Zaman Velji
MBA, CFA
Professionally, Zaman focuses on the oversight and governance of private company investments in the infrastructure sector for the…
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…
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…
Patrick Kelly
Indigenous Cultural Advisor
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,…
Carey Newman
OBC, MSM
An artist with a strong belief in the importance of tradition, Carey is active within the First Nations community and has been given the traditional…
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…
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…
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…
Rajiv K. Gandhi
BSc, LLB
Rajiv is originally from the east cost of Canada, having been born and raised in Nova Scotia. He obtained a Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie…
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…
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…
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…
Rasool Rayani
Honorary Governors President
Rasool is a serial entrepreneur with experience in the software, healthcare, and organic grocery industries. He maintains his passion for technology as an active angel…
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. 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. 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. Patrick Kelly
Indigenous Cultural Advisor
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. Carey Newman
OBC, MSM
An artist with a strong belief in the importance of tradition, Carey is active within the First Nations community and has been given the traditional name Ha-yalth-kingeme. Through his work he strives to highlight Indigenous, social and environmental issues. He is also interested in engaging with the community and incorporating socially innovative practice into his artistic process. Carey’s most recent major work, the Witness Blanket, deals with the subject of reconciliation. Made of items collected from residential schools, government buildings and churches across Canada, this 40’ long installation is currently on a 7-year national tour. Carey also serves on the board of Pacific Opera Victoria. 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. Rajiv K. Gandhi
BSc, LLB
Rajiv is originally from the east cost 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. 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. Rasool Rayani
Honorary Governors President
Rasool is a serial entrepreneur with experience in the software, healthcare, and organic grocery industries. He maintains his passion for technology as an active angel investor and is involved with several tech companies as a mentor and advisor. He serves on a number of non-profit and early stage business boards including Community Foundations of Canada, VIATEC and Checkfront Software. He is a proud father of two young daughters.