My Vancouver 2016: Vancouver Board of Trade's Iain Black

Welcome to My Vancouver 2016, a curation of local industry experts, community and thought leaders, each telling us their resolutions for Vancouver in 2016. Since 2008, we’ve been bringing you a bucket list of things to do around the city while also keeping you informed with the many issues in our community. Now, we’re focusing on what’s next: the evolution of our city into something greater, starting with 2016.

What do you do?

I am responsible for a) presiding over the largest corporate events business in Canada (143 events last year serving an audience of 23,000), b) deploying Member fees and sponsorship dollars to meaningfully enhance the professional development of our Members via our unique four Signature Programs, and c) effectively advocating on behalf of the region’s businesses at every level of government.

When did you come to Vancouver?

I arrived as a newlywed on January 1, 1994.

What do you love most about Vancouver?

Watching it clearly evolve over the past 20-plus years – culturally, economically, civilly, and socially – to now be on the verge of ascending to the status of a true international city.

If you could make one New Year’s resolution for your industry in Vancouver for 2016, what would it be?

To embrace with confidence the Trans Pacific Partnership. On a level playing field, our people and our companies compete with the best in the world; the TPP provides that level playing field.

See more Vancouverites weighing in with their resolutions for Vancouver in 2016

My Vancouver 2016 is presented by NYE Vancouver, a new annual tradition beginning on December 31, 2015. This New Year’s Eve, let’s celebrate home.