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Senior Executive Team
As a modern, effective, and efficient regulator, BCFSA is committed to protecting consumers through fair and efficient regulation of the financial services sector.
We’re proactive and forward looking. We take a risk-based approach to financial services supervision fitted to the dynamic nature of the sectors we oversee.
Regulatory and operational activities of BCFSA are administered by the CEO and approximately 300 team members with diverse expertise in policy, law, investigations, accounting, education, technology, and other areas essential to the successful regulation of the financial services sector.
BCFSA’s focus is on the financial services sector as a whole. We are organized on a functional basis with departments that oversee the entire sector including Supervision, Legal, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement, Compliance and Market Conduct, and Regulatory Services. A Corporate Services and Transformation department provides support to all the core business areas.
Our senior executive team members are leading experts in their fields.
Blair Morrison is the Chief Executive Officer of BC Financial Services Authority (“BCFSA”). He also serves as B.C.’s Superintendent of Financial Institutions, Superintendent of Pensions, Superintendent of Real Estate and the Registrar of Mortgage Brokers as well as Chief Executive Officer of the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation (“CUDIC”).
Blair is leading BCFSA on its journey to become a modern, effective, and efficient regulator for B.C.’s financial services sector. He has been instrumental in driving BCFSA’s strategy to safeguard the integrity of the sector and boost public protection.
A multifaceted executive, Blair brings more than 25 years of extensive regulatory, legal, compliance, and risk management experience.
Prior to joining BCFSA, Blair held progressively senior roles with some of Canada’s major institutions. He most recently spent over 11 years with the Bank of Montreal (“BMO”) in senior roles in Legal, Compliance, and Procurement. Prior to joining BMO, he served in senior legal roles with TMX Group and Nortel Networks Corporation.
Blair holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Laws from The University of Western Ontario.
Chris Elgar serves as Senior Vice President of Supervision with BC Financial Services Authority (“BCFSA”). With an impressive track record spanning 40 years in the finance industry, Chris has extensive experience in governance, risk management, and treasury. He leads a dynamic team of more than 60 professionals responsible for conducting risk assessments of BCFSA’s provincially regulated financial institutions (“PRFIs”).
Chris plays an instrumental role in advancing BCFSA’s goal to become a modern, effective, and efficient financial services regulator. He has helped modernize and enhance the organization’s supervisory capacity and approach. An influential and engaging leader, Chris is committed to strengthening consumer protection and fostering increased public confidence in B.C.’s financial services sector.
Before joining BCFSA and its predecessor the Financial Institutions Commission, Chris held executive and senior management roles with some of Canada’s leading financial institutions including one of the big-five banks. His background includes 17 years’ experience in capital markets trading in Singapore, Tokyo, and London, where he ran trading operations for Europe and Asia.
Chris spent more than eight years with the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (“OSFI”), where he worked as Relationship Manager for two major banks. He also headed OSFI’s capital markets risk assessment group during the 2008/2009 global financial crisis. He later served as Chief Risk Officer with Manulife Bank, where he established its enterprise risk management framework.
Chris earned an MA in Economics and an MBA in Finance from the University of Windsor. Dedicated to giving where he lives, Chris serves on several non-profit associations including Habitat for Humanity and the Kidney Foundation of Canada.
David Weiss draws on more than 25 years of leadership experience in setting strategy, driving business growth, building teams, and leading transformational change. He is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Services and Transformation with BC Financial Services Authority (“BCFSA”). Recognized for his ability to lead with integrity, David oversees a wide range of responsibilities including business planning, finance, human resources, information management and technology as well as business transformation.
David brings with him a proven track record of strategic planning and change management accomplishments. Through innovative thinking and creative problem solving, David has seized opportunities that align with our mission to boost public protection and drive efficiencies. He has played an integral role in BCFSA’s efforts to become a modern, effective, and efficient financial services regulator in British Columbia.
His ability to build strategic partnerships has allowed him to collaborate and solidify ties with Government organizations, regulators, and industry experts. He spearheads a team of highly trained and experienced professionals, who focus on driving results and organizational change as well as positioning BCFSA for the future.
Before joining BCFSA, David spent more than 20 years with TELUS, where he held progressively senior management roles. During that time, he helped transform TELUS from a monopoly provider to a leader in Canada’s highly competitive technology sector. This included driving transformative change in a variety of business areas and helping build an industry-leading corporate culture.
David holds an MBA from the University of British Columbia (“UBC”) and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta. He completed several executive training programs from the Richard Ivey School of Business, Rotman School of Management, and INSEAD. David is also an Adjunct Professor at UBC’s Sauder School of Business, where he teaches strategic management.
David Avren serves as Vice President, Legal with BC Financial Services Authority (“BCFSA”). An experienced and award-winning legal expert, David oversees BCFSA’s corporate legal affairs, policies, and board governance. He possesses more than 25 years of progressive leadership experience in regulatory affairs, governance matters, and legal strategy.
Known for always putting integrity first, David has a deep background as an executive advisor, working with boards to harness their strategic potential. He leads a team of legal experts, who strive for conducting effective hearings and ensuring fair decisions are made on behalf of BCFSA. He regularly engages with stakeholders on matters relating to policy and compliance, consistently delivering first-class, timely legal support.
Prior to joining BCFSA, David was Vice President of Legal and Compliance with the Real Estate Council of British Columbia (“RECBC”), where he pursued efforts to reform and modernize internal processes, systems, and policies. Previously, he was General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Coast Capital Savings, one of Canada’s largest credit unions by membership. Before that, he built one of British Columbia’s largest corporate legal groups at BC Hydro where he served as Director of Legal Services. During that time, he received the organization’s Employee Engagement Award in 2015, and his team was nominated for best in-house group in Canada in 2017.
David earned a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia (“UBC”) as well as a Master of Laws from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. He served on many non-profit boards and is currently a Member of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association.
As Senior Vice President of Education, Licensing and CUDIC Operations, Pamela Skinner oversees BC Financial Services Authority’s (“BCFSA”) licensing, registration, and education. She is responsible for planning and implementing regulatory and business solutions strategies. She also oversees the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation (“CUDIC”).
With over 30 years’ experience in banking and regulatory services, Pam has deep expertise in licensing, education, and professional advisory services. Her regulatory experience includes serving as Vice President of Education and Licensing with the Real Estate Council of British Columbia (“RECBC”).
Pam is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants (“FCGA”, “FCPA”). She was previously Vice President of Public Practice Regulation at the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (“CPABC”). Pam was active in pursuing the unification of the three professional accounting designations in B.C. and played a significant role in creating CPABC’s regulatory structure by serving on several committees at both the provincial and national levels.
Prior to joining the professional accounting regulator, Pam held senior and executive roles with several financial institutions including one of the big-five Canadian banks. She was Vice President of Trust for HSBC Bank (Canada), CEO of HSBC Trust Company (Canada), and Director of Trust Services with Bank of Montreal (“BMO”) Harris Private Banking.
Pam has volunteered in various capacities with the Estate Planning Council of Vancouver, including a term as President. She has also served as Director of Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, Member of the Foundation’s Investment Committee, and Chair of the Planned Giving Committee.
Saskia Tolsma is Vice President, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement with BCFSA. She is responsible for developing policies and best practices and operationalizing an engagement strategy for BCFSA as a modern, effective and efficient regulator. She leverages over 15 years of experience in policy and regulatory development, including extensive work with a variety of government partners, regulators, and external stakeholders in order to provide strategic advice on how BCFSA meets its commitments for meaningful engagement and transparency.
Before joining BCFSA, Saskia held progressively senior roles at the Department of Finance Canada. This experience included roles to support the Minister of Finance in developing the federal budget, developing the mandate for the Canada Infrastructure Bank and roles in financial sector policy related to financial services innovation and consumer protection. Most recently this entailed responsibility for the federal government’s review into open banking and supporting the Minister of Finance’s Advisory Committee on open banking. Prior to joining Finance Canada, Saskia also worked at the Senate of Canada in a policy capacity, particularly on environment and natural resource files. These roles have supported Saskia in developing a strong sense of how to advance priority public policy initiatives and how to manage challenging issues in the public environment.
Saskia holds a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management from Carleton University, and a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Ottawa.
Jon Vandall serves as Vice President of Compliance and Enforcement with BC Financial Services Authority (“BCFSA”). He brings more than 15 years of extensive experience in regulation and policy. Along with other members of the Senior Executive Team, he is a leading force behind BCFSA’s work to protect British Columbian’s during some of their lives most important financial decisions.
Over the course of his career, Jon has spearheaded policy reform and rule-making initiatives related to real estate regulation in B.C. His proven ability to translate strategic direction into operational objectives allows him to develop policy that strengthens the practice of B.C.’s real estate licensees. A strategic communicator who can find clarity out of complexity, Jon has built strong relationships with government officials, industry stakeholders, and other regulators.
Jon has forged a reputation as a team builder who puts people first. He is passionate about fostering a culture that drives remarkable outcomes for both his team and the public. Prior to joining BCFSA, Jon held progressively senior roles with B.C.’s Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (“OSRE”) including Deputy Superintendent of Real Estate. In this capacity, he was responsible for directing policy development and legal strategy for oversight, investigation, and regulatory enforcement actions.
Prior to that, Jon worked as Senior Policy Analyst with B.C.’s Ministry of Finance, where he provided the Minister of Finance and senior officials with strategic counsel on real estate policy as well as legislative and regulatory amendments. He also worked on developing key amendments to overhaul the Real Estate Services Act (“RESA”).
Jon holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Regina and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria.
