Our volunteer board of directors serve for a three-year term for a maximum of two terms. The Victoria Foundation was created through an Act of the BC Legislature, and all new board members are appointed by a majority of the appointers as stipulated by the Act. These appointers include a judge of the Supreme Court sitting in Victoria, the Mayor of the City of Victoria, the President of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Greater Victoria, the President of the Victoria Medical Society, and the President of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.

List of Past Board Chairs

Rajiv K. Gandhi

BSc, LLB, Chair

Rajiv is originally from the east coast of Canada, having been born and raised in Nova Scotia. He obtained a Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie…

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Lori Elder

BA, CTM, Dipl.PR, Vice-Chair

Lori is a communications professional with over 25 years of experience in public relations, project management, and business development in the…

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Zaman Velji

MBA, CFA

Professionally, Zaman focuses on the oversight and governance of private company investments in the infrastructure sector for the…

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Karen Cameron

CPA, CGA, Treasurer

Karen is a Chartered Professional Accountant, and a founding Partner in the Victoria CPA firm of Cameron Izard Snell LLP, where she values her role…

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Michael Cridge

CGA, CPA, CFP

Michael is Director & Senior Private Banker with Bank of Montreal’s Private Banking office in Victoria.  He joined BMO in 1980 and has held various…

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John van Cuylenborg

BA, LLB

John is a lawyer and partner with a leading Victoria law firm, Cook Roberts LLP.  He joined Cook Roberts LLP in 2000, after being called…

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Marilyn Sing

BAA, CIPP/C

Marilyn has over 25 years of experience in management roles including business development, risk management, communications and marketing. She is the principal consultant at IPP…

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Wency Lum

BSc, MBA

Wency Lum is the Associate Vice-President, University Systems and Chief Information Officer for the University of Victoria. Wency joined UVic in 2016 and has been…

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Rob Gareau

MBA, CIM, RRC

Rob Gareau’s professional role is Vice President, Investment Counsellor with CIBC Private Wealth Management. As an Investment Counsellor he works with a team specializing in…

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Brad Clark

BA, CFP

Brad has obtained his Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Investment Manager designations and has worked as an associate financial advisor with the Ely & Associates…

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Tamara Napoleon

Tamara is a member of Saulteau First Nations, and she co-leads Miller Titerle + Co’s Indigenous Law Group. Tamara’s Indigenous law practice focuses on economic…

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Rajiv K. Gandhi

BSc, LLB, Chair
Rajiv is originally from the east coast of Canada, having been born and raised in Nova Scotia. He obtained a Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie University in 1994 and his law degree from the University of Victoria in 1997. He was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1998. Rajiv lives in Victoria with his wife and daughters. He represents clients throughout British Columbia and beyond, with a focus on corporate and commercial financing, wealth planning, high technology transactions and land development. Rajiv also advises a number of institutional, commercial and academic organizations in the areas of intellectual property (including copyright and trademark registration and enforcement, technology acquisitions, cooperation agreements and technology transfers), employment law, restructuring, governance, financing and cross border transactions.

Lori Elder

BA, CTM, Dipl.PR, Vice-Chair
Lori is a communications professional with over 25 years of experience in public relations, project management, and business development in the government, corporate and non-profit sectors. She is the Principal of PR4Good, and Marketing Lead, Digital / Online Media for BC Colleges. An avid volunteer, she currently sits on the TLC Fund for Kids Board of Directors and is the Victoria Community Leader for a social enterprise called Mealshare. Lori has also been Chair of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s Ambassador Committee, and was the former Media Relations Director for the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion events in Victoria. Lori is passionate about our community and sharing her time, talent and skills for social good.

Zaman Velji

MBA, CFA
Zaman is a Senior Portfolio Manager with the Infrastructure & Renewable Resources team at the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI). As the team’s lead on asset management, he focuses on the oversight and governance of a global investment portfolio, and serves on various corporate boards. He is also a strategic thought leader on topics such as disruptive technologies and innovation. Previously, Zaman was a consultant with McKinsey & Company, where he worked with institutional investors, including pension funds and endowments. He also worked in international development and diplomacy with the Aga Khan Development Network. Zaman holds a BA in Government and a BSc in Operations Research & Industrial Engineering from Cornell University, and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Along with his wife and two children, Zaman feels proud and blessed to call Victoria home.

Karen Cameron

CPA, CGA, Treasurer
Karen is a Chartered Professional Accountant, and a founding Partner in the Victoria CPA firm of Cameron Izard Snell LLP, where she values her role as a trusted business, tax and accounting advisor to business owners and individual clients. Earlier in her career she was a Senior Manager in a National CPA firm. Karen is 5th generation born in Victoria with strong connections to our community. Karen is Past President and current Executive member of the Victoria Entrepreneurial Club, and past Chair of the Follow a Leader program of Minerva Foundation for BC Women. She enjoys memberships and involvement with the Chamber of Commerce, UDI, Viatec, Think Local First Victoria, and SNS Yacht Club. In her leisure time, Karen feels fortunate to be sailing with her family around our local BC waters.

Michael Cridge

CGA, CPA, CFP
Michael is Director & Senior Private Banker with Bank of Montreal’s Private Banking office in Victoria.  He joined BMO in 1980 and has held various positions with the firm, as Private Banker since 1990.  Michael has been active in the business and non-profit field in Victoria for a number of years and is currently President with the Cridge Centre for the Family (on the board since 1997) and member of the Victoria Capital Club, as well as being active on the boards of other charities. Michael has been a member of the Victoria Foundation Finance Committee since 2013.  Michael is a 5th generation Victorian, descended from one of the founding families of Victoria.  He and his family enjoy Victoria and are committed to giving back to the community.

John van Cuylenborg

BA, LLB
John is a lawyer and partner with a leading Victoria law firm, Cook Roberts LLP.  He joined Cook Roberts LLP in 2000, after being called to the BC bar in 1993.  John earned his BA in International Relations from UBC, and his law degree from UVic.   John previously served 3 terms on the Board of the UVic Foundation, and has been an active member of the Canadian Bar Association, including chairing a local section.  John was raised in Victoria and appreciates the privilege of living in such a community and the opportunity to contribute to that community.

Marilyn Sing

BAA, CIPP/C
Marilyn has over 25 years of experience in management roles including business development, risk management, communications and marketing. She is the principal consultant at IPP Consulting, which helps organizations meet their obligation to operate in compliance with applicable privacy laws. Born and raised in Victoria, Marilyn started volunteering at a young age and has continued to give back to her community throughout her adult life. She founded the OCTA Collective Society, which launched the artsREACH program in 2005. OCTA received a Quality of Life Award from the Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria in 2006 and Marilyn was recognized with a For Kid’s Sake Award from Today’s Parent Magazine for the artsREACH program in 2007. Her past appointments include member of the TELUS Victoria Community Board and member of the CRD Arts Advisory Council where she served three years as chair.

Wency Lum

BSc, MBA
Wency Lum is the Associate Vice-President, University Systems and Chief Information Officer for the University of Victoria. Wency joined UVic in 2016 and has been responsible for the institution’s IT strategy, policy, governance and projects to enable UVic’s academic, research and administrative functions. She also serves on two other boards related to higher education and technology. Wency’s previous roles include leadership of complex technology projects, business transformation, and information security across multiple sectors and organizations, including government, private sector, and the United Nations. Wency was born and raised in Victoria, and has worked, lived and travelled in Europe, Africa, Middle East, and USA.  She is proud to call Victoria home, where her family roots have been for over 110 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science from McGill University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Victoria.

Rob Gareau

MBA, CIM, RRC
Rob Gareau’s professional role is Vice President, Investment Counsellor with CIBC Private Wealth Management. As an Investment Counsellor he works with a team specializing in investment planning and management. Rob is an active member of the Victoria community where he enjoys spending time with his family. He has volunteered with a number of organizations that serve Victoria, most recently coaching minor soccer, a board member for Victoria Hospice, and Investment Committee member for the Victoria Foundation.

Brad Clark

BA, CFP
Brad has obtained his Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Investment Manager designations and has worked as an associate financial advisor with the Ely & Associates wealth management team at Raymond James Ltd since 2011.  Since graduating from the University of Western with a degree in economics, he has been providing clients with financial advice in both Ontario and British Columbia since 2004.  The beauty of the West Coast captured Brad, and he and his family moved to Victoria in 2007 where he feels fortunate to have been welcomed so warmly.

Tamara Napoleon

Tamara is a member of Saulteau First Nations, and she co-leads Miller Titerle + Co’s Indigenous Law Group. Tamara’s Indigenous law practice focuses on economic development, government-to-government agreements, corporate structuring, the implementation of Indigenous rights and title and natural resource regulation. Her previous legal experience in general corporate commercial law and infrastructure projects provide clients with a more expansive business perspective. Tamara shares her skills with the BC Cancer Foundation Board of Directors and her own Nation’s economic development entity, the Mistahiya Group of Companies. She is also former Vice President of the Aboriginal Mothers Centre Society, director of Vancouver Native Health Society and Governor of the Justice Institute of BC. Tamara was recognized in 2020 as a Lexpert Rising Star, one of the leading lawyers under 40 in Canada.

Special Advisors to the Board of Directors

The Victoria Foundation Board of Directors is supported by advisors, the honourary governors, committees, and staff. The board has two special advisors that are invited to board meetings and provide input without voting privileges.

Pattrick Kelly

Indigenous Cultural Advisor

Pattrick is a member of the Leq:amel First Nation (Sto:lo Nation.) He operates a private consulting business providing services in economic, community and organizational development,…

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Dr. Grace Wong Sneddon

Honourary Governors President & Advisor

Dr. Grace Wong Sneddon is an adjunct professor in the Department of Art History and Visual Studies and an associate fellow in the Centre for…

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Pattrick Kelly

Indigenous Cultural Advisor

Pattrick is a member of the Leq:amel First Nation (Sto:lo Nation.) He operates a private consulting business providing services in economic, community and organizational development, governance, planning and management. Pattrick is an active community volunteer. In addition to his role with the Victoria Foundation, Pattrick is a Governor, Law Foundation of BC; Co-Chair, Banff Centre Indigenous Program Council; International Advisory Board Member, Gustavson School of Business, UVic; Ch’nook Indigenous Advisory Board Member, Sauder School of Business, UBC; and Founding President, BC Aboriginal Golf Association. Pattrick has held executive and management roles with the Canadian Executive Service Organization, the Missing Women’s Commission of Inquiry, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and others.

Dr. Grace Wong Sneddon

Honourary Governors President & Advisor

Dr. Grace Wong Sneddon is an adjunct professor in the Department of Art History and Visual Studies and an associate fellow in the Centre for the Studies of Religion and Societies at the University of Victoria. As the former Director of Academic Leadership Initiatives and Adviser to the Provost on Equity and Diversity at the University of Victoria, she has been responsible for the development and implementation of professional development for senior leaders, a diverse faculty renewal program and tasked with creating a campus wide culture of respect that values diversity, equity and inclusion.

With an Interdisciplinary Ph.D in Anthropology and Pacific and Asian Studies from the University of Victoria Dr. Wong Sneddon’s areas of research include: race and gender in popular culture, Asian North American identity, the Chinese diasporic culture, women in leadership, equity, diversity and inclusion. Her research has informed her extensive experience in the areas of educational and employment equity and she consults widely with post-secondary institutions and government agencies locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. She is honoured and privileged to work, live, and play in the traditional lands of the Lkwungen Peoples, the Esquimalt and the Songhees and acknowledges with respect the Huu-ay-aht of the Nuu-chah-nult First Nations where her father lived without his family for 40 years. She is passionately committed to her community and is President, Honorary Governors of the Victoria Foundation, Director of the Hoy Sun Ning Yung Benevolent Association and Pacific Opera Victoria, ViceChair of the Victoria Chinese Museum Society and past president of the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation.