The 17th Annual State of The Island Economic Summit will take place on October 25 & 26 at Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo, BC.

“If you want to be in the know about what’s happening in the Vancouver Island economy, and involved in conversations that influence where we are headed, there’s no better place to be than the Summit. This is where good ideas come together and a better future begins.”

– Peter van Dongen, Business Development Manager, MNP

Register for the Summit here.

Susan Mowbray to present the 8th Annual ‘State of the Island’ Economic Report at the Economic Summit

The Vancouver Island Economic Alliance is pleased to announce that Susan Mowbray, Partner at MNP, will be presenting the 2023 ‘State of the Island’ Economic Report at the upcoming Summit.

Susan Mowbray has over two decades of experience in economic modelling, applying economic analysis and project management. She collaborates closely with public sector organizations, industry associations, and private companies in the aquaculture, transportation, health care, not-for-profit, utilities, education, manufacturing, and automotive sectors.

The Economic Report is an annual assessment of the economic condition of Vancouver Island and a powerful tool utilized widely by both public and private decision-makers to aid in making informed decisions.

This year, the 8th annual State of the Island Economic Report is going digital! Same valuable insights and knowledge but now as an online tool.

Register for the Summit here.

Early Bird Registration ends July 31st!

Innovation Island, Premier Sponsor of The ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit

We are delighted to announce Innovation Island as the Premier Sponsor for the 17th Annual ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit.

Innovation Island is the voice for technology entrepreneurship on Vancouver Island. As the regional driver for accelerating business success through scientific innovation and technology, they support technology-based companies to accelerate their growth. Innovation Island provides resources, expertise, connections and opportunities to entrepreneurs that help to grow thriving technological companies, create new jobs, and stimulate the local economy.

As a longstanding member of VIEA and contributor to the Economic Summit, Innovation Island plays an essential role in the upcoming Summit.

Thank you Innovation Island!

Introducing The 2023-24 Board of Directors

VIEA’s Board of Directors is comprised of a cross-section of public and private representatives, drawn from across Vancouver Island, who provide a wealth of business, community, and local government experience.

Chair: Katie Bishop – Validation Associate, XPS Group – Victoria

Chair-Elect: Dr. Nicole Vaugeois – Associate Vice-President, Research & Graduate Studies, Vancouver Island University – Nanaimo

Treasurer: Joel Thompson – Principal, Redline Management Services Inc. – Cowichan

Directors:

• Shannon Baikie – Executive Director, North Island Employment Foundations Society – Campbell River

• Janet Bonaguro – Chief Executive Officer, ThinkSpace Performance Inc. – Cumberland

• Kristi Fairholm Mader – Director of Innovation & Initiatives, Scale Collaborative & Managing Director, Thrive Impact Fund – Victoria

• Francis Frank – Commissioner, BC Treaty Commission & Lead Negotiator, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations – Tofino

• Dirk Heydemann – Principal Photographer, Image Consultant & CEO, HA Cyan Creative Inc. & HA Photography – Nanaimo

• Peter McKenzie – Fish Health Director & Veterinarian, Cermaq Canada – Nanaimo

• Brad McRae – Director, Western Forest Products – Campbell River

• Julie Scurr – Coast Salish Insurance – Duncan

• Angela Smith – Communications Consultant, Creative Exposure Inc. &

  Regional Coordinator, Mount Waddington Health Network – Port Hardy

• Chris Theeparajah – Senior International Trade Finance Manager, Export Development Canada – Victoria

• Andrea Thomas – Manager & Corridor Development, Island Corridor Foundation – Nanaimo

• Gary Wilson (Ǧṇísḷaǧy̓ḷís) – Chief Executive Officer, Tiičma Enterprises/Management Services LP – Nanaimo

We are thrilled to announce our new Board and are looking forward to the exciting year ahead!

Learn more about out team here.

A Business’ Guide to the Circular Economy

VICEDA and Synergy Foundation have released a new circular economy business guide.

A Business’ Guide to the Circular Economy was created for organizations that strive to implement circular economy concepts into their operations. The guide covers circular economy fundamentals, examples of circular business solutions, case studies featuring VICEDA’s Accelerator Program participants, and resources to learn more and take action.

A circular economy is a regenerative economic system that advocates for sustainable collection, production, distribution, and consumption. As VICEDA states, “transitioning from the current ‘take-make-waste’ linear model to a circular economy eliminates high emissions, waste, and virgin resource demand while enabling affordable lifestyles and green job creation, and can provide a 4.5 trillion dollar value worldwide by 2030.”

You can check out the guide, past webinars, and get more info at viceda.com/accelerator.