It all started when…

The visionary Dr. Patrick McGeer, then Minister of Education for the Province of BC, founded Discovery Foundation nearly 40 years ago. Created to promote and support the province’s high technology research and development industry, the Discovery Foundation has gone through many evolutions since its formation in 1979.  Government involvement ceased in 1991 but the Discovery Foundation has continued its efforts as a private organization with a public mandate.

A registered charity now governed by its own Board of Directors, the Discovery Foundation’s mandate is to promote and facilitate innovation and the development of the science and technology sector in British Columbia.

Its principal role is the delivery of the Technology Education Program (TEP) through selected Agents who educate technology entrepreneurs in British Columbia.  Each year, industry organizations and educational institutions apply to be TEP Agents through a competitive process.  This process ensures the delivery of the highest quality programs.

Discovery Foundation currently receives all funding through the independent and self-sustaining organization, Discovery Parks.

Discovery Foundation is dedicated to promoting and facilitating innovation and development of the technology sector in British Columbia.  We focus on programs that encourage and support diversity, equity, inclusion and reconciliation. We are engaging in reconciliation through our work and encourage you to learn more about it too. Our management team comprises of passionate professionals who each bring a unique set of skills to the foundation. 

If you would like to learn more about how you can partner with Discovery Foundation to deliver our educational programs, please contact us!

Discovery Foundation’s office is situated on the traditional unceded land of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

Our Team

CHAIR OF THE BOARD - KATHY O’DONOGHUE

Kathy O’Donoghue is a Product Strategy Technology consultant, with a background in Computer Science and over 20 years of shipping commercial technology products; spanning gaming, mobile apps, big data and consumer packaged goods; with industry leaders such as Electronic Arts. Ms. O’Donoghue is also on the board of CNIS, Canadian Network of International Surgery, which is developing avatar, scenario based digital surgical training apps for Africa. Ms. O’Donoghue is passionate about the impact of global health, and feels that the Vancouver tech sector is her place to contribute.

Darrell Elliott – CEO, Invivos Partners

Darrell Elliott, a professional director and strategic analyst, is a career investment professional, who has served on over 100 boards of directors. Mr. Elliott has contributed his experience and knowledge to Discovery Foundation since 2013, and has a keen sense of what it takes to succeed in the technology sector in BC. With over 45 years of investing experience, on three continents, in businesses at stages ranging from start-up to multinational, Mr. Elliott now enjoys assisting entrepreneurs and enterprises, including through the services provided by Discovery Foundation.

Paul Geyer – CEO, NIMBUS SYNERGIES AND Discovery Parks Investments Ltd.

Paul Geyer is a successful Medtech Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, Venture Capitalist and mentor. Mr. Geyer’s 25+ years of experience have provided him with the knowledge and opportunities to contribute back to the community by chairing or participating on many boards including Social Venture Partners, Science World, The BC Tech Association, Life Sciences BC, e@UBC, BCIT plus many others and since 2017, Discovery Foundation.

Morgan Sturdy – director

Morgan Sturdy is a high-tech entrepreneur and executive with over 30 years of experience serving on corporate and community boards. Mr. Sturdy’s community contribution to the Vancouver tech sector includes board participation with Great Northern Way Trust, The BC Tech Association, Science World, ACETECH, British Columbia Innovation Council and the Premier’s Tech Council. Since 2016, Mr. Sturdy is pleased to serve on the Discovery Foundation board and oversee the focus on delivering outstanding educational support to many technology organizations associated with research and development throughout the province.

Dr. David G. Harper - director

Dr. G. Harper (Dave) has been a member of Discovery Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2007 and was appointed CEO in 2016. Dr. Harper has a long history in the BC tech sector as the President of Pacific BioVentures Inc., providing consulting and management services. He is the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of the Fraser Valley where he has been an Associate Professor since 1994 and is a presently a Visiting Scientist at the BC Cancer Research Centre, Terry Fox Laboratories.

JESSICA VERHAGEN - DIRECTOR

Jessica brings nearly 20 years of experience at the intersection of environment and finance, with her accomplishments recognized with a Business in Vancouver Top 40 Under 40 and a Canada’s Clean50 award in 2021.  Promoted from Hydra COO to CEO in 2021,  she was previously the VP of Business Development for Ecosphere+, part of Mirova Natural Capital in London, where she successfully sold hundreds of millions in international environmental assets,  proving a new business model for investing in nature. Jessica supported the close of the Series B round and the go-to-market strategy for global Top 100 cleantech company, Axine Water and was part of the founding team of Evoke Innovations, a fund that raised $100 million from oil and gas companies to invest in early stage cleantech. She began her career in government, where she was responsible for some of North America’s first legislation and stakeholder engagement on emissions reporting and trading, carbon taxes and offsets.