Champions

 

Thanks to all of our champions over the years, without your help we wouldn't be celebrating our 10th Anniversary!

First Champions (Launch year 2008)

Council of Partners

Includes both university and external appointees, with a role to provide straegic direction in the development of Venture Connection's objectives, programs and funding support.

  • Joanne Curry, Executive Director, SFU-Surrey, and Council of Partners Chair
  • Mike Volker, Director, University/Industry Liaison Office
  • Fred Popowich, Associate Dean, Faculty of Applied Science
  • Colleen Collins, Associate Dean, Faculty of Business Administration
  • Doug Blakeway, G4S Justice Services Canada
  • Jade Bourelle,Talent Technology Corporation
  • Theresa Carbonneau, Entrepreneur
  • Phil Holland, Entrepreneur
  • Don Murray, Safe Software

 

Operations Group

Represents all the departments actively involved with Venture Connection, with a role to ensure on-going and clear communication among the departments.

  • Janice OBriain, Venture Connection Manager, and Operations Group Chair
  • Justine Bizzochi, Univeristy/Industry Liaison Office, and Venture Connection Founder
  • Terri Chanyungco, SFU-Surrey Director's Office
  • Andrew Gemino, Faculty of Business
  • Farid Golnaraghi, Chair, Mechatronics Systems Engineering
  • Elmer Sum, Univeristy/Industry Liaison Office (TIME Centre)
  • Ashish Gurung SIFE Student Representative

Executive Team

Staff and consultants working or directly responsible for programs supported by Venture Connection funds and staff.

  • Janice OBriain, Venture Connection Manager
  • Bob de Wit, EIR/TIME Mentorship Director
  • Jim Derbyshire, Mentor-in-Residence (MIR)
  • Susan Richards de Wit, Communications Consultant
  • Cody Watson, SIFE Student Repreentative
  • Ginger Grant, Director, Creative Intelligence Lab, Faculty of Business
  • Boyd Cohen, Program Director, BBA Entrepreneurship Concentration

 

First Entrepreneurs, Mentors-in-Residence

  • Basil Peters, Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR)
  • Doug Blakeway, Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR)
  • Phil Holland, Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR)
  • Jim Derbyshire, Mentor in Residence (MIR)

 

Other Key Launch Personnel

  • Ginny Hasselfield, SFU Advancement officer
  • Gavin Norquay, SFU Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) representative (2007-08)

Pilot Program Funders (2008-2010)

  • Western Economic Diversification (WD)
  • National Research Council Industry Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)
  • Coast Capital Savings
  • British Columbia Innovation Council (BCIC)
  • Discovery Parks Foundation
  • SFU Faculty of Business
  • SFU-Surrey Executive Director's Office
  • Private Donation

Staff Over the Years

Staff

  • Justine Bizzocchi, Initial Coordination and Operational Manager prior to hiring staff, 2007-08
  • Janice OBriain, Manager 2008-2010; 2011-13; Associate Director 2015-18, Director 2018-
  • Vaughan Kolber, Interim Manager 2010-2011
  • Michelle Sinclair, Manager 2013-2015
  • Peter Payne, Associate Director 2016-2017
  • Liane McIlmoyle, Program Assistant 2008-2014
  • Eunice Au-Yeung, Program Assistant 2014-2015
  • Candice Bennett, Program Assistant 2015
  • Angie Van Vliet, Program Assistant 2016-
  • Jesse Robson, Events & Marketing Coordinator
  • Shirin Escarcha, Comms & Events Coordinator (2015-2017)
  • Pauline Leoncio, Marketing & Communications Coordinator (2017-)
  • Maycko Macapugas, Events & Community Engagement Coordinator (2017-)

Student Assistants & Temps

  • Loren Aytona
  • Karra Barron
  • Emily Biehl
  • Sam Chan
  • Emma Cheung
  • Kevin Cruz
  • April Diaz
  • Jon Harris
  • Charlene Hew
  • Natasha Jung
  • Justin Ling
  • Isaac Nelson
  • Cindy Nguyen
  • Olivia Phua
  • Andrew Pope
  • Ashley Pullman
  • Riz Qaiser
  • Negin Sharafzadeh
  • Navjot Sidhu
  • Thiago Silva
  • Sage Testini
  • Ruben Ugarte
  • Brian Yan Muk
  • Marilyn Yeo

Mentors-In-Residence 2008-2018

Mentors-In-Residence

  • Jim Derbyshire
  • Phil Holland (as EIR)
  • Dave Thomas
  • Jack Gin
  • Stewart Marshall
  • Guy Flavelle
  • Albert Seah
  • Andrew Tait
  • Jeff Kuypers
  • Ben Chow
  • Clay Brazilier
  • Connie Ekelund
  • Doug Fast
  • Gabe Kalmar
  • Hugh MacNaught
  • Guy Flavelle
  • Iain Begg
  • Jennifer Thompson
  • Jill Earthy
  • Lynn Warburton
  • Michelle Sinclair
  • Roger Flowerdew
  • Sarah Lubik
  • Peter Payne
  • Tim Ames

Experts-In-Residence

  • Bob de Wit
  • Dr. Arman Abdalkhani
  • Rob Malec