A new face is taking the helm of the Downtown New West Business Improvement Association.
The BIA has announced that Jesse Brown has been selected as the organization’s new executive director, following a comprehensive search process done in collaboration with the BIA’s search committee and Harbour West Consulting. The BIA board of directors has approved the selection.
BIA board president Karima Jivraj and vice-president Alice Cavanagh said the BIA is thrilled to announce its new executive director.
“Jesse Brown is an established and trusted leader committed to advancing community engagement for New Westminster,” they said in a news release. “Jesse brings knowledge and experience in non-profit board governance, program development, and team leadership. Jesse comes to the role with member-driven lens to support the ongoing success of the BIA and our broader community. We look forward to working with Jesse.”
Brown most recently held a contract position at the Capital Regional District, where he was the economic sustainability coordinator.
He previously served as the executive director at the Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Brown had a one-year contract with the Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce to support small businesses with COVID-19 recovery and to increase government and grant funded revenue for small business recovery on Salt Spring Island.
The BIA states that Brown began his career as the community engagement manager and then the executive director at YouthCO, Canada’s largest youth-led sexual health and harm reduction organization. After “aging-out” he moved on to work as executive director at the Vancouver Friends for Life Society, a holistic wellness centre for people in need living with HIV, hep C and cancer.
Brown, whose first day with the BIA is on Monday, March 6, has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia and has completed course work towards a Master of Arts from Simon Fraser University. He’s a former board member of the Agricultural Alliance, Pacifica aids Network and Canadian HIV Legal Network.
“I am honoured to be joining the Downtown New Westminster BIA as the new executive director,” he said in a news release. “I look forward to working with the board to advance the organization’s vision, services, and commitment to serving our members and the broader community.”
Established in 1989, the BIA is an independent not-for-profit association that serves 500 member businesses and 150 property owners. Its work includes assisting in the revitalization and promotion of Downtown New West.
Brown joins the BIA after the departure of the organization’s longtime executive director Kendra Johnston. In December 2022, Johnston announced she would be leaving the BIA at the end of January 2023, after 11 years as its executive director.
