Board of Directors and Staff

Staff

Tracey Brown – Director of Philanthropy

250-732-4554 | [email protected]

Chelsea Pope – Communications & Community Engagement Coordinator

250-816-9723 | [email protected]

Board of Directors

Daniel Martinez – Chair

Daniel Martinez was born and raised in Tampico, Mexico, and has a degree in Chemical Engineering. In 2007, Daniel came to Nanaimo to attend Vancouver Island University, where he obtained his Masters in Business Administration. Upon graduation, he joined Integral Wealth Securities – Nanaimo Branch. Integral is a private, independent investment dealer founded in 2003.

Daniel Martinez was born and raised in Tampico, Mexico, and has a degree in Chemical Engineering. In 2007, Daniel came to Nanaimo to attend Vancouver Island University, where he obtained his Masters in Business Administration. Upon graduation, he joined Integral Wealth Securities – Nanaimo Branch. Integral is a private, independent investment dealer founded in 2003.

Daniel is a Partner in the business, licensed in securities, insurance, and options. Daniel is a Certified Financial Planner® professional, a Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®), and a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI®). He focuses on Investments and Wealth Management. Daniel and his business partner have raised over $100Million for local investments.

Daniel loves living in Nanaimo and he donates much of his time in making it an even better place to live. Daniel is part of the Faculty of Management at Vancouver Island University on a part-time basis and has participated with Junior Achievement in Nanaimo. He is a Past-President of the Young Professionals of Nanaimo, and former Treasurer of Innovation Island.  In 2014, he received the prestigious Vancouver Island’s Top 20 Under 40 Business and Community Achievement Award.

Daniel, his wife Tasha, and children Liam and Alexa, opened their own building block donor advised family fund with the Nanaimo Foundation in 2018.

Mike Delves – Vice Chair & Treasurer

Mike is a Partner and Business Advisor with MNP’s Construction & Real Estate Services team on Vancouver Island. Based in Nanaimo, Mike delivers accounting and business advice tailored to the unique needs of civil contractors, trades, construction companies, property investors and developers.

Mike is a Partner and Business Advisor with MNP’s Construction & Real Estate Services team on Vancouver Island. Based in Nanaimo, Mike delivers accounting and business advice tailored to the unique needs of civil contractors, trades, construction companies, property investors and developers.

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience, Mike helps business owners and management teams determine their goals and offers insight into how they can best be achieved. With his advice and assistance, clients can make more strategic decisions that position them to seize opportunities while staying in compliance with regulators.

Committed to his community, he is the past Chair for the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce and actively involved in the Serauxmen Service Club since 2008. He is also the Treasurer of the B.C. Aviation Council as well as the treasurer of the Canadian Home Builders Association Vancouver Island. Mike is the founding member and treasurer of the MidIsland Business Initiative Society.

Candice Wiekenkamp – Treasurer

Candice is a finance expert with a dynamic 20-year career spanning international borders. As a CPA, a CFA® Charterholder, and an Advanced Financial Modeler, she excels in steering businesses towards their objectives with her adept financial management skills. Since her return to Canada, Candice has honed her expertise in guiding the strategic financial direction of small to medium-sized businesses, and currently serves as the CFO at Hyperspectral Intelligence Inc. Beyond her professional realm, Candice is deeply committed to enriching her community through various initiatives. Residing in Nanaimo with her family, she relishes the diverse outdoor experiences the Island provides, from skiing to hiking, boating, and fishing adventures.

Anu Mayer – Development Director

Anu Mayer was born in India and was raised in the United Arab Emirates. She moved to Nanaimo in 1994 after getting married. Anu is dedicated to her family and proud of the strong foundation she has built with her husband Richard Mayer. Anu and Rick have three beautiful children, who were born and raised in Nanaimo.

Anu has gone from a full-time mum to establishing and managing a thriving event planning company.
As the owner and operator of Bastion Management Ltd for the last 15 years, Anu has planned and organized successful events across Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.

As a strong believer in volunteering, Anu has volunteered on several boards, including the Nanaimo Women’s Resources Centre and the Young Professionals of Nanaimo. She is the current Chair of Women in Construction Nanaimo and volunteers with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Vancouver Island. Since 2015, Anu has volunteered with one of biggest events in Nanaimo, the Bathtub Race and Nanaimo Marine Festival.

Anu is also one of two founders of the Nanaimo Sisterhood Fund at Nanaimo Foundation. When she is not volunteering, Anu loves to travel and spending time with her family and friends.

Courtenay Ndiaye – Public Relations Director

Courtenay is a Senior Commercial Manager that specialized in Long-term Financing and Advisory Services and has been in the financial industry for over 15 years. Courtenay thrives on helping our local businesses grow and succeed in every stage of a business cycle.

A third-generation Nanaimo-ite, born and raised in our lovely city, she and her husband raise their two young boys and they are all heavily involved in the sports community. The family loves exploring Vancouver Island as well as vacationing in other countries. Courtenay is excited to be a part of the Nanaimo Foundation to scale up the growth of the foundation and give back to our wonderful community.

Chelsea Wilson – Director

A lawyer with RLR Law, Chelsea practises in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, estate litigation and civil litigation. She is experienced in a wide array of estates and trust matters.

Chelsea possesses a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with honours, from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Laws degree, with distinction, from the University of British Columbia. Chelsea was called to the British Columbia bar in 2005. She commenced her legal career in the litigation department of a large Vancouver law firm. A few years later, she moved to a well-known boutique firm in Vancouver which focuses exclusively on the areas of estates, wills, trusts and tax.

Chelsea’s family is originally from Vancouver Island. She is excited to now work and raise her family on the Island, where her husband has an established business. Chelsea is an avid equestrian and enjoys spending time with her horses.

Dave Witty – Grants Director

Prior to his retirement as Provost and Vice-President (Academic), Vancouver Island University (2010-2018), Dave was Dean, Faculty of Architecture, University of Manitoba (2001-2009) and, prior to that, a Director and Partner in Urban Systems Ltd. Before moving to BC in 1991, he was Senior Partner in Hilderman Witty and Associates, an award winning planning and landscape architecture practice based in Winnipeg and Saskatoon.

Dave was a Founding Director, Smart Growth BC, former President of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and founding Chair of the Canadian Healthy Communities Project. He was elected Fellow of CIP in 1998. Between 2002 and 2014, he sat on the National Capital Commission’s Advisory Committee on Planning, Design and Real Estate. He is the recipient of the Manitoba Southeast Tribal Council Recognition of Service to First Nations (2009). In 2016, he received CIP’s President’s Award “in recognition of an outstanding lifetime contribution to professional planning in Canada.” In 2019, he was awarded a Life Member of the Planning Institute of British Columbia. He is a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and an Honorary Member of the Council on Canadian Urbanism.

He is Senior Fellow Urban Design, Vancouver Island University.

Tom Harris – Honorary Director

Owner and President of Tom Harris Auto Group and Tom Harris Cellular, this Vancouver Island businessman has built his reputation on solid business practices and an equally solid commitment to community.

Tom started in the car business as a salesman in 1969 and opened his first dealership in 1983. The Harris Auto group now consists of six dealerships on Vancouver Island in Victoria, Nanaimo, Parksville, and Campbell River. Tom Harris Cellular started in 1987 in Nanaimo and has grown into the largest TELUS dealer in Canada, made up of 50 stores across BC and Alberta. Tom served on the Board of BC Ferries for almost ten years. He has also served on the boards of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association and the B.C. New Car Dealers Association. A highly-recognized community leader, Tom has chaired United Way of Nanaimo, the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation, Nanaimo Community Foundation, and St. John’s Ambulance.

Thank you Tom Harris for your enduring dedication to our community. Your generosity, volunteerism, and community spirit has forever enriched Nanaimo.

Thank you, as well, for serving more than 16 years on the Nanaimo Foundation Board of Directors. It has been an honour and a privilege to know you, work alongside you, and benefit from your guidance.

We feel a deep sense of loss for our community, and personal sadness in the passing of a dear friend.

You have left an indelible impact on us.  We’ll do you proud, Tom.

Information on making a gift to The Tom Harris Community Endowment Fund can be found here.