| President | 1 | President | David | Flaks | President | <div class="ExternalClass6A99C770380F44D0A1AAD94233D037A2"><p>David Flaks has devoted the last decade of his professional career to economic development and, more specifically, to helping build an economy that serves and strengthens all communities, and that works for and uplifts all residents.</p><p>Most recently, David served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), Southern California’s premier economic development leadership organization. In this role, he leveraged and brought together the capabilities of the LAEDC’s mission-delivery department areas into a single powerful and collaborative force, integrating expert economic research and applied analysis teams with a highly effective “idea to export” capacity building program, along with the public policy, advocacy and message delivery systems.</p><p>Prior to that, David held the position of LAEDC Senior Vice President (SVP) of Strategic Initiatives where he implemented the first-ever, consensus Strategic Plan for Economic Development in L.A. County, and helped shape legislation and policies on key economic development issues.</p><p>Prior to the LAEDC, David served as Communications Director for the Democratic nominee in a US Congressional race, and previous to that, served as President of David Flaks Capital, a DC-based financial advisory services firm, which helped arrange for the placement of more than $102M in equity and debt securities for medical technology companies.<br></p><p>David received a B.S. in Philosophy with Distinction from the University of Wisconsin, his J.D. from American University, Cum Laude, and graduated as Valedictorian from the George Washington University with a M.A. in Political Management.<br></p>
<br></div> | https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/DaveFlaks.jpg, https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/DaveFlaks.jpg |
| Executive Vice President | 2 | Executive Vice President | Jacquie | Griffiths | Executive Vice President | <div class="ExternalClass62E3D7968A99400691C6D0BDCB17A602"><p>Since 2014, Jacquie has been the Director of Regional Employers Services with Metro Vancouver. In this role, she led a team providing human resources and workforce strategy support to local governments in the Metro Vancouver region.</p><p>She has worked in the mining, banking, education and municipal sectors and progressed through a series of roles including that of Chief Negotiator for the BC Public School Employers’ Association. In addition, Jacquie served three terms as a Referee for the Employment Insurance Commission of Canada and has been recognized as one of Business in Vancouver’s “40 Under Forty”.</p><p>Jacquie holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia as well as a Master of Arts from Royal Roads University. As a volunteer, Jacquie has served on a number of not-for-profit boards and is currently a director and chairs the finance committee for the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) BC and Yukon.<br></p><p><br></p></div> | https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/JacquieGriffiths.jpg, https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/JacquieGriffiths.jpg |
| Vice President, Strategic Investments | 3 | Vice President, Strategic Investments | Chris | Heine | Vice President, Strategic Investments | <div class="ExternalClassFB50E360AEAE429CA0F150AAC351F746"><p>Chris Heine has served in trade promotion and investment attraction roles for almost 10 years, helping overseas companies recognize B.C. as a preferred place to do business and supporting B.C. companies to access export opportunities in new markets. In his investor services capacity with the Province of B.C., Heine worked to attract job-creating foreign direct investment to all corners of B.C., supporting international clients in making positive and informed business decisions for the benefit of our industries and our communities. Most recently, Heine was seconded to the position of regional trade commissioner with the federal government, supporting B.C. advanced manufacturing clients and promoting intergovernmental collaboration.<br></p></div> | https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/ChrisHeine.jpg, https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/ChrisHeine.jpg |
| Vice President, Regional Collaboration | 4 | Vice President, Regional Collaboration | Katie | Fitzmaurice | Vice President, Regional Collaboration | <div class="ExternalClass8F27747D01A54447A5DAFCC0171E75A0"><p>Responsible for identifying and developing key partnership opportunities and collaborative efforts, Katie Fitzmaurice is committed to advancing equitable and sustainable prosperity throughout the Metro Vancouver region.</p><p>Most recently, Katie was a Senior Regional Human Resources Advisor for Regional Employers Services with Metro Vancouver. In this role, she developed and implemented a comprehensive approach to identifying and addressing workforce labour supply challenges to local government employers within the Metro Vancouver region.</p><p>Prior to joining Metro Vancouver, she has worked for the Business Council of British Columba, the BC Public School Employers’ Association, and BC Hydro. Katie holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia. Her proudest volunteer role to date involves leading a bike ride 4,500 kilometers from Amsterdam to Istanbul to fundraise money for a socially innovative project.<br></p><p><br></p></div> | https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/KatieFitzmaurice.jpeg, https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/KatieFitzmaurice.jpeg |
| Vice President, Data, Research, & Policy | 10 | Vice President, Data, Research, & Policy | Lejla | Uzicanin | Vice President, Data, Research, & Policy | <div class="ExternalClassB6A7F9DAC1264A4FA49D179AA975BFDB"><p>Leading the Data, Research, & Policy team, Lejla is responsible for providing independent, objective economic research, data analytics, and policy analysis to assist decision makers on how better to contend with the challenges and exploit the opportunities presented in rapidly evolving global economy.</p><p>Lejla comes to Invest Vancouver from an international development career in eastern Europe and areas of the former Soviet Union that focused on policy, regulatory, economic and private sector development. Prior to working as a faculty member at City University of Seattle, Lejla led projects for the United Nations as an energy policy advisor, for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a project manager, and for the BC Utilities Commission as a senior economist.</p><p>Lejla holds a Bachelor of Science in Administration and Management from La Roche University, a Masters of Business Administration from Cass Business School London, and a Masters in Resource and Environmental Management from Simon Fraser University.<br></p></div> | https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/LejlaUzicanin.jpg, https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/LejlaUzicanin.jpg |
| Senior Economist | 8 | Senior Economist | Gregory | Freeman | Senior Economist | | https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/MalePlacerholder.JPG, Placeholder |
| Senior Advisor | 5 | Senior Advisor | Megan | Gerryts | Senior Advisor | <div class="ExternalClass3E10973FBD1B4438BCED909A3AE69DA5"><p>Since 2016, Megan has held positions of progressive responsibility in Metro Vancouver’s CAO’s Office. In her previous role, she was responsible for leading policy development initiatives and managing corporate-wide programs with a focus on enhancing the sustainability and resilience of the organization.</p><p>Megan has a Bachelor of Arts, as well as a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria. She brings a passion for local government and seeks to collaboratively develop solutions for tackling the issues facing the Metro Vancouver region. She has held positions at the federal, provincial and local levels of government.<br></p><p><br></p></div> | https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/MeganGerryts.jpg, https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/MeganGerryts.jpg |
| Project Coordinator | 6 | Project Coordinator | Peyton | Winslade | Project Coordinator | | https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/PeytonWinslade.jpg, https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/PeytonWinslade.jpg |
| Office Assistant | 11 | Office Assistant | Tara | Bridge | Office Assistant | | https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/FemalePlaceholder.JPG, https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/FemalePlaceholder.JPG |
| Office Coordinator | 7 | Office Coordinator | Silvana | Mah | Office Coordinator | | https://investvancouver.ca/about/our-team/PublishingImages/FemalePlaceholder.JPG, Placeholder |
