Meet our Team!​​

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Tanya Ponnan

Tanya Ponnan has over 20 years of experience in HR, international development, and post-secondary education.  She partners with organizations and communities to strengthen diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within workplaces and broader society.  Tanya holds a BComm and an MA in Global Leadership from Royal Roads University.  Her expertise in leadership, governance, and inclusive culture strengthens BCWA’s efforts to foster safe, respectful, and equitable participation across the province.

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Dane Waldal

Dane Waldal is an educator, coach, and lifelong athlete with experience in basketball, volleyball, boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and MMA.  He has guided athletes to National and World podiums and serves as a nationally ranked wrestling official and former professional combat sports official.  With more than 20 years of coaching and 15 years of teaching, Dane brings deep experience in athlete development, education, and community building that strengthens BCWA’s commitment to growth and engagement in wrestling.

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Garfield Gairy

Garfield Gairy brings more than 20 years of experience as a wrestling coach, along with a professional background in business development, sales, and marketing.  His community work, including initiatives in youth justice, reflects a deep commitment to mentorship and social impact.  Garfield’s blend of coaching expertise and community engagement enhances BCWA’s mission to build strong, inclusive, and sustainable athlete pathways.

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Joravar Singh Nijjar

Joravar Singh Nijjar is the Vice President of Terminals at Pacific Coast Terminals (PCT), a leading bulk terminal service provider in Western Canada. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in operations, logistics, and customer service, he specializes in safety, compliance, and innovation. Joravar holds an MBA from Simon Fraser University. His experience leading complex organizations contributes a strong operational and governance perspective to BCWA’s strategic direction and accountability practices.

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Mitch Dodd

Mitch Dodd is a veteran wrestling coach with more than 25 years of experience guiding athletes from grassroots to international levels.  He has produced multiple Canadian champions and world-level medalists and helped build Coast Wrestling Academy into one of the country’s most successful programs.  Professionally, Mitch brings leadership experience from his role with Kintec Footwear + Orthotics, where he has advanced team development and community partnerships.  His combined expertise in athlete mentorship and organizational leadership supports BCWA’s vision for sustainable sport growth.

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Nick Ugoalah

Nick Ugoalah is a Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist, Hall of Fame wrestler, and executive coach with over 20 years of leadership experience in sport, business, and community development.  He holds an MBA in Management Consulting and is the founder of UGO High Performance and UGOFIT Academy, which help athletes, executives, and youth achieve excellence.  Nick’s background in high-performance sport and organizational coaching contributes valuable insight into BCWA’s athlete development and leadership initiatives.​​​​

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Tyler Keeling

Tyler Keeling is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with nearly 20 years of experience in the mining sector, working on global projects spanning exploration, development, and mergers and acquisitions.  He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from BCIT and earned his CPA, CA designation with KPMG in 2009.  Tyler’s financial acumen and governance insight help guide BCWA’s fiscal responsibility and long-term organizational planning.