Our Board & Steering committee

  • Board Chair
    Suzanne served as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of BC and MLA for Vancouver Fraserview from 2013 – 2017.  She was previously elected to Vancouver City Council and the Vancouver Park Board.

    Suzanne entered politics on a platform of great public facilities. That continuing goal has stayed with her to now Chairing the Vancouver Cultural Precinct, a project of the Vancouver Concert Hall and Theatre Society.

    She also serves as a Board Member of the Vancouver Symphony Society, the Vancouver Symphony Foundation, Business for the Arts, the Canada West Foundation and the Canadian Constitution Foundation.

  • Board Member
    I'm a Canadian voice actor with a low, resonant voice that has been described as rich, bold, full-bodied, warm, and commanding. I'd love to work with you to connect with others, whether it's capturing your audience's attention, delivering a message, or building an emotional connection to your cause.

    I'm a trained singer and perform with the world-renowned Chor Leoni Men’s Choir. I'm a bass, which means I sing the lowest of the low notes, and it gives me a unique edge in the choral world. It also colours my speaking voice which has a unique resonance and versatility. I can jump from sounding like a regular guy next door, to rugged blue collar, to omnipotent movie-trailer godlike booming sci-fi demagogue at the drop of a hat.  I bring years of music and acting experience to the table.

    I received my BA in commerce and philosophy from the University of British Columbia. I understand the business of business and want to work alongside you to easily and effectively achieve your vision. You drive the bus, but I'll help as much as I can. 

    If you're curious, Stash is short for Stanislaw. In Polish - my family's heritage - it's spelled Staś, and is pronounced a little lighter than the standard american "sh".

  • Board Member
    As founder and Artistic Director of the Vancouver Recital Society, Leila Getz has presented some of the world’s most brilliant and respected young musicians, and against all odds, has steadily built a diverse and loyal audience for the recital concert form. In 1980, the first season of the Vancouver Recital Society presented 5 events at the Arts Club Theatre on Granville Island. The series has grown to include 18 concerts at venues such as the Vancouver Playhouse, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and the Orpheum Theatre. Leila has worked tirelessly and imaginatively to change the face of classical music in Vancouver and, since that first season, over 500 artists have been presented to Vancouver audiences, many of them in their Canadian or Vancouver debuts.

    Leila has won an award for Outstanding Achievement in the Performing Arts from Campus and Community Impresarios of Canada, a Woman of Distinction Award from the State of Israel Bonds as well as that from the Y.W.C.A, and the Harold Shaw Award in New York given for the outstanding presentation of recitals.

  • Secretary
    A vision of Vancouver as a creative centre for world-class music has driven the commitment of George Laverock through his remarkable career and outstanding community involvement. George has made a lasting difference through accomplishments in public broadcasting, arts administration and non-profit governance while mentoring the next generation of musicians. His volunteer involvement with the Vancouver Chamber Choir and the Canadian Music Centre, along with countless hours on numerous boards, has created a legacy for musical arts and culture in British Columbia.


    George Laverock was named the inaugural recipient of the Mitchell Award, named in honour of Keith Mitchell QC, the BC Achievement Foundation’s Founding Chair. The Mitchell Award recognizes an individual who, through his or her work and volunteer activities, has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to elevating the community in which they live, and those who serve it. The recipient has a unique and selfless leadership style that encourages and inspires the full participation of those he or she leads.

  • Board Member
    With a career spanning innovation, public service, and law, Michael brings a strong focus and dedication to support arts, culture and community. He is the Chief Strategy Officer of UrbanLogiq, which provides data analytics to all levels of government to enable more effective decision-making, and improve community wellbeing. As the former MLA for Vancouver–Langara, including serving as the Shadow Minister for the Attorney-General; Transportation, Infrastructure & TransLink, and Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation, Michael worked at the intersection of public policy and community, with a commitment to accountability and impactful solutions. Prior to his two elected terms as MLA, he was a lawyer and partner at Lawson Lundell LLP, and advised on complex governance, corporate finance and commercial matters. Michael started his career serving in federal ministerial staffer roles in Justice and National Defence for Canada.

    Michael has long contributed to arts and community, including as a former Chair of Arts Umbrella, Vice-Chair of Science World British Columbia, and member of the YMCA of Greater Vancouver Foundation Board. He is honoured to support the Cultural Precinct to be at the heart of Vancouver’s arts and culture community. 

  • Board Member
    Dave is Music on Main’s founder and Artistic Director, earning a reputation as one of today’s leading-edge concert programmers. He is a frequent curator and speaker at conferences and festivals around the world and served as Artistic Director of ISCM World New Music Days 2017, the largest new music festival in Canada’s history.

  • Board Member
    Hein is a partner at Poulus Ensom Smith, a Vancouver commercial litigation boutique. During a decade-long sojourn in the world of business he held senior management positions with Kaiser Resources, the Denver Broncos and Southeastern Capital Corporation, a U.S. private equity firm. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2001 and was made a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in 2010. He served as a director and, for a period of time, vice-chair, of the Vancouver Symphony Society.

  • Board Member
    Julian is an entrepreneur, advisor, writer, board member and patron of the arts with over 20 years of experience in digital marketing and technology. He is the co-founder of Shaw/Scott, a global consulting and marketing agency and Sageflo, a customer experience software company.

    He is a speaker at numerous events and writes regularly about industry news and innovations. He is also passionate about mentorship and is honoured to be a Loran Scholar Mentor—a highly competitive scholarship program supporting Canada's most promising young leaders.

    Julian is deeply committed to supporting the performing arts and community organisations. He currently serves as President for the Vancouver Chamber Choir, is a former board director and gala chair for Ballet BC, and currently sits on various planning, fundraising and gala committees for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Early Music Vancouver, the Dr. Peter Centre and Belle Spirale.

  • Board Member
    Following studies in music and then commerce, Jim worked in tourism for the Government of Ontario. In 1990 he moved to Montreal and began working in the professional Canadian arts sector at La La La Human Steps. After a move to Vancouver, Jim co-founded Eponymous, an arts management and production agency. Under the aegis of Eponymous, Jim is currently associated with Company 605, Kidd Pivot, Wen Wei Dance, and Vancouver New Music. He also represents Crystal Pite and Wen Wei Wang. In 2007 Jim co-founded and is the current Artistic and Executive Director of DanceHouse, a subscription series of large-scale dance presentations at the Vancouver Playhouse. Jim is a past President of the Canadian Dance Assembly, a founding member of Made In BC, and has sat on a number of other not for profit boards of directors. He is currently on the board of the Vancouver Recital Society, the Vancouver Concert Hall and Theatre Society and the Steering Committee for the Cultural Precinct Planning Committee.

  • Steering Committee

    As the President of the Phoenix Chamber Choir, Bob is a dedicated advocate for Vancouver’s performing arts community. He brings a unique perspective to the VCPPC, combining a deep passion for the arts with more than three decades of experience as an engineer and executive. Bob’s professional background in leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects across multiple industries allows him to bridge the gap between artistic vision and organizational governance. He is focused on the strategic development of the Cultural Precinct to ensure the city’s creative ecosystem remains vibrant and sustainable for future generations.

  • Board Member

    Bio coming soon

  • Finance Chair
    Christopher Gimpel, CPA, CA, ICD.D is a senior governance leader with more than 30 years of experience supporting not‑for‑profit and public‑interest organizations, including major cultural institutions, through periods of growth, transformation, and heightened accountability.

    Christopher has a long‑standing commitment to the arts and cultural community in British Columbia. He has served in senior board leadership roles with leading arts organizations, including as Chair of the Arts Club Theatre and Arts Club Theatre Foundation, where he supported governance modernization, financial sustainability, and long‑term institutional resilience in a complex, donor‑ and audience‑driven environment. His service to the board of the Vancouver Cultural Precinct contributes to the oversight of a once‑in‑a‑generation cultural infrastructure initiative involving significant public, community, and stakeholder investment.

    Across his board career, Christopher has held roles as Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Committee Chair, with deep experience in audit and risk oversight, strategic planning, capital and infrastructure governance, and strengthening board–management effectiveness. His work reflects a strong commitment to public trust, disciplined financial stewardship, and the long‑term cultural and social value of institutions that serve their communities.

    Christopher brings a steady, pragmatic approach to governance, informed by decades of experience advising regulated and member‑based organizations, and a deep appreciation for the role of arts and cultural institutions in vibrant, inclusive communities.

  • Steering Committee
    Sara grew up fighting a career in the arts, but in 1998, she relented and went to work for the Arts Club Theatre as a telemarketer. After 3 months, she was hooked – on a career in the arts, not a career in telemarketing. Since that first job, Sara has worked for a variety of Lower Mainland arts organizations including Arts Club Theatre, Vancouver Opera, Vancouver East Cultural Centre and the Vancouver Recital Society.

    After a brief arts hiatus, during which she worked at St. George’s School, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and BCIT and had her first child, she returned to the Vancouver Recital Society where, in addition to being the Manager of Development & Donor Relations, she has for the last two years worn the hat of Curmudgeon in the Corner – or General Manager, if you want to be technical.

  • Admin Assistant
    I'm Damarise Ste Marie, and I love to bring people together. I love to create spaces for people to gather, learn, share, dance, and move together. I work as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer in Vancouver, Canada and internationally. I’ve practiced many forms of movement and body expression, including ballet, contemporary dance, Afro-fusion, flamenco, samba, capoeira, vocal techniques, choral singing, body percussion, Feldenkrais, and somatic approaches. I also teach creative arts programming for children and youth in English and French, and in Indigenous communities throughout BC.

    For the past decade, I've been collaboratively producing and facilitating workshops, events and retreats. My mission is to spread joy through dance and movement. My desire is to connect with others, simply and with heart.

    I recently joined the team at Vancouver Cultural Precinct, and am taking care of administration as the organization grows legs and cultivates relationships with artists and supporters alike.

  • Board Member
    Stanis has over 35 years of experience as a corporate executive and architect, including being CEO of one of Canada’s major design firms. From 2003 to 2019 he was a leader at Stantec in charge of various corporate portfolios, including Executive VP for Stantec’s Buildings Group, leader of Stantec’s Airport Group, and Executive VP for Creativity and Innovation. He led the growth of Stantec’s Buildings Group to its current stature as one of the most significant in the world. In his professional capacity he has led teams for many award-winning airport terminals and other major projects. He is an acknowledged expert and frequent speaker at international conferences on topics including innovation, major project procurement, mergers and acquisitions, design, sustainability and accessibility. He became an independent consultant at the beginning of 2020 and is providing advisory services to clients on project procurement, design and delivery. These services include project definition, site selection, visioning, design, selection and management of consultants, peer-review and other advice to clients at a C-Suite and Executive level.

Our Participating Organizations