Accountability First
We believe that our organization is best served by both different member agencies and a Board of Directors who are made up of highly qualified individuals with a wide range of business, community, environmental, and marine expertise who are committed to GVHA’s mission.
We are directly accountable to our eight member agencies: Esquimalt Nation, Songhees Nation, Capital Regional District, City of Victoria, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, Destination Greater Victoria, Township of Esquimalt, and the Victoria/Esquimalt Harbour Society.
We also hold ourselves accountable to our stakeholders and the residents of Greater Victoria. Through the leadership of the Board and management, we align our strategic priorities and initiatives with the Constitution established by GVHA’s founders.
GVHA Board Highlights
Each quarter, the GVHA Board of Directors provides an update to each of the eight member agencies to which they report. These reports are available for the public to view here.
- December 2024 – Board Highlights
- September 2024 – Board Highlights
- June 2024 – Board Highlights
- March 2024 – Board Highlights
- December 2023 – Board Highlights
- September 2023 – Board Highlights
- June 2023 – Board Highlights
- March 2023 – Board Highlights
- December 2022 – Board Highlights
- September 2022 – Board Highlights
- June 2022 – Board Highlights
- March 2022 – Board Highlights
- December 2021 – Board Highlights
- September 2021 – Board Highlights
- June 2021 – Board Highlights
- February 2021 – Board Highlights
- December 2020 – Board Highlights
- September 2020 – Board Highlights
- June 2020 – Board Highlights
GVHA Board Constitution and Bylaws
*Documents amended in 2019
Board of Directors
Mark Mawhinney
Chair (Victoria Esquimalt Harbour Society)
Mark Mawhinney is a portfolio manager and investment advisor with Odlum Brown Limited. Odlum Brown is a private, independent BC-based investment firm managing over $18 billion in client assets. In 2023, the firm celebrated its 100th anniversary...
In 2020, Mark completed the Institute of Corporate Directors Directors Education Program, earning the ICD.D designation, and in 2024 completed the Chairing Boards curriculum. He is a chartered professional accountant, certified management accountant and in 2009 was awarded the Certified Management Accountant Society of BC’s province-wide Top-Talent Award.
Early in his career, Mark founded, built and sold two successful businesses and brings 20 years of financial and business experience to the board. In addition to golfing, jogging and enjoying many of BC’s best hiking trails, Mark is a lifelong boater and enjoys gunkholing the pacific northwest coastline on his powerboat.
Councillor Susan Brice
Vice Chair (Capital Regional District)
Susan Brice was elected councillor for the District of Saanich in 2005, and is a current director for the Capital Regional District...
She is a fourth-generation resident of Greater Victoria and a former elementary school teacher in Esquimalt and Oak Bay.
Brice is chair of the Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee for the Saanich Council, and is council liaison for the Victoria Airport Authority Community Consultative Committee. For the CRD, she is chair of the Transportation Committee, and sits on the Finance Committee, and the Core Area Sewage Committee. She is on the board of directors for BC Transit.
She has served as elected MLA representing Saanich South, and was previously minister of Mental Health and minister of Human Resources for the Government of British Columbia. Brice volunteers as vice president of the Victoria ALS Society.
Chief Councillor Jerome Thomas
Esquimalt Nation
Chief Councillor Jerome Antoine Junior Thomas is a proud member of the Xʷsepsəm Nation with deep connections to the ancestral community...
When not raising two children with his wife, Jerome has been an integral part of the Ralmax Group, working in the Salish Sea Industrial Services. He began three years of training as a bridgeman with ITA, now SkilledTradesBC, receiving the Mungo Martin award in his second year. Jerome then spent two years training to be a specialized Operator of Engineering focused on crane operations.
Leading through example is just one of the core values Chief Jerome brings to the Xʷsepsəm Nation. Not only is he a leader professionally, demonstrating his skills at leading work teams on various projects, finishing them safely and ahead of schedule. He also is a community leader, engaging and supporting the elders to share the heritage and traditional knowledge with the nation’s youth to ensure that knowledge is not lost.
A tireless and committed ambassador for the Xʷsepsəm Nation, Chief Jerome is leading the way towards a brighter future filled with abundant opportunities and shared prosperity for all.
Nəʔəmtənat (Florence Dick)
Songhees Nation
Nəʔəmtənat whose English name is Florence Dick is a member of the Songhees Nation...
Florence was born in raised in Lekwungen Territory and has connections through family. She is the mother of a daughter and a son and has two grandchildren.
More than 20 years ago, she advocated for and became the founding member of the community-led committee that imagined and eventually built the Songhees Wellness Centre.
A fierce advocate for, and tireless promoter of, the Songhees people, Florence was chosen by Chief and Council to represent her Nation as Community cultural liaison for the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority from 2012 To 2016.
She currently holds to the position of cultural liaison for the Capital Regional District’s Wastewater Treatment Project.
Her role has been to act as a bridge between cultures and help to foster stronger government to government relations.
Mayor Barbara Desjardins
Township of Esquimalt
Barbara Desjardins has been the Mayor of the Township of Esquimalt since 2008. She has extensive knowledge in government relations, board leadership, communications, and public relations...
She has also been a small business owner with experience in HR and compensation, risk management, and strategy.
She is a former GVHA board director, serving as the Governance and Nominating Committee chair, board vice-chair, and board interim chair. In addition, she is also the former Capital Regional District (CRD) chair, CRD Hospital board chair, and key participant on CRD Committees (Environmental Services, Finance, Governance, Regional Parks, Planning, Transportation & Protective Services, Core & Westside Wastewater Treatment, Integrated Resources Management), Victoria Regional Transit Commission, Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association, participated in the formation of the South Island Economic Development Association, and Local Government Treaty Committee (Te’Mexw Treaty).
Geoff Dickson
Destination Greater Victoria
Geoff Dickson is president and chief executive officer of the Victoria International Airport...
As president and chief executive officer, Geoff is responsible for the strategic planning, operations and financial performance of Victoria International Airport. During his tenure, Victoria International Airport twice won the prestigious Airports Council International Airport Service Quality award for best regional airport in North America.
He has more than 30 years’ experience in the airline and marine transportation industries with a background in marketing, business development, operations, customer service and finance.
He began his career with Canadian Airlines where he ultimately led the international marketing team in the development and expansion of the airline’s global network. He returned home to Victoria where he joined BC Ferries as vice-president of marketing and business development where he oversaw all aspects of their commercial operations.
He currently serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Airports Council and is chair of the Canadian Tier 2 Airports Caucus. Geoff is a graduate of the University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business.
Councillor Susan Kim
City of Victoria
Susan Kim (김수잔) has been involved with grassroots groups and self-organizing communities for years...
To date, Susan's career includes a decade of collaborative leadership experience in areas of food security, community organizing, adult education, policy, and operations. She has also had the opportunity to be employed in both provincial and federal levels of government, as well as contracted by Island Health.
In addition to her role on Council, Susan currently works as director of operations for the Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group Society.
She has also been formerly involved with the Civic Orchestra of Victoria, LifeCycles Project Society, Victoria Korean Women’s Association, various union locals, and more.
Mark F. Collins
Independent Director
Mark Collins is a senior marine executive, having held leadership and technical positions with shipping and marine manufacturing firms since 1985...
He recently completed more than 18 years at British Columbia Ferry Services, one of the world’s largest marine passenger transportation networks, including five years as president & CEO. He was BC Ferries vice president of engineering from 2004-2012 and vice president, strategic planning and community engagement from 2015-2017.
Mark’s 35 years of marine experience includes expatriate assignments as president of Rolls Royce Marine Brazil and Rolls Royce Marine Italy. Prior to this, Mark was VP sales and aftermarket for Rolls-Royce Marine Canada. Mark believes in real world field experience, serving as a marine engineer on oil tankers, offshore support vessels, bulk carriers and container ships. A little further back, Mark served three years as an aircraft maintenance technician on rotary wing aircraft.
Mark holds a Certificate of Strategic Leadership from Oxford University, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Transport and Logistics from the University of British Columbia, a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Geography from Saint Mary’s University and a Diploma of Mechanical (Marine) Engineering from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Mark also holds a Director Education Certificate from the Rotman School at the University of Toronto and an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. He has served on many boards, including Interferry, Green Marine and as chair of the Board of the Canadian Ferry Association.
Born on the island of Newfoundland, Mark understands the importance of a reliable marine industry to the social and economic health of our communities. Mark is married with three children and resides in Victoria, British Columbia.
Gail Stephens, FCPA, FCGA, ICD.D
Independent Director
Gail Stephens is currently working as a consultant for a variety of organizations in areas such as strategic planning, leadership development, change management, governance and organizational restructuring...
She has over 20 years leading large, complex organizations including City auditor and then chief administrative officer for the City of Winnipeg, City manager for the City of Victoria, CEO of the BC Pension Corporation and COO and interim president and CEO for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Gail is currently serving as a member of the board of directors for VIA Rail Canada Inc. (chair of the Audit and Pension Investment Committee) and the David Foster Foundation (chair of the Finance and Investment Committee).
She received the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Ms. Stephens is a certified public accountant having graduated from the Certified General Accountants (CGA) program and a former teacher having graduated from the University of Manitoba on the Dean’s Honour List. She received the CGA Manitoba Gold Medal and was awarded a CPA, CGA fellowship. Gail graduated from the Harvard University Kennedy School in the Executive Management Program.
Gail was named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2003, 2010 and 2011 and the 2006 Women in Finance’s PEAK Award for Performance and Excellence. She was awarded one of Canada’s top 100 CGAs in 2008.
Bruce Ellis Hallsor, K.C.
Independent Director
Bruce Hallsor is the managing partner at British Columbia’s oldest law firm, Crease Harman LLP, a successful commercial practice. In 2007, he was named among the “Top 40 under 40” for Vancouver Island which celebrates young professionals making a difference in their communities...
He has won the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals for community service, as well as the Medal of Merit and Bar to the Medal of Merit from Scouts Canada. He was awarded a Queen’s Counsel designation in 2016 and in 2023, awarded the Victoria Bar Association contribution to the law award, Bruce was recognized with a Taxfighter award in 2023 by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation for his legal work in the area of tax.
Bruce has also served on the board of directors for a diverse group of companies, authorities, charities and non-profits.
Don Krusel
Independent Director
Don Krusel has over 35 years of experience in the port and maritime industry. He was president and CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority for 25 years and has provided strategic advice to various North American ports and organizations...
Don has served on numerous industry boards and associations including, Chair of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities (ACPA), Executive Committee of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), Vice Chair of Green Marine, and Executive Committee on the Western Transportation Advisory Council (WESTAC). He has served as Director and Chair of the Audit & Risk Management Committee on the Board of B.C. Assessment Authority, and as Board Member of Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) at the University of Victoria.
He holds an MBA degree from the Ivey School of Management at the University of Western Ontario, is a Chartered Professional Accountant and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Don and his wife, Gail, recently celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary and they have one daughter, Olivia.
Ann Squires Ferguson
Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
Ann Squires Ferguson has twin degrees in Electro-Mechanical Engineering and Interior Design, coming to the design industry via the Canadian Navy, where she specialized in shipboard weapons and the audio engineering field, with a focus on the Asian Karaoke market. ...
As CEO and owner of Western Design+Build, and a LEED Accredited Professional, Ann relishes both the creative and the technical. Ann is also a recent ovarian cancer survivor, having raised thousands of dollars to donate towards early detection and research during her own treatment, and as a passionate advocate for women in construction, she mentors her all-female team to advance the industry.
She is past Chair of the Vancouver Island Society of Interior Designers, has twice been elected to the Board of Directors for the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and sits on both the Ambassador Committee and the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advancement Committee. Ann is also a proud military spouse, supporting her husband of 25 years in his Naval career, and is the adoring mother of musical theatre obsessed twin teenagers Daring and Danger.
Bruce Hale
Victoria Esquimalt Harbour Society
Bruce has been CEO of FAS Seafood Producers Ltd / Finest at Sea Ocean Products since 2018. ...
He was previously general manager at the company. FAS Seafood Producers Ltd / Finest at Sea Ocean Products is a leading provider of quality seafood on the West Coast. Finest At Sea has 10 large offshore fishing vessels. It uses sustainable fishing practices to offer the likes of Halibut, Sablefish, Salmon, Spot Prawns, Albacore Tuna, Lingcod, Rockfish, Dungeness Crab, and shellfish. Bruce has also worked in the plastic manufacturing industry with positions at Macro Plastics, ORBIS corporation, and Linpac Materials Handling.
Christine Willow
Past Chair (The Chamber)
Christine Willow is a Partner with TwoWillows Consulting BC...
She is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) and a Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR), and has been involved in employment and training programs for the past 20 years.
Prior to entering the consulting field, Willow was a valued member of the tourism and hospitality industry for more than 20 years, and held senior management positions with Four Seasons Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Trusthouse Forte and Keg Restaurants as well as several independently owned and operated hotels and restaurants.
Active in the community, she has served as chair of the board of the Victoria Airport Authority, was a director for the Canadian Airports Council and as a director for the Victoria Police board.
Additionally, she has also served on the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council, the BC Restaurant Association, Greater Victoria Economic Development Agency, go2 The Resource for People in Tourism, and the Downtown Victoria Business Association, and she is the past chair of Destination Greater Victoria and the Tourism Industry Association of BC.