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Lisa Parkes
In House Counsel at Westhills Land CorpLisa Parkes is an accomplished in-house counsel with Westhills Land Corp., where she has been an integral part of the team since 2011. With a diverse and extensive legal career, Lisa has consistently demonstrated her expertise and commitment to both the legal field and community service.
Lisa's journey in law began with her graduation from the University of British Columbia's law school in 1995, following a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Toronto in 1992. Early in her career, she served as a litigator with Maryn and Associates in Port Moody from 1995 to 2002, honing her skills in legal advocacy.
Her dedication to public service led her to the City of Coquitlam, where Lisa served as City Solicitor from 2002 to 2010, having initially started as Assistant City Solicitor from 2002 to 2006. During her tenure, she became a respected figure, contributing significantly to the legal landscape of the city.
Lisa's involvement in local government extended beyond her legal role. She was a presenter at various Local Government conferences, showcasing her insights and contributing to the professional development of her peers. Her impact was further recognized when she assumed the position of Vice President of the Lower Mainland Local Government Management Association from 2007 to 2010.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Lisa is an active and engaged community leader. Currently serving as the President of Softball BC, she also sits on the board of directors of the Capital Region Female Minor Hockey Association and Langford Minor Fastball. Her commitment to community sports reflects her passion for fostering teamwork and leadership among youth.
Despite her busy professional and community schedule, Lisa prioritizes family. She resides in Langford with her husband and is a proud parent of three adult children. Beyond her professional and community commitments, Lisa enjoys a variety of hobbies, including golf, slopitch, soccer, and coaching hockey and softball. Her multifaceted career and community engagement underscore Lisa Parkes' dedication to both the legal profession and making a positive impact in her community.
Andrew Tomilson
Lawyer at Cox TaylorAndrew Tomilson is a contracts lawyer at the law firm Cox Taylor in Victoria, BC. Andrew works with all types of clients in the industry, including owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers. As well as acting as project counsel for clients, he provides planning and strategy advice on all aspects of construction projects, including contract drafting, procurement, and liens.
Jeremy Burgess
Litigator at Reed Pope Law CorporationJeremy A. Burgess is a Litigation Associate with Reed Pope Law Corporation. Jeremy practices corporate commercial litigation, focusing primarily on disputes concerning real property, construction, commercial contracts and corporate matters.
Before joining Reed Pope, Jeremy practiced as a corporate commercial litigator in the Okanagan for ten years where he represented clients in the Provincial Court of British Columbia, Supreme Court of British Columbia and British Columbia Court of Appeal. He also represented the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, frequently appearing before the Provincial and Supreme Courts of British Columbia.
After attending law school at University of Victoria, Jeremy and his wife were thrilled to return to Vancouver Island in 2021. In his free time, Jeremy enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, volleyball and working hard at the gym. Jeremy and his wife enjoy the natural beauty of Vancouver Island and embracing the dizzying number of opportunities the area presents for food and drink lovers.
Mark Holland
Principal at Westplan Consulting GroupMark Holland RPP FCIP (he/him) is a Principal at Westplan Consulting Group with over thirty years of experience in urban planning and landscape architecture. Mark offers a unique and effective combination of private and public sector skill sets to lead projects from early visioning to policy development, to design and approvals and from financing to construction. A commitment to relentless innovation has driven Mark to challenge and push past the norms in all aspects of his work. He has won numerous awards and is credited with many innovations in Canadian Planning including sustainable communities, Agricultural Urbanism, creating urban vitality through Urban Magnets and many other progressive concepts.
Mark has also made significant contributions as a planning educator. He began as an instructor in the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture in the early 2000s. Since then, Mark has been a frequent speaker on topics related to planning and sustainability at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. Perhaps his greatest influence on planning education is the role he played in launching the Master of Community Planning degree at Vancouver Island University (VIU) in 2014. Ever since, he has played an instrumental role in the school, driven by a commitment to ensure that the next generation of planners is prepared to help communities create their future.
Mark is a Registered Professional Planner with the Canadian Institute of Planners and was inducted into the College of Fellows in 2022.