Board of Directors

Committed to supporting Winnipeg’s thriving business community

The Chamber is governed by members of a highly dedicated volunteer Board of Directors. Our directors are from companies of various sizes and sectors and reflect the diversity of our membership. We are also proud to have a gender-balanced board.

Each director brings with them a wealth of knowledge and experience and is committed to community leadership and supporting The Chamber’s mission. The board meets regularly to approve policy, engage in discussion around issues affecting the business community and to make decisions around the general governance of The Chamber.

Bob Somers

Chair

Scatliff+Miller+Murray

Bob Somers is a Registered Landscape Architect and Principal at  Scatliff+Miller+Murray  who’s spent nearly 30 years helping build Winnipeg’s public spaces. He leads a multidisciplinary, vision-based team working across landscape architecture, planning, land development and infrastructure, and was a driving force behind the Plaza at The Forks, Waterfront Drive, and Eastside Road Revegetation projects. 

Bob’s leadership extends well beyond his professional work. He is the recipient of The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Initiative Award for his volunteer leadership on Chamber Way. He has also served as president of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, president of Manitoba Music, and founder of the Skateboarding Coalition of Manitoba. He currently serves as the 133rd board chair of The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. 

Before leading design teams in boardrooms, Bob toured across the country as bass player for Winnipeg indie-rock band The Bonaduces. That experience guided his approach to leadership: set the rhythm and provide a foundation for others to contribute their talent and creativity to the composition.  

When he’s not designing award winning public spaces, you can find Bob playing a show, perusing a local art gallery, or supporting Winnipeg’s creative scene. Across design, music, skateboarding, and business, he believes the best things happen when people step outside their lanes and build something together. 

Sandy Chahal

Incoming Chair

Lawton Partners Wealth Management

Sandy Chahal is the COO of Lawton Partners Wealth Management, with more than two decades of leadership experience spanning financial services, banking, and hospitality. Her expertise includes operations, strategic planning, communications, marketing, stakeholder engagement, and organizational development. Known for building strong relationships and fostering collaboration, Sandy is also trilingual in English, Punjabi, and Hindi.

A dedicated community leader, Sandy serves on the boards of Manitoba Opera, Volunteer Manitoba, and The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Mayor’s Multi Faith Circle. She has also held numerous past board and leadership roles with organizations throughout Winnipeg.

Sandy is passionate about volunteerism, inclusive leadership, and initiatives that strengthen and celebrate Winnipeg’s diverse communities. Her contributions have been recognized with several honours, including The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year Award, the Asian Women of Winnipeg Distinguished Service Award, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal.