Board Of Directors

Scott Kenneth Fraser recently retired from the BC Provincial government as MLA and Member of Cabinet and Executive Council.

Scott Kenneth Fraser recently retired from the BC Provincial government as MLA and Member of Cabinet and Executive Council. He represented the Mid Island-Pacific Rim electoral district in the Legislative Assembly. From 2017 to 2020, he served as the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, and introduced the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act in 2019 with all-party support to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Scott was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in 2005, and re-elected in 2009, 2013 and 2017. His party formed the official opposition from 2005 to 2017, during which time he served as the critic for Aboriginal affairs, community and rural development, and mining. Scott was born and raised in Ottawa, and attended Carleton University. In 1992, he moved to Tofino with his wife and daughter, and opened a bed and breakfast. In 1996 Scott was elected Mayor of the District of Tofino. He served as Mayor from November 1996 to November 1999, a time when tourism was over-taking logging and fishing as the town's dominant industry. Fraser was instrumental in the creation of BC’s first UNESCO Biosphere designation in Clayoquot Sound which was listed as a Biosphere Reserve. In 2000 he was appointed to Tourism BC's board of directors. Scott has also served as President of the Tofino Bed and Breakfast Association, Director on the Tofino, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, and Director on the Clayoquot Sound Central Region Board.

Amy Blakeney is the CFO & COO of Sun Peaks Resort, a four-season tourist destination and the second largest ski area in Canada.

Amy joined Sun Peaks Resort in August 2015, where she is responsible for the management of the resort and its associated mountain, real estate and hotel operations. Prior to joining Sun Peaks, she was the Vice President, Finance with a major real estate development company in Halifax. She has over 20 years of public and private sector experience in senior financial roles in commercial real estate, insurance, healthcare, and tourism. Amy and her young family live in the community of Sun Peaks and are avid skiers and mountain bikers. Amy is a member of Financial Executives International and is a member of the Board of Tourism Sun Peaks.  Ms. Blakeney is a Chartered Professional Accountant, receiving her CGA designation in 2001, and holds a Master of Business Administration from St. Mary’s University.

Annita McPhee is from the Tahltan Tlingit First Nations located in Northwestern British Columbia. As the former three-term President of the Tahltan Central Government, Annita served three terms as the President of the Tahltan Central Council, and is the recipient of numerous awards for her vision and leadership.

Annita McPhee is from the Tahltan Tlingit First Nations located in Northwestern British Columbia. As the former three-term President of the Tahltan Central Government, Annita served three terms as the President of the Tahltan Central Council, and is the recipient of numerous awards for her vision and leadership. Annita was instrumental in the fight to save the Sacred Headwaters in Tahltan Territory, and was honoured with the The Leadership Award from Ecotrust for her work. Annita has served as an Advisor and Director on several national and provincial boards including the Legal Services Society, Prospector’s Developers Association Canada, BC Hydro's Strategic Aboriginal Engagement Committee and the Minister of Aboriginal Relations Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women and the BC First Nations Justice Council. The recipient of many prestigious awards, Annita has been honoured with the Indigenous National Native Role Model in 2000 for her passion and commitment to community, service and Aboriginal youth.  Annita founded Annita Mcphee Strategies in 2015 quickly establishing the organization as a leading conference provider and community facilitator for First Nations, Indigenous women, industry, and governmental bodies. Annita holds a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Victoria. She also specialized in Public Relations and Communications at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. To strengthen her work with prevention of violence against Indigenous women, Annita recently earned her diploma from Columbia University in International Human Rights and Advocacy with the United Nations Indigenous Women's Global Leadership School in New York. The entire Destination BC team welcomes Anita and expresses gratitude for her support for our organization and BC’s valuable tourism industry.

Bob is an independent consultant specializing in the areas of government relations and community economic development.

He served two terms as Mayor of the City of Quesnel (2014-2022) and led the community through a highly successful rebranding initiative and the development of a community transition strategy which included an increased emphasis on amenities investments and tourism marking and promotion. He was elected MLA for Cariboo North for two terms (2005-2013), serving as Opposition Critic for Forestry in his first term and then Critic for Aboriginal relations during the first part of his second term. These two roles saw him travel the province extensively multiple times, meeting with community leaders and discussing economic development and transition strategies in many communities across BC. The vast majority of these deliberations involved thoughtful discussions about the role that tourism could and would play in the province’s future. Prior to entering politics, Bob was the Corporate Manager for Organizational Effectiveness, Change Management, and Leadership Development for a large forest products company that had operations in BC and Alberta. He is an avid mountain biker, competitive road cyclist and triathlete, whitewater canoeist, ocean kayaker, and loves both downhill and cross-country skiing. His outdoor interests have seen him take advantage of BC’s major resorts, parks, and wilderness areas.

Brian Friesen is the Vice President, Trade Development & Real Estate, for the Prince Rupert Port Authority, the federal agency responsible for the overall planning, development and management of Canada’s third largest port.

With a mandate to responsibly facilitate Canada’s trade at the Port of Prince Rupert, Brian leads a team that supports $60 billion in annual trade, $1.4 billion in economic activity in northern British Columbia and 3,700 direct jobs in port-related businesses. Brian joined the Prince Rupert Port Authority in 2014. In his current role, he is responsible for business development, strategic planning, marketing, investment attraction and real property management. In addition to developing the Port’s strong cargo business, Brian is also responsible for its cruise portfolio. Recently, Brian led his team in successfully negotiating a terminal operating agreement with one the world’s largest independent cruise port operators, Global Ports Holding. He and his team are focused on developing Prince Rupert into a leading port of call destination within the Alaska cruise theatre. Brian grew up in Victoria and joined the Oak Bay Marine Group in 1999, holding various roles at sport-fishing lodges on the B.C. coast in Rivers Inlet, Haida Gwaii, Campbell River and Quadra Island before moving into corporate sales for the company. Brian then joined the Hotel Grand Pacific as the Director of Sales & Marketing and was involved in numerous community organizations including SportHost Victoria, the Victoria International Cycling Festival and Tourism Victoria’s destination marketing committee. Brian holds a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University and an MBA from the University of Victoria. Brian lives in Prince Rupert, on the traditional territory of the Ts’msyen First Nation. He and his young family enjoy boating and camping adventures throughout northern BC.

Lori is CEO of SPAL General Constructors Inc, a company wholly owned by the Tsleil-Waututh Nation that manages partnerships in the construction industry.

Lori Simcox is a lead in Indigenous engagement, negotiating local involvement and successfully securing multi-million dollar contracts throughout British Columbia with over 30 prime industry leaders. Ms. Simcox is on the Executive Board for the Indigenous Tourism Association of BC as Treasurer, serves as a Lieutenant Governor in Council appointee to the board of Royal Roads University and sits on the Board of the BC Construction Roundtable. Further work in community economic development involves participation on an application review committee for Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (PICFI) for Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Ms. Simcox has made several presentations at leadership and economic development conferences including the National Aboriginal Business Opportunities Conference. She has been involved in several interviews and articles in Western Investor, Business in Vancouver and the Vancouver Sun, and BC Business Magazine. Lori Simcox has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and an MBA from Royal Roads University. She is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) with the Canadian Association of Management Consultants. An independent consultant, Ms. Simcox has led several consulting projects for the Federal government, worked on projects for small business and works as a management consultant in several sectors of First Nation economic development. As a member of the Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation, Lori sits on the Board of Northern Vision Development LP on behalf of her community's Trust.

Mike Riediger has over 20 years of experience within the BC Tourism sector, many of which have been spent helping small businesses and nonprofits in rural BC navigate marketing, PR, Strategic Planning and crisis management.

Mike Riediger has over 20 years of experience within the BC Tourism sector, many of which have been spent helping small businesses and nonprofits in rural BC navigate marketing, PR, Strategic Planning and crisis management. Within his most recent role of CEO for the Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association, he has worked with partners across the globe to champion changes that drive opportunities for accessibility to nature and inclusive cycling in BC and beyond. Working with business, advocacy and community leaders, He has led Kootenay Adaptive to a number of world firsts in the emerging world of adapted mountain biking, as well as building resources to make cycling more inclusive for communities across North America. Mike began his  journey in the BC Tourism community in 2002 in Fernie's ski industry. Since that time he has transitioned in his roles from small business owner, to assisting small business and nonprofits in rural BC. Moving from the Fraser Valley to the West Kootenays in 2018, Mike began his. work with Kootenay Adaptive. Originally believing the scope would see the nonprofits work squarely in the Kootenays, in a few short years Mike and Kootenay Adaptive  have led the development of accessible outdoor recreation programs, accessible tourism initiatives and pushed the development of sport and recreation for adaptive mountain biking globally. His strong background in advocacy, tourism and marketing has led him to the role of vice-chair of Kootenay Rockies Tourism and formerly the Minister's Tourism Engagement Council. in 2022, Mike was the grateful recipient of the Accessibility award at the BC Tourism Conference, on behalf of his and Kootenay Adaptive's work. Mike resides in Nakusp BC with his family, where he continues to support his community through a number of volunteer roles.

Randy has over 40 years of experience in the travel, tourism, and marine business. He is the former President of the Harbour Air Group.

Randy was born and raised in Victoria. He began his career on the dock at the Oak Bay Marina, where his passion for the industry moved him through the ranks of management and into the position of President of the Oak Bay Marine Group and he then moved on to the Harbour Air Group and has had over 20 years experience overseeing the operations and business development of the company that welcomes more than 500,000 passengers annually. Randy has a consulting business and continues to work in the industry. Randy works, lives, and plays in Victoria with his wife and 2 young children who all share his passion for the outdoors and the island community.

Rebecca is an associate professor in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management and program head for the MA in Tourism Management at Royal Roads University.

Drawing on her education and personal and professional experience, she strives to create participatory and inclusive approaches to learning and problem solving. Wilson-Mah is an award-winning case writer and reviewer. She researches and writes cases that convey real life organizational problems for students to analyze and resolve. Rebecca’s research interests include communities of practice, collaborative learning, and regenerative tourism experiences. Prior to joining Royal Roads University, Rebecca held leadership roles at Tourism BC, The Fairmont Empress Hotel and Camosun College. These experiences in tourism, hospitality and education amplify her commitment to applied, accessible and authentic education at all stages of life and career. As a young person, Rebecca came to Victoria, Canada in 1992 and she is grateful to live here with her family. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Birmingham, an MSc in Human Resource Management from Sheffield Hallam University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Liverpool. Rebecca is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR).