Advisory Board
The BPRI benefits from the guidance provided by an External Advisory Board. The Board’s principal functions are to help identify areas of research needs, to provide guidance on the applicability of research findings to policy makers at the local, regional and national levels, and to foster linkages with other organizations and stakeholders involved in transportation, mobility, trade, environmental, and security issues related to the Canada-US border. The Board also assists in identifying funding and other resources necessary to implement the goals of the BPRI. Members of the Board represent a wide range of groups and stakeholders involved in Canada-US border issues in and outside the Pacific Northwest.
Edward Alden
Edward Alden holds the Ross Distinguished Professor of Canada-United States Business and Economics Relations at Western Washington University’s Center for International Business. This Ross Chair engages in teaching, community outreach, and scholarly activity related to business and economic relations between Canada and the United States.
Donald Alper
Professor Emeritus, Western Washington University (1971-2015). Dr. Alper served as Director of the Center for Canadian-American Studies and was the Founding Director of the Border Policy Research Institute.
Emmanuel Brunet-Jailly
Dr. Brunet-Jailly is a professor at the University of Victoria and principal investigator for Borders in Globalization SSHRC Research Program.
Hugh Conroy
Mr. Conroy is Planning Director of the Whatcom Council of Governments and facilitator of the International Mobility & Trade Corridor (IMTC) program.
Halley Fisher
Halley Fisher has been practicing U.S. immigration law with Cascadia Cross-Border Law in Bellingham, WA since 2019. Halley handles U.S. immigration and citizenship matters, specifically border-related issues and employment-based U.S. immigration for professionals, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, and religious workers. Halley received her Juris Doctor degree from Northeastern University School of Law. During law school, Halley completed internships with the Alaska Institute for Justice and the Human Trafficking Division of the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General. Halley also served as a judicial intern at the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont.
Chris Lawless
Mr. Lawless is currently an executive-in-residence at the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business and was formerly the former Chief Economist for the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation.
Leslie Lawson
DHS Attaché Lawson is the Secretary of Homeland Security’s personal representative within Canada, the Homeland Security Advisor to the US Ambassador and the Senior DHS representative in country.
Glen Okrainetz
Mr. Okrainetz is happily retired and formally served as the manager of the Environmental Quality Branch of the British Columbia Ministry of the Environment.