Looking for information on our November Annual General Meeting and Board elections? Please click here!

Kelly Darwin | President. ​ Kelly is a committed entrepreneur and community advocate, deeply passionate about supporting local businesses and promoting regional growth. He proudly owns several successful ventures, including his latest project,​ Ryes & Shine Craft Distillery in Langford.

Kelly strongly believes in the power of collaboration and networking to create positive change and drive economic development. Whether he’s sponsoring local events, mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs, or volunteering for charitable causes, Kelly is always seeking opportunities to give back to the community that has helped him succeed.

​Chris Burdge | Vice President.  Chris is the owner of bWEST Interactive, an award winning online marketing firm based in Langford.  An active entrepreneur, Chris was on the board of the WestShore Chamber from 2017-2022 before returning in 2024. He has proven unflappable while MCing the Best of the WestShore Awards, or when speaking notes vanish part-way through an online all-candidates forum (true story). Chris is an avid supporter of the West Shore community and JDF Minor Hockey. When not working he can be found playing hockey, cycling, or paddle boarding.

Danica Straith | Secretary. Danica is the Director of Community Learning Partnerships at Royal Roads University (RRU). In addition to her efforts to enhance community-university collaborations, she is a Certified Executive Coach (CEC) and the Founder of Flight Coaching. 
​
​Her career has grown with a focus on social innovation and change management across Canada as well as internationally with organizations like Ashoka, the McConnell Foundation, Evergreen, and the Institute for Ecological Economics. She is the co-founder of StreetSuds transitional employment enterprise in Montreal and, in addition to her CEC, holds a HBA and a MSc from McGill University.

​Clark Lawrence | Treasurer. Clark is Chartered Professional Accountant and Principal at Baker Tilly Victoria Ltd. and has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree with a Concentration in Entrepreneurship from the University of Victoria. Since joining the firm in January 2003, Clark has focused on providing assurance, accounting, Canadian tax, and business advisory services to a wide range of clients including for-profit businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and registered charities.  Clark has had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors of both the Victoria Hospice Society and the Victoria Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation for six years from 2015-2021.  Clark now serves on the Victoria Foundation’s Audit Committee as a community representative.  A proud Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow, Clark also serves as a member of the Rotary Club of Victoria.  Clark resides in Colwood with his wife and two children and enjoys coaching minor hockey and baseball as well as playing hockey and golf.

​Brittney Ashley | Director and Acting Secretary.  Brittney Ashley is an award-winning Métis entrepreneur, proud mom of two young kids, and certified business, imposter syndrome coach, and strategist. Driven by a passion to help moms work from home and challenge the status quo, she founded Creative Dynamics Virtual Services—a values-driven agency based in Victoria, BC, serving clients across Canada. Brittney leads a dedicated team supporting service-based entrepreneurs with strategy, systems, hands-on implementation, and mindset transformation, building full business ecosystems through both “done-for-you” and collaborative “done-with-you” solutions.

Guided by a trauma-informed, heart-centered approach, Brittney empowers women, moms, neurodivergent leaders, and entrepreneurs to thrive—creating sustainable success without burnout or hustle culture. Named a Top Coach in Victoria, a Canadian Choice Award honoree for 2026, and an Entreprenista 100 honoree, she also hosts Breaking Norms, Building Dreams, a global radio show inspiring others to embrace their worth and challenge the status quo. Deeply committed to community, Brittney balances business and motherhood while championing inclusive, values-driven leadership.

​Jeffrey Denissen | Director. Jeffrey Denissen, CPA, CA, CIA, is the owner of Profit Guard Consulting, a firm dedicated to supporting SMEs with expert On-Demand CFO Services. As a Chartered Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, and Chief Financial Officer with over 25 years of experience in the financial world, Jeffrey is a seasoned business and management advisor. He mentors and guides entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized business owners to achieve success and make a positive impact through data analytics. The result: business owners exactly know what to do to have a growing, more profitable, and successful business.​

Begüm Eryilmaz | Director. Begüm Eryilmaz is the founder of Oasis Landscape Design and a proud resident of Victoria, B.C., where she lives with her husband and two children. After establishing a successful career in Europe, she brought her international experience to Canada eight years ago, combining creativity with a deep appreciation for community and local living.

​Her firm has delivered award-winning landscape and architectural projects in Italy, the United Kingdom, Libya, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Africa, US, and Canada. Blending sustainability, aesthetics, and cultural context, Begüm and her team design spaces that celebrate nature and strengthen human connection.

Adam French | Director (he/him). Adam is currently a Real Estate Consultant at Newport Realty. Adam has a special passion for Real Estate, business/economic development and the sustainable economic independence and social well-being of Indigenous groups. Adam attained his Masters in Management right here at Royal Roads University, and his Master of Business Administration in Munich, Germany as well as his professional designation in Project Management. Adam spent many years partnering with Indigenous groups on the island and in Western Canada on major Real Estate projects on behalf of ATCO. Overseas, he has led Economic Development and Real Estate projects in Kosovo and North Africa.

Adam sits currently as the Treasurer for the Pacific Centre Family Services Association, and the new Westshore Community Health Centre. He is immersed in supporting the people of Victoria/Westshore by assisting them in their Real Estate needs, drawing on decades of real estate & business negotiations experience, and a love of community. In his spare time you can catch Adam golfing, gardening, boating, and hiking on our beautiful island with friends, family and his new pup, Charlie.

Sarah Howard | Director.  Sarah Howard is a born and raised islander and a mom of two busy teenage daughters.  Since 2014, Sarah has worked in various positions at BMO and is dedicated to bringing a unique blend of financial expertise, cross-industry insight, and deep community engagement to her role with the Chamber of Commerce.
 
Sarah has had the privilege of working with a diverse range of industries and entrepreneurs, giving her a broad perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing our region. She is passionate about financial education and empowering businesses with the tools they need to thrive. She strongly believes in collaboration, transparency, and community responsibility. Sarah is looking forward to advocating for local success and contributing to building a stronger, more vibrant community.

Kelly Kurta | Director. Kelly Kurta is a respected community builder, executive leader, and event-production professional with more than 25 years of experience in transportation, logistics, safety, partnerships, and large-scale festival delivery. For the past 11 years, Kelly has served as the Executive Director of the Greater Victoria Festival Society, where she leads the strategic planning, governance, sponsorship development, operational execution, and long-term sustainability of many of the region’s most iconic community celebrations. Kelly is also the Founder and Principal of Kaemac Services Inc., a project and event-management firm she has successfully operated for over two decades, specializing in non-profit, municipal, and fundraising initiatives throughout Southern Vancouver Island. Through Kaemac, she provides senior-level expertise in logistics planning, safety compliance, stakeholder relations, budgeting, and on-the-ground execution.
​
Kelly’s work is driven by a deep commitment to strengthening local economies, supporting charities, and building inclusive community experiences. Outside of work, she can be found outdoors, travelling and visiting friends around the world,  or near the water with her husband of 31 years and their two grown daughters.

​JRR (Reggie) Létourneau | Director.  ​A relative newcomer to Vancouver Island, Reg has a wide variety of business experience from across Canada, in fields of endeavor that range from the geomatics engineering and environment sectors, to participating on First Nation land claims projects.  At the Board level Reg has experience as a School Board Trustee (Oromocto, NB), was a founding member of the Calgary Geomatics Cluster, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of a private company (Stromtech Energy Services Ltd), and is Managing Partner for the Hunter Spirit Energy Group consortium based out of Calgary, Alberta. Reg also works for Island Tigers Energy Corporation, which is a proud WestShore Chamber Member. Reg is excited to be a part of the thriving WestShore business community during these most challenging times.

​James Ramsbottom | Director.  James is a Registered Patent Agent and Partner at Merizzi Ramsbottom and Forster. James holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in life sciences and was a doctoral graduate student in molecular pharmacology at the University of Trieste in Italy. After developing an interest in intellectual property, James went on to manage and enforce the patent portfolio of a life sciences company in Toronto. Since then, James has worked with scientists and engineers of all disciplines—from biofuels to medical research, in both public and private sectors. He is the inventor of several Canadian and American patents, as well as author of numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications.  James resides in Langford with his wife and two children. When James is not working, you will find him skiing or paddle boarding.