MIABC Presents:
Mayor Ken Sim and Gary Pooni
Monday, September 21st, 2026
Sponsored by:
Guest Speakers
Mayor Ken Sim
Mayor
City of Vancouver
Ken Sim is a born-and-raised Vancouverite and a passionate entrepreneur. He graduated from the UBC Sauder School of Business in 1993 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and holds an FCPA (FCA) designation. Ken and his wife, Teena, have built a life in Vancouver with their 4 sons and 3 dogs.
In 2001, recognizing the need for better home and community health care, Ken co-founded Nurse Next Door Home Healthcare Services, 1 of 2 Vancouver-based companies he helped build. A decade later, alongside his wife and other partners, he launched Rosemary Rocksalt Bagels, a successful local chain with multiple storefronts across the city.
Ken is a 2-time recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Pacific Region), winning in the Emerging Entrepreneur category (2006) and the Healthcare Services category (2016).
In 2022, Ken made history in being elected as the 41st Mayor of Vancouver, becoming the first Chinese Canadian to hold the position.
Ken is excited to see Vancouver’s transformation into a vibrant, prosperous, safe, and business-friendly city, representing a future of growth and opportunity for all.
Gary Pooni
President
Pooni Group
In his role as president of Pooni Group, Gary drives the firm’s growth and guides major client projects as strategic lead. With nearly 30 years of urban planning-related experience, he has spearheaded some of the country's most significant projects throughout Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Sea to Sky corridor, Alberta and Ontario. His expertise includes strategic guidance, policy planning, public consultation and entitlement negotiation. Often recognized as the man behind the Lower Mainland's most complex projects, Gary was listed as a “change-maker and power player shaping our world” in Vancouver magazine’s 2022, 2023 and 2024 Power 50 list. Gary sits on the board of the Urban Development Institute, both in Vancouver and the Capital Regional District. He is also passionate about his community and has been part of several boards including the Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver Canucks Alumni Foundation and SUCCESS; and also works to support Fraser Academy School, Royal Columbian Hospital and New Westminster Secondary School. Gary also has a family foundation that works on several community initiatives. Gary holds a master’s degree in environmental design (Planning) from the University of Calgary and a B.A. in Geography from Simon Fraser University and is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners. Lastly, and most recently, Gary has become certified as an ordained minister in the Church of Dudeism.
Event Details
11:45 a.m. Registration
12:00 p.m. Lunch
12:45 p.m. Guest Speakers
Cost
$80 (incl. GST) MIABC Members
$115 (incl. GST) Non Members
$25 (incl. GST) Students
