Colin O'Leary, Principal

  With over 10 years of experience Colin O'Leary has helped to reshape numerous companies and grow them exponentially. In 2017 Colin founded O'Leary and Associates to provide consultation to businesses, non profits, public entities and social enterprises on financial, innovation and strategic management needs

Prior to O'leary and Associates Colin worked for Venture Kamloops and as a Manager for Business Retention and Expansion.  To Colin, "each company is unique. One-size-fits-all approaches will never help your business reach its full potential. We deliver custom solutions, tailored to you--your industry, your culture, your one-of-a-kind challenges."  We have won numerous awards for project and program development and implementation, we are one of only a handful of firms that hold professional designations in Economic Development as being IAP2 certified practitioners.   

Members of our team hold their Masters in Business Administration and have graduated at the top of their class, from some of the best business schools in the world.   The real testament to our capabilities and innovation is our growing reputation and presence in Western Canada. 

Jamie Mayes joined O’Leary  and Associates Ltd in June 2022, and brings her role vast project management, business planning, and non-profit management and community economic development experience. While taking her university degree in Tourism   Management, Jamie worked 6 years as a production technician for a Kamloops tech startup. 

Jamie is ICP2 certified and  is currently working toward EcD certification with the Economic  Developers Association of Canada. Previous work positions include economic development officer for the City of Revelstoke, Community Economic Development coordinator for Community Futures Revelstoke, interim program manager for Imagine Kootenay, executive director of the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce, and Business Retention & Expansion specialist for Venture Kamloops.

  Calum is a Director of Strategy, Policy, & Economics at O'Leary & Associates with over 15 years of advisory experience across multiple industries, ranging from early-stage ventures to large multinational organizations. He has a strong track record of delivering end-to-end advisory services, including strategy development, business planning, business case development, gap analysis, sector analyses and competitiveness assessments, feasibility studies, financial analysis and modelling, and economic development initiatives across Canada, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia.

Before joining O&A, Calum was a Senior Manager at KPMG within the Strategy, Policy, & Economics practice and the Infrastructure, Capital Projects, and Sustainability team (formerly Global Infrastructure Advisory). As part of KPMG's National Economic Development Centre of Excellence, he initially joined the Vancouver team. He was subsequently internally recruited to serve as the geographic lead for Advisory Services in Interior BC. In this role, he led interior BC's regional market development, built client relationships, and delivered high-impact advisory services to both public- and private-sector clients. He also brings experience from boutique consulting and has owned and operated his own consulting firm, bringing a well-rounded, entrepreneurial perspective to his work.

Calum has extensive experience working with all levels of government, municipal, provincial, and federal, as well as with international development programs. He has supported a wide range of initiatives across Canada.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University in Scotland.

  With over 30 years of experience in natural resource management and Indigenous relations, Sonya brings deep expertise in advancing collaborative, land-based solutions across British Columbia. Her career has been defined by a commitment to building strong relationships, navigating complex challenges, and integrating First Nations values into land and resource management.

Sonya began her career with the BC Ministry of Forests in the Chilcotin, where she gained hands-on experience across vast and diverse rangelands while developing lasting relationships with local communities. Following the landmark Delgamuukw decision, her role evolved into First Nations Relations Liaison, marking the beginning of a career-long focus on consultation, reconciliation, and meaningful engagement.

Over the years, Sonya has held senior roles including First Nations Relations Advisor, Provincial Range Specialist, and First Nations Relations Manager for the Thompson Okanagan Region. She is known for her thoughtful, solutions-oriented approach, working through complex and longstanding issues to find practical, mutually beneficial outcomes for communities, industry, and government.

In 2024, Sonya took on the role of Negotiator with the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, supporting the advancement of land claims across the region. This work represents some of the most meaningful of her career bringing together her strengths in relationship-building, strategy, and problem-solving.

After retiring from provincial government service in early 2026, Sonya now focuses on projects where her experience and passion can contribute to meaningful, lasting change.