DIRECTORS ELECTION RESULTS

Paul Challinor | CPA, CA, ICD.D

Retired | Delta, B.C.

Director | Incumbent

I have been a Chartered Professional Accountant for 35 years and was first elected to the Board of First West in 2019, serving on First West’s Risk, Investment and Loan Committee (Chair – 2021/22) and Audit and Conduct Review Committees, and the Board of First West Foundation. I have also served on the Board of Central 1 Credit Union since 2020.

In 2019 I retired as a Partner at PwC Vancouver where I led the Financial Services practice from 2000 to 2015. Throughout my PwC career I served large public, private, and member-owned financial services organizations; and I have provided audit and advisory services to many of Canada’s large credit unions, alternative lenders (including fintechs), wealth managers and insurers. I have worked with a broad range of regulators including BCFSA (which regulates BC credit unions) and OSFI (which regulates Federal credit unions). My extensive Financial Services experience enables me to provide strong financial oversight of First West and to support its continued growth and success, particularly as we continue the federal continuance journey.

My governance experience also includes serving on the boards of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, the Public Guardian and Trustee, Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation, and church Parish Council. I have been actively involved in local badminton and squash and have been a regular participant in the Ride to Conquer Cancer.

I am honoured to continue to serve the members of First West as a member of its board of directors.

Meryle Corbett | FCPA, FCMA, C. DIR

Retired | Kelowna, B.C.

Director | Incumbent

I am a retired Okanagan business professional with 40+ years of experience, with accounting (FCPA, CMA) as well as corporate governance (C.Dir) credentials. My work background includes senior financial positions in very large companies (Home Oil/Devon Energy, SunRype Products, KF Aerospace), and I have demonstrated continuous volunteer and board work in local community, business and/or national professional associations for the same 40+ years.

I’ve had the privilege to be a pivotal part of taking SunRype public on the TSX, merging Canada’s three national accounting designations, turning around struggling local non-profits, and most recently, participating in building First West Credit Union’s vision to become a preeminent federally regulated financial institution providing the best of opportunities, diversification, innovation and economic resilience, all while keeping decision-making local in our communities.

My philosophy is based on continuous learning, volunteerism, and building leadership capability through mentorship of our youth. First West Credit Union exemplifies this same community, “member first” and continuous improvement philosophy. I have been privileged to act as a director on the board since 2019 and chair the Audit Committee since 2020.

My blended family (with four children and now grandkids) has lived in Kelowna since 1991. We love our local community and embrace the possibilities that First West Credit Union brings to all members: supporting and building thriving, resilient businesses and offering all members the best local financial support.

Richard Hill | ICD.D

Owner/Operator, Yellow Point Lodge Ltd. | Ladysmith, B.C.

Director | Incumbent

I am a lifetime Innkeeper who has been a credit union member for 20 years. I am a 61 year-old white male and live on Vancouver Island. Through my daily interactions with many different people from all walks of life I have developed an appreciation for the diversity of thought and cultures that defines where we live. Through lean times early in life, I learned not to take for granted the good things we have. That brought a desire to help people reach their full potential and an interest in helping those less fortunate.

Through exposure to the regular banking system through my father, I found the contrast between that world and the credit union system to be striking. I have said before, and will say again at my interview, I believe that the credit union system is ‘the angel on the shoulder of the larger financial industry’ and that the influence our system can have on the ‘big 5’ is a responsibility we should not take lightly.

While all members may not realize the difference, many will see a financial institution that helps its communities, gives back meaningfully and they will support that with their business. This will not only be good for the communities involved but will cause the larger operators to take notice and maybe encourage them to do a bit more themselves, to preserve their market share. Whatever it takes.

I feel that the First West Foundation is a cornerstone of this value structure. These are my key reasons for wanting to continue to be involved with this organization.

Waheed Hirji | CPA, CA. CISA

Financial Services Executive | West Vancouver, B.C.

Director | New

With 20+ years with Canadian financial institutions, I bring hands on experience in steadily and successfully growing financial institutions at both the provincial and federal levels. I grew up locally, attended UBC Commerce, obtained my CPA, CA and IT risk (CISA) accreditations through my time with a global professional accounting firm in audit and risk management while counting several credit unions as my clients.

My career has prepared me well to contribute to First West. I have held executive positions in both provincial and federal financial institutions as head of finance with responsibilities for strategy, reporting, treasury, tax, procurement and project management along with head of operations with responsibilities again with strategy and execution for lending (commercial, residential, and consumer), deposits, wealth management, branches and back office. In all roles I have collaborated with community groups, service partners, regulatory bodies as well as boards of directors.

My motivation for a director position is to serve others. The skills, competencies and collective experiences I bring are complementary to that aim. The thing I admire most about the Credit Union movement is that we are here to serve: our members, our communities, and our employees. We don’t forsake one for the other; we always work to create win/win/win solutions. My role is to leverage my experience as well as my inherent values to assist First West in achieving its federal charter goal of providing a healthy financial alternative for all Canadians as they are already doing locally.