New leadership for Sail Canada

Sail Canada, the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the country, has made new appointments to its 2025-26 Board at the 2025 Annual Meeting. Two members were elected to the Sail Canada Board of Directors – Dan Cloutier and Jennifer T. Walker – while Fiona Cochrane was selected as the new Chair of Sail Canada.

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, racing as a youth on the Ontario Sailing Team as well as a sailing instructor, and 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 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.”

Cloutier and Walker 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.

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 honored to join the Sail Canada Board,” said 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.”

Cloutier is the co-owner of NovaSail, a forward-thinking sailing and powerboating school. Having lived in three provinces and traveled 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, he 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 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.”

Source: Sail Canada