Author Archives: PFM Search

Dave Jones – Chief Officer for Metro Vancouver Transit Police

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PFM Executive Search is pleased to announce that Dave Jones has been selected as the new Chief Officer for the Metro Vancouver Transit Police. His appointment comes after a national search conducted by PFM, which brought forward a diverse slate of qualified candidates for consideration.

“We are pleased to welcome Chief Officer Dave Jones to the Metro Vancouver Transit Police. Chief Jones has deep roots in the community and a wealth of experience at local, provincial and national levels of police leadership. The Transit Police is a dynamic organization, operating in a growing region. We are confidant that Chief Jones will lead our organization from strength-to-strength, ensuring we stay at the forefront of public service and safety”, Police Board Chair Mark Reder said.

“With more than 30 years experience serving the New Westminster Police Department, we are pleased to welcome Chief Officer Dave Jones to the TransLink Enterprise, said TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond. “As we see everyday, the Transit Police provide an invaluable service to the public and Metro Vancouver is fortunate to have the only police force in Canada dedicated to serving our customers and employees along the transit system,” he continued. “We look forward to working with Chief Officer Jones and thank Interim Chief Barry Kross for his steadfast commitment to public safety and security and for continuing to be a transformational force behind the Transit Police.”

“I am extremely humbled, honoured and excited to be given the opportunity to lead the Metro Vancouver Transit Police as their new Chief Officer,” stated New Westminster Police Chief Constable Dave Jones. “I’d like to extend my thanks to Interim Chief Barry Kross for the great work he has done. I look forward to working hard to further Transit Police and TransLink’s commitment to safety for everyone who uses the transit system.”

Dave Jones has been a member of the New Westminster Police Department since 1986 and in that time has had an exemplary career. He has worked in many different areas of the Department and participated in numerous major projects, including the downtown initiative that dealt with an influx of crack cocaine dealers in the late 1990’s. Chief Jones was also integral in the creation of the Integrated Service Team (IST) model that is still in effect today that deals collectively with community and policing issues. He holds a B.A. of General Studies within a joint Simon Fraser University/Justice Institute of BC Leadership Development program.

He has received many commendations and awards, including the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2013, he was presented the Member of the Order of Merit for the Police Forces by the Governor General of Canada.

Chief Jones will take over the role of Transit Police Chief Officer on April 1, 2019.

PFM Executive Search is a recognized leader in senior leadership recruitment and is known for its ability to facilitate large and complex Selection Committees in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Over the past 26-years, PFM has recruited senior leaders from all over the world.

Quinn Newcomb – Executive Director, Corporate Development for Genome BC

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PFM Executive Search was pleased to undertake the recruitment of Quinn Newcomb to the position of Executive Director, Corporate Development for Genome BC. This new role works closely with other members of the management team at Genome BC on delivering cross-functional programs and initiatives, building relationships with key stakeholders, including government, and taking the lead on emerging opportunities.

To support this mandate, Quinn brings a broad range of professional experience working with government and leading initiatives in complex regulatory environments. His skills in relationship building have been honed for success in an era of disruptive technological change.

Quinn brings expertise in working with diverse stakeholders across the public, private and non-profit sectors, including leading strategy management, communications & marketing, community engagement, and government relations at the international, national, provincial, and local levels. Most recently, he was Director, Marketing, Communications & Engagement and interim Vice President, Human Resources, Learning and Engagement with Technical Safety BC. Before that, Quinn spent six years at Destination Canada and has deep experience within government as a policy advisor, issues manager, and speech writer.

Quinn holds a BA in International Political Economy from the University of Victoria and an MA in International Affairs from the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. He holds designations as a Communication Management Professional, a Chartered Professional in Human Resources, and is actively involved in several non-profit organizations dedicated to building communities and caring for people in need.

PFM Executive Search works with many of Canada’s most innovative and creative organizations. Our company is recognized as a preeminent executive search firm which identifies and recruits senior leadership to a wide variety of top companies.

Caroline Andrewes – President & Chief Executive Officer for the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies British Columbia (ACEC-BC)

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PFM Executive Search is pleased to announce that Caroline Andrewes has been selected as the new President & CEO of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies British Columbia (ACEC-BC).

Caroline is an accomplished professional engineer with 20-years of experience in multi-national, high-tech companies. Most recently, Caroline served as President for Engineers & Geoscientists BC, and is up to speed on many of the issues ACEC-BC is facing across the province of British Columbia.

In addition to being a Professional Engineer, Caroline is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) so brings a business acumen to the position of CEO of ACEC-BC. An effective communicator, Caroline will build strong relationships with member companies, peer organizations, and government stakeholders in her new position. Her experience leading teams, formulating strategic plans and developing business processes are valuable skills she brings to the work of the Association. Caroline assumes the role from Keith Sashaw who has retired from the role after many years of service to ACEC-BC.

PFM Executive Search was delighted to work with the Board of ACEC-BC on this national search process. Our firm is well know for its ability to facilitate large and diverse Selection Committees and bringing top leadership talent to organizations in the private, public and not-for-profit/association sectors.

PFM Team Volunteers with Chalmers Lodge

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PFM Executive Search strives to make an impact at the community level by supporting a diversity of organizations that make a difference. In December 2018, as part of our Winter/Christmas Social Impact Initiative, PFM was proud to volunteer at Chalmers Lodge located in South Granville in Vancouver. Chalmers Lodge is an assisted living facility with 90-100 senior residents.

We all know that Christmas can be a very difficult and challenging time for many. To help spread some Christmas cheer, fourteen PFM Staff visited Chalmers Lodge in early December to write Christmas cards, decorate gingerbread cookies, and sing Christmas Carols with the residents. A lot of festive fun was had by all!

PFM was delighted to volunteer with the senior residents of our community and we wish everyone at Chalmers Lodge a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy new year!

Laura Wessman – Health Services Administrator, Prince George for Northern Health Authority

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PFM Executive Search welcomes Laura Wessman to Northern Health Authority (NHA), one of Canada’s most innovative health care organizations, as the new Prince George Health Service Administrator, a senior leadership position with NHA where she will build both local and regional operational capacity through interprofessional/cross functional team development and the delivery of quality health services.

Laura is returning to BC from an extended term in Manitoba where, as Chief Operating Officer of the Churchill Health Centre Division of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, she was responsible for Manitoba’s most northern hospital and integrated health services. Prior to that, Laura was the Senior Vice President Operations at Forbes Medi-Tech, a Vancouver based biotech company with a focus on cardiovascular disease, international research and development, production and distribution.

Laura holds undergraduate degrees in Science (biochemistry) and Applied Science (chemical engineering) from the University of British Columbia, an MBA from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Edinburgh.

PFM Executive Search has a long working relationship with Northern Health and is recognized as one of Canada’s leading executive search firms. The company recently celebrated its 26th year and is known for its ability to work with a wide variety of private, public and not-for-profit organizations in identifying and recruiting senior leaders. 

Its Health Care Practice is substantial, working with Boards and Selection Committees where diverse slates of qualified candidates are brought through an open, fair and transparent proactive search process. PFM Executive Search also collaborates with its Panorama Search Partner offices and Co-Chairs the Global Health Care Practice Group.