BC Business
Sometimes it’s the big idea that infiltrates the tiny reaches of our quotidian life. And sometimes it’s the small idea that has a game-changing impact. In this year’s survey of innovation, we look at 20 organizations both big and small, from a wide variety of fields, who are shaking up their industries, our province, and even our world.
The way we value those who are truly innovative says something profound about our time and culture. We no longer look up to the classic heroes of industry, who simply extended railways or increased mill production. Our role models today are not content to simply expand and improve but rather to create – those whose inspiration comes from what might be, rather than what is.
In celebration of that inspiring and mysterious combination of imagination and action, we present our second annual ranking of B.C.’s top innovators. A panel of 13 experts representing many sectors, including technology, marketing, real estate and health, helped us to come up with our long list of contenders. We found 50 solid candidates and, with the help of our panel, chose 20 for the final list.
We were specifically looking for stories that haven’t been told before, projects that are having a real impact today and ideas with the potential to change our world tomorrow. It’s an eclectic mix that chronicles the restless intellects and relentless energies that typify this province’s top minds. We hope you’ll have as much fun reading it as we did putting it together. [pagebreak]
is a co-founder of Vancouver marketing firm Braun/Allison Inc., which has helped define many brands in the West Coast real estate market. He was the vice-president of marketing for Sotheby’s International Realty Canada and Blueprint Global Marketing, with past positions at MacLaren McCann, the Alligator Group and McKim Advertising. He writes a weekly blog for the BCBusiness website.
is a general partner at Ventures West Management Inc., leading the firm’s cleantech practice. He currently serves as a director of the Vancouver Enterprise Forum, 6N Silicon Inc., Angstrom Power Inc. and SiXtron Advanced Materials. He is also a past winner of Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 under 40 Award.
is senior vice-president with GrowthWorks Capital Ltd. He has more than 20 years of venture-capital experience, which included past positions with both Discovery Enterprises Inc. and Ventures West. He is currently a board member of CellFor Inc., LightHaus Logic Inc. and Mixpo Inc.
is the former CEO of Lifelabs, and before that she headed Vancouver Coastal Health for seven years. She currently works as a consultant and also holds director positions at several companies as well as the Vancouver Foundation, Vancouver Board of Trade and Streettohome.
is the owner and principal of DIG360 Consulting Ltd., a Vancouver-based retail consulting firm. His MBA from the Schulich School of Business includes a focus on sustainability. David is an event speaker and is quoted regularly in business media across Canada.
is head of the technology practice at Capital West Partners, a Vancouver mid-market investment bank. He is a longtime commentator on the B.C. technology landscape and is currently a columnist with BCBusiness magazine. He sits on the boards of the B.C. Technology Industry Association, VIATec and is a former board member of New Media BC.
is co-founder and general partner of Vanedge Capital Partners and former president of Electronic Arts Inc. He currently serves as chair at D-Wave Systems, as a member of the Premier’s Technology Council, and as a director with the Vancouver Board of Trade, the Vancouver International Financial Institutions Steering Committee and New Media B.C.
is the CFO of the B.C. Innovation Council and president of Aegis Mobility. Prior to Aegis, she served as president of TeraSpan Networks Inc. and director of finance and business operations for Wavemakers Inc. She is a CGA and co-founded Scientific Atlanta Canada and Criterion Service Laboratory. She has served on the board of the Focus Foundation since 2005.
is a partner with Chrysalix, a Vancouver venture-capital firm focused on alternative energy. He is chairman of the board of ReliOn, a director of PurFresh, a observer on the board of Epyon BV and an observer of Lilliputian Systems. He is also a partner with BC Social Venture Partners.
is now retired after serving for 20 years as a partner in KPMG’s technology practice in Vancouver. He was a founding member of both the B.C. Technology Industry Association and BC Social Venture Partners, where he is currently chairman. He is currently on the board of three technology companies. He is a chartered accountant.
is the director of SFU’s commercialization and entrepreneurship office. His latest projects include the Western Universities Technology Innovation Fund and Greenangel Energy Corp. He runs the Vancouver Angel Network and is active with New Ventures BC. He was previously the executive director of the B.C. Advanced Systems Institute.
is a certified management consultant and the principal of Knowpreneur Consultants, specializing in marketing, innovation and reinvention. A member of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants, he is content director for the Katerva World Innovation Challenge. He writes a regular column for BCBusiness magazine and a blog for the BCBusiness website.
founded W Media Ventures in 2007, which is focused on investing in new consumer Internet companies. He was the founder of JustBooks, which was later acquired by AbeBooks Inc. He served as the COO of AbeBooks until it was acquired by Amazon.com Inc. in December 2008. He is also a Pacific Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award winner.