Hi there!
I’m Nikki Best — a governance strategist and a corporate administration problem solver with over 15 years of experience in senior management roles across public bodies and private organizations in British Columbia. I’ve led teams ranging from two to 25+ in Director, Manager, and Advisory roles within local governments, with particular expertise in statutory officer responsibilities of the Corporate Officer, Privacy Officer, and Chief Election Officer.
Experience and Expertise:
From resort communities like Whistler and Tofino, to large metropolitan cities like Burnaby, and through emergency recovery efforts in places like the Village of Lytton with Emergency Management BC — I’ve had the privilege of working in and alongside communities I deeply care about. I love this province, and I’m grateful for the opportunities to live in, travel to, and support the communities that shape it. Whether I’m working with a Mayor and/or Council, a board, or a small business or senior executive team, my focus is always the same: build scalable, human-centered systems that support compliance, positive employee retention, and long-term resilience. I believe in laying strong foundations so teams can thrive, grow, take-risks and explore ways to innovate while inspiring the next generation of leaders through real succession planning.
Currently, in 2025, I am a Legislative Services Advisor for the City of Port Moody, while maintaining my role as Managing Director of Snowberry Consulting Ltd. I incorporated this boutique consulting firm in 2017 to help small and mid-sized organizations reduce bottlenecks, improve retention, and build repeatable systems that reflect their values.
I bring the expertise of a Corporate Officer combined with a deep focus on records management, technology, and innovation strategy. I’m not just a visionary—I design solutions, implement them, and train teams to use them effectively.
As an early adopter of emerging technologies, I specialize in Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications and transforming on-premises systems into fully integrated, cloud-based environments that support remote work. My approach ensures that technology and innovation move forward without being hindered by policies, compliance, or documentation requirements—because I build systems that proactively address these challenges.
If your organization is facing bottlenecks in compliance or corporate administration, you need more than a quick fix. I develop systems and processes that not only resolve reactive issues but position you ahead of what’s coming. But, of course, I do offer limited services for specialized services in information access (FOI, proactive release, routine release, etc.), privacy (PIAs to PIBs), policy development/revision and provide customized training to teams in all departments public and private organizations.
In a nutshell, I thrive in the structure and accountability of governance, but I’m continually drawn to special project work that allows me to develop practical resources, innovative tools, and breathe new life into traditional training methods — tools that teams can use long after I’ve stepped away.
Over the years, I’ve worked with more than six elected Councils, five public bodies, five boards of Directors, and consulted with dozens of governments and community-based service organizations across the province. Business owners, not-for-profit societies, and local government leaders have called on me to bring fresh perspectives, streamline operations, emergency support or to identify strategic opportunities for succession and development of their teams. While I am primarily focused on local government services, I also provide customized services to the private sector, where I have been a trusted neutral third-party to develop case studies, strategic operational reports, and conduct confidential interviews with the owners of their top 7-8 figure business clients — helping them improve service delivery, unroot challenges often unseen by leadership, or championing their successes.
When I’m not working on projects or policy documents, I design and deliver custom workshops for public and nonprofit teams. I’m a seasoned conference speaker and panelist, having been invited to present at retreats, workshops and most notably LGMA conferences, forums and regional chapter meeting and most recently, provided a presentation and was a panelist at the 2025 UBCM Convention regarding the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Local Government.
One little known thing about me is that while I was living in Whistler, I was asked to take on a consulting contract and a paid role as Administrator for the Restaurant Association of Whistler (a not-for-profit society made up most restaurants, pubs and cafes in Whistler). I helped the board through strategic planning, fundraising and steered the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic by bringing together restaurateurs, pubs, and cafés with a community-first approach — prioritizing collaboration over competition. The relationships and impact from that time are still felt in Whistler today, where owners and managers dive in to support each other like no other place I have seen since. Whistler is a place that will always hold a special place in my heart and I travel back there often. While living there I was also asked to sit as a director on various boards, including the Zero Ceiling Society of Canada (Vice-Chair) and Chair of the Governance Committees and Whistler Community Services Society.
Early Years:
After graduating high school, I faced a significant barrier to pursuing higher education. A provincial policy assessed my eligibility based on family income, which looked sufficient on paper—but in reality, I had no financial or emotional support. I grew up in extremely challenging circumstances, often without basic utilities, facing debt collectors at the door, and navigating the fallout of family struggles with substance use disorder.
Those experiences shaped my resilience and gave me deep compassion for individuals and families affected by addiction. During that difficult time, I was fortunate to have a best friend whose family—The Preece Family—offered me safety and stability when I needed it most. They remain an integral part of my life today; my best friend is now my sister, and her family has truly become my own.
At 18, when I was supposed to head to University with my peers, I had to make alternative plans to raise funds to pay for my first year of tuition. I knew what I needed to do would be incredibly hard and risky — but not impossible. So I made a plan, set a budget goal, and gave myself one year to raise the funds needed. After I graduated high school, I worked night shifts in an automotive factory, served tables at Swiss Chalet by day, and picked up weekend shifts at a beach shop in Port Stanley, Ontario. It was exhausting, but I was determined.
One year later, I arrived at the University of Waterloo with a single $500 scholarship to my name, entering one of the first cohorts of the Legal Studies program. This was probably my proudest moment of my life, to this day - I made it and became the first person in my family to make it to post-secondary. From the moment I stepped onto campus, I knew I’d be a lifelong learner. I juggled full-time studies with full-time hours of work and volunteering, and even landed my first local government job in the Recreation Department at the City of Waterloo.
Education:
Before sharing my achievements, I want to acknowledge that education and holding certifications are a privilege. For me, they came through years of delayed starts and countless evenings spent studying after full-time day shifts. That journey shaped my leadership philosophy. I believe in building teams driven with open minded energy, curiosity, and strong work ethic — not just the longest list of credentials. Having managed diverse teams of all ages, abilities and backgrounds for over 20 years, I’ve learned that the most exceptional colleagues are often those who’ve weathered life’s highs and lows yet show up with an open mind, inclusivity, and a strong work ethic — rather than clinging to outdated hierarchies, transactional mindsets or resisting change.
I graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2010 with an Honours Bachelor Degree in Legal Studies and a Minor in Human Resources, having worked and volunteered full-time throughout my studies. Later, I attended Capilano University for Local Government Administration. Looking back, I see how those early experiences — of grit, governance, and community — laid the foundation for everything I do now. I am now a candidate to receive my professional designation in Privacy and Artificial Governance from the International Association of Privacy Professionals and look forward to completing these in 2026.
Governance is Good:
My foray into Robert’s Rules of Order began in 2005, when I wandered into a Legal Studies Society meeting lured by the promise of free pizza (as I was using the food bank each during this period of my life!) — and somehow I walked out of that event as their Vice President. Little did I know at the time, how that moment sparked a deep interest in governance that would lead me into my lifelong career as a governance expert. After this year, I was elected by my peers for every year I was in university to leadership positions including becoming the President of the Legal Studies Society, Vice-President for the Arts Student Union, Vice-President for the Zeta Omega Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and then as Vice President for the Federation of Students. I’m proud to have been part of a student governance team that successfully lobbied for inclusivity, accessibility and access to loans and resource, paving a softer way for students who were coming from similar backgrounds of my own, while being an active ally and advocate for marginalized communities and students on campus.
Home Life:
My greatest passion is sharing what I’ve learned with my community, emerging professionals and those who are working to break systemic cycles and build brighter futures for others. I’m a strong believer in mentoring, giving back, and staying curious — whether that’s through policy innovation, immersing myself in creative arts and live music or spending time in the kitchen learning from my long-time life partner (who happens to be an excellent Executive Chef), Brook.
My favourite motto has always been — and continues to be:
“Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice.”