2022/23
Brent Coyne is an associate lawyer at Pushor Mitchell in Kelowna. Brent holds a Bachelor of Arts from University of British Columbia Vancouver, and Juris Doctor of Laws from Bond University on the Gold Coast, Australia. Brent advises clients in all aspects of family law. Brent also has considerable experience in a wide variety of commercial and civil litigation matters, including contractual disputes, negligence claims, and real and stratified property disputes. Brent is a trial lawyer and has successfully represented clients at all levels of court in British Columbia.
Brent is formerly the director of governance for the Kelowna Community Music School, and currently serves as the director of governance for Canada Skateboard; national governing body for amateur and Canadian athletes at the Olympics and international events. A keen photographer himself, Brent is an art enthusiast with a particular appreciation for the medium of photography, with a particular passion for 20th century and contemporary black and white photography. Mr. Coyne was appointed to the Board in December 2022.
Gillian Dougans is an Associate Counsel with Hartshorne & Mehl, in Vancouver. Jill was born and raised in Vancouver and received her degrees, Arts and Law, from UBC. She practiced in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley before coming to the Okanagan. She has always been a trial lawyer in the areas of insurance defense, personal injury, employment and general litigation and more recently estate litigation. She is also an Adjunct Professor with UBCO in the Political Science department and teaches a course called “Issues in Contemporary Law”, POLI 432. Jill likes to cycle in the summer and ski in the winter. Ms. Dougans was appointed to the Board in April 2020.
Jillian Garrett has been a professor of Communications at Okanagan College since 2007. As a member of the local disability community, Jillian works passionately to combat ableism and promote equity and accessibility; she has spent decades volunteering in the public health sector as a patient advocate, and proudly sits on Okanagan College’s Accessibility Committee. She also has many years’ experience sitting on academic governance committees at Okanagan College, including in her current role as Vice-Chair of Education Council. Jillian’s teaching and subject matter expertise include visual culture, critical disability studies, inclusive pedagogies, cultural theory, environmental communication, argumentation and persuasion, and professional communication. Jillian’s scholarly interests primarily focus on issues around visual culture, including how collective and cultural memory is created and sustained through public monuments and memorials; the function of visual culture in times of national crisis; and the pedagogical role of public art in urban culture. Ms Garrett was appointed to the Board in August 2022.
Steve Huculiak began his 45-year design career in 1977 working in Vancouver, Toronto and now the Okanagan (since 1991). Focusing on the art of building design Steve created a long list of ‘works’ – architecture & urban design – as project designer, and is contracted regularly, to prominent architectural firms, cities, municipalities, and local First Nations. While attending OCAD University and Emily Carr University of Art & Design Steve developed a keen eye and skilled hand, establishing him as a notable watercolourist. Steve brings a fresh perspective to the KAG Board with his unconventional and unaccredited career path success – arriving as by the corridors of an artist. Living in Kelowna since 2010, before that Peachland, Steve enjoys time with his wife Stacey (musician and life-force) and family/friends, enjoying the outdoors hiking, skiing, paddling, and basically roaming over this Syilx Okanagan wonderland. Travelling, film/TV and reading are some other of his favourite soul enriching activities. Mr. Huculiak was appointed to the Board in January 2022.
Kara James, Treasurer, is the is the Chief Operating Officer for Pushor Mitchell Law Firm. She is an Okanagan College Alumni, a graduate of the University of BC and a CPA, CA with over 24 years experience. Kara’s career began in public practice with KPMG in 1998. In 2003, Kara joined Sysco Canada, and was with Sysco for 17 years, holding various Director and CFO roles. In 2020, she joined Pubco Reporting Solutions, a small boutique firm in Vancouver, BC and subsequently founded a sister consulting practice, JB CFO, offering fractional CFO services to start-up companies, and small to mid-sized entrepreneurial organizations and non-profit organizations. Kara is also a term professor at Okanagan College School of Business, teaching accounting and entrepreneurship. Kara is committed to giving back to her community. In addition to serving on the board of the Kelowna Art Gallery, Kara has volunteered as a business mentor for Entrepreneurship@UBC – Okanagan Campus and is currently a Mentor At Large for Kelowna Women in Business and a member of the Ellis Place Supportive Housing Community Advisory Committee. Kara is excited being a part of the Gallery community and especially assisting the Gallery in executing its 2022-2024 strategic plan. Ms. James was appointed to the Board in February 2022.
Kassie Nadler, Treasurer, is a senior accountant at BDO in the audit department, with a focus on not-for profit organizations for the last three years. She completed her CPA designation in January 2022. Kassie is experienced in accounting and the analysis of financial information through her work in the not-for-profit sector. She is an art enthusiast and has participated in several Gallery events in the past. Kassie is looking forward to working with the Gallery in her capacity as an accountant and as an engaged member of the arts community. Ms Nadler was appointed to the Board in February 2022.
June Nicolay, President, is the owner and operating director of DTEC Software, which develops and implements Food Industry Specific Software Systems. Locally June has been involved in many organizations including the Kelowna Yacht club, Founding Donor of the Visiting Artist Mentorship Program at University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO), Board of Director and Past Chair of Opera Kelowna. June has a long-time interest in the arts and is the mom of an internationally shown mid-career artist. Ms. Nicolay was appointed to the Board in April 2019 and is currently the Board President.
Sarah Rambold is the Associate Director of Alumni Engagement at UBC’s Okanagan Campus. She holds a Bachelor of Management degree from UBC’s Okanagan Campus and brings over a decade of diverse management experience in the areas of marketing and communications, finance, First Nations, professional services, hospitality, real estate, construction, green building (LEED), arts and culture, design, charity and not-for-profit, and sustainability. As a trusted partner to senior leadership, she helps organizations achieve their strategic goals. Ms. Rambold was appointed to the Board in August 2019.
Camille Saltman, Secretary is an Indo-Canadian-American entrepreneur. She moved to Kelowna with her husband in 2015 and is Chief Marketing and Sales Officer of INCA Renewtech, an international bio-composites innovation and manufacturing company. Since moving to the region she has co-founded Okanagan WMAN angel group, built e@UBCO, a business accelerator for the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus, co-chaired the Opera Kelowna board and co-founded the non-profit Okanagan Sustainability Leadership Council. Over 20 years, prior to moving back to Canada, she was President of Malama Composites, MD Revolution and the business accelerator CONNECT, credited with building San Diego’s leadership as one of the top tech clusters in the world. She held board leadership roles with Tony award winning La Jolla Playhouse and globally recognized La Jolla Music Society and leading trade organizations. She is recipient of the YWCA Spirit of Commitment Award, the San Diego Performing Arts League STAR Award, the YWCA Tribute to Women and Industry Award, the San Diego Business Journal Women Who Mean Business Award and has received multiple awards from the American Marketing Association, Public Relations Society of America and San Diego Ad Club. Ms Saltman was appointed to the Board in January 2022.
Lori Samuels, Vice President, is a wealth manager at Raymond James in Kelowna. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Calgary and has successfully completed several industry designations. Lori has volunteered her time with many organizations over the years including 7 years with the BC SPCA. Ms. Samuels was appointed to the Kelowna Art Gallery Board in April 2019 and is currently the Vice President of the Board and the Chair of our Advancement committee.
Stoke Tonne, Past President, has always had a passion for art as he majored with a BA in art history with a focus on architectural history in his undergraduate degree and went on to graduate with a Masters in Architecture. He has woven his love of art into his business of design and works daily as an architect at improving the quality of the public realm. He lives in the Heritage District and practices in downtown Kelowna and is committed to enhancing the vibrancy downtown core with recent projects such as the Kelowna Yacht Club and the Okanagan Centre for Innovation. Mr. Tonne was appointed to the Board in May 2017 and is currently Past- President.
