The Downtown Kelowna Association has announced a new executive director to replace Peggy Athans. Ninette Ollgaard will take up her new position on July 4.
Ollgaard spent the last 11 years with Destination BC in a variety of senior positions. She began as Manager of Visitor Services and became director of Visitor Services in 2009. She then rose to the position of Director of Visitor Experiences and Industry Development. Prior to joining Destination BC, Ninette worked in the private sector, predominately in economic and business development with a focus on entrepreneurship.
She then rose to the position of director of visitor experiences and industry development. Prior to joining Destination BC, Ninette worked in the private sector, predominately in economic and business development with a focus on entrepreneurship.
“We are excited to find someone of the quality of Ninette Ollgaard to build on the outstanding work Peggy Athans did for the past six years. Ninette is a proven leader, enthusiastic and action oriented which is just what we need as Downtown Kelowna continues to develop in positive ways moving forward. Her understanding of tourism, which underpins our successful Downtown, is welcomed by our more than 1200 members,” said Downtown association president Dan Allen.
At Destination BC, Ninette took a leadership role in planning and executing visitor services activities during the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
She developed and implemented the Gateway British Columbia Visitor Centre program, provided leadership and support in the development of Destination BC’s first Learning and Industry Development Strategy, and led the initiative to create two refreshed and innovative Visitor Services Strategies for the BC Tourism Industry.