Jikke (yika) has worked in the tourism and hospitality sector for over 35 years with a degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management from Toronto Metropolitan University.  From front-line positions to Executive, rural and urban locations, private sector non-profit  and government positions, Jikke has a level and diversity of tourism expertise and experience unique to the industry.  She has been the Executive Officer for Tourism Fernie since 2010, and raising two boys with her husband.

Nancy Small has been the CEO of Tourism Richmond since 2018. She specializes in strategic planning, destination management, stakeholder development, and marketing strategy.

Nancy is also a member of the executive team of the Canadian Destinations Leadership Council (CDLC), a director on the board of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, a director on the board of go2HR, a member of the fundraising group for the Richmond Cares Richmond Gives Foundation “Not So Silent Night” event, a part of the External Review Panel for BCIT’s marketing program, and a former chair of the KPU President’s Advisory Council for its Richmond Campus.

She also has been a board member of several organizations including the BC American Marketing Association and the Burnaby Board of Trade.

Passionate about all things Richmond, Nancy loves its diversity of food, the biking trails, the culture, and the shopping.

Kelley has held the position of CEO for Destination Osoyoos since 2016. She also holds positions with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) Board and sits on their Finance and Governance committees.

Kelley obtained her master’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management at Royal Roads 2016 and has achieved certification in Hotel Analytics (CHA) thru AHLA in 2020.

Previous positions held in the tourism industry over the last 35years include; Director of Sales and Marketing for Holiday Inns, Ramada Hotels and Delta Hotels. VP of Marketing for Blackball Ferry Line and Executive Director Northern Saskatchewan Regional Tourism Association.

She is honored to have held many volunteer and paid board positions such as Tourism BC, BC Ferries, Northern Economic Development, Northern BC Tourism Assoc., Tourism Victoria, Tourism Vancouver Island and Osoyoos Airport Development Steering Committee to name a few.

Allison Colthorp is the Executive Director of Tourism Ch’illiwack, leading her team in the implementation of destination management and reconciliation plans.   This includes operating Chilliwack Heritage Park, the Visitor Centre, the Chilliwack Merch Shop, and the Flag Shop.  She has over 25 years of experience working within the tourism industry with a strong focus on forming partnerships with all levels of government and stakeholders to ensure initiatives are inclusive.

Allison sits on the Board for Stó:lō Community Futures, an organization that provides support to Indigenous businesses and fosters entrepreneurial growth.

In her spare time, you can regularly find her in her backyard BBQing! She also has a deep passion for animals, and to date, she has rescued 2 seagulls, 16 ducks, 5 dogs, 2 raccoons, 1 deer, 2 quails, and numerous ants.

Bringing over 15 years of leadership in global tourism and destination management, Gerardo has extensive experience chairing and collaborating on numerous tourism boards.

Gerardo’s goals for the BCDMOA include refining our advocacy roles, fostering a mentorship culture to tackle industry challenges together, and initiating marketing exchanges between destinations to enhance mutual visibility. Additionally, he is keen to develop multi-destination experiences to diversify our tourist offerings.  He looks forward to applying his expertise to propel growth and innovation within British Columbia’s tourism sector.

Over the past 30-plus years, Ian has been involved in the Tourism and Hospitality industry in a variety of roles, working directly with numerous communities, stakeholders, charities, and the Armed Forces to impact and support key projects throughout North America and Europe.

Over his career, he has been incredibly fortunate to have worked with some amazing people who have shared their knowledge and allowed him to learn how to both lead and support. Ian brings to the BCDMOA board experience from Oliver as well as many years of industry service and understands the importance of tourism to the economy and its impacts on our communities.

As the Executive Director at Tourism Nanaimo, Carly is at the helm of shaping and executing the tourism strategy for the city, leveraging her background in market communication and operations management. In her current role, she spearheads initiatives that enhance visitor experiences and promote the city’s unique attractions. Prior to her current position, Carly held the role of Executive Director at Destination Campbell River.

Carly holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in General Management and actively participates in various steering committees and initiatives, including economic development, tourism advisory, and brand alignment projects.

Chris Peters is the Executive Director at Tourism Burnaby, where he leads a team responsible for facilitating activity in direct sales and marketing efforts and community partnerships. He has more than 20 years of tourism sales and marketing expertise including positions with; hotels, timeshares, online media, and destination marketing organizations.

In addition to his current role on the board of the BCDMOA, Chris also serves as a Director for Meeting Planners International (MPI) where he strives to align the work of destinations and the meeting industry across the province.

When not pursuing his passion for showcasing western Canada to a global audience, Chris enjoys creating unPinterest-worthy woodwork projects and slowly euthanizing the plants in his garden.