Gunter Kramer
Acting Assistant Chief – Professional Development & Training, District of North Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services
Gunter Kramer has been with the District of North Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services since 2000. In 2016, he was appointed the Acting Assistant Chief of Professional Development & Training. In his role, Gunter is responsible for the training and professional development of the 130 fire suppression and prevention staff of the DNVFRS. His is also responsible for coordinating and scheduling regular inter- agency training events with partner emergency response agencies.

Lieutenant Mark Baker
Lieutenant Mark Baker brings over 26 years of firefighting experience, joining Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS) in 2006 after a career the UK Fire Service for 8 years. With 6 years dedicated to Recruitment & Outreach, he’s been instrumental in building VFRS’s team. Additionally, as a Hazmat Technician, his expertise ensures effective response to hazardous situations, safeguarding both responders and the community. Lt. Baker’s commitment to service and leadership makes him an invaluable asset to VFRS

Lieutenant Darcy Gordon
Lieutenant Darcy Gordon joined Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS) in 2011, bringing 12 years of experience in fire suppression. Transitioning to recruitment and outreach for the last year, he played a vital role in sourcing new talent for VFRS. With a specialized focus, Lt. Gordon served as a Heavy Rescue Technician for 6 years, demonstrating expertise in handling complex rescue operations. His diverse background and dedication to service make Lt. Gordon a valuable member of the VFRS team, ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.

Chief Neil Dubord
Chief Neil Dubord has worked with the Delta Police Department since June 2015. He has an exemplary service record, demonstrating innovative and strategic leadership during his tenure at the DPD. He has over 35 years of experience in policing, including extensive community policing, police transformation and critical incident command. Chief Dubord has been awarded the Police Officer Order of Merit (OOM) from the Governor General of Canada, the Police Exemplary Medal, the Queens Diamond Jubilee medal and the Alberta Emergency Services medal.

Prior to joining the DPD, Chief Dubord served as the Chief Officer at the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, and with the Edmonton Police Service, serving in various ranks, including Deputy Chief of the Community Policing Bureau. Chief Dubord is a member of various local, national and international policing committees.

Chief Dubord has a Master’s degree in Leadership and Training, a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in business, has graduated from the FBI National Academy, is a Canadian Human Resource Professional (CHRP) and is certified by the Association of Fraud Examiners (ACFE), the Association of Certified Money Laundering Specialist (ACAMS) and the Certified Financial Crime Specialist (CFCS).

Inspector Novi Jette, Surrey Police Service
Inspector Novi Jette is in her 26th year of policing. She has been with Surrey Police Service (SPS) for three years and is currently in charge of the Recruiting Section. Prior to joining SPS, Inspector Jette was with the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) for 23 years.

Inspector Jette has had a diverse career, having worked in Patrol, Drug Unit, CFSEU, Special Investigation Section, Professional Standards Unit, Special Projects Team, Human Resources Section, and Major Crime Section. When she first arrived at SPS, Inspector Jette was in charge of starting up the Employee Services Section.

As the Inspector in charge of SPS’s Recruiting Section, Inspector Jette is proud to be one of six Canadian police departments taking part in the 30×30 pledge to advance the representation of women in policing, with a goal of having over 30% female recruits by 2030.

Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) Jennifer Hyland, Surrey Police Service
Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) Jennifer Hyland’s policing career began in 1998 and spans both municipal and RCMP policing. She is an accomplished and approachable leader who is a champion of diversity, compassion in policing and employee mental health, and advocating for the community’s most vulnerable.

She was the first Deputy Chief Constable to join Surrey Police Service in January 2021. Deputy Hyland is in charge of the Support Services Bureau, where she oversees the recruitment, hiring, training and overall support for both the police officers and civilian staff required to build Surrey Police Service. Since joining SPS, she has developed and implemented an Employee Services Section philosophy, which is a wrap around service of care and wellness for both civilian and sworn officers.

Deputy Hyland started her career with the New Westminster Police Department in 1998 as a uniformed frontline officer. There she developed a DNA registry for sex trade workers, which was later recognized by the international police community for its innovation.

Deputy Hyland is the recipient of the International Association of Women Police Mentoring Award for a leadership program she created and implemented and was appointed Member of the Order of Merit for Police Officers in 2022. To learn more about DCC Hyland’s journey in policing check out her interview on “Ask SPS”.
 

Brian Ison, Managing Partner, Pacrim Risk and Security Consulting
Brian Ison is the Managing Partner of Pacrim Risk and Security Consulting, based in Vancouver. He has worked in risk management and security for over 20 years, starting when he was responsible for community policing in Southwest Vancouver in cooperation with the Vancouver Police Department.

His career led him to work with the credit unions in British Columbia and Ontario, providing risk assessments of credit union branches and offices, quantifying risk from an insurance perspective. Brian has written security, business continuity, and risk management manuals for the credit union system across Canada and has also managed national contract security accounts for a large, multi-national security company. As a licensed security consultant, he has conducted over 250 vulnerability assessments and CPTED reviews for clients ranging in size from residential buildings to shopping malls to sports stadiums.

Brian has a degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP), a certified CPTED practitioner (Levels 1, 2, and 3), and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). He is currently the Chapter Chair for the Canadian Pacific Chapter of ASIS, providing and promoting continuing education opportunities for security professionals in B.C. and the Yukon.

 Liz Jones, Senior Manager, City Protective Services, City of VancouverLiz Jones began her career in Combat Operations with the Royal Canadian Navy, based on Vancouver Island. After leaving the military, a role in security operations and emergency management was a natural fit.

With more than 20 years of industry experience, Liz has held several security, emergency, fire and life safety positions with national and international organizations — primarily working in the property management field (office and shopping centre complexes), enabling her to establish a broad multi-disciplined skill set. Liz currently works for the City of Vancouver as the Senior Manager, City Protective Services. She directly oversees the Protection and Security Operations and Fire and Life Safety divisions.

Liz has continued her education in Fire Safety, Emergency Management and Police Foundations through the Justice Institute BC; CPP with ASIS; and Real Property Administrator (RPA) with BOMA International; whilst also dabbling with marine certifications in her personal time.

Professionally, Liz is active in the province with ASIS Pacific Chapter (BC and Yukon) as the Vice Chair, previously holding positions as the Chair and Women in Security Liaison, and a member of ASIS New Zealand. She also volunteers with Vancouver Emergency Management Agency (VEMA) for local disasters and emergencies on the Emergency Support Services team, being deployed provincially for Wildfire and Flood response with Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) BC.

Liz devotes her personal time to supporting local and international organizations with her professional experience. This includes being a Board member for a Children’s Orphanage in Tanzania, tasked with creating and implementing fire safety and emergency response plans for the facility and volunteer inductions, and creating Emergency Preparedness initiatives at a Kangaroo Sanctuary in NSW, Australia.

Liz loves to rock-climb, ski and anything to do with the ocean – diving global reefs and sailing as a Boat Master (NZ Coast Guard).  Her claim to fame is surviving 8 hours of water-rafting down the Zambezi River.