Virginia Weiler

I run a consulting practice working with small businesses and non-profits to strengthen their business plans and financial performance.

Previously I worked in East Africa (mainly based in Tanzania) as a consultant for USAID, UN Global Fund and World Bank preparing the financial, governance and project management structures for more than $200 million in funding to fight the HIV/AIDS crisis. On behalf of CIDA (Canada), I also prepared investments in support of credit access, trade development and human rights projects in Africa. Through this work, I became interested in how high-impact economic development initiatives can operate at large scale to create social transformation.

Since 2006, I’ve been immersed in board and governance work in Vancouver, currently serving as vice chair of Vancity Credit Union, vice-chair of Citizens Bank/Citizens Trust (which is wholly owned by Vancity), and director of Smart Growth BC, a non-profit advocating for livable communities.

In 2008, I became accredited as a corporate director (ICD.D) through the Institute of Corporate Directors, an internationally recognized designation, after completing a director education program in conjunction with SFU and University of Toronto business schools. This training has helped me at the Vancity board table where our role is to set high-level strategy direction, evaluate senior management’s plans and performance to ensure we meet our members’ needs and protect their interests, and safeguard Vancity’s financial strength so it can continue to play a leadership role in our communities. Vancity’s owner/shareholders are its 400,000 members who live in this region.

My interest in Vancity began in 1996 when I proposed that the credit union acquire a micro-loan fund I managed that served low-income entrepreneurs. It was modeled on the work of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank of India and Nobel Peace prize winner. Along with the fund, I joined Vancity staff and became a member.

In 1997, I helped create a business plan for a Vancity subsidiary, Vancity Capital Corporation, which finances growing businesses. Later, as Ecotrust Canada’s founding director of economic development, I established B.C.’s first conservation loan fund in partnership with ShoreBank Cascadia which provided credit and other services to small businesses trying to improve their environmental performance.

I completed a BA in History from Boston College and a Masters in Business (MBA) from University of Victoria.

In my youth, I worked as a heavy equipment operator and industrial first aid attendant in construction and mining in northern B.C., Yukon and Alaska. This experience, along with a passion for small communities and wilderness recreation, deeply influenced my thinking about economic development and diversification and the importance of including social justice and the environment in business decisions.

Although over the years I lived and worked in other countries and cultures, my feet are now firmly planted in Vancouver as my husband runs a multi-generation family business and we parent our young son. We love hanging out in our Commercial drive neighbourhood, bicycle commuting and cross-country skiing.