EDUCATION SUMMIT 2025 PROGRAM & SPEAKERS

SESSION DESCRIPTION

How do you articulate your concerns during the permitting and inspection processes? What strategies do you need to apply when resolving conflicts?

This seminar is focused on helping you do exactly that: to communicate more effectively and collaborate across multiple audiences. You’ll learn to frame your requests clearly and follow up effectively, while also addressing potential conflicts and issues, through applying persuasive techniques. You’ll also apply escalation techniques when delays occur.

SPEAKER BIO

ERIC TUNG | PROLEPSIS CONSULTING

Eric Tung has over 20 years of experience developing and delivering custom training seminars and programs for a number of firms and associations, on topics including customer service, negotiations, leadership, sales, change management, facilitation, presentations, and technical and business communications. Eric is also a senior business transformation and change management consultant, where he advises firms on large-scale organizational-wide changes. His clients range from smaller firms to larger organizations such as the City of Vancouver, Metro Vancouver, BC Hydro, and TELUS.

In addition to training seminars and consulting, Eric is also a Business Communications Lecturer at SFU’s Beedie School of Business, and an English Instructor at UBC’s Extended Learning, where he teaches business and technical writing courses.

SPEAKER BIO

CHERYL POUNDER | 2x Gold Olympian Medalist, Broadcaster

Cheryl Pounder is a celebrated former Canadian Women’s hockey player who transitioned from the ice to the stage with remarkable success. A two-time Olympic Gold medalist (2002, 2006) and six-time
IIHF World Champion, Cheryl’s athletic journey began with an Under-18 Canadian National championship in the early 1990s. Her achievements reflect her dedication, skill, and leadership both on and off the ice.

Beyond hockey, Cheryl is a sought-after speaker who inspires audiences through engaging, passionate, and interactive presentations. She has delivered keynotes for organizations such as Tim Hortons, CIBC, TD Bank, and the City of Toronto. Cheryl draws from her experiences with adversity, teamwork, and perseverance to help others embrace change, build confidence, and strive for excellence.

A native of Mississauga, Cheryl earned a Bachelor of Arts in kinesiology and physical education from Wilfrid Laurier University, where she captained the ice hockey team. She was inducted into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005 and continues to motivate as a colour commentator for TSN and CBC’s Olympic coverage of women’s hockey.

Sponsored by

SESSION DESCRIPTION

Presented by Ken Kunka and Jun’ichi Jensen from the Construction Standards and Digital Solutions Branch, this session will discuss upcoming changes to the BC Building Code.  The presentation will also provide updates related to the existing 2024 BC Building code such as Part 9 Lateral design, Adaptability, Step Code and Manufactured housing.

SPEAKER BIOS

JUN’ICHI JENSEN | MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS 

Jun’ichi Jensen is the Director, Codes and Standards with the Province of BC’s Building and Safety Standards Branch. Before joining the branch, Jun’ichi worked as a carpenter and construction project
manager. Since joining the branch in 2008, Jun’ichi has worked on several significant building code projects, such as the development and adoption of the 2012, 2018 and 2024 BC Codes. Jun’ichi also participates in the development of model National Codes, recently as Provincial Co-Chair of the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes.

As Director, he provides leadership and strategic direction to support a range of key government priorities through building codes and standards.

KEN KUNKA | MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS 

Ken Kunka is a Senior Codes Administrator with the Province of BC’s Construction Standards and Digital Solutions Branch. Before joining the branch, Ken operated his own consulting and design business after a 30-year career within municipal government working in various municipalities and rural communities across BC. Ken joined the branch in February of this year and shares his time in helping develop the Permit Hub program, administer Building Code updates and education as well as participating in the National Seismic Design committee.

With both private and government experience, Ken has developed a greater understanding of the shared challenges the building industry faces and how critical communication, modern systems and cooperation are to ensure the successful completion of building projects as well as for the health and safety of occupants.

SESSION DESCRIPTION

Wilma Leung (BC Housing) and Mark Bernhardt (Bernhardt Contracting) will co-present on new research and resources from BC Housing and explain the guide’s purpose: to provide builders with practical, visual strategies for meeting the latest energy, carbon, and climate resilience requirements.

SPEAKER BIOS

MARK BERNHARDT | BERNHARDT CONTRACTING

Mark Bernhardt is President of Bernhardt Contracting and CEO of Energy Code Solutions. A leading energy advisor, Passive House consultant, and industry educator, he brings deep expertise in high-performance homes and is a Past President of CHBA BC.

WILMA LEUNG | BC HOUSING

Wilma Leung leads research and education at BC Housing, advancing innovation in building best practices, energy efficiency, and climate resilience. With a background in civil, structural, and environmental engineering, she also spent 16 years working hands-on as a residential design-builder in B.C.

Sponsored by

SESSION DESCRIPTION

Urbanarium’s design ideas competitions challenge architects, planners, and multidisciplinary teams to reimagine how we live and build. This session provides an overview of the organization’s past competitions, Missing Middle, Mixing Middle, Decoding Density, and dives into key findings from the latest competition: Decoding Timber Towers. Focusing on the potential of mass timber to tackle climate change and housing affordability, Decoding Timber Towers generated innovative proposals for modular, scalable, and low-carbon residential towers using mass timber. Presenters will share winning ideas, explore the systemic barriers uncovered, and highlight policy recommendations emerging from the submissions. Join us to see how imaginative design can help decode our densifying, decarbonizing future.

SPEAKER BIOS

MARTA FAREVAAG | PFS STUDIO

Marta Farevaag is an urban planner and Principal at PFS Studio interested in the integration of planning, landscape architecture, and urban design.

AMY NUGENT | URBANARIUM

Amy brings experience in capacity building, government relations and programming to the Urbanarium as its first ever executive director. Prior to this she was the executive director of Inclusion BC Foundation and has held resource development positions for a number of cultural institutions in Western Canada. As the former president of Artspeak, she has been recognized with a Mayor’s Award for Board Member of the Year from the City of Vancouver.

SESSION DESCRIPTION

This session will provide insights on Building Code development and compliance as viewed through the lenses of building officials and industry professionals. Panellists will explore two critical topics: the building code development and implementation process, as well as passive radon mitigation for Part 9 residential construction. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with knowledgeable experts who will share their experiences and perspectives on Building Code compliance and enforcement practices.

SPEAKER BIOS

BRIAN CHARLTON | JB CHARLTON HOMES INC.

Brian is an active member of CHBA BC and served as president in 2019. Brian and his wife Jody have owned and operated JB Charlton Homes in Cranbrook since 2003. Born and raised in the East Kootenays, Brian is a Red Seal Journeyman Carpenter and manages the sites of all his building projects. According to Brian, his perfect work day is spent on site framing or finishing with his crew.

ANDY CHRISTIE | BOABC

Andy Christie is a Registered Building Official who works for the City of Kimberley located in the Purcell Mountains of British Columbia.  Starting in 2008, Andy has worked in the Kootenay region with the Regional District of East Kootenay and the City of Cranbrook as a Building Official.  Before becoming a Building Official, Andy was employed as timber framer, carpenter and commercial construction site supervisor. Projects ranged from 25 million dollar homes in Whistler BC to re-building arena roofs in Kimberley and have offered a wide range of skills and construction knowledge.  Andy’s inspection process is solution based and he is extremely resourceful in providing options to the local building community to achieve their aesthetic goals and Code compliance. Having a passion for sustainability has influenced everything Andy works on with the City of Kimberley and he often speaks to a broad range of groups about the successes with energy efficiency and sustainabilty in Kimberley.

When not working, Andy enjoys spending time with his family, wood working in his home shop, cheering on the local hockey team and the multitude of recreation activities that living in the mountains affords.

TANYA REID | BOABC

After taking drafting extensively through high school, Tania attended Thompson Rivers University and received an Engineering Design & Drafting Technology Diploma.  Through her schooling and after graduation, she worked as a drafting technologist in a variety of settings including a mechanical engineering firm, a prefabricated home manufacturer, an architectural and planning office, a municipal office, and her own drafting business.  She received formal management training through Okanagan College and the National Coaching Certification Program.

Tania has been with the Building & Permitting department at the City of Kelowna since 2006 as a Plan Checker and Building Inspector.  Currently, she maintains the Registered Building Official (RBO) title with the BOABC and previously she held designations as an Architectural Technologist (AT) with the Architects Institute of BC (AIBC) and a Building Technologist (AScT) with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC).

As an active member of the Taneda Karate Dojo, she is a volunteer instructor and referee at tournaments.  She previously served as a BC Winter Games Coach as well as Treasurer for BC Chito-kai.  Tania has volunteered her time to serve on the BOABC Examination Committee since 2015 and is currently serving her second term as the Director for the South Central Interior Zone.

She is a devoted martial artist and enjoys camping with her husband and two children.

TREVOR WELSH  | BOABC

Trevor is the Director of the Building Division for the City of Surrey and a Registered Building Official with over a decade of experience in municipal building inspections, plan reviews, and plumbing inspections. He has held various leadership roles in local government, including with the District of North Vancouver, City of Port Moody, and City of Abbotsford, and has managed departments responsible for building, bylaws, and business licenses. Trevor holds a Level 2 plumbing official certification and has been a part-time instructor at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, teaching building code courses.

Trevor has been an active member of the Building Officials’ Association of BC’s Executive Committee since 2019, serving in various roles, including Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice-President. He currently serves as President of the Association.

Kick off Night 1 with a relaxed evening of connections and conversation. Enjoy a complimentary drink, light appetizers and the chance to explore the Exhibitor Showcase. It’s the perfect opportunity to network with fellow builders and industry professionals, while taking some time to meet and learn from the exhibitors who help bring the Summit to life.

*Open to all registered delegates, sponsors and exhibitors.

*Drink Sponsored by:

SESSION DESCRIPTION

A team from BC Hydro will discuss high voltage electrical hazards. They will describe how utility-line driven clearances overlay on a typical energized distribution power pole, and talk about how these can be applied to dwellings being designed in proximity of existing power lines.

SPEAKER BIOS

ANITA ANSARI | BC HYDRO

Anita Ansari, P.Eng is a process engineer with a heavy industry background. She’s worked in paper mills, designed mining plants, and served as an elected school board trustee. Over the past seven years, she’s contributed to several safety initiatives at BC Hydro and is currently on the Electrical Safety team as a Senior Safety Advisor, helping third parties learn how to work safely around BC Hydro’s power system.

STEFANO D’ERRICO | BC HYDRO

Stefano D’Errico is a Senior Design Manager at BC Hydro with the Distribution Design Customer Connections team. Since joining BC Hydro in 2002, Stefano has held a variety of roles across the Lower Mainland, bringing deep expertise and a customer-focused approach to every project. He and his team manage customer requests for new electrical connections, service upgrades, and alterations—guiding them from initial contact through to site energization.

KATHERINE MIDDLETON | BC HYDRO

Katherine Middleton, P.Eng is a Specialist Engineer with BC Hydro, working on the Distribution Standards team. With over 22 years of experience at BC Hydro, Katherine has dedicated the majority of her career towards developing and refining design and construction standards for the distribution system. Her technical expertise and long-standing commitment to excellence have played a key role in shaping the reliability and efficiency of BC Hydro’s distribution infrastructure.

JASON ROWLEY | BC HYDRO

Jason Rowley is a Policy Specialist working within the Market Transformation Team at BC Hydro.  Jason Rowley is a seasoned senior leader with 35 years of progressive experience in regulatory strategy, government policy development, and the implementation of codes and standards. His career has centered on advancing safety, compliance, and innovation in complex urban environments, with a strong emphasis on technical oversight and policy influence.  Jason comes to BC hydro after serving the City of Vancouver for 20 years as an electrical inspector, with the last eight years as Chief Electrical Inspector and Electrical Safety Manager for the City of Vancouver.

MARK STEVENS | BC HYDRO

Mark Stevens, P.Eng is an Engineering Team Lead with BC Hydro, where he has worked for the past six years. Prior to joining BC Hydro, Mark spent a decade in the electrical consulting industry. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of CSA C22.3 No. 7 Underground Systems and is a Voting Member of CSA C22.3 No. 1 Overhead Systems, contributing to the advancement of national electrical utility standards.

SESSION DESCRIPTION

The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs continues developing and delivering new resources and digital tools to assist owners, designers, and builders obtain higher levels of code and local regulatory compliance for permit submittals.

Presented by Ken Kunka and Manda McIntyre from the Construction Safety and Digital Solutions Branch, this session will cover the development of a drawing standards guide for Part 9 new residential projects and the development of new code compliance tools that will be made available throughout B.C.

SPEAKER BIOS

KEN KUNKA | MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS 

Ken Kunka is a Senior Codes Administrator with the Province of BC’s Construction Standards and Digital Solutions Branch. Before joining the branch, Ken operated his own consulting and design business after a 30-year career within municipal government working in various municipalities and rural communities across BC. Ken joined the branch in February of this year and shares his time in helping develop the Permit Hub program, administer Building Code updates and education as well as participating in the National Seismic Design committee.

With both private and government experience, Ken has developed a greater understanding of the shared challenges the building industry faces and how critical communication, modern systems and cooperation are to ensure the successful completion of building projects as well as for the health and safety of occupants.

MANDA MCLNTYRE | MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS 

Manda McIntyre is a Senior Codes Administrator with the Province of BC’s Construction Standards and Digital Solutions Branch. Before joining the branch, Manda worked as a Registered Building Official (RBO) and Building Department Manager at the Regional District of Central Kootenay.

Manda has recently joined the Building Codes Team at the Branch and also works with the Digital Solutions Team as a Building Code subject matter expert. Manda also participates in the development of model National Codes as a representative of the Province of BC. As a subject matter expert of both the Building Code and Local Government building permitting and enforcement experience, Manda brings a practical “boots on the ground” perspective to the Code Development Digital Delivery teams.

Sponsored by

SESSION DESCRIPTION

This session features insights from industry experts on Part 9 mechanical systems, with a focus on transitioning to lower carbon solutions. The panel will address common misconceptions, real-world design and installation considerations for heat pumps, dual fuel systems, HVAC systems for multiplex housing, and more.

SPEAKER BIOS

GREG BLOOM | GANDY INSTALLATIONS

Greg is a lifelong learner who is grateful to have the opportunity to work alongside some of the best in new home, renovation and retrofit industries. Greg is a journeyman carpenter who ‘recently’ completed the BCIT Home Inspection Program and takes pride in everything he does.

Greg loves to give back where he can, volunteers for BC Cancer, and is mentor with Building Builders.

TOM CATES  | HRAI

A licensed sheet metal mechanic and gas technician, Tom has been involved in various aspects of the HVAC industry for the past 30 years. Tom has worked for both large and small contracting companies in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors and for a number of years, owned and operated his own metal fabricating company. Tom has been an instructor for HRAI since 2006.

CHAD MAJOR | THOMPSON RIVER UNIVERSITY

Chad Major is an HVAC/Refrigeration instructor at Thompson Rivers University and also works as a Service, Sales, and Installation Technician at Kamloops Heating and Air Conditioning. He is the owner of Major Heating and Air Conditioning, an HVAC and gas contracting company.

Chad has extensive experience and education in the field, including Red Seal Certification in HVAC/Refrigeration, B Gas Fitting, and Automotive Technician credentials.

SIMON MILLER | PORCUPINE MECHANICAL 

If it hums, buzzes, or blows cold air when it shouldn’t, Simon’s probably already taken it apart and put it back together better. He runs Porcupine Mechanical, the North Shore and Sea to Sky’s go-to team for heating and cooling. Beyond the job site, Simon lends his voice to the MCABC, championing better standards for contractors across BC.

SESSION DESCRIPTION

This presentation will provide an overview of braced wall bands and lateral bracing in buildings, focusing on the key differences between Part 9 and Part 4 of the building code. The talk will highlight how to recognize the design requirements for each, particularly the rules and limitations outlined in Section 9.23.13 that allow for a Part 9 design. This presentation is a high-level look at identifying the correct design path based on a building plan review, ensuring structural integrity and compliance.

SPEAKER BIO

BRANDON BOLEN | BOLEN ENGINEERING INC.

Brandon is an experienced engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the structural engineering industry. He is skilled in Structural Engineering Design including full substructure and superstructure design of buildings, retaining walls, helical pile foundations, heavy timber design, structural steel design, and reinforced concrete design. Brandon has extensive experience providing detailed structural condition reports for building damage or building renovations.

He is a dedicated engineering professional with a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) focused in Structural Engineering from the University of British Columbia.

SESSION DESCRIPTION

An overview of some of the real-world consequences of non-compliance, as well as solutions and prevention strategies to help reduce defects in new residential construction.

SPEAKER BIO

BRENDAN BOBBY | TRAVELERS

Brendan is a Red Seal Carpenter with nearly 20 years of experience in residential construction. After nearly a decade in the field, he traded in his tool belt for a career in the new home warranty industry.

His role as Senior Technical Representative for Travelers Canada gives him a unique perspective on new home warranty and customer service, and daily, he sees the perspective of dissatisfied homeowners while assisting builders toward resolution with their clients.

This session is sponsored by: TRAVELERS

SESSION DESCRIPTION

Based on recent insights from LEEP’s Net Zero Wall Assemblies Guide, this session delves into the building science principles and practical construction techniques for advanced Part 9 wall assemblies, while also addressing compliance with Building Code.

SPEAKER BIOS

MARK BERNHARDT | BERNHARDT CONTRACTING

Mark is the President of Bernhardt Contracting Ltd., a former President of CHBA BC, and a licensed builder based in Victoria, BC. In 2012, Bernhardt Contracting built the first Certified Passive House on Vancouver Island and has since gone on to build or consult on dozens more.

Mark is also a Certified Energy Advisor and Passive House Consultant, and over the past year has spent much of his time helping other builders gear up for Step Code and higher performance buildings. He serves on several provincial code committees and chairs the CHBA BC technical committee. He is also the CEO of Energy Code Solutions, a new company formed for the purpose of using big data and automation to inform design and code compliance across the country.

TERRY KOWAL | CHBA BC