Board of Directors
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.
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…
Rob Gareau
Rob Gareau’s professional role is Portfolio Manager and Wealth Advisor with Nicola Wealth. As a Portfolio Manager he works with a team specializing in investment…
Rajiv K. Gandhi
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…
Karen Cameron
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…
John van Cuylenborg
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…
Marilyn Sing
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…
Wency Lum
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…
Brad Clark
Brad has obtained his Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Investment Manager designations and has worked as an associate financial advisor with the Ely & Associates…
Teresa Lin
Teresa is a Chartered Professional Accountant and distinguished audit professional with extensive experience in working with the public sector, private enterprises, and not-for-profit organizations in…
Ruth Young
Ruth is Cree from Wemindji on her mother’s side and mixed-European on her father’s side. She is the Director of Indigenous Initiatives with the Faculty…
Dr. Hannes Blum
Dr. Hannes Blum is a Partner at Acton Capital Partners, a Munich based Venture Capital fund focused on SaaS and consumer internet. He currently serves…
Tamara Napoleon
Rob Gareau
Rajiv K. Gandhi
Karen Cameron
John van Cuylenborg
Marilyn Sing
Wency Lum
Brad Clark
Teresa Lin
Ruth Young
Dr. Hannes Blum
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.
Patrick Kelly
Patrick 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,…
Dr. Grace Wong Sneddon
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…
Patrick Kelly
Patrick 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. Patrick is an active community volunteer. In addition to his role with the Victoria Foundation, Patrick 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. Patrick 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
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.