with HSBC Bank including Head of Audit Canada from 1994-1997, Head of Audit Latin America with HSBC Brazil from 1997-2000, Senior Vice President BC Region from 2000-2002, and Senior Vice President and Business Manager Wealth and Tax Advisory Services Inc in San Francisco, California from 2002-2003. She served as a Director of Emergency Communications for Southwest British Columbia Incorporated for the last seven years and as its Chairwoman from 2008 to 2010. She has been an Independent Director of Pulse Seismic Inc, a TSX listed company, since June 2004 and is Chair of its Audit Committee. In recent years she has also been a Director for the Pacific Salmon Foundation and the Arts Club Theatre of Vancouver. Corbett received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Victoria in 1970. She is a former member of the Certified Management Accountants of British Columbia.
Garth M. Evans
Garth M. Evans is a partner in the Vancouver law firm of Barbeau Evans & Goldstein. He holds BA and LLB degrees from the University of British Columbia. He was awarded the Canadian Medal of Bravery and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He served as a Burnaby City Councillor from 2005 to 2008. He is a member of the BCMA Environmental Health Committee and serves as Chair of its Water Quality Subcommittee. He is a member of the British Columbia Degree Quality Assessment Board. He is a director of the Queen’s Park Hospital in New Westminster and director and vice president of L’Arche Greater Vancouver Society. He is a member of the Burnaby Board of Trade, Lambda Alpha International Society, Canada Korea Business Association and the Canada China Business Association. He is a founder and honourary director of the West Coast Environmental Law Association. He was a member of the BC Bar Association Solicitors Issues Committee from 2002 to 2008 and chair from 2006 to 2008. He chaired the Building Committee of the Three Links Care Society and was the owner’s representative respecting the major expansion of its facility in East Vancouver. He acted for Young Life of Canada respecting the acquisition and development of the Rockridge Ranch Camp near Princeton which provides support and assistance to teenagers from low income families.
Lynne Kennedy
Lynne Kennedy is President of Linman Investments, a land development and property investment company, and a Director of Mandale Holdings. Kennedy completed four terms as a Vancouver City Councillor. During her 10 years in local government she took leadership roles in economic development, tourism, urban planning, community safety, clean air initiatives, and heritage preservation. Kennedy represented Vancouver at provincial and regional levels as a Director of Metro Vancouver (GVRD) and was an Executive Member of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). Currently, she is the Chair of EasyPark, a board member of the BC Press Council and a Director of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation. She also sits on the steering committee of Vancouver’s Drug Treatment Court, and chairs their community advisory group. Active in the community, she served on the Vancouver Police Board, was President of the Canadian Association of Police Boards, and a member of the Canadian Police College Advisory Board. A graduate in secondary education from UBC, Kennedy also completed a degree in Archaeology from the University of Calgary, which led to her interest in built heritage in Canada’s cities. She has worked as a field archaeologist, educator and was a school trustee.
Graham S. Lee
Graham Lee is president, CEO, founder and sole shareholder of RG Properties Ltd, an award-winning diversified real estate company that started as a university project and now employs more than 4,000. Lee’s major development projects include Planet Ice (Coquitlam, Delta and Maple Ridge), Capri Shopping Mall/Hotel and Prospera Place (Kelowna), Vector Aerospace Facility (Vancouver Airport) and the Save On Foods Memorial Centre (Victoria). In addition to holding past directorships with the Vancouver Board of Trade and the original Vancouver Olympic Bid Corporation, Lee recently served as Governor for the Vancouver Aquarium; he’s a member of the Advisory Board for the Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate at UBC; and he is involved with several charitable causes.
Terry Segarty
Terry Segarty is the President and Chief Operating Officer of 2 Baker Developments Ltd., Terrim Property Management Ltd., and O’Shea’s Entertainment Inc. Previously, he was the Owner, President, and Chief Operating Officer of Birchwood Building Corporation; and a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia representing the constituency of Kootenay East. While in government, he served as the BC Minister of Labour from 1984 to 1986. In addition, he served as Government Caucus Chair, and chaired the select standing committees for agriculture, environment and resources, and municipal affairs and housing. Previously, Segarty served as a Director for the Cranbrook Regional Hospital and Green Home.
Angela Wesley
Angela Wesley has provided services to First Nations, organizations, other governments and potential partners for the past 20 years through her consultancy, Wes-Can Advisory Services, based in Terrace. Wesley is Huu-ay-aht (Nuu-chah-nulth). Her primary focus in recent years has been on the development and implementation of the Maa-Nulth First Nations Treaty which came into effect on April 1, 2011. She has completed a diploma program in real estate appraisal. A valuable skill set during her time with Real Estate Services and Property Administration at Public Works Canada. Wesley is Board Chair for the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and is the Maa-Nulth representative on the tripartite Implementation Committee for the Maa-Nulth First Nations Treaty.