SECRETS & LIVES BY SUSAN LUNDY
Nice to meet you, Paul Nursey. Where are you from and how did you get to Victoria? I grew up in Tsawwassen, did some travelling overseas, started university (including a short stint at UVic) and then got really serious about university in 1993 at Simon Fraser. My career was largely headquartered in Vancouver, although work has taken me all over the world. Most recently I was Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Communications at the Canadian Tourism Commission, which is headquartered in Vancouver. You get a great perspective on how wonderful British Columbia and Victoria are when you travel.
Who is your family? My wife Michelle and two miniature poodles: Henry and 2U.
What drew you to Victoria Tourism? I was drawn by the business and community development opportunity that is just waiting to grasp. Greater Victoria has done so well, but the business of travel is growing rapidly. It’s also evolving rapidly to be more experientially based, more community based. Tourism Victoria has an opportunity to drive meaningful change and growth if we execute our strategy effectively.
What do you love most about your work? “Destination marketing” is a highly specialized discipline. Everyone thinks they can do it because they have travelled, but few have put in the years to understand its intricacies. I love bringing together the diverse business priorities of our community with the tourism opportunity, developing these into a coherent strategy and then executing that strategy powerfully. We are already strong and improving every day at Tourism Victoria. That is very rewarding.
What do you love most about living in Victoria? The weather and the local foodie scene.
What do you on a rainy day off? How about a sunny day off? On rainy days I like to read — mostly research, business journals and about leadership. Right now, on sunny days off, I’m exploring the different neighbourhoods in Victoria and getting to know each of their unique charms.
and Montie Brewer, past president and CEO of Air Canada, an expert in scenario development and a true contrarian, who adds a lot of value to strategic thinking.
What book are you reading right now? David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell
What has life taught you? Perseverance is the most important quality. Life will certainly knock you down. It’s all about how you get back up and move forward. Also to relax and laugh at the small stuff. There is joy all around if you look for it.
Is there anything else we should know about you? My door is always open. To employees, stakeholders and members. I will always make decisions through a strategy filter and what we feel is in the best interest of the destination. This interview has been condensed and edited.
Where do you turn for advice? Michele McKenzie, past president and CEO of the Canadian Tourism Commission, a tremendous transformational leader, who is not afraid of making the hard decision;
What do people need to know about Victoria? It is such a unique place, and
PHOTO BY DON DENTON
our business opportunity involves boiling that down to an effective communications proposition and then communicating it powerfully. To me, it’s all about the vitality of Victoria, which is driven by the people and the small businesses. We speak of “new world experiences” layered in with “old world charm.” That is a real differentiator.
Where is your favourite spot to travel? Within Canada, my favourite place to travel is Greater Victoria, and outside of Canada, it’s Instanbul, Turkey, followed closely by London, England.
PAUL NURSEY, 42 CEO, VICTORIA TOURISM
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