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At Best Startup Canada we track over 100,000 Canadian startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top British Columbia based Director operating in the Information Technology space. If you think a Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.ca.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Marissa Poratto
Director of Investor Relations & Business Research of Maxar Technologies
Marissa Poratto was appointed Director of Investor Relations and Business Research of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. in January 2016. She is based at our office in Vancouver, British Columbia. Prior to joining MDA in January 2002, Ms. Poratto was a team leader and researcher for the consulting firm McKinsey & Company providing in-depth business and technical research to the consulting staff in both the Toronto and Montreal offices. Ms. Poratto earned an honours bachelor degree in Languages at Laurentian University and a master’s degree in Library and Information Science at the University of Toronto.
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About Maxar Technologies, MDA: Maxar Technologies provides integrated space infrastructure and Earth intelligence.
Wayne Hoyle
Director, Business Development of Maxar Technologies
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About Maxar Technologies, MDA: Maxar Technologies provides integrated space infrastructure and Earth intelligence.
Jason Hislop
Director of IT of AppNeta
Jason Hislop is the Director of IT at AppNeta Inc.
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About AppNeta: AppNeta operates as a SaaS-based application and network performance platform.
Dr. Steven Funk
Chairman, Board of Directors of EventChain SmartTickets
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About EventChain SmartTickets: Eventchain is a Blockchain-powered ticket system that aims to solve problems of the ticketing industry
Mike Chapin
Partner & Managing Director, Development and Resource Planning of Twenty First Century Utilities
Mike Chapin is an accomplished energy executive with over 35 years of transactional experience in power markets, domestically and internationally. He was previously President of Capstone Power Development Corp. in Vancouver, B.C., and Founding Shareholder and Executive Vice President at GreenWing Energy Management Ltd. Over his career, Mike has led the development and acquisition of more than 6 gigawatts of clean energy (wind, solar, and thermal natural gas) projects in North America, including the 100MW St. Leon Wind Energy Project in Manitoba, the 99.5MW High Plains Wind Energy Project in Wyoming, and the sale of a 1,400MW portfolio of wind projects located in California, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and North Dakota. He began his career with electric utilities TransAlta and ATCO Power, as an engineer in the power plants. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science Engineering Degree from the University of British Columbia.
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About Twenty First Century Utilities: Twenty First Century Utilities, LLC is working to transform regulated utilities with a twenty first century model.
Inna Shevchenko
Marketing Director of iGMS
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About iGMS: iGMS is an all-in-one vacation rental management software for Airbnb/Booking.com/VRBO/HA management companies and property managers
Dan Zitting
Managing Director & CEO of Diligent
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About Diligent: Diligent is the largest GRC SaaS provider, with 1M users, across 23,000 organizations, valued at $7B+ and $500 million+ in revenue.
Brittany Hobbs
Director of Branding & Research of PH1
A Cannes Lions award-winning branded customer experience expert. She spent the last decade working in agencies including Grey, Elvis, Wasserman + Partners and The&Partnership. She has worked with startups and International brands alike on research programs, branding and identity, and marketing strategies. Most notably with Honda, TELUS, United Nations, Government of Canada, ICBC and Destination BC. Customer-centricity and ethnographic study are at the core of the methodology and workshops she has created to help businesses succeed in crowded marketplaces.
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About PH1: Customer Experience Strategy & UX Innovation Studio: Solving complex business problems with beautiful digital products & CX strategies.
Arpy Dragffy
President, Director of Strategy & UX of PH1
A customer experience strategist and UX architect who has spent 15 years innovating the strategies of startups and global brands like Bodog, Hootsuite, Sage Software, Red Bull, Benson & Hedges. Today he primarily works with tourism, entertainment, and gaming industry clients to design exceptional digital experiences across marketing, mobile applications, and online communities. Over the past year he has led design thinking and experience strategy workshops around the world, including in Rio De Janeiro, Bogota, Sao Paulo, Miami.
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About Level5 Travel, PH1: Customer Experience Strategy & UX Innovation Studio: Solving complex business problems with beautiful digital products & CX strategies.
Jessica Wolford
Director, Corporate Priorities of Terramera
Jessica is responsible for leading both internal and external Corporate Communications. She is also the lead for People Operations and Human Resources. Jessica comes to Terramera with over 8 years’ experience in strategic communications, policy development, stakeholder relations, issues management expertise, and proven leadership of diverse teams. Prior to joining the Terramera team, Jessica held senior positions within the BC Provincial Government, both in the BC Public Service and the Premier’s Office. Her last government posting was Deputy Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Official Opposition.
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About Terramera: Terramera provides intelligence developing safer, more effective plant-based replacements to synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
Stephen Johnston
Director, Business Development of DSG Global
Founding Partner Of Global Golf Advisers
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About DSG Global: DSG Global Inc. is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company that is dominating the IT industry and the new Internet of Things (IoT).
James Singerling
Director, Marketing of DSG Global
Former CEO of Club Managers Association of America CMAA
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About DSG Global: DSG Global Inc. is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company that is dominating the IT industry and the new Internet of Things (IoT).
Joanne Freeze
Co-Founder, CEO, Director & Chair of Candente Copper
Joanne (Joey) C. Freeze is CEO and co-founder of Candente Copper Corp. Since entering the mineral exploration business in 1979, Ms. Freeze has managed exploration programs and evaluated projects for both junior and major international mining companies such as Queenstake Resources Ltd., Arequipa Resources Ltd., Mountain Province Mining Inc., Placer Dome Inc., Dia Met Minerals Corp., Hughes/ Lang Group and Utah Mines Ltd. (BHP). Ms. Freeze lived and worked in Peru from 1994 to 1997 where she carried out both project generation work and property evaluations for Canadian and Peruvian companies. As a result of her experience in Peru, a partnership was formed with Peruvian geologist Ing. Fredy Huanqui (co-discoverer of the Pierina gold mine) and a new mineral exploration company was born. Candente Resource Corp. was established in 1997, which operated privately until going public on May 15, 2000. Since then Candente Resource Corp. has spun-out various assets to form two other companies, Candente Gold Corp. and Cobriza Metals Inc.. All three companies are listed on the TSX and the Candente companies are co-listed on the Lima stock exchange. Ms. Freeze is CEO of all three companies and President of Candente Gold Corp. Ms. Freeze obtained a B.A. in Geography from the University of Western Ontario in 1978 and a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of British Columbia in 1981. She is a Fellow Member of the Geological Association of Canada and is registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, Canada.
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About Candente Copper, Candente Gold, Xali Gold: Candente Copper is a Canadian mining company specializing in metals such as gold, silver, copper, and zinc.
Sean Waller
President and Director of Candente Copper
Sean Waller is a registered Professional Engineer with 30 years of International experience in mining project management, evaluation, design and operation, with a specific focus on large scale copper projects and gold projects. Prior to joining Candente he was with AMEC Americas Limited Mining Division (“AMEC”) in Vancouver where he held the positions of Vice President of Global Business Development and Senior Project Manager. While at AMEC Mr. Waller managed the feasibility study for Nevsun’s Bisha gold/copper mine in Eritrea and the front end engineering for Inmet’s Cobre de Panama project in Panama. Prior to AMEC, Mr. Waller worked with SNC-Lavalin’s Mining Division in management and senior technical roles. Mr. Waller also previously worked for Freeport-McMoran at its Grasberg copper operation in Indonesia. Mr. Waller is a member of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (“CIM”) where he is currently President. Mr. Waller previously served on the CIM National Executive Council as Vice-President of District 6 (British Columbia and Yukon). Mr. Waller has a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and a Masters Degree in Mineral Process Engineering from The Montana School of Mines in Montana.
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About Candente Copper, Candente Gold: Candente Copper is a Canadian mining company specializing in metals such as gold, silver, copper, and zinc.
Jody Bellefleur
Chief Financial Officer, Director of King’s Bay
Jody joined the board as Chief Financial Officer in February 2016. Jody is responsible for all aspects of regulatory financial reporting including the preparation of quarterly and annual financial statements, management discussion and analysis reports, and government tax and regulatory reporting. Bellefleur is a CPA, CGA with over 20 years’ experience as a corporate accountant. Prior to her work with publicly traded companies, she was the Controller of a private manufacturing company. Since 2008, Ms. Bellefleur has exclusively been involved in providing services to both public and private companies in the junior mining sector.
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About King’s Bay: King’s Bay is a Vancouver based company focused on the exploration of cobalt, and other high-tech metals in North America.
Marie Pin
Director of Business Development, Managed Services of Stratiform
I drive growth through relationship building based on integrity and trust. My diverse IT consultative sales background in operations management and business consulting enables me to identify with the clients’ business needs and align them with technology and business process solutions. When I am not furthering my education, I enjoy spending time with my kids and practicing yoga.
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About Stratiform: Stratiform is a provider of cloud IT solutions that includes consulting, professional, and managed services.
Alexey Melekhin
Director, Consulting of ZE PowerGroup
Alexey is the most senior analytical resource on the ZE team, leading a skilled team of analysts in various client-driven consulting activities. With over 30 years of experience in energy and finance, Alexey and his team of experts support client implementations with requirements gathering, training, curve development, report building, and business process automation. His indispensable expertise ensures ZE client needs are well understood and served.
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About ZE PowerGroup: ZE PowerGroup is an experienced software development and strategic consulting firm.
Mike Cholod
Managing Director of Wide Canyon Consulting
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About Wide Canyon Consulting: Wide Canyon Consulting
Mihail Victor Tataru
Founder & Managing Director of Senior Interactive
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About Senior Interactive: Senior Interactive is a true Creative Technology company.
Andrew Hughes
Leadership Council Chair & Board of Directors of Kantara Initiative
Andrew Hughes CISM CISSP has been providing IM/IT consulting for over 20 years with a focus on security, privacy and digital identity operations, strategy and policy. Since 2013 he has worked with international associations and standards bodies as an independent consultant developing standards and related evaluation materials. He is currently Chair of the Leadership Council of the Kantara Initiative, helping to bring together community practices and develop conformity assessment programs for digital identity and personal information systems.
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About IDEMIA, Kantara Initiative: Kantara Initiative establishes new status as Autonomous Corporation. Kantara Initiative has changed its entity type by filing Articles.
Ray Adensamer
Director of Marketing of Network Intelligence
Ray Adensamer oversees product marketing and marketing communication programs at NETINT Technologies. Ray’s previous position was director of marketing at Radisys. During his career, Ray has managed technology marketing programs at two previous startups leading to acquisitions; Abatis acquired by Redback Networks, and Convedia acquired by Radisys. Ray has a B.A.Sc. in Systems Engineering from the University of Waterloo, along with an M.B.A from University of British Columbia.
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About Network Intelligence, Network Intelligence: An enterprise SSD controller solution that meets enterprise users’ requirements
Slawek Smulewicz
CEO & Director of MicroCoal
Mr. Smulewicz has been the acting CEO of MicroCoal® Technologies Inc.. since June 2011. He operated as Vice President of Carbon Friendly Solutions Inc. from 2008 until his appointment as CEO; he is also a director of the Company since 2008. Mr. Smulewicz has served on the Board of several European private companies in consulting, IT and construction industries; especially during the start-up phase or restructuring processes. From 2006 until 2009, he led a successful remedial process, completing the financing of over 50 million PLN for a European private company. In 2001, he founded BDSG Grupa Finansowa Sp. z o. o., where he acted as CEO and Director until 2008. In 1998, he co-founded Internetowy Instytut Infomacji 3i Sp. z o. o. where he acted as CEO and Director until 2001. Mr. Smulewicz was an advisor to Vice Marshal of Presidium of The Sejm of The Republic of Poland (Polish Parliament) in 1998 and received his license as a broker of Warsaw Exchange (WGT S.A.), Poland in 1995. He has a M.Sc. in Agriculture & Business Administration from the Warsaw University of Life Science (SGGW) in Warsaw, Poland.
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About G2 Technologies Corp., MicroCoal: MicroCoal focuses on providing clean-coal upgrading technology that reduces contaminants in coal resulting in upgraded energy content.
Marcie Rolston
Co-founder and Director, Human Resources and Finance of BuiltSpace Technologies
Marcie brings extensive experience in human resources and training from her work at the Hudson’s Bay Company for 22 years where she held a number of senior roles, including, Human Resources Manager and Regional Training Manager for Western Canada. She is an expert in employee relations and training, from her work, that culminated at the Bay with a role where she advised over 50 Bay store managers on human resources practices. At BuiltSpace, Marcie takes care of our employees and our finances, from setting policies to making sure they are paid and assuring development. Marcie holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University.
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About BuiltSpace Technologies: BuiltSpace puts facilities services securely online in the cloud…connecting assets, people & processes across the facilities supply chain.
Akos Zsufa
Director/Partner of ESW IT
Akos Zsufa is the Director/Partner at ESW IT and also the P-Seller (P-SSP) at Microsoft. Prior to ESW IT, He is a former President of ITnorth and Network Administrator at Duke Energy Corporation. Akos received a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science at Simon Fraser University.
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About ESW IT: ESW IT offers IT Business Advisory to help with Managed Print, Microsoft 365, IT Support, and more.
Cory Hildebrandt
Director of Information Technology & Infrastructure of QHR Corporation
Having been with QHR since its inception, Cory brings over 15 years’ experience in leading IT and customer support teams. He is responsible for QHR’s IT & Infrastructure teams supporting the growth needs of the company and the delivery of QHR’s cloud & hosting offerings.
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About QHR Corporation: QHR Corporation (QHR) is a publicly traded Canadian company (TSXV: QHR-V). QHR is proudly based in Kelowna,
Stefanie Giddens
Director of Marketing of QHR Corporation
Stefanie Giddens brings over 12 years of diverse marketing leadership to QHR, having worked with corporate, entrepreneurial and international brands both directly and within agencies. Her formal education includes a Bachelor of Journalism and an Associate of Arts degree, as well as certifications with IFIC and the Justice Institute. Stefanie is acutely adept at guiding marketing processes and results for the companies she has served. She brings true dedication, leadership and passion to the QHR marketing team. Stefanie is responsible for creating, building and leading QHR’s marketing program essential for fuelling the growth of Canada’s number one Healthcare Technology company.
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About QHR Corporation: QHR Corporation (QHR) is a publicly traded Canadian company (TSXV: QHR-V). QHR is proudly based in Kelowna,
Stefanie Giddens
Director of Marketing of QHR Corporation
Stefanie Giddens brings over 12 years of diverse marketing leadership to QHR, having worked with corporate, entrepreneurial and international brands both directly and within agencies. Her formal education includes a Bachelor of Journalism and an Associate of Arts degree, as well as certifications with IFIC and the Justice Institute. Stefanie is acutely adept at guiding marketing processes and results for the companies she has served. She brings true dedication, leadership and passion to the QHR marketing team. Stefanie is responsible for creating, building and leading QHR’s marketing program essential for fuelling the growth of Canada’s number one Healthcare Technology company.
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About QHR Corporation: QHR Corporation (QHR) is a publicly traded Canadian company (TSXV: QHR-V). QHR is proudly based in Kelowna,
Bosky Mukherjee
Director of Product of Function Point
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About Function Point: Function Point alleviates the chaotic nature of operating creative agencies, internal marketing teams and professional service firms.
Ian Walker
Director of Marketing of Function Point
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About Function Point: Function Point alleviates the chaotic nature of operating creative agencies, internal marketing teams and professional service firms.
Jack Su
Director of Software Development of Function Point
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About Function Point: Function Point alleviates the chaotic nature of operating creative agencies, internal marketing teams and professional service firms.
Amber Hayes
MIDAS Project Director of NameKootenay Association for Science & Technology
After 20 years of successful tech startups, tech conference presentations and advanced education delivery, Amber shares her expertise from a diverse perspective. Her experience ranges from founding one of the first experiential travel cloud platforms, state broadband adoption programming, rural remote work presentations and recently, as MIDAS Project Director for Kootenay Association for Science & Technology. The MIDAS project combines an MIT Certified FabLab facility in Trail BC with broader reaching Applied Research projects; the result being a progressive economic development program for the entire Kootenay region. Amber will overview the MIDAS success from launching the FabLab into leveraging regional metallurgical expertise, advanced materials and digital fabrication. The MIDAS path to sustainability via services and training to academic and corporate organizations will also be presented. When not at MIDAS, Amber can be found working from the local ski hill chairlift and enjoying the Kootenay lifestyle.
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About NameKootenay Association for Science & Technology: KAST is a non-profit tech organization that promotes economic growth in the Kootenay region through technology and innovation.
Janet Wood
Director of Partnerpedia
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About : Partnerpedia delivers private label marketplace and enterprise app store solutions.
David Xing
Marketing Director of Tochtech
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About Tochtech: Tochtech is a healthcare technology on a mission to apply innovations for Seniors daily living.
Scott Nehaj
Director Of Network Operations of Optic Zoo Networks
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About Optic Zoo Networks: Optic Zoo owns and operates high-capacity fibers.
Edgar Akuffo-Addo
Business Director of Findoc Health Technologies
Budding healthcare entrepreneur with consulting and private equity background.
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About Findoc Health Technologies: A healthcare scheduling platform that connects patients who are seeking the services of a physician to a physician who is seeking patients.
Michael Rosado
Director of FIN
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About FIN: Financial innovative technologies FINTECH
Michael Rosado
Director of FIN
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About FIN: Financial innovative technologies FINTECH
Ian Chan
Senior Director of Product Management of Fathom Systems
Ian is the Senior Director of Product Management at Fathom Systems Inc. The Fathom platform applies Location Intelligence to Bluetooth devices whether they be Bluetooth beacons (iBeacon or Eddystone) or IoT/Internet of Things devices (Bluetooth enabled sensors, wearables, smartphones, etc.). At our core, we empower the “Location of Things.” Ian is a seasoned product visionary with a diverse background from various roles at Vision Critical in SaaS Customer Intelligence data analytics, PMC-Sierra in Enterprise Storage system solutions, Agilent Technologies in router protocols, Sierra Wireless in wireless and Nortel Networks in GigE & optical networking.
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About Fathom Systems: Fathom bridges the Online World and the Physical World through Location Intelligence.
Andy Knox
Director of Sales and Marketing of Degama System
Andy Knox is Director of Sales and Marketing at Degama Systems.
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About Degama System: Degama Systems is a trucking software that helps in delivering software products and services.
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