Barbara is a trade and international business development specialist, who has helped tens of thousands of businesses over the past 30 years. She is sought after by private companies,organizations, and governments around the world for her expertise and passionate support of fostering entrepreneurship, business development and growth, and creating win-wins through her extensive network.
Barbara is President of GroYourBiz and of Impact Communications Ltd., a multi-faceted consulting company that features management training and consulting, and international product, business, and market development for the global marketplace. She created the well-respected commerce site supporting based and small businesses.
Barbara is an international leader in the development of SME enterprises, whose work has assisted entrepreneurs and facilitated trade throughout Canada,South-East Asia, USA, South America, Europe, Afghanistan, India and Africa.
Boards and Committees
In a public service capacity, Barbara devotes considerable time and energy to sit on a number ofboards and committees concerned with issues of promoting business development, which have included: Member of the Small Business Working Committee for the Federal Government’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Industry; UBC Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital Research Centre;Board of Director for the Canadian Council for Small Business; Board of Director for the Leadership and Management Council of B.C.;Member of the National Advisory Council for Women in Business for the Royal Bank; Member of the Small Business Strategy Committee for B.C.; Chair of the Small Business Advisory Committee for the Royal Bank of Canada; Member of the Abbotsford Economic Development Commission; Executive Director of Women Trading Globally for the Global Banking Alliance for Women Entrepreneurs; Member of the Treasury Board of Canada’s Joint Forum on Small Business Issues BC Business Task Force; Sat on the Global Membership Circle for the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women; Member for Regulatory Issues for the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Small Business; Vice-Chair of the Canada BC Business Services Society; Advisory Board of KCTS Public Broadcasting TV station in Seattle, Washington; Vice-President of Memberships for IWF Canada (International Women’s Forum)
Membership in Professional Societies and Organizations:
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TEC-Canada Chair (The Executive Committee) for Presidents, CEOs and Business Owners
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Organization Chapter Chair in Vancouver for two chapters, serving women presidents and CEOs of privately held, multimillion dollar companies who aim to increase their business success
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GroYourBiz Chapter Chair for several Lower Mainland chapters, serving women business owners under a million in revenue wanting to take their business to the next level
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Ambassador and member of UnitedSucces Network
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Advisory Board Member of the Global Banking Alliance for Women Entrepreneurs
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Certified woman business owner of WBE Canada
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Global Ambassador for TIAW (The International Alliance for Women)
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Appointed to the SME Advisory Board for the Ministry of International Trade Committee by Canada’s Minister of International Trade