Dr. Matthias Drilling studied geography and economics with a focus on spatial planning and community development. For over 20 years, he has been researching the living conditions of extremely vulnerable groups in urban spaces. He contributes his research findings to the advice of numerous international and national organizations, foundations, and political bodies. Additionally, he serves as a reviewer for several scientific funding institutions in Europe. In the fall semester of 2024, he is a visiting professor at the School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape at the University of Calgary. Matthias is full professor  at the University of Applied Sciences in Muttenz/Switzerland.

Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto is a facilitator by trade with university degrees in law and science.  A businesswoman active in community causes for decades, Marianne was first elected to Victoria City Council in 2010, and elected as Mayor in 2022.

Mayor Alto is currently co-chair of the Victoria/Esquimalt Police Board, in addition to many other committees and organizational bodies in Victoria, the capital region, and beyond.

Mayor Alto is matriarch of the City Family (a unique collaboration among the City, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations) having nurtured a long, rich relationship with those Nations. Married and a mom of two boys, Marianne is a lifelong activist who vigorously advocates for equity, inclusion and fairness for everyone.  Much of Mayor Alto’s work this term has centered around reconciliation, sustainable cities, housing, governance, relationship building, and community safety and wellbeing. 

Gladys Atrill, Mayor of Smithers is a lifelong Smithereen.  She was first elected to Council in 2014 and to the role of Mayor in 2020. She is proud and humbled to be Mayor of her hometown.  Commitment to community service and local government drew Gladys to the Boards of Regional District of Bulkley Nechako, Northwest Regional Hospital District, North Central Local Government Association, Northern Development Initiative Trust and BC Transit.  She is committed to good governance and fostering respectful relationships. 

The serious issues of community safety and the social challenges arising from tent encampments are an ongoing challenge and priority in the Town of Smithers.  Gladys is actively involved in community safety initiatives and engages in meetings with experts and stakeholders, to enhance public safety.  Finding solutions for vulnerable people and at the same time ensuring a safe, vibrant community for businesses and residents are parallel goals. 

Beyond her experience in local government, Gladys has worked in and contributed to the tourism and outdoor recreation sectors in Smithers and Northern BC, driven by her deep appreciation for the region's breathtaking landscapes and its entrepreneurial community. In her leisure time, she enjoys engaging in outdoor activities, tending to her extensive gardens, and traveling with her partner. 

Brianna is a local artist and traditional knowledge keeper from the Songhees Nation. With 15 plus years of learning from Elders and teachers in her local territory she has had the honour of creating art to tell stories and sharing local teachings with the wider community of Victoria. Being second generation in her family to not have gone to residential school Brianna brings a transformative lens to learning about local teachings, protocols and history.

Shelly D’Mello is a skilled relationship builder, collaborative coach, and visionary leader with over 25 years of experience spanning private, government, and non-profit sectors. She excels in strategic planning, financial acumen, organizational development, and change management.

With degrees in Economics and an international MBA, Shelly is a member of HRPAO and holds a Certificate in Adult Training and Development from the University of Toronto. Her career has encompassed executive roles in settlement, management consulting, IT, education, and healthcare.

Born in Guyana, South America, Shelly is dedicated to empowering women in leadership. Over the last 13 years, Shelly has immersed herself in the settlement and integration sector in Toronto designing, developing, and delivering programs and services to newcomers, immigrants, and refugees while addressing barriers to integration such as language, credential recognition, access to employment, mental health, and housing.

Shelly is a founding member of Aurora House, aiding survivors of modern slavery, and serves as Treasurer for the Workforce Housing Non-Profit Corporation, dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty through homeownership.

Trent Derrick is a small business owner from Prince George, BC. With over 25 years of leadership in the private, public, and non-profit sectors, Trent believes in the importance of community building to create a better future. Trent was elected as a school trustee in School District #57, where he focused on food security, truth and reconciliation, addressing racism, homophobia, and discrimination, and supporting vulnerable students. As a Gitxsan First Nations leader, from Gitanyow, Trent’s work in the community focusses on capacity building, conscious leadership, and equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Kate Dexter has been a resident of Port Angeles for 12 years. Kate moved to Port Angeles from 2001 to 2003 and moved back again with her family in 2012. Kate grew up in Seattle and has always loved the Northwest. She earned a BA in history and public service at Albion College, Albion, MI, and moved back for graduate school at University of Washington where she earned her Master of Public Administration. When she is not doing council work, Kate is a Program Specialist in the nursing department at Peninsula College. Kate enjoys spending time outside, treasure hunting at Estate Sales and thrift shops, and is always up for a game of pickleball with friends. 

Cheryl moved to Vancouver Island in 2020 and joined the leadership team of Our Place Society, as the Director of the New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community.   Over the past four years the New Roads Program has become a leader in Mental Health and Addictions Treatment, as a long-term recovery centre for men.  New Roads will be opening a long-term treatment program for women at the end of 2024.  Prior to moving to the Island Cheryl committed over 30 years of her career supporting children, youth and families with Child and Family Services in Alberta, with many of those years as an Executive Manager.   Cheryl is passionate about working from a strength-based and collaborative lens and has spent her career leading staff, initiatives, and strategies from an evidence-based perspective.

Michelle brings over 25 years of expertise in strategic communications and public engagement to her role as the Strategic Planning and Communications Advisor for the City of Victoria. Over the past 17 years, she has collaborated extensively across all departments to support City programs, services and initiatives. Michelle is passionate about ensuring that all community voices are heard and believes inclusive engagement is essential for informed Council decisions. Some notable achievements include engaging with local equity-seeking groups to help inform the City’s annual budget, spearheading ​the international award-winning Prepare Victoria recipe for disaster public awareness campaign and providing communications support to the Victoria Reconciliation Dialogues series and the OUR DWTN revitalization program. Additionally, she has played a key role in engaging the community and stakeholder groups for the Government Street Refresh project. Michelle holds the APR Accreditation in Public Relations from the Canadian Public Relations Society and serves as the Board Secretary for the local chapter. She also has a Certificate in Public Participation from the International Association for Public Participation.

Robert is managing director with Jawl Properties Ltd, Victoria, BC’s largest owner, manager and developer of commercial real estate. Recent project activity includes 1515 Douglas Street, the Atrium, Capital Park and the Selkirk Waterfront Community. Prior to Jawl Properties, Robert was an associate with the Blackstone Group involved in the firm’s real estate private equity investment initiatives. Earlier, Robert was an analyst in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs & Co. Robert holds a Bachelors of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania (summa cum laude) and a Masters of Science in Sustainable Urban Development from Oxford University (distinction).

Robert is a current director of the Royal British Columbia Museum and the Greater Victoria Police Foundation, past chairperson of the Urban Development Institute Capital Region and a past director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association. Through work with the Jawl Foundation, Robert is also engaged in a range of philanthropic initiatives with a principal focus on youth, education and community wellbeing. Robert lives in Victoria with his wife and two sons

Melanie Kebler was elected as the City of Bend’s Mayor in 2022, after first being elected to the City Council in 2020. Kebler grew up in Bend, graduating from Bend High, and returned to her home town in 2018.. As Mayor, Kebler has focused on creating a safe and equitable community, fighting climate change, tackling housing affordability and houselessness, improving transportation for all, and promoting economic development. During her time so far on Council, Bend has approved almost 1000 new affordable homes, created its first ever traffic roundabout with physical protection for people who bike, invested millions of one-time state and federal funds into solving homelessness, and won significant federal grants for transportation infrastructure that will reconnect the community in climate-friendly ways.

Kebler has spent her career working for the public, serving for years as a state prosecutor and a crime victims’ rights attorney before being elected to the Council. Kebler attended the University of Michigan, where she received a BA in English and Classic Civilizations, then earned a law degree at Portland’s Lewis and Clark Law School. Kebler lives in Bend with her husband and young daughter and enjoys crafting, hiking, cycling and exploring nature with her family.

Mayor Sean Krausert (he/him) was elected as Mayor of Canmore, Alberta in the beautiful Canadian Rockies in October 2021. Prior to that he was twice elected to Town Council. Sean has a breadth and depth of professional experience that he brings to the mayor’s office, including having previously been a lawyer, a director of overseas relief and development, COO of a resort development, and many adventures as a social justice advocate. His formal education is in the realm of political science, law, and conflict resolution. Canmore has a permanent population approaching 20,000 people and hosts millions of visitors every year from all over the world. Further, according to the Statistics Canada’s use of the gini index, Canmore has the greatest disparity in income in Canada. It is in this context of multi-cultural, diverse identification, and varied socio-economic demographics that Canmore aims to create a safe, inclusive place for all.

Whether by collaborating with other members of Council, with various community groups, and with regional and city committees, Nathan has worked hard to bring forward awareness around intersecting components of affordable, sustainable, healthy, happy, and accessible community design. He has appeared in print, radio, and television, talking about affordable housing and

transportation in our region. He has helped bring world-renowned urban design speakers to the community. As a strong supporter of agricultural and green spaces, he authored a report on the Agricultural Land Reserve entitled “Decade of Exclusions? A Snapshot of the Agricultural Land Reserve from 2000-2009 in the South of Fraser.” He believes we need a diverse transportation system that allows people to take transit, cycle, walk, or drive throughout the entire region. He co-authored a report “Leap Ahead: A transit plan

for Metro Vancouver” to bring awareness to the importance of accessible transit networks. He worked with other members of Council to put forward policies to ensure we protect and renew our seniors' affordable housing. He will continue working to ensure Langley City is a place that working folks can call home. In 2010, he completed the SFU & City of Surrey Transportation Lecture Program and presented on “Complete Streets.” Nathan was first elected to Council in a 2016 by-election and elected Mayor in 2022.

Sandra Severs is a former non-profit leader, working for a decade in the area of homelessness, poverty, mental health and addictions in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and in community mental health in North Vancouver. She has been a resident of downtown Victoria for seven years and currently is the President of the Victoria Downtown Residents Association. Sandra has a masters degree in environmental ethics and is interested in issues of urban livability, especially for those who choose to live in the downtown core.  Participating in the development of the Community Safety and Well-being plan for the city of Victoria has enabled her to gain better insight into the challenges and opportunities of problem-solving at the municipal level.

Mayor Michelle Staples served seven years on Duncan City Council before being elected to her first term as Mayor in 2018, becoming the first woman to serve in that position. She is a mother in transition of adapting to being an empty nester, a lover of hockey and lacrosse, who is engaged deeply in her community, and has spent a large portion of her career as an independent contractor, facilitator who has volunteered with a long list of local organizations and groups. She works as the Executive Director of Social Planning Cowichan and has been involved in community development in the Cowichan Valley for well over 20 years with a significant amount of work dedicated to Reconciliation, Climate Change, Equity and Justice issues. She holds a BA in Applied Communications, Diplomas in Business Administration and Computer Technology, and certifications in Facilitation, Counselling Inclusive Leadership, Mediation, and Diversity Training. She is working on her level 3 Local Government Certification and has plans to resume her studies to complete her Master’s Degree in Integrated Studies. She sits on several boards and committees some as a voting member, others as a non-voting liaison, all diverse, each filled with people working together committed to doing what they can to apply solutions to some of the most unprecedented challenges faced in our lifetime. She truly believes that the only way forward is working together where we can achieve anything if we have the openness to listen, the willingness to try and the courage to lead.

Janine Theobald is an experienced facilitator who joined the Mental Health Recovery Partners South Island team as Executive Director in January of 2023.

Since 2011, she has worked in progressive leadership positions in the homelessness and mental health sectors. As Director of Collaborative engagement at the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness she championed peer-led and delivered programming, and creation of pathways to peer leadership.

She served on the Board of Directors of the Victoria Multifaith Society for 6 years. She currently sits on the Boards of the Restorative Justice Victoria Society and Peers Victoria Resources Society. Her lived experience, and background in Mental Health and Addictions, and Acute and Community Care during her 7 years with Island Health crystallized her belief that a person-centered approach is foundational to healing and enduring change.