Sail Canada introduces its new Chair, Fiona Cochrane, as well as the Board of Directors for 2025-26

Sail Canada introduces its new Chair, Fiona Cochrane, as well as the Board of Directors for 2025-26 © Sail Canada

Sail Canada is pleased to introduce its new Chair, Fiona Cochrane, from British Columbia, as well as the new Board of Directors for 2025-2026, following the Annual Meeting that was held virtually in the past few weeks.

At the Annual Meeting, two new members were elected to the Sail Canada Board of Directors: Dan Cloutier, originally from Quebec and now living in Halifax, N.S., and Jennifer T. Walker from North Vancouver, B.C. Fiona Cochrane was then selected as the new Chair of Sail Canada.

Fiona Cochrane is a senior government official in British Columbia with Infrastructure BC. A Chartered Professional Accountant, she has a strong background in financial analysis, risk management, contracts, governance, and stakeholder relations. She is also a lifelong sailor. As a youth, she raced on the Ontario Sailing Team and was a sailing instructor, and she continues to enjoy sailing, racing and cruising on the west coast.

"I am delighted to be taking on the role as Chair for Sail Canada after serving the past two years on the Board of Directors," said Fiona Cochrane. "I am looking forward to working with my fellow Board members, our Chief Executive Officer, Sail Canada staff, and our Member Organizations over the next two years.

"I would like to welcome Dan and Jennifer to the Board. As well, thank you to Kate MacLennan, who has devoted numerous hours over her tenure as a member of the Board of Directors for seven years, and then as our Chair for the past years. We will continue to benefit from her prior leadership going forward. And many thanks to Barbara Pike, who has served on the Board for the past six years. Both Kate and Barbara have held a range of committee chair and member positions, and we are thankful for their many valued contributions."

Dan and Jennifer will join current Directors at Large Torstein Braaten, who was re-elected for a second term, as well as Valérie Lavigne, Hugh Goodday and Martha Henderson, in addition to Athlete Directors Sarah Douglas and James Juhasz.

Jennifer T. Walker is from North Vancouver, B.C., and is currently the Director, Labour and Employment Programs, at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. A lawyer, she is a culture leader with a track record of driving strategic people and culture initiatives in complex, fast-paced environments, including quasi-governmental organizations and large, multi-union workforces. A member of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, she is a sailor, racer, instructor and offshore cruiser. From 2018 to 2022, she went on an extended offshore sailing trip with her young family aboard a Sunder 60, completing over 20,000 nautical miles throughout the Pacific. She is currently an active racer in the Elliott 6m fleet with experience racing locally and internationally. In preparation for her offshore trip, she completed Offshore Personal Survival (World Sailing Accreditation) and Offshore Weather Certification courses.

"I'm honoured to join the Sail Canada Board," said Jennifer T. Walker. "Sailing has been a meaningful part of my life, and I'm excited to help grow the sport — championing participation, excellence, and sustainable, inclusive growth, while supporting sailors from local clubs to the world stage."

Dan Cloutier is the co-owner of NovaSail, a forward-thinking sailing and powerboating school. Having lived in three provinces and travelled extensively across Canada and abroad, he brings a broad perspective and is fluent in both English and French. Before launching into the world of sailing full time, Dan Cloutier built a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, working in areas such as organizational development, marketing, commercialization, research, and healthcare education. With more than 26,000 nautical miles logged in waters around the world, he has turned his lifelong passion for sailing into a way of giving back. He is an active member of Sail Canada, where he teaches navigation, sailing, and powerboating, and also serves as an instructor evaluator. Dan previously participated on the Sail Canada Cruising Sub-Committee and contributed to several special projects. Earlier in his sailing journey, he served as Vice Commodore at the National Yacht Club in Toronto, where he played a key role in shaping the club's long-term strategic plan.

"Thank you for your confidence and support," said Dan Cloutier. "I am committed to contributing to the organization in my capacity as a member of the Board and I will bring my passion for sailing (dinghy and keelboat), power boating, performance sailing, and Cadets. I look forward to contributing to the organization's priorities."