At our 2025 AGM, President & CEO Julie Sperber shared key highlights from a year shaped by VIEA’s new Strategic Plan.

With Vision 2050 underway, Island Good evolving, and regional partnerships growing, VIEA is advancing long-term, place-based prosperity.

Read more below on how we made progress across our six pillars.

2025 VIEA AGM Highlights

Introducing VIEA’s 2025-2026 Board of Directors

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

Chair: Janet Bonaguro – Chief Executive Officer, ThinkSpace Performance Inc. – Gabriola Island

Chair-Elect: Brad McRae – Director, Western Forest Products – Campbell River

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

Treasurer: Caroline Read – Vice President, Finance, Port of Nanaimo – Nanaimo

Directors:

Tracey Clarke – Executive Director, Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce – Comox Valley<
Kristi Fairholm Mader – Director of Innovation & Initiatives, Scale Collaborative& Managing Director, Thrive Impact Fund – Victoria
Keith Grandois – Owner, Granbois Management Consulting – Cowichan Valley
Dirk Heydemann – Principal Photographer, Image Consultant & CEO, HA Cyan Creative Inc. & HA Photography – Nanaimo
Kear Porttris – Owner Founder, Porttris Consulting Group – Victoria
Kelsey Pringle – Owner, Motivation Monday Marketing| Co-founder, EMPOWER Women Canada – Nanaimo
Taurean Seib – Senior Manager, Coastal Community Credit Unio n – Courtenay
Sean Smyth – General Manager/Pilot, West Coast Helicopters | Councillor, City of Campbell River – Campbell River
Aaron Stone – CEO, South Island Prosperity Partnership – Victoria
Nik Vischschraper, Chief Executive Officer, Tla-o-qui-aht Development Corporation – Tofino
Gary Wilson (Ǧṇísḷaǧy̓ḷís) – Chief Executive Officer, Tiičma Enterprises/Management Services LP – Campbell River

A massive thanks to our outgoing Board Members Katie Bishop, Andrea Thomas and Joel Thompson

With a diverse mix of backgrounds, regional representation, and both new and seasoned leadership, the VIEA Board of Directors is well-positioned to guide our mission of fostering inclusive economic resilience and innovation across Vancouver Island and the rural islands.

Learn More About Our Team

Strategic Vision in Action: CEO’s 2025 AGM Report

Over past fiscal year, guided by a new Strategic Plan and the emerging Vision 2050 framework, we focused on deepening impact, strengthening connections, and generating momentum for future prosperity. Across six strategic pillars, VIEA’s work reflected a clear commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and thriving Island economy.

1. Elevate VIEA’s Presence & Foster Regional Connectivity

We deepened regional ties through the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities (AVICC), Vancouver Island Coast Economic Development Association (VICEDA), Chambers, and Island Good expansion, building VIEA’s role as a connector.

2. Innovate the Membership & Engagement Model

VIEA began reshaping its membership model to better reflect regional diversity, deliver clearer value, and foster deeper engagement.

3. Strengthen the Economic Summit’s Impact

The Summit continued to evolve as a dynamic platform – not just for ideas, but for action and connection. New at Summit 2024 were Lightning Talks, Speed Networking, and the Vision 2050 Workshop.

4. Integrate Community Needs & Economic Resilience Through a Centralized Innovation Hub

This year laid early groundwork for what will become a central platform for shared knowledge and action.

5. Maximize the Impact & Effectiveness of VIEA Initiatives & Projects

This was a year of delivery and strategic reset, with Vision 2050 emerging as a guiding framework across initiatives. Key accomplishments included completing Supply Chain and Passenger Transportation studies and reframing Island Good for greater impact.

6. Enhance Governance & Financial Sustainability

With new Board Committees and streamlined tools we’ve laid the groundwork for future growth.

The road ahead is ambitious, but our shared commitment remains strong – to shape an Island economy that delivers for all.

Sneak Peek: 2025 Summit Themes & Exciting Developments

Planning for the 19th Annual ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit is in full swing—and we’re thrilled to give you a first look at what’s coming!

This year’s sessions will explore big ideas and regional solutions across these key themes:

Entrepreneurship & Local Business
Policy & Systems Change
Infrastructure & Community Building
Climate, Clean Energy & Resilience
Leadership & Workforce
Technology, Innovation & AI
Indigenous-Led Economic Development
Regional Futures & Transformation

Other session formats include fireside chats, speaker series and a Vision 2050 workshop, building on the input we received from last year’s workshop.

This year’s Vision 2050 workshop will focus on transforming talk into action. We expect the workshop to be an interactive, solutions-driven experience where attendees connect with thought leaders, subject experts, and each other to tackle real regional challenges.

This is the first step in a long-term movement. And the Summit will become our annual touchpoint to measure progress and build momentum.

Let’s shape the future of Vancouver Island—together.

By sponsoring the 2025 Summit, you position your organization as a key contributor to the Island’s future—aligned with innovation, collaboration and the Island’s prosperity. Standard sponsorship packages are available, and tailored options can be designed to meet your goals.

You can also choose to sponsor Island Good, the Economic Dashboard, or Vision 2050 on their own—or combine them with your Summit sponsorship for even greater regional impact!

Sponsors supporting multiple VIEA streams enjoy added benefits including newsletter features, homepage visibility, and participation in an exclusive fireside chat.

Download the Summit Sponsorship Package here

Island Good Spotlight

Help Us Spread the Word – Island Good Discounts for New Members!

Know a local business that should be part of Island Good? Now’s the perfect time to tell them!

Businesses new to Island Good in the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), the City of Campbell River and the City of Port Alberni get 50% off their first-year licensing. Thanks to the CVRD, Community Futures Cowichan Region, and the Cities of Campbell River and Port Alberni for championing local businesses and supporting Island Good.

Also effective June 1, members of the following Chambers receive 25% off their Island Good membership thanks to reciprocal Chamber memberships: Alberni Valley, Ladysmith, Campbell River and District, Comox Valley, Duncan Cowichan, Lake Cowichan, Parksville and District, and Sooke Region.

This applies to makers, growers, manufacturers, retailers, and restaurants offering local products.

Encourage them to sign up—we’ll apply the discount to their invoice! Let’s keep growing the Island Good movement together!

We’re actively working with other communities to bring them on board to support Island Good in a similar way—stay tuned!

What’s Happening Across Our Member Network

Have a social enterprise idea but not sure how to take the next step? Join Scale Institute and theDock Centre for Social Impact in Victoria, BC, for a two-day, in-person Social Enterprise Bootcamp designed for early-stage changemakers July 17–18, 2025.

This workshop is for nonprofits, social entrepreneurs, community organizations, and purpose-driven teams that have an idea for a social enterprise but haven’t yet launched.

Over two full days, participants will work through:

Clarifying the opportunity and market fit
Exploring revenue models and legal structures
Building a launch plan grounded in impact

Facilitated by Kristi Fairholm Mader (Thrive Impact Fund, Scale Institute) and Joanna Buczkowska-McCumber (Ideas for Impact), this bootcamp will give you the tools and guidance to move from idea to action.

Cost: $500 per person ($250 for additional team members from the same organization)

Secure Your Spot Here.

Funding Opportunities

Light House is now accepting applications for the next Circular Construction Accelerator (CCA), cohort—a program that helps BC construction businesses adopt circular practices to build resilience, reduce supply chain risks, and drive growth. Participants receive free one-on-one advisory support, expert insights, and resources to scale circular-driven cleantech solutions. Learn more or apply at light-house.org/cca.