Category: Board member

Jamie Houssian is a Principal at Elemental Energy, a company focused on developing, investing in, and operating renewable energy projects that deliver long-term financial returns, environmental benefits, and positive social impact. Jamie oversees the company’s strategic direction and identifies new business and investment opportunities.

With over a decade of experience at Elemental Energy, Jamie has contributed to its growth in various capacities. Prior to this, he worked at Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital, further honing his expertise in the clean energy sector.

Before transitioning to renewable energy, Jamie began his career in the film industry as President and Co-Founder of The Collective Films, an award-winning documentary and commercial production company. He holds an MBA from the University of British Columbia and a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Joanne Houssian is the Co-Chair of the Houssian Foundation, where she is dedicated to supporting community-based initiatives that address human and environmental challenges, both locally and globally. Her work focuses on the critical intersections between these issues, driven by a commitment to creating meaningful impact.

A leader in her community, Joanne has held key roles in organizations such as North Shore Family Services, Lions Gate Hospital, and Collingwood School, where she is a Co-Founder. Joanne is deeply involved in efforts to combat homelessness, child protection issues, and gender-based violence in British Columbia. She supports initiatives like the StreetToHome Foundation, Powell Place Shelter for Women, Children of the Street, YWCA, and the Saint James Music Academy. Through her work with the Canadian Women’s Foundation, she contributes to a national strategy to prevent and end human sex trafficking.

Joanne is also an alumna of The Philanthropy Workshop and continues to advocate for positive change across multiple sectors. Based in West Vancouver with her husband, Joe, Joanne takes immense pride in her three grown children, three granddaughters and grandson.

Jess Houssian has focused her career on the intersections of gender equality, philanthropy, and social change, imagining and co-creating spaces for innovation and collaboration that shift power and resources to feminist movements around the world.

Jess is now an Advisor to the Equality Fund, where she served from 2019-2024 Co-CEO. The Equality Fund is an innovative model for sustainable investment in global feminist movements. Leveraging an unprecedented contribution of CAD 300 million from the Government of Canada, the Equality Fund unites gender-lens investing, bold government funding, and powerful, multi-sector philanthropy to unlock new capital for women’s rights organizations and movements. With collaboration from leaders in every sector, the Equality Fund expects to activate over CAD 1 billion for gender equality, making it the largest self-sustaining fund for gender equality in the world.

Previously, Jess served as Executive Director of Women Moving Millions, a global community of women philanthropists who invest boldly with a gender lens. Jess holds a B.A. in Women & Gender Studies (Bates College) and an M.Sc. in Fundraising & Grantmaking (New York University), and currently serves as co-chair of The Houssian Foundation.

Joey Houssian, a British Columbia native and entrepreneur, is based in Whistler. While attending university, he launched his first business, an organic produce delivery service. Building on his passion for people, nature, and sustainable business, Joey founded and now leads The Adventure Group, an eco-tourism company in Whistler.

An avid traveler who has visited over 50 countries, Joey constantly researches and innovates to enhance The Adventure Group’s offerings. He strongly believes that connecting with friends, family, or colleagues in breathtaking outdoor settings is one of the most meaningful and rewarding ways to spend time.

Joey is deeply involved in community and philanthropy. He serves as a director on the boards of the Do It For The Love Foundation, Zero Ceiling Society of Canada, and Playground Builders. Passionate about family, music, yoga, surfing, and snowboarding, Joey continues to contribute actively to the Whistler community while championing sustainable, nature-focused experiences.

Joe Houssian began his career at Xerox in 1973 and then founded Intrawest in 1976. Intrawest grew from an urban residential real estate business into an internationally renowned resort and real estate development company responsible for the success of such pre-eminent ski resorts as Whistler Blackcomb. Intrawest grew rapidly to 25,000 people with resort and hospitality entities around the world. In 1990, Intrawest became a public company and was sold in 2006 for US $2.8B.

In 1994, Mr. Houssian acquired the urban development business from Intrawest to create Intracorp Developments. Intracorp currently develops real estate in six urban regions in North America and has delivered more than 22,000 homes in 176 communities. Mr. Houssian founded Elemental Energy Inc. in 2007, inspired by his children, intrigued by the fledgling clean energy industry and interested by the social-capitalism triple-bottom-line ethos of people, planet and profit. In 2008, Mr. Houssian founded Replay Resorts, an integrated hospitality company.

Mr. Houssian is also a partner and director in several other companies in various industries in the USA and Canada.