Ask South Island Prosperity Partnership’s Board Chair Terry Gunning what inspires him about Greater Victoria and he starts with possibility, for established sectors like tech and emerging sectors like the blue and Indigenous economy. For Terry, this mix adds up to a region that rewards collaboration and provides space for innovation without sacrificing quality of life.
As Board Chair of SIPP and Partner at professional services network EY, he works on a model of collaboration in which civic, private and Indigenous voices gather to test ideas and move projects ahead. Terry suggests that this quiet culture of cooperation may be one of Greater Victoria’s most vital assets as it looks toward a more diverse and innovative future.
Check out the SIPP Board Q&A with Chair Terry Gunning
SIPP: What brought you to Greater Victoria, and what keeps you here?
What brought me to Greater Victoria was the University of Victoria programs and co-op program alongside, candidly, the climate and community. I grew up in a small northern B.C. town, with a community feel. During university tours across B.C. and Alberta in the heart of winter, the bright, sunny and warm weather I experienced during my visit and the positive influence that had on bringing out the community won me over in Victoria. What keeps me here decades later is the people, the community, access to the outdoors and opportunity to contribute to the public service.
SIPP stands apart as the only organization I have encountered across decades of work with the capacity to bring every major interest to one table. Municipalities, universities, banks, businesses, Indigenous communities, startups and technology leaders all engage through this platform and convert collaboration into real progress.
SIPP Board Chair Terry Gunning
SIPP: Describe your perfect day living in Greater Victoria?
My perfect day is coming to work with a view of the ocean and mountains, working each day in a tight-knit downtown community, supporting the city, province and country and afterwork meeting my family on the lake on a warm sunny Tuesday. I love that all these things can happen on a weekday in Greater Victoria.
SIPP: How long have you been involved with South Island Prosperity Partnership?
I joined as a board member and community participant seven years ago, drawn in by SIPP’s distinctive approach to problem-solving, starting with the Smart City project. For me, SIPP stands apart as the only organization I have encountered across decades of work with the capacity to bring every major interest to one table. Municipalities, universities, banks, businesses, Indigenous communities, startups and technology leaders all engage through this platform and convert collaboration into real progress.
As a non-partisan organization, SIPP creates space for broad participation, without political friction. Its shared values focus on inclusion, trust and practical action, allowing initiatives to move forward with support from every level of partnership in Greater Victoria.
SIPP: When you think about the future of Greater Victoria, what excites you the most?
What excites me is our region’s ability to create different types of innovation and the potential resources, such as the blue economy, coming together. This includes partnering with Indigenous communities and finding the balance of community engagement, economic growth and sustainability.
SIPP: What do you wish more people understood about Greater Victoria’s economy?
I wish people understood that Greater Victoria isn’t just a public-sector driven economy. There’s a lot of untapped potential in the tech sector, the blue economy sector and in tourism. We’re not just isolated in the public sector.
SIPP: What’s one local business or community initiative that you think deserves more of a spotlight?
Indigenous-based tourism is one area that deserves more spotlight because it can have such a far-reaching potential in all the other areas. This includes drawing together traditional and innovative tourism, the blue economy and the public service. There’s so much potential if you start at the root of Indigenous tourism and branch out into the rest of the partners.
SIPP: What book, podcast or idea has influenced your thinking on leadership or community building?
The one I refer to most is the United Nations Digital Information Network under the Environment Programme, a coalition of partners worldwide developing sustainable digital environmental ideas and programs. It’s a collection of mediums with a website, webinars, symposiums, white papers and a group of people around the world who have come together to influence and change how we engage across the globe in digital leadership while looking at climate sustainability and partnership models.
