Board of Directors

Between museums, historic sites, education, and community planning, Britney Dack has been working in the heritage sector in BC for over a decade. In her current role, she administers Heritage Conservation Areas, Historic Districts, Heritage Revitalization Agreements, and a variety of protected properties. As such, she has a thorough understanding of the relationship between conservation and development. Her mission is for everyone’s history to be represented and accessible in the public realm.
Britney is a Registered Professional Planner, and member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals and ICOMOS. She holds an MA in Community Planning from UBC and a BA in Public Policy from Carleton University. She is past Chair of a local Heritage Advisory Commission, a Past President of the BC Heritage Fairs Society, and owner of a 1926 heritage house in Vancouver.

Nelson is an urban planner, who is currently employed with the Regional District of Central Kootenay as their Planning Manager. He has a strong personal interest in heritage conservation and been able to bring that passion into his professional work as a planner in the various communities he has served in BC for the past two decades. Recognizing that the heritage field has its roots in the Western, colonial systems of knowledge and practice, and the need to redress the harm that this has caused Indigenous cultures and peoples is of paramount importance to Nelson. Serving on this Board, he hopes to use his voice to advocate for actions towards truth and reconciliation in the heritage sector.

Ben Capps is a Chartered Accountant and Partner at Smythe LLP who lives and practices on the unceded territory of ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations. He has spent the last 19 years working with a variety of private and not-for-profit clients providing auditing, accounting, Canadian tax compliance, company divestitures and acquisitions, arranging financings and corporate reorganizations. His practice spans several industries including construction and real estate, hospitality, forestry, manufacturing, and professional services and he enjoys working closely with his clients and advising them on business matters.

Rizwaan Abbas was born and raised in Sparwood on the ancestral land of the Ktunaxa Nation. He has an Associate’s Degree from Douglas College, a BA in Archaeology from SFU, an MSc. in Paleoanthropology and Paleolithic Archaeology from University College London (UK) and a PSc. in Collections Management from UVic. He is a Director of the Indo-Fijian Cultural Society of Canada and has been working in culture resource management for over two decades. Rizwaan is an archaeologist for the Semiahmoo First Nation and a member of the Historical Discrimination against People of South Asian Descent Advisory Committee, in Vancouver, and the South Asian Canadian Museum Engagement Committee. Rizwaan was a guest editor of BC History Magazine and has curated an exhibit titled, “Surrey’s Pocket of Paradise” at the Museum of Surrey and authored a Chapter in the book, “The Social History of South Asians in British Columbia,” published by the University of the Fraser Valley, all where he showcases

Keri Briggs has been working with historical buildings for over 18 years. In her role as Vice President of Business Development with Vintage Woodworks Inc., Keri creates opportunities for heritage restoration, rehabilitation and façade replication of heritage buildings. She works closely with architects, designers, engineers and Heritage Consultants to find ways to retain heritage buildings while working towards guidelines of both energy efficiency and building codes. By providing ‘lunch and learns, presentations, and on-site discussions she is able to support both conservation and development of heritage buildings. Keri has been a volunteer with Victoria Heritage Foundation Grants committee, sat on the Victoria City Heritage Council and volunteered with the Heritage BC HLF grant committee. Serving on the Heritage BC board, she hopes to bring a strong voice that can speak to the facts that heritage conservation enhances our cultural identity, promotes education of our province, increases tourism and economic development, stimulates job growth ranging from restoration to the film industry, and beyond, and enriches our architectural and artistic achievements.

Kate Cox is the CEO of the Barkerville Heritage Trust. She has managed Barkerville Historic Town and Park and Cottonwood House Historic Site under a Heritage Site Management Agreement with the Province of British Columbia since early 2020. Kate holds a BFA in Art History from the University of Illinois and has almost three decades of combined heritage conservation and environmental permitting experience working in both the US and Canada. For the last decade, she has specialized in Heritage Tourism and rural development projects.

Kristina Hannis is of Anglo Scandinavian ancestry and grew up in Treaty Six Territory. She received an MA in Archaeology from Simon Fraser University, and has resided on xwməθkwəyə̓ m (Musqueam), səlilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Swwú7mesh (Squamish) Nations’ territory for the past 15 years. Currently she works as a researcher for the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, completing historical, archaeological, and community research towards the advancement of specific claims. She has had the privilege of working on a diversity of heritage projects, including small museum exhibits, archaeological assessments, advocacy, and cultural heritage mapping projects.

Judith is a heritage professional currently working in heritage planning with the City of Richmond. A member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals, she studied History and the Conservation of Historic Buildings before serving as Executive Director of Vancouver Heritage Foundation from 2013 to 2021. Finding inspiration in all sorts of historic buildings, sites and landscapes, Judith's work has often highlighted the opportunities that heritage places can offer including connecting to diverse community stories and deepening understanding, enriching our daily environments, and contributing to local economies and a more sustainable future.
Judith is pleased to contribute to Heritage BC’s work supporting communities throughout the province in recognizing, caring for and sharing the heritage places and cultural heritage that they value. Her experience in non-profit leadership and operations is complemented by a background in business management, marketing and communications.

Christina Reid lives, works and plays in the Fraser Valley, S’ólh Téméxw, the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Stó:lō Nation. She holds a Master’s Degree in Archaeology and Heritage from Leicester University (UK), with a specialty in built heritage. A firm commitment to these academics, combined with work experience and an internship at The Royal Armoury in Stockholm, served as an excellent preparation for her position with the Heritage Abbotsford Society, where she began working in 2009. Christina was the Society’s Collections Manager for 8 years, and has been its Executive Director since 2017.