Board Member Profiles

Doug Boyd

Doug was one of the owners of a Calgary-based travel agency with locations across Canada for over 30 years. He retired from that company in 2016 and moved to Victoria in 2011. In Calgary, he was actively involved in two neighbourhood associations as well as a business association. Doug is passionate about advancing sustainability and active transportation in Victoria. He loves the city and also is an avid walker. Doug has been a member of the VDRA since 2013. He was elected as a board member and as Treasurer in 2014.

​​Michael Demakiling

Michael is a senior management human resource professional in learning and development for a national dental company based in Calgary, AB. He is also the co-owner of Zero Waste Emporium in Victoria and is actively collaborating with a local group to establish a community cooperative grocery store in Greater Victoria. Michael volunteers as a member of the steering committee for the Yates Street Community Garden (YSCG), where he is passionate about promoting green spaces in urban areas. Michael currently resides in the Harris Green area of Downtown with his partner. Outside of work and volunteering for the YSCG, he enjoys a variety of outdoor activities on Vancouver Island. He also enjoys nature photography and is an aspiring plant-based cook and baker. Michael joined the DRA board in February 2021 and is currently Chair of the Urban Livability and Urban Ecology & Agriculture Committees. 

Furkan Kucukdurmaz

Furkan is a lawyer and has been a resident of the Downtown neighborhood since 2023. He grew up in Turkey and then graduated from law school at Istanbul University. After graduating, he practiced law for more than 8 years in Istanbul as a registered lawyer at the Istanbul Bar. He specialized in corporate and business law in various aspects. He then moved to Victoria to change his career path significantly. He joined the VDRA with a desire to contribute to the community and to be part of the society he lives in. He enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and camping, having coffee, and experiencing new tastes in local food.

Sherry Lee

Sherry is a senior policy analyst and a resident of Downtown Victoria since 2019. She grew up in the BC Lower Mainland and had worked in various capacities in the healthcare and biotechnology sectors. Sherry brings analytical and project management experiences and worked with the VDRA Board and Committees on our 2022 election events and our survey of residents. Sherry is keen to plan and deliver projects that make Downtown Victoria a more cohesive, engaged, and safe neighbourhood for its residents and visitors. Sherry is currently the Board Secretary.

​Mano Majumdar

Mano Majumdar is a senior change management consultant at a Big Four professional services firm and the co-founder of an indie espresso café in southwestern Ontario. He moved to downtown Victoria in 2023, where he lives with his wife Anne, a family physician. Mano has had a blessedly urban life, having lived in Calcutta; Bombay; Sharjah; Montréal; Edmonton; and London, Ontario. He is an outspoken enthusiast for urbanism and the urban form, and believes cities are an unmatched engine for economic, social, and creative progress. His background in engineering, finance, and business management allow him to combine this idealism with a pragmatic lens. Mano is currently Chair of the Climate Solutions and Membership & Communications Committees.​

Neil McKinnon

Previously a frequent visitor, Neil moved to Victoria in January 2023 after retiring from the City of Calgary. In Calgary, Neil had been actively involved in many community organizations, including some that resulted in City Council adopting such policies as a low-income transit fare and the search for an Indigenous Gathering Place. Neil has also been very involved in the labour movement, serving on the executives of provincial, municipal and local union bodies. Neil is passionate about public transit, living car-free in Calgary for 20 years, and continues this choice in Victoria. He enjoys the wonderful urban walking opportunities of Victoria and looks forward to ensuring Victoria remains a wonderful place to live.

Jordan Royer

Jordan Royer grew up in Calgary and then went to university at the University of Western Ontario for Engineering/Business. After graduating, he spent time at Infrastructure Ontario on the project delivery team, specifically on the Waterloo LRT project. He then moved to BC to work in real estate development. In this capacity he’s worked on residential and industrial projects throughout BC, though mostly focused in the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. Jordan is the Chair of the Land Use Committee.

Sandra Severs

Sandra Severs is a senior management professional with over twenty years experience working in diverse not-for-profit organizations. Most recently she served as the Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s North and West Vancouver branch where she led the development of the Hope Cafe, a unique collaboration between CMHA, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and BLENZ Coffee Company creating employment opportunities for those living with serious mental health challenges. With an M.A. in environment ethics, Sandra is interested in the development of inclusive communities in the urban core of cities. She has five years experience in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside working with municipal and provincial governments on the challenges facing low-income residents. Sandra has been a resident of the Hudson District since 2017 and is currently President of the VDRA.​

​Jeremy Zhao

Jeremy is a chemical engineer by profession and is active in the various technical groups within his profession. He has been a part of various community groups in Calgary, including being the logistics lead for the citizen engagement grassroots group CivicCamp, advocacy lead for the Engineers Without Borders Calgary Professional Chapter, on the steering committee for Basic Income Calgary and involved with Fair Trade Calgary as part of his EWB role. In addition, Jeremy has experience developing policy. He is also an active podcast host, with the most recent endeavour as a co-host for the Ward Zero podcast discussing local and urban issues about his former hometown of Calgary.  Jeremy was a key resource to the Board in preparing for and presenting our 2022 civic election forums and looks forward to utilizing his civic expertise in Victoria. He is currently Vice-President of the Association and Chair of the Governance.