TRANSLINK - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Chief Financial Officer
• Chartered Professional Accountant

Biography Christine is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 15 years in executive and senior level financial positions. Prior to being appointed as Chief Financial Officer she was the Vice-President, Financial Services at TransLink and was responsible for leading financial planning & reporting, accounting services, treasury, capital asset management, compass operations, enterprise risk and sustainability functions. Christine also worked at Coast Mountain Bus Company for 5 years, leaving the role of Vice-President Finance, Corporate & Shared Services to join TransLink.

Job Titles:

• Chief Officer

Chief Officer Dave Jones joined Metro Vancouver Transit Police on April 1, 2019, following a 37-year career with the New Westminster Police Department where he began as a Reserve Police Section volunteer. He was hired as a full-time police officer with the department in 1986 and steadily made his way through the ranks. He was promoted to Inspector in 2000, to Deputy Chief Constable in 2009, and finally to Chief Constable in 2011. During his time at New Westminster Police Department, Chief Jones worked in a variety of sections and led a number of projects, including the initiative that effectively dealt with the influx of crack cocaine dealers into New Westminster in the late 1990s. He also worked with various city departments in the creation of the Integrated Service Team model that is still in effect today. Chief Jones is the recipient of a Chief Constable Commendation, a Sr. Officer's Commendation, a Queen's Jubilee Medal and a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal. In May of 2013, he was presented with the Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces medal by the Governor General of Canada. Chief Jones holds a Bachelor of General Studies degree and is currently enrolled in a Master of Law degree program. Chief Jones has deep roots in the community. He is a member of several police organizations, and is a dedicated volunteer with community soccer and sports programs.

Job Titles:

• Chief Operating Officer
• Director on the Boards of Consumer Protection BC

Biography Gigi Chen-Kuo is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of TransLink. As COO, Gigi Chen-Kuo drives the TransLink corporate vision forward and supports alignment of strategic priorities. She oversees the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary's office, Business Technology Services, Real Estate, Commercial Strategy & Innovation division, Internal Audit and Continuous Improvement, Indigenous Relations and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion portfolios. Prior to her position as COO, Gigi was TransLink's General Counsel and Executive Vice-President of Corporate Services. Gigi has a deep understanding of TransLink and the region, having been with the organization since its inception in 1999 and prior to that with BC Transit. Gigi was appointed TransLink's interim CEO in 2021. Despite the unprecedented times TransLink was facing, Gigi steered the organization forward. She demonstrated exceptional leadership, ensuring services continued to operate and moved forward key projects for the organization. Gigi is currently a director on the boards of Consumer Protection BC and Commissionaires BC. She is also the chair of TransLink's Captive insurance company and the subsidiary that employs Transit Police personnel.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Executive Team
• Vice - President, Engineering

Biography Jeff is currently the Vice-President of Engineering at TransLink. In his current capacity he oversees an asset portfolio valued at $16 billion, and an annual capital program worth $1 billion. Jeff is responsible for capital project delivery, project development, TransLink's Infrastructure Project Management Office, municipal transportation infrastructure cost share programs, operations and maintenance of five bridges, and initiatives supporting regional goods movement. He previously served as Director of the Surrey Langley SkyTrain project, where he led the planning, design, and approval of a proposed 16-kilometre extension of the Expo Line. Jeff is an accomplished transportation executive with 18 years of transportation planning and engineering experience, including more than 12 years in Metro Vancouver and six years in Chicago. He is a registered professional engineer who holds a Master of Science in Transportation from M.I.T.

Job Titles:

• Corporate Secretary
• General Counsel
• Member of the Executive Team

Biography Jennifer Breeze is TransLink's General Counsel & Corporate Secretary. She oversees the Office of the Corporate Secretary, which provides governance support to TransLink's Board of Directors, the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation, and an independent Screening Panel mandated by legislation. Before Jennifer was General Counsel, she worked as Associate General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at TransLink. Jennifer is an accomplished lawyer with more than 20 years of experience, including ten years of providing legal advice, guidance, and services for the TransLink enterprise.

Job Titles:

• Chief Executive Officer

Biography Kevin Quinn is the Chief Executive Officer of TransLink, Metro Vancouver's award-winning transportation authority. As CEO, Kevin Quinn oversees management, planning, finance, and the growth and delivery of bus services, SkyTrain, SeaBus, HandyDART, and West Coast Express transit services, as well as cycling and walking infrastructure, five bridges, and the Major Road Network. Under Kevin's leadership, TransLink has released several plans that shape the future of transportation in the region, including Transport 2050, TransLink's latest Regional Transportation Strategy and Transport 2050: 10-Year Priorities, the Climate Action Strategy, the Customer Experience Action Plan, the 2022 Investment Plan, and the Real Estate Development Program. With sights set on the future and feet grounded in the present, Kevin takes every opportunity to listen to customers' needs and ensures that TransLink continues to make strides forward for a better tomorrow by putting sustainability, reconciliation, and inclusion at the forefront. Kevin serves on the board of directors for the American Public Transportation Association and is a member of the Presidents Group, a group of executives championing accessible and inclusive workplaces. Prior to his time at TransLink, Kevin served as Administrator and CEO of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA). Kevin holds a master's degree in Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University and was recognized as one of Mass Transit magazine's Top 40 under 40 transit professionals.

Job Titles:

• Chief Information Officer
• Member of the Executive Team

Biography As TransLink's Chief Information Officer, Kurt is responsible for all aspects of TransLink's technology strategy and operations including governance and policy, resource allocation, and strategic oversight for IT across the enterprise. He believes strongly in the role technology plays to deliver excellent customer service, improve the organization, and make our region a better place to live. Prior to his role as CIO, Kurt was assigned to the Program Director role for the Compass Card & Fare Gate Project in 2015. In this role, he was tasked with turning the project around after lengthy delays and technical issues. Within a year, he led his team to successfully deliver Compass, one of Metro Vancouver's largest and most complex public-facing transformation projects. During his time in previous leadership roles at TransLink, Kurt established TransLink's IT Project Management Office and led the Application Services department. These roles involved developing the agency's first enterprise-wide integrated IT-planning process, managing the IT capital program, and establishing software development and support practices to increase the value of IT for the enterprise. Prior to joining TransLink in 2008, Kurt held various roles as a management and project delivery consultant, as well as in operations management. Kurt holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, a Master of Business Administration from Royal Roads University, and diplomas from BCIT and Royal Roads University. He holds professional designations as an Information Technology Professional, a Project Management Professional, and Business Technology Management Fellow. In 2006, Kurt was awarded the designation of Certified Management Consultant with Honours. Kurt has been an active member of his community, serving on many community and professional associations. He currently coaches youth soccer with the Coquitlam Metro Ford Soccer Club and sits on the BC Ministry of Health's Drug Benefit Council.

Job Titles:

• Interim Vice - President of Human Resources

Biography Mark Jefferson is the Interim Vice-President of Human Resources at TransLink. In this role, Mark oversees a staff of 100 human resources professionals and is responsible for organizational development, which includes succession planning, leadership and management development; change management and training; employee and labour relations; talent acquisition and workforce planning; diversity, inclusion and equity; and compensation, benefits and payroll. Mark began his diverse career as an educator. He has spent his entire career in the public sector with the majority of his roles in executive leadership positions including Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, and various Human Resource Director roles. Mark is passionate about leadership, organizational improvement, employee growth and development, fostering change, and a culture of continuous improvement to move initiatives and the business forward. He utilizes his vast experience to provide strategic leadership to initiate transformational change as a benefit to both TransLink and its operating companies. Mark completed both his undergraduate degrees (BA/BKE, B.Ed.) as well as his Master of Education in Educational and Counselling Psychology at the University of British Columbia. He has served on the BC Yukon CPHR Policy Group, Community Library Board, two strata councils, and enjoys coaching and refereeing youth rugby and soccer.

Job Titles:

• Business Executive
• President & General Manager / Coast Mountain Bus Company

Biography Michael is a seasoned business executive with industry experience ranging from entertainment and hospitality to transportation. He joined Coast Mountain Bus Company in 2018 as President and General Manager following three years on the CMBC Board of Directors of which he served two years as Chair. In this position, Michael gained insight into the role of the bus company both in the region and within the TransLink enterprise. Prior to CMBC, he was President and CEO of the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) and responsible for its overall operation, as well as community and government relations. During his time at the PNE, Michael led the organization through its transition from provincial ownership to the City of Vancouver. He was also instrumental in developing a long-term future for the PNE and Hastings Park, including a City Council approved 30-year Master Plan and an approved governance structure. Before rising to President and CEO, Michael held the role of Vice-President of Human Resources, managing employee and labour relations, performance management, recruitment and retention, payroll, benefits, and occupational health and safety. Prior to joining the PNE, Michael worked in the hospitality, tourism and entertainment industry for companies both locally and in the United States, and also spent time as a contract consultant, providing expertise in corporate and management development. Michael is actively involved in the community, serving on the Board of Directors for both the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society (Celebration of Light Fireworks) and the Tri City Youth Basketball Association. In 2005, he was recognized as one of Vancouver's "Top 40 under 40" by Business in Vancouver. He has also served as a mentor with Simon Fraser University's Beedie School of Business. Michael holds a bachelor's degree from Simon Fraser University.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Executive Team
• Vice - President, Financial Services

Biography Olga Kuznetsova is a senior finance professional with nearly two decades of experience in various industries. Olga spent over ten years with KPMG in Ukraine and in Canada, working in a variety of sectors, ranging from financial services, manufacturing, information, communication, technologies, to mining and utilities. After leaving audit practice, Olga held a number of progressively senior roles in finance in healthcare, with Provincial Health Care Services Authority. Since 2016, Olga worked at ICBC first as a Director, Financial Planning and Reporting, and then as Acting Corporate Controller. Olga joined TransLink team as Vice-President, Financial Services in 2020. Olga is a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Job Titles:

• President & General Manager / B.C. Rapid Transit Company

Biography A professional engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the transportation industry, Sany brings to the role extensive knowledge in rail industry topics such as customers' evolving expectations, supply chain challenges, labour market dynamics, procurement and delivery models, asset management, system modernization and digitization, and ridership recovery. Sany leads BCRTC during a time of incredible expansion of the network, an extensive capital project plan, while also embarking on the maintenance and renewal of our infrastructure and assets. Previously, Sany was a member of the TransLink team for over twelve years, serving as Vice President of Engineering from 2016 to 2021. He oversaw the delivery of the annual capital program and the development of the strategic asset management program and was a key leader in many capital projects and programs such as the Evergreen Extension, Broadway Subway, Surrey-Langley SkyTrain, Canada Line upgrades, SkyTrain fleet expansion, major station upgrades, and upgrades to rail maintenance and operations facilities.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Executive Team
• Registered Professional Planner
• Vice - President of Transportation Planning
• Vice - President, Transportation Planning and Policy

Biography Sarah Ross is Vice-President of Transportation Planning and Policy and is responsible for supporting senior leadership with the development of long-term policies, plans, solutions, guidelines, and analytics for the enterprise. Sarah is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in planning and research. Since joining TransLink in 2004, she has served in a variety of planning roles, most recently as the Director of System Planning since 2016. Recently, Sarah has been influential in guiding the development of TransLink's strategic plans, including Transport 2050 and the 10-year Investment Plan. She has also led the important work of improving transit expansion strategies, advancing bus priority measures around the region, implementing RapidBus corridors, modernizing HandyDART, and improving accessibility of the conventional system. She is passionate about further developing sustainable transportation to ensure equitable access to the services and activities that are integral to our customer's daily lives. Sarah is a Registered Professional Planner and a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and holds degrees from McGill University (BA Sociology), University of Toronto (MA Sociology) and University of British Columbia (MA Planning). Sarah loves the outdoors and coaches cross-country skiing.

Job Titles:

• Vice - President of Customer Communications and Public Affairs

Biography Steve is the Vice-President of Customer Communications and Public Affairs at TransLink. In this role, he is responsible for communications, marketing and ridership development programs, Indigenous Relations, community engagement and public affairs, and building upon TransLink's brand and reputation as one of North America's top transit systems. Steve is passionate about listening to customers and improving their transit experience. Under his leadership, TransLink released its first-ever Customer Experience Action Plan and completed its largest public engagement in the organization's history, while developing a new 30-year plan, Transport 2050. Steve previously served 10 years as head of communications and public affairs for BC Hydro, where he delivered a complete re-brand of the organization. He was previously Deputy Chief of Staff to the Premier of British Columbia. Steve is a graduate of Simon Fraser University and has an MBA from the University of Victoria. He currently serves on the Board of the Coast Mountain Bus Company.