Chair

Jeanne is a public affairs professional with years of experience in government relations and community development. Equipped with an extensive network of colleagues in the BC public policy and non-profit sector, Jeanne's work focuses on building bridges between government, policy, and community - helping teams and organizations translate front-line insights and lived experience into public systems and decision-making. Currently, she works in a BC-based public affairs firm as a consultant.

Jeanne also brings the lens of her living experience as a queer, naturalized Canadian of Filipino heritage to her work and relationships. She was raised in Manila, Philippines, and immigrated to British Columbia in 2015. She has been based in the Okanagan region since 2019.

During Jeanne's free time, she likes to go on food trips, hikes and muay thai classes, as well as spend quality time with her partner. 

Vice Chair

Director and Finance & Governance Subcommittee Chair

Tamba an experienced professional in Procurement and Risk Management with a background in the Oil and Gas industry and public sector.

He currently serves as the City of Kelowna's Purchasing Supervisor, demonstrating his commitment to community service.

Tamba is passionate about creating safe spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and is a longstanding volunteer of the Etcetera Youth Group. He combines his expertise with his dedication to giving back.

Treasurer

Pratik ("Tiki") Patel has over 17 years of experience overseeing countless companies' financial health with integration and external reporting for all ventures along with third parties.

Previously Mr. Patel came from Very Good Foods (NASDAQ: VGFC) where he helped raise 70 million via IPO and additional offerings and was the CFO. He has also worked at WildBrain (TSE: WILD) and helped integrate Nerd Corps Entertainment and Studio B into WildBrain. While at WildBrain, he was the main person in charge of external reporting to the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval filings (SEDAR). At Bardel Entertainment, he works closely with the executive team to deliver future growth and meet market expectations and projections as Head of Production Finance. Mr. Patel has completed his CPA and has a combined experience of 13 years of growing companies and people with an industry-wide collaboration.

Before joining the media industry, Mr. Patel held a variety of financial leadership positions with such organizations as Radec Development, Allteck Limited - Quanta Services, and TQ Construction. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Management Information Systems from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and earned Certified Public Accountant designation with BCCPA.

Secretary and Programs & Operations Subcommittee Chair

Having moved to Canada from Zimbabwe at the age of two, Malusi has been lucky to call several Canadian cities home; Halifax, Ottawa, Saskatoon, and Kelowna.

As a former member of the award-winning music duo MABALEKA, he has spent 10+ years taking the stage across Canada and Ireland, sharing music and creating unforgettable moments. As Artist Manager and Performer, he successfully planned, coordinated, and executed various live events, including festivals, showcases, conferences, and tours nationally and internationally.

Alongside these artistic pursuits, he’s spent several years working in the Food & Beverage industry, helping create warm and welcoming environments in established and new dining concepts.

With his education in Communications, he’s also been able to serve a variety of entrepreneurs across the country in business development and branding which reaffirms his ultimate love of bringing people together. Having been in the Okanagan for 5 years, he’s thrilled to continue supporting IBPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities while creating spaces for young people to shine and celebrate their uniqueness.

Director and Revenue Development Subcommittee Chair

Jamie is a strategic revenue leader with fifteen years of business development experience across the Canadian tech ecosystem, including the geospatial, cybersecurity, and public safety sectors. Through his consultancy, Perceptia Consulting, and prior executive roles, including serving as CRO through two successful acquisitions at Echosec Systems, Jamie specializes in go-to-market strategy, commercialization, fundraising, and partnerships.

Beyond his professional work, Jamie is committed to giving back to the community. As a member of the queer community, he intimately understands the value of safe spaces and accessible mental health support in navigating complex life experiences. He is proud to champion the innate resilience of IBPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ young people. Through his ongoing work on the Revenue Development Subcommittee for This Space Belongs to You, he helps ensure vital community programs remain funded and accessible.

A lifelong British Columbian, Jamie has been based in Kelowna since 2021. When he isn't working or volunteering, you can find him out on the water paddleboarding with his daughter, sweeping at the Kelowna Curling Club, or cooking for family and friends.

Director

Ximena Cayo is a community development and immigrant settlement leader with experience advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and strengthening cross-sector collaboration across the Central Okanagan. As the Coordinator of the Central Okanagan Local Immigration Partnership (COLIP) at KCR Community Resources, she provides leadership in developing strategic partnerships, facilitating multi-sector collaboration, guiding community planning, and advancing initiatives that respond to the needs of newcomers and diverse communities. Her work brings together community organizations, local government, service providers, and other stakeholders to strengthen systems of support and build a more welcoming, inclusive, and connected region.

Ximena is deeply committed to community leadership and creating spaces where people feel a genuine sense of belonging. Through her work in immigrant settlement and DEI, she has developed a strong understanding of the importance of accessible services, meaningful community engagement, and collaboration in creating lasting change. She is particularly passionate about supporting underrepresented communities, amplifying diverse perspectives, and helping organizations move from conversation to meaningful action.

Originally from Peru and now based in Kelowna, Ximena brings a multicultural perspective and lived experience to her work. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Cultural Studies. Outside of her professional and community work, she enjoys reading, baking, and spending time playing with her cat, Neo.