IPAC Victoria

Thank you for making IPAC Victoria's 6th Annual Policy Pitch event at the Grand Pacific Hotel a success!

Congratulations to Lief Douglass, our winner and people's choice award recipient, and to Angus Argyle for securing second place. We also commend Rodrigo Feracini, Sally Reid, and Susan Martin for their exceptional pitches and innovative ideas. All the presenters led an engaging discussion on an important topic in our province, housing and homelessness.

A special thanks to our distinguished judges—Julian Daly, Jeff Masuda, Candace Witkowskjy, and Melanie Hope—for your valuable insights and guidance. William "Bill" Reid, our host, you were an exceptional and engaging moderator.

We are deeply grateful to Clint Abbott and Malcolm Gaston for their insightful remarks, providing valuable context and depth to the discussions.

Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the planning committee, chaired by Claudine Lo, and comprising Hassan Arif, Sonja Zoeller, Tristan Dennison, Jesse O'Neil-Beins, and Marjorie Bandola, for their meticulous organization and dedication. To the selection committee, led by Hassan Arif and including Tristan Denniston, Steven Emery, and Marcel Ramirez, your careful consideration of which candidates would present at this event and your expertise ensured a fair and successful competition.

To our volunteers—Mariel Maraña (photographer), Rico Roma Flores (selection), Sheryl Marson (registration), Chris Marson (registration), Rose Concepcion (info booth), and Liz Manalo (info booth)—your hard work and enthusiasm were essential to the seamless ex*****on of the event.

Finally, we extend our gratitude to our sponsors—Aryze and MNP—for their generous financial support, which made this event possible.

Once again, thank you all for your commitment and support. We look forward to future collaborations and more opportunities to celebrate innovation and excellence.

We are pleased to announce that Sonja Zoeller has been appointed as the new President of IPAC-Victoria. Sonja brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to our organization's mission.

Sonja is a doctoral candidate in the University of Victoria’s School of Public Administration. Her research interests focus on issues of social justice and social equity, particularly topics related to governance and policymaking concerning urban homelessness. Sonja previously worked in the Government of British Columbia and the Government of Saskatchewan. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Regina and a Bachelor’s of Applied Journalism from Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

At the same time, we bid a fond farewell to Dr. Kimberly Speers, who has stepped down from her role as President. Kimberly’s dedication, leadership, and countless contributions to IPAC over the years have been truly invaluable, and we extend our deepest gratitude for her service. Kimberly’s passion and vision have left a mark on our organization, and while we will miss her energetic leadership, we wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

As we move forward under Sonja's leadership, we remain committed to our mission of promoting excellence in public service and connecting public servants through online and in-person events.

Please join us in thanking Kimberly for her outstanding contributions and in welcoming Sonja as our new President.