Board Members

Chair

Ian Tait brings extensive management and leadership experience, having worked with government and crown agencies, for-profit, and not-for profit organizations. Ian has a diverse skillset in strategic planning, Board management and operations, fundraising, sponsorship, marketing, communications, coaching and mentoring. Additionally, Ian has public, government, community, media, and Indigenous relations experience.

Ian served with BC Hydro in a variety of roles for over three decades and during that time created many long-term relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities throughout BC and across Canada.

In 1996, in the presence of witnesses in the X̱wemelch'stn longhouse, the Charlie Family and the Squamish Nation placed the name stél’mexw siiyá’y – ‘the peoples’ respected friend’ on Ian in recognition of his many contributions to and work with First Nations throughout BC and with the Squamish Nation in particular.

After retiring from BC Hydro, Ian began his own consulting firm (Tait Consulting Ltd). Most recently, he helped to found the North Delta Business Association.

Ian also has a longstanding history of community service with Scouts Canada, North Delta Football Association, Delta Chamber of Commerce, Earthwise Society, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Feed the Bees Campaign, and other community causes.

Ian has called North Delta home for more than 35 years, where he currently resides with his wife, Pat.

Vice Chair

Warren Dean Flandez is a multi-award-winning cultural facilitator, educator, humanitarian, and JUNO-nominated musician. With a Cornell University Diversity & Inclusion program certification, Warren is recognized as a thought leader and innovator in the field of EDI and the arts and culture sector.

As a faculty member at Capilano University and the owner of a multidisciplinary artist development company, Warren's influence extends beyond EDI consulting. He has honed his expertise through his work as a cultural facilitator, empowering individuals and organizations to foster inclusivity and positive transformation. Furthermore, Warren co-founded the non-profit organization THIS (The Harmony Initiative Society), exemplifying his commitment to humanitarian efforts.

Warren's impact is felt through his collaborations with a diverse range of organizations, including municipal governments, arts and culture organizations, law enforcement agencies, and cultural groups. He has provided EDI training, developed policy frameworks, and spearheaded community-based initiatives, leaving a lasting impression on those he works with.

Through his multifaceted career, Warren Dean Flandez continues to champion the principles of harmony, belonging, and wellness, transforming communities by advocating for inclusive environments. His dedication to creating safe spaces and fostering meaningful change has earned him accolades and established him as a key luminary in the EDI landscape.

(sxʷamisaat)

Chief Laura Cassidy (sxʷamisaat) is a proud member of the Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN). Chief Cassidy has 4 children and 4 grandsons and was born and raised on TFN and moved away for a time and returned in 1999, where she has continued to live, raise a family and work.

Chief Cassidy has always been passionate about family and community engagement no matter where she lived. Her formal advocacy work started when she was on the Parents Advisory committee for the Armstrong education board in the 1990’s. Chief Cassidy moved home to TFN to work as a part of the Tsawwassen treaty team after completing business administration courses. This was to enhance her experience as a small business owner in the Okanagan, when she owned a cherry orchard. Laura was an employee of TFN from 1999 until 2019. She has been on Council since 2001, with a 6 month pause. She has been elected 8 times, displaying the trust and faith the community have in her leadership. This can be attributed to Chief Cassidy’s deep community connections and the community’s ability to access her and to provide their concerns to her.

Chief Cassidy has demonstrated commitment to community and family throughout her career and personal life. While on Council, Chief Cassidy also served on the Board of the Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation for 8 years. Caring, compassionate and always ready to listen, Chief Cassidy is a proven and experienced leader. Laura is a tried and tested leader with strong values related to service and collaboration.

MBA

Lara Victoria is an entrepreneur and consultant in the hospitality industry with a background in finance and retail banking. As an active advocate for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity, Lara supports opportunities for cultural integration in business as well as in engaged volunteer work in her community. As an immigrant herself, Lara brings her lived experience to her EDII advocacy. She is also personally committed to a conscientious journey in Truth and Reconciliation with members of our Indigenous communities, honouring our collective cultures and history, and committing to respectful and equitable engagement, now and in the future.

Along with other qualifications related to finance and hospitality, Lara has earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Bombay University (India) and her Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Queen's University (Canada) with a focus on Financial Strategy. She has also earned certifications in Social Impact (Queen’s University) and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (UBC).

Lara lives in Tsawwassen with her husband, children, and dogs. As a family they love travelling, entertaining and volunteering in the community (often, with their furry family members too!) 

As a member of the Delta Police Board, Lara embraces the opportunity to engage with the community of Delta, in a spirit of service that is built upon the values of the Delta Police: Honesty, Integrity, Courage and Trust.

Sharan Oberoi is a global entrepreneur and visionary and is committed to the success of those around him. He is the CEO and founder of OnActuate, a global information technology and consulting firm that is Great Place to Work® certified and a gold-certified partner for Microsoft as a Cloud Solution Provider and Value-Added Reseller. Sharan is also a published author with his first book focused on Microsoft Technologies.

Sharan started his career as a young engineering graduate in India where he was instrumental in the localization and launch of Microsoft solutions. Since then, Sharan’s leadership has spanned multiple countries, languages and cultures including Denmark, India, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, and the USA.

Sharan believes in a “people first” philosophy for his business, inspiring excellence, and offering support and encouragement to his teams and clients alike. Sharan looks forward to applying the same philosophy for his service on the Delta Police Board.

In 2017, Sharan received the Business in Vancouver Media Group’s Top 40 under 40 award. Sharan currently resides in North Delta with his family and is looking forward to contributing to the community and the Delta Police Department (DPD) through his Board service.

Daniel Boisvert has called Delta home for more than 50 years. He has two children, Noah and Abby. Noah is currently attending the University of Toronto (St. George) and Abby attends Delta Senior Secondary. Daniel's wife Sandra is the General Manager of the Tunnel Town Curling Club in Delta's south end.

Daniel was commissioned as Notary Public in May of 2008 and has a busy legal practice in Delta.

Daniel obtained a bachelor's degree in commerce from Royal Roads University and studied at the Sauder School of Business at UBC to become a Notary Public where he received both the Robert Reid award for outstanding achievement in Property Law and the BDO Dunwoody Award for achieving the highest marks in the program.

Daniel is a past Director of the Society of Notaries Public, the public regulator of Notaries, and was elected to serve three terms. In 2019, he left the Board of the Society to head up a new advocacy and continuing education organization for BC Notaries called the BC Notaries Association (BCNA). He is currently the President of the BCNA. Daniel is also a past Director of the Heron Hospice Society of Delta. Heron Hospice provides compassionate care to individuals facing life-limiting illness and support to people who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

In October of 2018, during the municipal elections, Daniel was elected to the Delta Board of Education where he last held the position of Vice-Chair of the Board. Daniel believes the enhancement of public education is vital to the positive advancement of society.

In October of 2022, Daniel was elected to Delta City Council to serve a four-year term.

Nikhil Pandey is a lawyer specializing in tax and commercial litigation. Nikhil has worked for one of Canada’s largest law firms, at the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and the Canada Border Services Agency. In his legal work, he has represented some of Canada's largest organizations, including a major Canadian bank in a novel case addressing the liability of self-directed brokerages, and a local developer in one of the largest construction cases in the province in recent years.

Nikhil received his law degree from the University of British Columbia and his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Toronto. During that time, he received several awards and recognitions, including the UBC President's Student Leader Recognition, the University of Toronto Chancellor's Scholarship, and the Royal Bank of Canada’s Emerging Scholar award. He has also published several peer-reviewed articles, including an award-winning publication on the international security industry.

Nikhil is a proud leader within the equity, diversity, and inclusion space. He has served as a chair of a diversity committee of a national law firm and founded a legal mentorship program for disadvantaged youth in British Columbia. Nikhil has volunteered in Delta throughout the last 15 years and is excited to continue serving the community.

Lori is a long-time resident of Delta, having called Delta home since 1996. This is where she and her husband chose to put down roots and raise their family.

Lori brings considerable financial management and governance experience through her roles as secretary-treasurer for the 12,000 member strong union MoveUP, as a past board member for the Working Opportunities investment fund, as a pension trustee, and as past president of the New Westminster and District Labour Council.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia, and holds a designation of Masters of Trust Management Standards from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.