The B.C. Conservatives have a new president and vice-president as Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay continues to make changes to the party.
Aisha Estey has been replaced as party president by former federal Conservative candidate Mauro Francis.
Pavneet Singh is the party’s new vice-president, replacing Sharon White.
“A big thank you to Aisha Estey for everything she has done for the Conservative Party of British Columbia,” said Findlay in a social media post. “Her commitment and dedication have made a real difference, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside her. She has put in tremendous effort in building this party, and that work has delivered real results.”
“My thanks also to Sharon White for her excellent contributions as our party Vice President,” she said.
It is the latest turnover on the executive team that helped oversee the B.C. Conservatives’ rapid growth. The party won less than two per cent of the popular vote in the 2020 provincial election before forming the Official Opposition after the 2024 election.
Estey had served as the party’s president since June 2023. Her removal comes soon after the departure of the party’s executive director Angelo Isidorou.
Francis was the Conservative candidate for Burnaby North-Seymour in last year’s federal election and has served as the executive director of the South Vancouver Community Policing Centre. He supported runner-up Caroline Elliott in the B.C. Conservative leadership race.
“I’m honoured to take on the role of President, and I want to thank the board for their confidence,” said Francis in a statement. “There is a lot of positive work ahead, and I’m proud to support Kerry-Lynne Findlay as our Leader and to help advance a strong Conservative vision for British Columbia.”
Singh was previously nominated as the B.C. United candidate for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream in the 2024 provincial election but chose to drop his campaign after the party folded.
Findlay’s other behind-the-scenes changes include appointing former leader of the defunct B.C. Unity Party, Chris Delaney, as her chief of staff. She also hired former Alberta Republican Party executive director Apollo Chung as director of operations and stakeholder relations and brought in former Juno News editor Cosmin Dzsurdzsa as communications director.
As part of a revamp of her caucus leadership team, Heather Maahs was appointed as interim Official Opposition leader while Findlay remained without a seat in the legislature. Trevor Halford had served as interim leader since December.
Findlay also tapped Sheldon Clare for the role of Official Opposition house leader, replacing Áʼa꞉líya Warbus.
Peter Milobar, who served as finance critic for the B.C. Conservatives, recently announced he was leaving the party to sit as an Independent.
