Executive Director

Angie Schick

Angie Schick has spent nearly 20 years immersed in BC’s tech sector, helping early-stage startups turn big ideas into real impact. As Executive Director of New Ventures BC, she’s grown the organization’s reach by expanding its programming, building a strong team, and deepening its connections across the innovation ecosystem. Angie is a big believer in the power of collaboration—whether it’s working with founders, mentors, or partners—to help entrepreneurs succeed. Her work continues to shape NVBC into a vital launchpad for tech startups in the province.

Bookkeeper and Program Coordinator

Liz Bowell

Liz Bowell is a bookkeeper, program coordinator and professional administrator providing services to not for profit associations.

In addition to working with New Ventures BC, Liz provides event & admin support to the Vancouver chapter of FEI Canada. Liz was previously Membership Manager at FEI Canada. Prior to heading West to Vancouver she was Administrative Director of the FEI Canada Toronto Chapter and the York Technology Association (now TechConnex).

Program Director, AccelerateIP

Rachel Burns

Rachel brings 15 years of experience across program management and marketing to her role of Program Director, AccelerateIP. 

Previously, at NVBC, she supported the ISI Grant Program, the Venture Accelerator Program, and the New Ventures BC Competition. She also recently held business development and content strategy roles at Langara College and Jane.app.

Rachel has a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies, Arts, along with post-grad diplomas in Publishing and Education (Guidance Studies). She is also an alum of the Writer’s Studio at SFU.

Intellectual Property Director

Susan Tees

Susan is a veteran Class I patent agent with experience in Canadian and US patent law and practice. She has over 30 years of experience, including the preparation and filing of approximately 100 submissions to the US and Canadian patent offices, or through foreign associates. Her varied experience spans industries including drug manufacturing, mobile phone applications, DNA constructs, and personal health appliances. Susan works with her clients to create their IP strategy and advise them on strategies to protect their innovations as they build their business.

Operations Director & Competition Jury Manager

Floyd Sijmons

Floyd Sijmons is a seasoned CEO, Founder, and Business Mentor with a successful history of building and scaling tech startups. Beginning with Groupon’s explosive growth and subsequent IPO, Floyd’s career journey includes leadership roles in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he ran a financial comparison platform, and in the Netherlands, where he spearheaded the development of the multi-sided marketplace, Helping. With expertise in all facets of founding, building, and scaling digital businesses, Floyd has navigated diverse sectors, undertaking interim management roles and engaging extensively in fundraising activities. In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Floyd has emerged as a prominent mentor, contributing to the growth and success of over 65 startups across various accelerators and educational institutions.

Floyd holds a Master of Science in Strategic Management from RSM Erasmus University, Rotterdam.

Program Manager

Cagla Buzluk

Cagla (pronounced as Chaala) serves as a Program Specialist at AccelerateIP, managing the application portal and overseeing application and review processes.

With a multidisciplinary background, Cagla previously led research and development projects within the agritech sector, focusing on operational and product development areas. Her academic journey includes a Master’s degree in Land and Water Systems and a Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering.

Driven by a passion for optimizing systems and thriving in dynamic startup environments, Cagla is enthusiastic about leveraging her expertise to support startups grow and succeed, particularly through initiatives like AccelerateIP.

Education Program Manager

Bradley Fung

Bradley has devoted most of his professional career to post-secondary education, and now proudly serves as the Education Program Manager at New Ventures BC. His prior role as the Education Program Lead at Lighthouse Labs saw him successfully manage several remote bootcamp-style programs for thousands of students across Canada. His experience includes curriculum design, synchronous and asynchronous education delivery, project management, and student recruitment.

Currently, Bradley is managing the execution, operations, and refinement of New Venture BC’s intellectual property educational offerings, always striving to enhance the student experience. He also takes his laughs seriously, Bradley has been performing stand-up comedy since 2018 and has been featured in the Just For Laughs Vancouver festival.

Program Specialist

Clara Ng

Clara is a Program Specialist and manages events, projects, and administration for New Ventures BC and AccelerateIP.

Coming from a background of Psychology and Business, Clara enjoys working cross functionally with different teams and is often involved in several projects and programs at various stages of completion. Whether it’s setting up new systems to make program processes more efficient, or troubleshooting and implementing solutions for an improved workflow experience, Clara believes that there are always new ways to enhance a new or existing concept.

Marketing Coordinator

Mackenzie Dorsey

Drawing from her experience in the non-profit sector, Mackenzie brings a versatile marketing skill set to her role. She applies her expertise in brand storytelling, graphic design, and content creation to enhance the visibility and impact of New Ventures BC’s program offerings. Passionate about community-building, Mackenzie enjoys sharing the success stories of entrepreneurs and highlighting the achievements of NVBC’s alumni, celebrating the vibrant entrepreneurial community in BC.

Mackenzie holds a Bachelor of Media Studies from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Management from the Sauder School of Business.

Events Manager

Justine Nadia

Justine brings seven years of experience in planning and executing large-scale B2B events in the non-profit sector to her role of Events Manager at New Ventures BC. With a BA in Communications and a background in graphic design, she approaches event management as a strategic extension of marketing, ensuring each event enhances brand positioning and audience engagement. Passionate about crafting unique event concepts, Justine thrives on collaboration with stakeholders to create memorable experiences. Outside of work, you’ll find her exploring nature trails, tuning into podcasts, watching old films (and updating her Letterboxd), or checking out new cocktail bars in and around Vancouver.

Communications & Digital Marketing Coordinator

Monique Collins

Drawing on her experience across sectors in Canada and New Zealand, Monique brings a collaborative and creative approach to her marketing role. She is driven by a passion for storytelling and community building. Her interest in entrepreneurship and innovation was sparked during her time as a student at the University of British Columbia, where she held roles that introduced her to Vancouver’s vibrant tech and startup ecosystem. Today, she finds inspiration in sharing the stories of local founders and contributing to a community rooted in creativity and progress.

Monique holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UBC and a Micro-Certificate in Business Communications.

Board Member

Norma Biln

Board Member

Anita Chang

Board Member

Bob de Wit

Board Member

Todd Farrell

Board Member

Terri Griffith

Board Member

Geordie Henderson

Board Member

Geoff Pedlow

Board Member

David Shore

Board Member

Brock Smith

Board Member

Bree Stanlake

Founder, Board Chair

Wal van Lierop

Board Member (past Chair)

Mike Volker