Get to know the Board of Director Nominees/Candidates for this year's AGM. Read their bios and watch their video submissions below! We are so fortunate to have such a great lineup of talent in our local Tech Community!
Register to attend VIATEC's AGM on Sept 25, 2025 at Fort Tectoria as we announce the newly elected board members.
Questions? Contact info@viatec.ca
2025-26 VIATEC Board Nominees
OZZY ALPARSLAN
DynamicCRM Software
[Click here for Ozzy's video submission]
Oguzhan (Ozzy) is the CEO and Founder of DynamicCRM Software Inc., a Canadian company delivering customized CRM solutions. With 20+ years of international experience, he has led ERP and CRM implementations, managed multi-million-euro financial operations, and overseen acquisitions while at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence in Europe. Invited to Canada through a selective entrepreneurial program, he received a Letter of Support from VIATEC. A graduate of Capilano University’s North American Business Management – International Business program, Ozzy brings expertise in business development, sales, and cross-border operations. He is passionate about connecting entrepreneurs, investors, and talent to drive sustainable innovation.Â
JIM BALCOM
[Click here for Jim's video submission]
Jim has spent his career in the technology industry in Silicon Valley, Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria. Jim recently retired as COO of Redlen Technologies, where he helped Redlen become a major technology success story, developing world-leading medical imaging technology, growing staff from 50 to 250 people, and executing a very successful strategic exit to Canon Inc. Jim worked in various roles during his career including manufacturing, engineering, sales and venture capital, and developed and launched disruptive products and technologies into the consumer electronics, alternative energy, medical and security industries. Jim has a Systems Engineering degree from Waterloo and an MBA from Harvard and has learned a lot along the way from successes and failures. He has helped raise over $200M in financing for numerous companies from angels, VCs, government programs and IPOs and has been a board member, angel investor and mentor to several companies over the years.
DAVID CLIMIE
[Click here for David's video submission]
David believes the key role of VIATEC is to grow the local tech ecosystem by attracting talent, capital, and providing great support programs. He has more than 35 years of tech experience with BC-based companies in senior management positions in the areas of semiconductors, 5G wireless, hydrogen fuel cells, and biotechnology. David brings strong financial, communication and governance skills to the Board position, and has completed the ICD.D Governance course in Canada. He’s worked in advocacy & policy before, and served on the B.C. Tech Association Board, the BC Business Council, and the Wavefront Wireless Accelerator Board - - so he’s very interested in sharing his experience and helping to grow the amazing tech sector in Victoria, creating new jobs and opportunities.
ROB COOPER
PlusROI Online Marketing
[Click here for Rob's video submission]
Rob started his technology journey working in software starting in 2001, launching PlusROI Online Marketing in 2007. Rob's been a VIATEC member since 2008. He’s been actively involved with VIATEC for years, having served on the board, led training courses, taken a startup through Accelerate Tectoria, launched the VIATEC AI Meetup for Business and is currently the Membership Chair on the board at VIATEC. Rob believes wholeheartedly in our local tech community and is keen to stay centrally involved.
MARIA DAVIDSON
Udutu Learning Systems
[Click here for Maria's video submission]
Maria is the CEO of Udutu, an e-Learning software company, where she has spent the past 19 years in roles spanning from training development, project management, HR, operations, business development, and marketing strategy. She has partnered with major clients such as WorkSafeBC and BC Hydro to design, develop, and launch large-scale training initiatives. As CEO, Maria drives strategic direction, ensuring Udutu’s products remain innovative while consistently delivering client success. Maria first joined the VIATEC Board of Directors in 2008, serving three consecutive terms and chairing the Governance Committee for six years. Now in the fourth year of her second term, she continues to bring her governance experience and deep industry knowledge to VIATEC while remaining an active contributor to the community. In 2020, she transitioned Udutu into a virtual company, embracing remote leadership to balance professional and family life. Outside of work, she is a PAC President and busy mom of a competitive dancer.
JACQUES DU PLESSIS
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
[Click here for Jacques's video submission]
Jacques is a partner in Osler’s Emerging and High Growth Companies practice group in Osler’s Vancouver office. Jacques advises entrepreneurs, start-ups and venture backed technology companies in all parts of their lifecycle from start-up to exit as well as advising a wide range of investors including venture capital funds, privacy equity, strategic investors and angel investors. Jacques has broad experience in matters related to corporation formation, governance, venture capital and financing transactions and acquisition and divestiture transactions in addition to supporting companies with their day-to-day corporate needs. Jacques also plays a central role in Osler’s relationship with Creative Destruction Lab, Accelerate Okanagan and e@UBC.
DARIN HERLE
Cosmogence
[Click here for Darin's video submission]
Darin is a seasoned technology and business leader with deep experience in software services, HR technology, and enterprise solutions. He is the founder of multiple ventures, including thePeopleStack, a consultancy specializing in Rippling HRIS implementations, and has served as VP of Business Development at AOT Technologies, a 180-person systems integration and software development firm headquartered in Victoria. Over the course of his career, Darin has worked at the intersection of technology, compliance, and people operations—helping organizations scale with innovative solutions in cloud engineering, AI, payroll, and ERP. Beyond his professional work, Darin is an active contributor to Victoria’s innovation ecosystem, supporting startups, entrepreneurs, and growth-stage companies through advisory work, events, and community-building. With experience spanning from leading international teams to mentoring early-stage founders, Darin brings both strategic and practical insights to the table. He is passionate about strengthening the region’s tech community and fostering collaboration between companies, investors, and talent.
CHAD QUINN
Achievement Unlocked DBA CultureFoundry
[Click here for Chad's video submission]
Chad is the Founder & CEO of Language Foundry, a Victoria-based edtech company that partners with Indigenous communities, teachers, and school boards to preserve and revitalize languages using language models. He has grown Language Foundry from an idea to a platform serving 10,000+ students, 300 teachers, and 40 school boards across Canada and the US, with plans to expand to 200,000 learners by 2027. A product-minded builder, Chad blends ethical AI, community partnership, and operational excellence to deliver measurable learning outcomes and sustainable margins. He works closely with ministries and community partners on multi-year programs, data stewardship, and culturally grounded content. Beyond his company, Chad is committed to strengthening Victoria’s tech ecosystem—through VIATEC’s CEO Roundtable, BOOST Accelerator, inclusive hiring initiatives, and mentorship of emerging founders and students. His vision is a tech community that competes globally while staying rooted in equity, culture, and collaboration.
COREY SCHOLEFIELD
Workday
[Click here for Corey's video submission]
Corey is a Sr. Technical Product Manager with Workday, based in Victoria. In this role for 6 years, he works with platform engineering teams supporting private and public cloud infrastructure. Corey's role includes stakeholder engagement, project management, and technical support. Corey is also a VIBE award winner at Workday, which recognizes outstanding effort to support values, inclusion, belonging and equity cultural programming. Corey spent 15 years working in post-secondary identity-management, with positions at both the University of Victoria and BCNET. At BCNET, Corey led a federated-identity program supporting BC-wide adoption of EDUROAM and federated authentication in partnership with the Canadian Access Federation. At UVic, his team established an identity-governance program that supported campus-wide identity and access management systems (aka NetLink!). Corey brings a unique spirit of collaboration to all engagements he undertakes, and looks forward to bringing VIATEC members together! Corey is seeking re-election as a board member, having completed 1 Board term.
