CFE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Business Development Team

The Business Development Team provides advisory services to Commercial Fishing Enterprises who are participating in the PICFI program.

Mission: Continue fostering the economic growth of First Nations through diverse aquatic and coastal based industries.
Vision: To contribute to economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable communities
Values: “Community we live” – How we want to live is how we work. Our team works with people in an authentic, honest and respectful way.

Team Lead, Business Development Team

Fernando Salazar, M.Sc.

e: fsalazar@skeenafisheries.ca
c: 778-988-3961

Bio

Mexican by birth, immigrated to Canada in 2002 and proud Canadian citizen since 2007. Marine Biologist with a Masters in Aquaculture from the University of Guelph where he focused in environmental management of aquaculture operations. In 2006 moved to the Maritimes to work at DFO St. Andrews Biological Station, then to Nova Scotia in 2007 to work for the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia, to later in 2010 end up working for Ulnooweg Development Group where he joined the AICFI BDT as an Aquaculture Advisor. In 2019, he moved to BC to join the PICFI BDT as an Aquaculture Advisor and in early 2020, the BDT was in preparations for changing host organizations from Castlemain to Skeena Fisheries Commission and he became the BDT’s Lead, a position he still holds today.

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Fisheries Business Development Advisor

Christy Whitmore

e: cwhitmore@skeenafisheries.ca
c: 250-230-1925

Bio

Born and raised on Haida Gwaii, Christy comes to the BDT with a wealth of experience in First Nations fisheries business in several nations on the BC Coast. She has a business background, but she is also a seasoned fisher, having fished halibut, salmon, and rockfish up and down the West Coast of BC for numerous years. She also brings a decade of fish processing plant management, licensing & quota management, and expertise in QMP/CFIA management to her role. She is a proud mother of two grown daughters who both have followed in the fishing world, with one fishing salmon out of Alaska for 10 years and another fishing halibut in BC for 7. Christy is based in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island and will work closely with island based CFEs but will also be available to work with any CFEs that might need her blend of skills and experience.

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Fisheries Business Development Advisor

Marie Vander Heiden

e: mvheiden@skeenafisheries.ca
c: 250-588-1755

Bio

Marie was born and raised on Vancouver Island. Life started in Victoria and later her time was shared with the small fishing village of Kyuquot, B.C. Marie was a deckhand for 13 years (7-20), on a small 45ft troller with her father. At 20, she went off to teach English in Iwaki City, Fukushima, Japan. Later, Marie worked with the Search & Rescue Team on board the Canadian Coast Guard ships (Tanu and Gordon Reid). Five years later, she joined the Department of National Defence (Navy, NAVCOMM), right back here on the Pacific West Coast. During that time, she finished her BSc Environment degree and went on to complete an MBA and MA in Environmental Education & Communications. In 2008 Marie left the Navy and took up the position of Lands Officer in Saanich BC, later moving onto Director of Lands, BCFN. Much of the work was related to Natural Resources (Fisheries/Forestry/Mining), Strength of Claim / Title & Rights, Fisheries and Forestry Resources, and First Nations Sacred and protected lands. She is back home on Vancouver Island, BC and resides with her husband Michael and daughter Leila, both members of the Xat’sull First Nation (Williams Lake, Soda Creek, BC).

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Training Advisor

Alison Krahn

e: akrahn@skeenafisheries.ca

Bio

Ali was born and raised in BC and has called Vancouver home since 2009. She is a certified teacher with over fourteen years of experience in curriculum design, program development and community outreach. Alison comes to the BDT having spent the past three years at the University of British Columbia, where she developed teaching and training resources as the Program Manager of Indigenous Initiatives in the Faculty of Forestry, and as the Education & Training Manager with the Indigenous Research Support Initiative. Since 2014, Alison has been a board member with an environmental non-profit to run community-centered programs that brings people closer to nature. When not at work, you can find her hiking with her dog, at the beach or biking around the city.

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Aquaculture Advisor

Jackson Matschke

e: jmatschke@skeenafisheries.ca
c: 604-798-4471

Bio

Jackson grew up on a trout farm in Ontario, west of Ottawa. After finishing his BSc in Agriculture (University of Guelph) in Animal Science, worked for a large rainbow trout fingerling producer in mid-western Ontario. Following that, he worked for an agricultural animal feed company for several years. Having worked with poultry, dairy and meat goats, dairy cattle, and fish, Jackson has an interest in a wide array of animal production systems. He and his wife Christina moved to Agassiz in 2019, and she is a food animal veterinarian based out of Chilliwack. They spend their spare time hunting, fishing, and more recently at their cabin 100 Mile House.

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Fisheries Business Development Advisor

Jim Dopson

e: jdopson@skeenafisheries.ca
c: 250-641-4317

Bio

Jim Dopson from the Tsimshian Nation and a member of the Kitselas Band. Jim was born and raised in Prince Rupert where he went to Senior Secondary School and then University of Victoria. During the summers he worked in a fish cold storage (freezer) facility in Prince Rupert and then at McLean’s Shipyard. Following his graduation from UVIC, Jim started working with the Indian Fisherman’s Assistance Program, whose mandate covered BC’s entire west coast. Jim eventually became Fleet Manager and then General Manager, of Northern Native Fishing Corporation. Jim worked as a Business Development Officer for Tribal Resources Investment Corporation where he helped first nations develop business plans and find them low-interest loans with non-repayable grants. Most of his initial clients were his old NNFC fishermen looking to modernize their boats and diversify their catch opportunities.

He brings a wealth of experience in advising and assisting First Nation Bands, their economic development corporations, as well as individuals, with setting up business enterprises, with the majority being commercial fishing enterprises.

Jim has spent decades working with First Nations whose traditional territories are part of the Skeena and Nass River systems. He has witnessed firsthand, the decimation of BC’s commercial fishing industry and the tragic effects on the dwindling opportunities for First Nations to maintain a living and provide for their families in the fishing industry.

With his experience, Jim’s desire is to help the BDT provide opportunities for First Nations to not only survive in this industry, but to meaningfully increase their ability to expand their presence in the fishing industry and help with diversification of their commercial ventures.

Jim currently lives in Prince George with Anne, his wife of 39 years and their 4 dogs. Jim and Anne are the proud parents of 3 grown children, Amy, Sara and Jonathan.

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Evaluation Team

Independent Third Party Evaluator

Ngaio Hotte

e: nhotte@skeenafisheries.ca
c: 778-867-7894

Bio

Ngaio Hotte was raised in Ontario before moving to the West Coast. She now lives in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) territory with her anxious dog, Charlie. During her career, she has worked as an analyst in the private, public and non-profit sectors and as a researcher and instructor at the University of British Columbia. She has a background in biology (BSc., P.Biol) and resource economics (MFRE, PhD). Her doctorate focused on how trust is created in government-to-government relationships involving First Nations. She has written for The Globe and Mail, Vancouver Sun, The Province and several other popular and academic publications.

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Assistant Evaluator

Molly Voltz

e: mvoltz@skeenafisheries.ca
c: 612-991-8306

Bio

Born and raised in Minnesota and growing up as a sailor, Molly moved to BC in 2016 to follow her passion for oceans and aquatic ecosystems. She holds a Master of Food and Resource Economics and a Bachelor of Science from UBC. Her master's research focused on the challenges and opportunities facing the Canadian aquaculture sector. She also brings experience in Indigenous consultation and engagement from her time in environmental consulting. At Skeena, Molly focuses on the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative.

When she's not on the water, Molly can often be found in the mountains. She believes that time spent in nature makes us more appreciative of each other and the environment.

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