Board of Director Candidates
2024 Candidate Profiles
As a member-based organization, HUB Cycling is accountable to its members and is governed by a Board of Directors elected by the membership.
Through the course of 2024, the HUB Cycling Board of Directors has received applications for Directors from across Metro Vancouver. All candidates are HUB members in good standing and have been approved by the HUB board to run as Directors. This year the Board of Directors voted to recommend a select number of candidates who best meet the identified gaps in HUB's leadership (more details on the recommended candidate selection process below).
Candidates who are incumbents and those who are recommended by the Board of Directors are indicated.
The total number of openings for HUB Board Directors this year is five, one for President and four for Directors at large. The position of President was uncontested and won by acclamation.
For 2024, HUB members are being presented with one question in the ballot:
Members are asked to vote for up to four candidates for Directors at large.
Electronic Ballots will be sent to all members who have registered beginning September 2nd and voting will run online to 10:00 AM September 20, 2024. Results will be announced during the Annual General Meeting, September 21st.
Register here to request your ballot.
2024 Board of Director Candidates
Jeff Leigh
Presidential Candidate (Incumbent) - Board Recommended Candidate
Now retired, Jeff lives downtown and cycles every day, while also enjoying longer vacation cycling trips.
Jeff believes that cycling is a key part of our transportation mix, and that it can best be encouraged by the creation of infrastructure that allows people cycling to both be safe and to feel safe, and by celebrating our successes as we work to steadily increase cycling mode share.
Skills: Cycling Advocacy; Volunteer, Member, and Stakeholder Engagement; Business and Operations Management; Strategy Development; Leadership; Organizational Development; Turning Strategy into Action; A passion for action and getting things done.
Philipe
Alvarenga
Director Candidate - Board Recommended Candidate
I love biking for fun, commuting, and exercise. Although I've enjoyed riding bikes since I was a kid in Brazil, it wasn't until about 5 years ago, when I moved to São Paulo—a very car-centric city—that I truly embraced cycling as a fun and breezy commute, to help overcome the stress and long hours spent in traffic. This realization inspired me to use my background in management consultancy, entrepreneurship, economics, and communication towards improving urban mobility.
For over five years, I’ve been dedicated to the urban transportation industry. In 2021, I joined Tembici, the largest bike-sharing company in South America, using my experience to enhance and align operational processes across their 14 bike-sharing systems.
Since moving to Vancouver, I have been working at Vancouver Bike Share (DBA Mobi by Rogers) as Shop and Projects Manager, where I have been involved in their RFP bid to provide a shared e-scooter program to the City of Vancouver and led initiatives to improve operational efficiency. Now, a year after arriving, I feel it’s time to start giving back to this amazing place that I fortunately call home. I'm eager to contribute my skills and passion to HUB as a member of the Board.
Jason Belsey
Director Candidate
I was raised in the ‘burbs and have lived in Vancouver proper for over 25 years. I’m a passionate recreational road cyclist and cycle commuter, and a single parent of two teenage mountain bike enthusiasts.
I completed an MBA in Innovation at Toronto Metropolitan University and am also a Chartered Professional Accountant. I’m a former business owner with over 20 years of general ops management experience and currently work as a Financial Controller in the local tech sector. I’m adept at developing budgets, forecasts, and strategic plans, along with understanding all of the operational nuance involved in managing a complex organization. I believe my experience in the tech startup sector in particular – where change is omnipresent, cash is scarce, and fiduciary decisions must therefore be thoughtful, timely and strategic – will translate well to the HUB board.
As someone who previously cycle commuted regularly between Vancouver and Coquitlam, I’m passionate about advocating for the continuing development of a safe, contiguous region-wide arterial cycling network that will serve the needs of all users and all abilities.
Simon Caulfield Sriklad
Director Candidate - Board Recommended Candidate
"First life, then spaces, then buildings. The other way around never works." Jan Gehl’s words truly resonate with me because I believe cities should always be designed with people at the heart of every decision. When we focus on how people live, move, and connect, everything else just falls into place!
Simon here, an urban designer with Irish and Thai roots, and a big transit and cycling enthusiast! My work both locally and internationally has given me a strong foundation in understanding policy, communication, and design.
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me biking around, exploring the city and nature. I’ve seen great progress in our cycling infrastructure, but there’s still more to be done. That’s why I’m here—to help tackle these challenges and make a real difference.
As a person of colour and a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, I’m committed to creating streets and spaces that are inclusive, accessible, sustainable and welcoming for everyone. My lived experiences give me a unique perspective, and I’m excited to bring that insight to the HUB Board of Directors.
Victoria
Gray
Director Candidate (Incumbent) - Board Recommended Candidate
I’m an avid cyclist with over thirty years of marketing, research and strategic planning experience for a wide variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations. I’ve been on HUB’s Board of Directors for two years now and it’s been a whirlwind. In that time, I’ve co-chaired/chaired two committees, helped replace our Executive Director, participated in our Strategic Plan Working Group and held the role of Vice President for a year, while also providing my marketing expertise to the organization. And yet, there are many more opportunities I want to see through.
I believe cycling can make a huge difference in people’s lives and should be accessible to everyone, especially those underrepresented in our communities. I want to continue using my skills, experience and commitment to promote the benefits of cycling for health and climate change, remove the barriers to bike ownership, and increase the use of bikes through safer infrastructure for all. To make that happen, I’m asking for your vote. Thank you
Amir
Hassanpour
Director Candidate - Board Recommended Candidate
Amir Hassanpour is a Ph.D. candidate in Transportation Engineering at UBC, working as a researcher and analyst at Research on Active Transportation Laboratory. His research focuses on cycling and the emerging personal transportation technologies, such as e-bikes and e-scooters. Amir has collaborated on projects with several municipalities, TransLink, and the Province, most recently evaluating the GHG impacts of BC’s e-bike incentive program, and the implications of emerging micromobility devices for the region. He also serves as a sessional lecturer at UBC, teaching transportation engineering fundamentals to 4th-year civil engineering students, and is a scholar at UBC’s Climate Solutions Research Collective, where he investigates the role of micromobility devices in climate mitigation.
Amir is motivated to join HUB Cycling’s board to leverage his expertise in sustainable transportation and his passion for cycling to help shape a more inclusive and climate-resilient transportation system in the region. In his spare time, he loves spending time with his cat, riding his folding bike, and solving chess puzzles.
Miranda Thomas-Merkley
Director Candidate
Growing up in Abbotsford and biking throughout my teenage years I continued to bike throughout university as a means of transportation.
I went to Vancouver Island University for Recreation and Sports Management and now work in municipal recreation as the Recreation Programmer for the District of Kent.
I am passionate about bringing more biking awareness, events and creating a community for the Fraser Valley and East side of the Tri Cities area.
Chad
McDowell
Director Candidate
I am an Air Quality & Greenhouse Gas Specialist for WSP and gained an MSc from King's College London in Climate Change Science & Policy, where I developed a technical understanding of environmental issues at both the global and local level. Having previously worked in the public sector, I have led impactful projects focused on local activism, climate mitigation, and community engagement.
My experience with local organizations includes developing relations with local groups as a Local Council Officer in the UK, coordinating grassroots campaigns for Friends of the Earth, serving as a Board Director for The Met Theatre, and contributing as a member of ATTA, an environmental organization based in Vancouver. This blend of professional and grassroots experience has provided me with a unique viewpoint on environmental challenges and solutions.
Motivated by a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and community empowerment, I seek to serve on the Board to drive impactful active travel initiatives across Metro Vancouver and help people and the planet to become healthier and happier. My goal is to integrate innovative, eco-friendly practices and inspire collective action towards a more sustainable future.
Leanna
Leib-Milburn
Director Candidate - Board Recommended Candidate
Leanna believes that any day is a good day when a bike ride is involved – especially with friends! She is a certified Cycling BC Ride Leader and currently volunteers as an Associate Ride Leader for the Meraloma Bike Club. She brings a deep knowledge of the Metro Vancouver cycling network and a commitment to enhancing network safety for cyclists across the region. She is also passionate about the community-building power of cycling and believes in breaking down barriers to ensure the accessibility of cycling to everyone.
When she’s not riding a bike, Leanna is a professional urban planner (RPP/MCIP) who has spent the bulk of her career leading community and land use planning initiatives in Indigenous communities across BC. She brings a wealth of experience designing and facilitating community-led policy development initiatives, and empowering marginalized voices to shape the future of their communities. She looks forward to the prospect of contributing her skills in urban planning, policy development/advocacy, community engagement, and organizational governance to HUB’s initiatives.
Leanna is currently the Director of Planning for Sacred Waters Developments, an economic development company jointly owned by Katzie, Kwantlen and Semiahmoo First Nation.
Abhiudai
Mishra
Director Candidate - Board Recommended Candidate
I am a dedicated finance and strategic planning professional with a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing and a concentration in Sustainability and Social Impact. As the VP Finance at AlmaMatter Society of UBC, I managed a $30 million budget, led negotiations yielding significant financial savings, and raised over $870,000 in sponsorships and partnerships. My professional journey includes extensive experience in nonprofit governance, community engagement, and program development.
As a temporary resident with a work permit in Canada, I bring a unique perspective to the Board, having firsthand experience navigating the challenges faced by immigrants and temporary residents. My first language is Hindi, allowing me to connect with and understand the needs of non-English speaking community members. I am passionate about advocating for low-income residents and those living in precarious housing conditions, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in community programs.
My motivation for becoming a director at HUB Cycling stems from my commitment to promoting sustainable transportation and my belief in the organization's mission to make cycling accessible and safe for everyone. I am eager to contribute my financial expertise, strategic mindset, and dedication to equity, diversity, and inclusion to help HUB Cycling thrive and expand its impact.
Kevin
Yu
Director Candidate - Board Recommended Candidate
Kevin Yu is passionate about creating positive change in his community and wants to draw from his professional and personal experiences to support HUB Cycling achieve its goals. Through a leadership position at Girls to the Power of Math, he built relationships with schools, families and volunteers, expanded the Women mentorship program to Nine, formalized internal processes, and broadened program workers to 27-people.
Kevin is also already engaged in HUB’s bike-friendly buildings social enterprise where he uses his skills to broaden HUB’s infrastructure projects and find new prospects. As a part of his volunteer consulting work, he also has projects analyzing finance and pricing models for bike shops and evaluating the impact of charities.
If elected, Kevin will leverage his skills to push operational and governance projects further and expand the communities represented on HUB’s Board. As a student, immigrant to Canada, and former bike mechanic at the Bike Kitchen, he has lived and seen the challenges new riders face with unreliable bikes and discomfort riding on roads and is eager to help HUB address these issues. Starting cycling with a map from HUB, he recognizes the value of the organization and hopes to continue its positive impact.impact. I am dedicated to promoting cycling as a preferred mode of transportation and contributing to HUB Cycling's mission.
RECOMMENDED CANDIDATES
This year, the HUB Cycling Board of Directors, guided by the Board Development Committee (BDC), created a Board Composition Matrix to identify gaps in their current leadership. Using this matrix, the Board targeted their recruitment efforts to fill these gaps, particularly focusing on candidates from across Metro Vancouver, with an emphasis on areas outside Vancouver.
For 2024, the Board sought applicants who represent marginalized voices, racialized communities, First Nations, new immigrants, non-English first language speakers, single parents, temporary or permanent residents, individuals living in precarious housing conditions, low-income residents, and persons with visible or non-visible disabilities. The Board also deemied it crucial to retain the HUB knowledge and experience of incumbent candidates, given that all continuing Board members only served one year on the Board.
The BDC reviewed all applicants against these criteria and recommended the candidates who best met the identified needs. Although seven candidates are recommended, HUB members will ultimately vote for those they believe will best meet the organization's needs.
If you have any questions please contact bdc@bikehub.ca.
Past Board of Director Candidates
2023 Board of Director Candidates
Alexandra
Flynn
Update: ELECTED Sep 2023
Alexandra Flynn is a law professor at UBC and a mom of two teenagers.
Alexandra's work focuses on municipal law and governance, including Indigenous-municipal legal relationships. She is an avid cyclist for transportation, sport, and pleasure, including taking a 6-month cycling trip in Europe and Southeast Asia with her family.
Alexandra has a long history of volunteer and board experience and hopes to contribute to making cycling safe and possible for all.
Anne Murray
Update: ELECTED Sep 2023
I’m excited at the prospect of bringing my 30 years of strategic leadership to HUB's Board. I love to bike for fun, commuting, and travel, and want to ensure these opportunities are available and comfortable for all. As a seasoned executive and board director, I’m passionate about driving success through sustainability. My Vice President responsibilities at Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR) spanned diverse areas including marketing, community, environment, government advocacy, and first nation relations over 20 years. While at YVR, I built respectful, deep, and personal relations with Musqueam leading to a historic 30-year Sustainability and Friendship Agreement. I have served as board director on YVR Art Foundation (an indigenous-focused not-for-profit), Georgia Strait Alliance, and Richmond Hospital Foundation and recently attained my Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D designation, Canada’s highest board governance credential. Since retiring from YVR in 2020, I volunteer as a business advisor to indigenous organizations and provide strategic consulting services in tourism, aviation, and sustainability. I’ve been an active HUB member for decades and recently mentored a refugee family and a new immigrant through HUB’s newcomer program. I would be honored to bring my optimistic, ethical leadership; sound judgment; and personal commitment to the HUB Board.
Brendan Bachewich
Hi, I would love to be one of your next board members! I am 34, born and raised in Edmonton Alberta, but since moving to Vancouver there is no way I could ever leave the city and the cycling culture I have immersed myself in here.
I originally moved to continue my legal career and landed at RBS, a vocal and longstanding supporter of HUB Cycling. They introduced me to HUB but since experiencing cycling in this city I am looking for a way to help make it a safer and more fun city to cycle around. I bring experience with negotiations, contracts, advocacy, and many other skills that lawyers possess, but more than that, my passion and ability to get out, engage with people, and speak confidently about the issues is what I believe will make me a great board member.
I really hope you agree and hope I can count on your vote in the upcoming AGM. Thank you!
Caitlin Hyldelund
Update: ELECTED Sep 2023
Hello! A few words about me - I am a Canadian-Danish citizen who has spent the last 30 years living in Denmark and Russia, where I worked and raised my children – and taught them how to cycle responsibly in and around our cities.
As a Dane, I see cycling - whether city cycling, sport cycling, or as an alternative to car ownership - all of these I perceive as normal, organic, and sustainable. I have yet to see this framework in Vancouver and believe that there is work yet to be done to create safe and logical bike pathways, to cultivate mutual respect inside the road framework for bikes, cars, and bus transportation - including the responsibility of cyclists to be co-participants in traffic.
The "bike wheel" of safe and integrated cycle transportation is already invented and can also work here.
The HUB Board is particularly looking for applicants with leadership insights. I have worked in leadership roles for the past decade, where I have led supply chain projects and business development initiatives, including tough international scenarios with limited funding and complex frameworks. I am collaborative and goal-oriented and believe that my Danish experience can help HUB achieve its goals. Thank you!
Craig Mckee
Lifetime resident of Burnaby. Always thought that cycling is a good option for local errands. A good cycling network is vital to keep people active. Been cycling for many years.
Esther Holubowich
Update: ELECTED Sep 2023
I have been a biking enthusiast for 35 years. While living in Kelowna, I would commute on my Walmart bike to and from my accounting job, during winter and summer. In winter, I would get home some days and say, whew, I made it. There was no safe cycling infrastructure, just painted lines. But even with that, I was grateful that my employers supplied a safe bike lockup area, showers, and lockers. It was rare (and still is). When teaching my two daughters to ride, I was nervous. I had seen a lot. It was about constant vigilance, not freedom and fun, which it should be.
I bring to this board years of accounting and bookkeeping experience, experience on two boards, strong communication skills, and a desire to work with an organization that I support and appreciate. Advocating for safe mobility routes for all is important and necessary.
Luke Gillies
Update: ELECTED Sep 2023
Riding doesn’t have to require special clothing or the best bike, but for most people (including me), it requires safety and convenience. I believe that cycling should be accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, providing a transportation option that is cheap, fun, and safe for everyone. I’m Luke Gillies and I believe in creating accessible and inclusive active transportation.
I’m a professional municipal civil engineer with over a decade of managerial experience both here and abroad. I have four years of community board experience and volunteer as an adaptive ski instructor, helping people with disabilities access winter sports on Vancouver’s North Shore Mountains. Professionally, I’ve delivered a wide range of municipal projects, many with bikes in mind, and have overseen the maintenance and operations of bicycle infrastructure. I’ve advocated for the benefits of bike infrastructure projects and maintenance to a wide range of stakeholders, including City Councilors. For my Masters of Engineering Management thesis, I researched the user experience of cycling infrastructure on the North Shore.
I understand what it takes to design, fund, build, and use good bike infrastructure. Vote for me to give everyone the chance to ride safely.
Mairin Shields Brown
Update: ELECTED Sep 2023
Mairin is a passionate changemaker and avid road cyclist based in Vancouver. From her upbringing on northern Vancouver Island to her studies in Resource Management at Simon Fraser University, she carries with her a deep sense of respect for our home planet and all that is necessary for us to steward a regenerative, just, and equitable economy. Mairin is an Impact Strategy Consultant at Decade Impact, a boutique, women-owned impact consulting firm in Vancouver. She finds joy and excitement in her work helping purpose-driven organizations define, measure, manage, and communicate their social and environmental impact on the world. With several years of experience in the sustainability consulting space, Mairin is skilled in policy development and advocacy, as well as team management, leadership, and facilitation. As a daily bike commuter and keen cyclist for the last 6 years, Mairin’s familiarity and lived experience with Metro Vancouver’s cycling infrastructure have inspired her to join HUB as a Board Director.
She believes that cycling plays an invaluable role in fostering thriving and accessible communities. Mairin hopes to help advance HUB’s policy advocacy work in service of removing barriers to cycling and support HUB’s collaboration with government bodies and other values-aligned organizations.
Nicolay Slater
As an avid cyclist and proponent of all types of active transportation and as a senior with prior non-profit board experience, I felt it my responsibility to put my name forward for a position on HUB's Executive Committee. The significance that cycling can bring to our BC coastal communities in this age of global warming cannot be understated. All the current evidence clearly shows our communities as a whole will benefit from more cycling infrastructure, as will our individual health, which will further reduce the tax burden that an unhealthy population typically requires. Combined with more complementary transit infrastructure, cycling, in my opinion, is the future writ large!
I am a sheet metal tradesman and former business owner with 20+ years of service in BC Search & Rescue. Politically involved, I sat on the BC Executive of one of BC's two political parties, with years of experience fundraising as well. Working with grass-roots non-profits, I have a developed understanding of the political hurdles inherent in running a non-profit, especially as it involves the membership and your support.
Samiya Rashmi
I graduated from SFU with a degree in Resource and Environmental Management. I am a career peer advisor at SFU and an Insight Education facilitator. As a career peer advisor, I facilitate workshops and assist students with job searches. In the last 1.5 years, I managed and recruited talent for a marketing company. Other than that, I have been President of IJM SFU for three years and served as Vice President of Education for Burnaby Mountain Toastmasters. As a marketing and education professional, I have experience across many industries. My main focus has been on non-profit organizations, which I strongly encourage others to do as well.
With my enthusiasm and drive, I would be able to contribute to the organization's success and to its execution as a board member. In particular, I am interested in working in the sustainable transportation industry which inspired me to apply for the board member position. I enjoy working in an environment where I can explore ideas and contribute to the organization's development. As a final note, my motto is "Just do it." This quote inspires me to take calculated risks and strive towards my goals in a systematic manner.
Simon Caulfield
Hailing from the West of Ireland, Simon moved to Vancouver in 2019 and has worked primarily on transportation planning & architecture projects in both Canada and the USA. Before moving to the PNW, Simon worked and lived in London, San Francisco & Stockholm and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to the public realm as well as engagement & collaboration, that he can bring to the HUB Board of Directors. Simon commutes around Metro Vancouver on his bike as a way to keep his carbon footprint down and loves exploring the city & surrounding lands, whatever the weather! He has seen a lot of changes to cycling infrastructure & policy since moving here and sees a lot that still needs to be done. He is ready to tackle this challenge as an opportunity to contribute his skills to make a difference.
Simon has experience volunteering with HUB at previous events. He believes that education, engagement & advocacy are invaluable tools that can encourage change for more sustainable, safe & livable communities. Simon loves meeting new people, hearing their stories, and collaborating with like-minded individuals to create safer cycling and encourage more people to use active transportation on our streets.
Will Meredith
Originally from the UK, I came to Vancouver in 2008 and fell in love with the city. With an educational background in geography and geophysics, I founded GeoScan Subsurface Surveys in 2010 and have since grown it into the employee-owned GeoRadar Group with over 100 team members. As a passionate cyclist, I believe in the transformative power of cycling and its positive impact on quality of life. I want to make cycling safer and more accessible in the Vancouver area, which is why I am motivated to serve on the board of directors for HUB Cycling. With my experience in business operations, research and development, marketing, and human resources, I bring a unique perspective to the table. I have firsthand knowledge of running businesses and overcoming challenges, which I believe can contribute to driving positive change in the cycling landscape. Serving on the board allows me to give back to an organization I wholeheartedly support and utilize my skills and experiences to make a lasting impact. I am dedicated to promoting cycling as a preferred mode of transportation and contributing to HUB Cycling's mission.
2022 Board of Director Candidates
Jonathan
Aitken
I work from home. I have worked at lululemon, MDA and Accenture. I have an MBA from University of Utah, an B.Sc. from Stanford and a certificate in Digital Leadership from UC Berkeley. I have two girls both at university so I find myself with free time. My hobbies are cycling, scuba diving and electric cars. I have a black lab who enjoys taking me for walks in Pacific Spirit. I have bike commuted to work when I was not working at home. I ride on the road and gravel with Lotus. I am a former mountain biker and triathlete.
Sarah
Eustace
Update: ELECTED Sep 2022
Sarah is a lawyer for the Federal Department of Justice and a mother of two. She is an avid cyclist who chooses to go by bike as her primary mode of transportation. She also enjoys road biking. She has experience as a board member of a non-profit organization and enjoys fundraising. In her role as a civil servant and government lawyer, she has extensive experience with risk management and the interaction between policy and law. She is a member of the HUB Van-UBC local regional committee and a long-standing HUB member. Sarah loves biking and is grateful for Vancouver’s cycling lanes and bike safety initiatives.
Alicia
Gowan
Update: ELECTED Sep 2022
Alicia is an emerging sustainability professional working as the Zero Waste Manager of Ocean Ambassadors Canada. When she’s not turning the tide on ocean pollution, she ponders about how to make Vancouver a less car dense and more bike-friendly city. While spending two years living in and studying her Environmental Sustainability Master’s in the south of Sweden, she grew amazed by the bike path network. When moving back to Canada, she grew motivated to bring this inspiration to Vancouver to make cycling accessible for 8 to 80 year old's and help transform Vancouver into a city made for people, not cars.
Victoria
Gray
Update: ELECTED Sep 2022
Victoria is an avid cyclist with over thirty years of marketing and research experience. She’s held senior management positions with some of Canada’s most prominent advertising agencies. She also spent many years client-side, leading teams in the development of comprehensive marketing solutions across North America.
She is passionate about leveraging her extensive experience to create a positive impact for cyclists across Metro Vancouver. She has a collaborative nature and brings a structured yet responsive approach to everything she does. Her love for problem solving, sustainable living and lifelong learning drives her in both her professional and personal activities.
Jeff
Leigh
Update: REELECTED Sep 2022
Incumbent: running for President of the Board and Board of Directors
Now retired, Jeff lives downtown and cycles daily both for transportation and recreation.
Jeff believes that cycling is a critical part of our transportation mix, and that it can best be encouraged by the creation of infrastructure that allows people cycling to both be safe and to feel safe, and through celebrating our successes as we increase cycling mode share.
HUB Experience: Local Committee (10 years); Board (8 years); VP (6 years)
Skills: Cycling Advocacy; Business and Operations Management; Volunteer, Member, and Stakeholder Engagement; Strategy Development; Turning Strategy into Action; Organizational Development; Data and Systems Governance; A passion for action
Douglas
Mackenzie
I'm from Calgary and moved to Vancouver in 2009 to study Cognitive Systems at UBC. It's an interdisciplinary program incorporating subjects from computer science, philosophy, linguistics, and psychology.
I've worked in a lot of different spaces, but I've always used quantitative disciplines (databases, analytics, dashboards, programming, systems theory, etc) to help people learn and make better decisions.
Cycling has been my main tool for mobility, recreation, and exercise since 2010, and I believe it can change people's lives and society at large for the better.
Tai
Silvey
Update: REELECTED Sep 2022
Incumbent: running for President of the Board and Board of Directors
Tai is Senior Vice President at KITS Eyecare. Prior to joining KITS, Tai was a founding member and head of Evo Car Share for 8 years. A team builder, strategist, and business leader, Tai has played key roles in the launch and growth of businesses such as Evo Car Share, Dyson and Red Bull.
Tai has been a HUB board member since 2018 and is chair of the Operations Committee. Tai has a record of building effective, diverse, and inclusive teams and is passionate about bringing these skills to HUB. Tai believes that cycling plays a central role in creating livable cities.
June
Yi Su
Currently, I am in the process of completing my Bachelor of Business Administration in Digital Marketing. I am interested in creating and enhancing websites for the purposes of e-commerce and marketing, as well as general marketing.
In addition to studying, I am working on a part-time internship in the e-commerce and marketing department of PharmaPax. My experience there has shown me that digital marketing is crucial to the future of marketing in this industry.
Aurora
Tejeida
Aurora Tejeida’s interest in cycling and environmental protection started in an unexpected place: the concrete heavy streets of Mexico City. Ten years ago, she moved to unceded Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh and xwməθkwəy̓ əm territories to complete a master’s degree in journalism at UBC.
Since graduating, she has worked in various communications roles for non-profits and academic institutions, including Megaphone Magazine, Canopy, and UBC. Aurora is currently a communications co-lead at Sierra Club BC. She is particularly interested in knowledge mobilization and the role cycling can play in building healthier and more environmentally friendly communities. She also loves bike camping and dreams of better province-wide cycling infrastructure.
2021 Board of Director Candidates
Matthew
Alexander
Update: ELECTED Sep 2021
- Incumbent
- Recommended by the Board
- Watch Matthew's video message
Matt is a father of two and is passionate about making cycling safe for his family. His passion for cycling took off after a Canada-wide bike trip and since then he's constantly making excuses to go for a bike ride.
Matt is a Chartered Professional Accountant- CA with over 15 years of accounting and finance experience. He has extensive experience preparing financial statements, reviewing internal controls, and preparing annual and multi-year budgets. His board experience includes four years with Hub cycling, where he is the Treasurer and is the Co-Chair of the Operations Committee. He also has previous board experience as the Chair of the Finance Committee for the West End Food Co-operative- a co-op promoting access to healthy and sustainable food.
He believes that cycling is incredibly fun and that with the right exposure everyone would prefer a bike over other modes of transportation. He sees HUB as a fantastic way to expose and educate residents as to how amazing commuting can be on a bike.
Carlos
Alonso
Update: ELECTED Sep 2021
- Recommended by the Board
- Watch Carlos's video message
Carlos was born and raised in Argentina where he attended school and university. Carlos's background is in aerospace engineering. He has worked in space projects development in Argentina, Italy and Canada.
Carlos came to Canada in 2004 to work for MDA in Richmond. Carlos was a Program Manager and managed space infrastructure projects for commercial customers and for the government of Canada.
Last year Carlos left MDA to develop other interests in addition to aerospace, and now enjoys cycling across the lower mainland and getting back to his passion of designing and building bikes.
Geneviève
Bowers
Update: ELECTED Sep 2021
- Incumbent
- Recommended by the Board
- Watch Geneviève's video message
Geneviève Bowers moved to Vancouver in 2010 and started cycling soon after. She is a regular commuter, a road cyclist, and an adventurer who enjoys self-supported cycle touring. She’s also used cycling to fundraise for ovarian cancer research.
She has extensive work experience in analyzing various policy issues and developing policy for public entities. Geneviève has also volunteered in the past as a Board Director for a non-profit that fundraises for and disperses student financial awards. She hopes to use her skills and experience in fundraising, working closely with senior officials, intergovernmental relations, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning to assist Hub in its mission to get more people cycling more often. Currently, she works as a Policy Analyst at the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.
Geneviève has served on the Board of Hub Cycling since 2019 and has sat on the Regional Advisory Committee and Board Development Committee. She believes cycling can provide a sense of joy, freedom, empowerment, and connection and wants to help others feel safe and welcomed while riding through Metro Vancouver.
Nadia
Fourik
Update: ELECTED Sep 2021
- Recommended by the Board
- Watch Nadia's video message
Nadia was born and raised in North Vancouver and currently lives in the Moodyville neighbourhood. Nadia has a background in business and management consulting. She completed her Master of Public Health from the University of British Columbia in 2018 and is now the Regional Leader for Health Promotion and Prevention at Vancouver Coastal Health.
Nadia is passionate about creating transportation networks that make active transportation the convenient choice for people of all ages and abilities. You can find her cycling the North Shore on the weekends, to her office in Vancouver during the week, and exploring new places by bike whenever time permits.
Julia
Gellman
Update: ELECTED Sep 2021
- Recommended by the Board
- Watch Julia's video message
Julia has lived in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. With experience as a bike commuter in all these cities, she is dedicated to the creation of bike-friendly cities and communities.
Currently, she works as the Sustainability Specialist for the University Neighbourhoods Association, and has just completed her Masters of Education for Sustainability at UBC.
Julia also volunteers for the Vancouver Park Board’s Neighbourhood Matching Fund; supporting neighbourhood-based community projects to enhance parks and public spaces in the city. Julia hopes to contribute to HUB’s Board of Directors by helping create systems, infrastructure, and community around cycling in Metro Vancouver.
Nicole
Mallette
Nicole is a researcher and instructor at UBC, whose work focuses on social inequalities in education. When not on a bike commuting, Nicole is cycling around town with friends or participating in local group rides (e.g. YVR Coffee Outside Saturday Slow Rides, Kissing Crows Bike Shop Sunday Slow Rides).
Nicole and her partner are avid bike tinkerers and love nothing more to see more people getting out on bikes.
Peter
Sales
Update: ELECTED Sep 2021
- Recommended by the Board
- Watch Peter's video message
Peter Sales has lived in Canada for the past 10 years. Peter grew up in England and first moved to Vancouver to study for a year at UBC. He fell in love with the ocean, the mountains and the forests and knew he would be back.
Peter now has 2 young children (aged 3 and 5) and cycles to school with them each morning. Peter has been a regular cycling commuter all my life and I am passionate about cycling and helping encourage others to do so by removing any barriers they may have.
Matt
Strand
Update: ELECTED Sep 2021
- Incumbent
- Recommended by the Board
- Watch Matt's video message
Matt Strand has worked at the intersection of business, environment and community for the past 20 years.
Currently, Matt works for QuadReal, a global real estate company based out of Vancouver. His responsibilities include leading the company's accessibility strategy, facilitating QuadReal's response to COVID-19 and its commitment to indoor air quality, developing the company's health and safety program, and working on elements of the climate change adaptation strategy.
Matt has been on HUB board of directors for the past 3 years. He is the board secretary and the chair of the Board Development Committee.
Özge
Yazar
Update: ELECTED Sep 2021
- Recommended by the Board
- Watch Özge's video message
Özge is a lawyer and an avid cyclist. Özge grew up and finished their Bachelor's degree in Turkey.
Özge lived in Montreal, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and moved to Vancouver for law school, and Özge now lives and works here. Özge likes to swim, run, and go for very long bike rides all around the Lower Mainland.