List of Candidates for BC Hockey Board of Directors
Occupation: Instructor of Marketing, Camosun College
Place of Residence: Victoria, BC
Education and Certifications:
• Master of Business Administration (University of Victoria)
• Bachelor of Management (University of Lethbridge)
Board Experience:
Babey’s board experience includes serving on the Board of Directors for the SAIT Trojan Hockey Alumni Association from 2008–2016. He held a four-year position at Camosun College that saw him sitting on the college’s education leadership team, with responsibilities including the management of academic programs and policy.
Additional Skills and Information:
Babey is an instructor of marketing at Camosun College’s School of Business. He has had a lifelong involvement in hockey at a personal and professional level, with experience as a player, reaching the Canadian varsity level (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association) with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology men’s hockey program.
Occupation: Accountant
Place of Residence: Lantzville, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
• Master of Business Administration (Athabasca University)
• Advanced Management Diploma (Athabasca University)
• CPA (CPA Ontario)
• Bachelor of Commerce (University of Manitoba)
Board Experience:
Cairo was a member of Hockey Canada's World Junior Championship steering committee, the audit chair of the Calgary Saddledome Foundation, and a member of the board's Corporate Governance and Risk Management Committee.
Additional Skills and Information:
Cairo is the former chief financial officer of Hockey Canada, and was responsible for finance, business, procurement, treasury, risk management, fundraising, and Management Information Systems. His experience includes developing partnerships and negotiating deals with TSN, IIHF, and the NHL.
Occupation: Senior Product Manager
Place of Residence: Kelowna, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
• Bachelor of Science, Industrial and Management Engineering; Minor in Management (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
Board Experience:
Coupal has collaborated with groups representing a variety of sectors that include university administrators, the American Collegiate Hockey Association, and student-athletes to ensure the success and compliance with institutional and league requirements. He currently takes his understanding and knowledge of multiple hockey technology companies and organizations, and how to implement and facilitate the use of that technology to various clients and partners.
Additional Skills and Information:
Coupal is a senior product manager—hockey, leading the development of technology solutions to the NHL, CHL, PWHL, and more. Coupal’s experience in hockey includes 10 years on coaching staffs in the NHL with the Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers in video and coordinator coach positions.
Occupation: General Manager, Silvicon Services Inc.
Place of Residence: Smithers, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
• Bachelor of Science, Forest Operations; Minor in Commerce (University of British Columbia)
• Registered Professional Forester (RPF) (Forest Professionals of B.C.)
Board Experience:
Dehouwer is an experienced not-for-profit board member, providing governance for hundreds of youth as the current acting president of Bulkley Valley Soccer Society.
Additional Skills and Information:
Dehouwer brings more than two decades of experience in hockey as an athlete, coach, volunteer, parent, and community sports leader. His background includes nonprofit governance, safe sport leadership, rural sport advocacy, and organizational management.
Occupation: Retired Educator and Administrative Leader
Place of Residence: Duncan, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
• Doctor of Education, Educational Leadership (Simon Fraser University)
• Master of Human Kinetics (M.H.K.), Kinesiology (University of Windsor)
• Bachelor of Education, Physical Education and Science (University of Western Ontario)
• Ontario Teaching Certificate (University of Windsor)
Board Experience:
McComb’s experience related to boards includes a range of campus-wide committee leadership and involvement, communications and public relations, as well as student engagement and conduct work.
Additional Skills and Information:
McComb is a retired post-secondary educator with a background in kinesiology and a career in athletic and academic administration. She brings a range of skills, knowledge and experience including policy development and implementation, budget development and oversight, strategic planning, change management, conflict resolution, risk assessment and management, board governance and communications.
Occupation: Chief Financial Officer
Place of Residence: Kelowna, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
• Certified Public Accountant Certificate (Certified Public Accountant)
• Certified General Accountant Designation (Certified General Accountants)
• Bachelor’s Degree, Business Administration (Simon Fraser University)
• Diploma, Associate General Studies (Kwantlen College)
Board Experience:
McKay is a trained accountant and has worked as a chief financial officer for a number of companies in both for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. McKay has served as a trustee on a union training and apprenticeship fund and has experience serving multiple boards in the past.
Additional Skills and Information:
McKay communicates with his Audit and Governance Committees to ensure members have the information they need to understand what their role and requirements are. As a result of his coaching experience, he is familiar with BC Hockey programming and supports provided for the community.
Occupation: Labour Relations Leader
Place of Residence: Delta, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
• Executive Master's degree in Business Administration (Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business)
Board Experience:
Mizuyabu works directly with the governing board for B.C. Nurses’ Union to help develop and operationalize strategic directions and policies.
Additional Skills and Information:
Mizuyabu’s experience includes collaborating with government stakeholders and working closely with diversity groups to develop internal equity, diversity, and inclusion strategies. Mizuyabu has served in human resource roles for over a decade and is well versed in risk management. For over 10 years he was a Senior Store Manager at the BC Liquor Distribution Branch where his responsibilities included accounting and financial management of the store’s budget.
Occupation: Vice-President, Own The Podium (OTP)
Place of Residence: Victoria, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
• PhD, Sports Psychology (Southampton University)
• Master of Arts, Sport Management (Southampton University)
• Bachelor of Education (University of Toronto)
• Bachelor of Physical and Health Education (University of Toronto)
Board Experience:
Van Neutegem has been responsible for numerous national projects with an oversight of governance processes and currently sits on the OTP board of directors as an ex-officio.
Additional Skills and Information:
Van Neutegem is currently a vice president with OTP, with previous roles in sport that include Hockey Canada and Canada Wheelchair Rugby. His experience within the sports industry has lent to his knowledge related to coach and athlete development processes.
Occupation: Chartered Accountant
Place of Residence: Victoria, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
• Chartered Professional Accountant (Accounting & Finance Chartered Accountant School of Business)
• Master of Business Administration & Sustainable Innovation (University of Victoria)
• Bachelor of Arts, Information Technology & Philosophy (York University)
Board Experience:
Wilkins is vice chair of the Vancouver Island Construction Association and has been a board member for nine years. He is also a member of the Audit and Finance Committee for the Canadian Construction Association. He was also a board member and treasurer of the Belfry Theatre in Victoria, B.C.
Additional Skills and Information:
Wilkins is a chartered accountant and mentor for Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. He played AAA and rep hockey for over 12 years in Peterborough, Ontario and Victoria, B.C., and is a professional trials rider and cycling event organizer.