MARIANNE ALTO
City of Victoria
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto is a facilitator by trade with university degrees in law and science. A businesswoman active in community causes for decades, Marianne was first elected to Victoria City Council in 2010, and elected as Mayor in 2022.
Mayor Alto is matriarch of the City Family (a unique collaboration among the City, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations) having nurtured a long, rich relationship with those Nations.
She continues to be committed to expanding the city’s efforts at smart city technology, in particular as it enables Victoria’s capacity for climate adaptation, disaster planning and response, optimizing citizen engagement and inclusion, public transportation and more.
Married and a mom of two boys, Marianne is a lifelong activist who vigorously advocates for equity, inclusion and fairness for everyone.
Mayor Marianne Alto was first elected to Victoria Council in 2010, and then elected as Mayor in 2020. An advocate for equity, inclusion, and fairness, much of Mayor Alto’s work this term has centered around reconciliation, sustainable cities, housing, governance, relationship building, and community safety and wellbeing.
JASON BRAUN
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Jason Braun, P.Eng., PMP, ENV SP, is a manager at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, where he leads the procurement of the landmass and wharf contractor for the nationally significant Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project. His current work is focused on securing a Progressive Design-Builder capable of de-livering one of the largest marine construction projects in Canada. With more than a decade of experience in maritime engineering and major project delivery, Jason has worked closely with contractors, engineering teams, and frontline crews to plan, design and build complex marine infrastructure. He brings a practical, collaborative approach to navigating the technical, commercial, and construction phase realities of major projects and is privileged to have contributed to port development projects in the Middle East, Africa, Oceania, and across Canada’s three coasts.
GLEN CLARK
BC Hydro
Glen has had a remarkable career holding positions in the public and private sector here in B.C. Until 2023, he was the president and CEO of the Jim Pattison Group, one of the largest business groups and employers in the province.
Prior to his lengthy career with the Jim Pattison Group, Glen served in public office, including his time as B.C.’s premier from 1996 to 1999.
In addition to taking on the leadership role of BC Hydro’s Board, he serves on the boards of Canfor and Westshore Terminals.
DR. ROBYN HANLEY-DAFOE
Behaviorist, Award-Winning Author
In a world of constant stress and uncertainty, maintaining resiliency and well-being is hard. You’re not alone. Join Dr. Robyne as she explores the five pillars of Everyday Resiliency and shares actionable tools for achieving sustainable wellness.
Discover how to turn stress into an ally with evidence-based strategies for stress resets and how to activate the Forces of Recovery. Through cutting-edge research, storytelling, and behavioral insights, Dr. Robyne will offer strategies to turn theory into practice. You will gain key insights into fostering a hopefilled perspective and the skills needed to enhance personal and professional well-being in our ever-changing world. Better days are ahead.
Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe is a best-selling, three-time author, an award-winning scholar, and a mother of three teenagers. Her journey from high school dropout to a doctorate degree, embodies resilience in action. Her career has been dedicated to translating her research on resiliency, stress and hope into actionable strategies, inspiring confidence and growth in individuals and organizations worldwide.
DAVID HARGREAVES
Seaspan
David Hargreaves joined Seaspan Shipyards in October 2019 as Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. He brings over 25 years of experience in complex system engineering and growth-oriented industrial development to the role.
Prior to joining Seaspan, David worked at MDA for 24 years, in progressively more senior roles, most recently as Vice President Strategy. MDA is a Canadian technology and engineering company that provides systems to the global aerospace and defence industry.
David has a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Applied Science in Engineering from Simon Fraser University, and a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University.
As Senior Vice President of Strategy, Business Development and Communications, Dave is responsible for growing Seaspan’s domestic and global business for ship building, repair and overhaul.
IRENE KERR
BC Infrastructure Benefits
Irene Kerr has an accomplished track record with over 20 years of experience in project delivery and operations in the transportation sector. Ms. Kerr leads a driven and diverse team at BCIB, and she’s proud that the organization has recently been recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers. Ms. Kerr also sits on the board for SkillPlan, a nationally recognized leader in workforce development programs. She has been named to BiV’s top 500 list for two years running.
Ms. Kerr has been involved in many different projects, from sports, transportation, infrastructure, and project delivery. Prior to joining BCIB, Ms. Kerr was President and CEO of the Crown corporation, Transportation Investment Corporation. Ms. Kerr has also served as Vice President of Games Services, Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games and Vice President Services, Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. In these roles, Ms. Kerr demonstrated her skills in managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects, while also developing strong relations with stakeholders.
SUSSANNE SKIDMORE
BCFED
Sussanne Skidmore was elected BCFED president in 2022 after being elected as the federation’s secretary-treasurer in 2018 and 2020. A well-known human rights, social justice and queer rights activist, she served as executive vice-president of BCGEU for 5 years. She has co-chaired the BCFED’s Human Rights Committee and is active in the federation’s Women and Gender Rights Committee. Skidmore is the national treasurer for the New Democratic Party of Canada and a vice president of the BC NDP.
SEAN STRICKLAND
Canada’s Building Trades Unions
Sean Strickland serves as the Executive Director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry, Sean started his career in the field with LiUNA as a Bricklayers Labourer at age 15. He was raised in a construction union household where his father was a business manager for Bricklayers Local 12 in Kitchener.
Prior to his appointment as Executive Director at Canada’s Building Trades Unions, Sean served as the CEO of the Ontario Construction Secretariat, the Business Manager for Waterloo Wellington Dufferin Grey Building Trades, and the Director of Business Development at Pomerleau, a major Canadian construction company. Sean served as an elected official for more than 25 years, first elected to public office in 1993 as a trustee with the local public school board, and won election six times as a regional councillor representing Waterloo.
A recipient of the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal, Sean has been appointed to numerous boards and advisory committees including Helmets to Hardhats Canada, SkillPlan, the Canadian Development Corporation, and the Federal government’s Union-Led Advisory Table. He currently serves as Chair of Helmets to Hardhats Canada and is a board member of BuildForce Canada. Sean is a graduate of the University of Waterloo’s political science program, the Wilfrid Laurier Executive Management program and holds a Performance Management diploma from Harvard.
HON. JESSIE SUNNER
Minister of Post-Secondary
Education & Future Skills Jessie Sunner was first elected as the MLA for Surrey-Newton in 2024.
Jessie was appointed Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills in July 2025. She previously served as parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives.
Before being elected to the legislature, Jessie was a human rights lawyer and trade unionist for the Hospital Employees’ Union. She has been a strong advocate in the Surrey community for years, serving as vice-president of the Surrey Women’s Centre and vice-chair of the Surrey Police Board. Jessie has also served on the boards of the South Asian Bar Association, BC College of Social Workers and the United Nations Association in Canada.
Jessie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Simon Fraser University and a law degree from the University of Calgary.
She was raised in Surrey and continues to live there with her husband and their dog Simba.
TERESA WADDINGTON
LNG Canada
Teresa Waddington is the Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chief HSSE Officer at LNG Canada, a joint venture between Shell, PETRONAS, PetroChina, Mitsubishi Corporation, and KOGAS. A chemical engineer by training, Teresa began her professional journey at Shell, where she held diverse roles spanning projects, commercial, operations, and corporate relations. She joined LNG Canada in 2020, bringing with her a deep commitment to operational excellence and sustainable performance.
HON. JENNIFER WHITESIDE
Minister of Labour
Jennifer Whiteside was first elected as the MLA for New Westminster (now New Westminster-Coquitlam) in 2020.
Jennifer was appointed Minister of Labour in November 2024. She previously served as Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Minister of Education and Child Care.
Jennifer was chief spokesperson and lead negotiator for the Hospital Employees’ Union, where she fought for strong public healthcare and healthcare workers’ rights. During the Pandemic, she worked to protect seniors and workers in nursing homes across the province.
While leading B.C.’s first campaign for a living wage, she fought to ensure that work lifts people out of poverty and allows them to support their families and fully participate in their communities.
Jennifer has worked for community organizations and labour unions at the provincial and national level. In those roles she championed a range of social justice issues from accessible post-secondary education and affordable public childcare, to Medicare and health equity.
HON. JOHN ZERUCELLI
Secretary of State for Labour
John Zerucelli is the Member of Parliament for Etobicoke North and serves as Secretary of State for Labour. A lawyer by training, Zerucelli’s focus was on dispute resolution - a skill he brings to the Labour file.
His private sector roles include executive positions at Labatt Brewing Company and Universal Music Canada—a wealth of practical experience much needed in government today.
Born and raised in Rexdale, Ontario, Secretary Zerucelli is the son of a bricklayer and has a deep understanding for workers in the skilled trades.
Secretary Zerucelli has been active in politics since the era of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, contributing to both provincial and federal campaigns. Elected in 2025, among the issues he champions are: middle-class prosperity, youth empowerment, and safe communities.