Expertise and Community Service

We’re proud to have attracted so many eminent volunteers to serve on the board of the Focus Foundation. With backgrounds in business, law, finance and social sciences, our board members work hard year after year to help make Focus programs successful. Their broad spectrum of skills, knowledge and experience ensures a balanced approach to our governance and growth.

Chairman: Gary Powroznik, FCA
Gary joined the Board in March 2005 and took on the role of Chairman. Gary is the founder and Managing Director of G-Force Group, a Vancouver based professional services specializing in business and real estate recovery solutions. Formerly, Gary was a partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers for 27 years and President of PricewaterhouseCoopers Real Estate Inc. Gary was also the Managing Partner for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in British Columbia for thirteen years. Gary has had extensive involvement with professional and community organizations including currently serving as a Director of the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Board, and formerly as a Director of the Sauder Business School Advisory Board at the University of British Columbia, a Director of the BC Business Council and a Vice Chair on its Executive Committee for several years. Gary was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia in 1996 for his distinguished service to his profession and the community.

Secretary: Jim Mutter
Jim provides strategic, operational, financial and legal advisory services to clients largely in the technology industry. Jim is former President and still a member of the Premier’s Technology Council, a group of senior industry executives that advise the Premier and Government of British Columbia on all technology related issues. Previously, Jim was co-founder, Vice-President, Business Development; and general counsel for Apparent Networks, a network diagnostic company. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Mutter is also formerly a partner with Fasken Martineau, one of the largest national law firms in Canada.

Treasurer: Lisa Payne, CGA
Lisa Payne has recently joined Aegis Mobility with over 20 years of experience in senior roles at public and private companies, and venture capitalists. From 2001 to 2008, Lisa was the President of TeraSpan Networks Inc., a fiber optic micro-trench solution manufacturer. Prior to this role, Lisa built her finance credentials as Director of Finance and Business Operations for Wavemakers Inc, a voice-enhancement software company where she was instrumental in raising two rounds of private financing and the eventual acquisition by Harman International in 2001. Lisa developed extensive experience in sales, business development, operations, industry research, finance and human resources while at Scientific Atlanta Canada and Criterion Service Laboratory which she cofounded. Lisa is currently Director of Adcore Capital Inc, a TSX venture exchange listed venture capital pool company and a director of Anergy Capital Inc. Lisa joined the Focus Foundation Board in 2005.

Directors

Justice Grant Burnyeat
Justice Burnyeat was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1996. Justice Burnyeat graduated in law from The University of British Columbia in 1973 and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1974. He practiced law with the firm Davis & Company in Vancouver, specializing in the areas of general insolvency and real estate law before he was appointed a Judge in 1996. His involvement with the community covers a wide spectrum, and includes the Option Youth Society, Bard on the Beach, Vancouver Planning Commission, and political involvement at the federal, provincial and city level. Grant joined the Board of Focus Foundation in 2007.

Bob Kissner
Bob is the Executive Director of the Focus Foundation of British Columbia. He is also the founder and the creative energy of Focus Foundation. After graduating from Simon Fraser University, Bob obtained a Ph.D from the University of Chicago. He is a former board member of both the Senate and Board of Governors of Simon Fraser University. Bob is a Past President of the British Columbia Association of Social Workers and currently serves as the BC board member of the Canadian Association of Social Workers. He has taught at the college and university level. Bob is a non-voting member of the Board.

Brenda LeClair
Brenda Le Clair is the Managing Director of Strategic Development and Partnerships with 2010 Legacies Now. In addition, she is the Executive Director of Literacy Now, an initiative designed to stimulate and strengthen new and existing community strategies for supporting literacy from infancy to adulthood in B.C. Prior to joining 2010 Legacies Now, Brenda was the Deputy Superintendent with the Langley School Board. Brenda joined the Board of Focus Foundation in 2005.

Tim McEwan
Tim is President and CEO of Initiatives Prince George, a corporation owned by the City of Prince George that is responsible for facilitating economic development in Prince George and Northern BC. Prior to this role, Tim was the Principal of T. M. McEwan Consulting Ltd., a firm providing an array of public policy and management consulting services in Vancouver, BC. He was the founding Executive Director of the BC Progress Board, a blue chip advisory Board to the Government of British Columbia. Prior to that, Tim was Director, Programs and Policy with the Business Council of BC and held lead staff responsibility for the BC Business Summit initiative. He was responsible for the Council’s work on a variety of labour and economic policy issues. Tim joined the Board of Focus Foundation in 2007.