Biv Today

Vancity, the country's largest customer credit union, has taken a leadership role in supporting investment in clean technology and in pursuing a net-zero carbon economy in all its activities. Jonathan Fowlie, Vancity's chief external relations officer, discusses the challenges and the accomplishments that position Vancity as a leader among financial institutions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FortisBC, the natural gas and electricity utility, faces the challenge of developing a renewable source of energy in order to help industry and individuals meet the climate change goals. Joe Mazza, FortisBC’s vice president of energy supply and resource development, discusses the challenges and the achievements positioning FortisBC as a North American leader. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabeth Coulombe, the founder of Tero, discusses a poll commissioned by the composting device company for Angus Reid Forum that suggests young people are quite worried about the health of the planet. She is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

B.C.'s economy continues to move at a clip as it bounces back from the outset of the pandemic. Still, businesses are dealing with pressures from inflation, supply chain disruptions and access to labour. B.C.'s booming construction sector is no stranger to those same challenges, despite new data showing significant growth over the past five years. Chris Atchison, president of the B.C. Construction Association, joins BIV Today to dive into how the industry plans to navigate those challenges. Tyler Orton hosts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of EDI on BIV, guests from the UBC-based non-profit Blueprint discuss corporate leadership in the wake of #MeToo and Black Lives Matter. Blueprint founder Dr. John Izzo, and director of engagement and partnerships Nicky Dhaliwal, discuss their research with KidSafe CEO Chantelle Krish and BIV executive editor Hayley Woodin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail Insider's Craig Patterson joins BIV Today to discuss why Jollibee is such a phenomenon in Vancouver, plus inflation pressures on the retail industry and whether Huawei can make a comeback in Canada. Tyler Orton hosts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sai Huda, CEO of CyberCatch, is an author of national cybersecurity standards for small- and medium-sized businesses in Canada. He recently partnered with the Surrey Board of Trade to raise awareness and security among its membership. He talks about the new environment and the challenges for business in protecting data. He is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of EDI on BIV, the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, discusses why equity, diversity and inclusion is a priority area, and how industry can lead when it comes to supporting diversity in business. Chantelle Krish, CEO of KidSafe, joins BIV executive editor Hayley Woodin as a co-host. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Be it a bad call or an uncanny goal, sports fans are always all over Twitter with their takes (good or bad). Engagement on the social media platform has been changing in recent months, though, after Ottawa gave provinces the power to regulate single-game sports betting. B.C. was among the first to allow such wagers and new changes rolling out this week in Ontario have the potential to shake up the online conversation once again. Conor Clarance, head of sports for Twitter Canada, joins BIV Today to delve into the social media company’s work at engaging sports fans. Tyler Orton hosts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prem Gill is the CEO of Creative BC, an agency promoting everything from the film and TV sector to the music industry here on the West Coast. She joins BIV Today to discuss a new initiative aimed making the film sector better reflect what B.C. looks like. Tyler Orton hosts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2020 Super Bowl champion Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif talks about his decision to sit out a year in the NFL to minister to a long-term care home in his native Quebec and about his new commitment to helping young people as a brand ambassador with Sodexo Canada to be physically active and make the best nutritional choices. He is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Globe Forum is set to return to Vancouver next week after two years. It's one of the biggest conferences in the world focused on sustainability. Everything from electric cars to climate tech will be getting a showcase. But as countries try to attain net zero goals, should we be taking a closer look at off-setting emissions through vehicles powered by hydrogen? Matthew Klippenstein of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association joins BIV Today to discuss. Tyler Orton hosts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Surrey-White Rock Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay discusses the Liberal-NDP pact, its impact on the Conservatives, and the Canadian response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As unicorn after unicorn emerges from B.C. during the pandemic, these $1-billion tech companies are increasingly turning to Ireland to meet demand for talent and business know-how. Deirdre Moran, vice-president of technology and consumer services at Ireland’s International Development Agency (Canada), joins BIV Today to discuss why West Coast companies are tapping the island nation as a gateway to the European Union. Tyler Orton hosts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many, quantum computing remains more of an abstract endeavour whose tangible impacts may not manifest for years. While advances in financial and medical applications have gotten much attention, many are still waiting for real-world applications to emerge in industries such as design and manufacturing. Zac Hudson, an associate professor of chemistry at UBC, joins BIV Today to discuss how his research is being put towards industrial uses. Tyler Orton hosts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Salesforce’s interest in the B.C. tech scene is showing no signs of slowing down. After acquiring startup Mobify and Vancouverite Stewart Butterfield’s Slack in the past few years, the CRM giant has set its sights on Burnaby software firm Traction on Demand. Traction founder and CEO Greg Malpass joins BIV Today to discuss why now was the right time to sell his company. BIV’s Tyler Orton hosts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The CEO of Canada's largest cleantech accelerator joins BIV's Women in Leadership series, sponsored by PwC. Foresight's Jeanette Jackson and Rajveer Hundal, B.C. technology leader and a partner with PwC Canada, discuss leadership and mentorship with BIV executive editor Hayley Woodin. The conversation covers the importance of training the next generation of leaders, the value of bi-directional mentorship and what meaningful leadership looks like in 2022. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An expert who helps guide ESG investing at a firm that manages nearly $200 billion in assets joins BIV's Women in Leadership series, sponsored by PwC. Jennifer Coulson is senior managing director of ESG at BCI. She and Shelley Gilberg, PwC Canada's leader of ESG markets and consulting, discuss environmental, social and governance-based investing with BIV executive editor Hayley Woodin. The conversation explores how ESG has evolved over the past decade, the impact of COVID and opportunities for responsible investment.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first Indigenous woman in Canada to launch an airline joins BIV's Women in Leadership series, sponsored by PwC. Teara Fraser is the founder and lead executive of Iskwew Air. She and Brooke Ko, PwC Canada's B.C. region inclusion and diversity leader, discuss equity, diversity and inclusion with BIV executive editor Hayley Woodin. The conversation critically examines corporate language, reflects on being mindful and considers how to re-centre business on what really matters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we reflect on two years since the pandemic brought on lockdowns and restrictions, one demographic still carrying a heavier burden in the workforce is women. Data shows most jobs affected by shut downs and restrictions were in industries that women were more likely to work in. So where do we stand in 2022 vs. 2020? Jenny Siman, a vice-president at Canadian Western Bank, joins BIV Today to talk about the impact the pandemic has had on women in the labour force and the need to support women-led businesses.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.