08 Jun 2016 Congratulations Keith Spencer!

Content provided by Fasken Martineau

We would like to extend our congratulations to Keith Spencer, this year’s recipient of the BC Tech Association’s (formerly BCTIA) Bill Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award! The Award is presented to individuals who have made a significant long-term contribution to BC’s technology industry by serving as leaders, models and mentors for others throughout their career.

Keith Spencer is a partner and Chair of the Vancouver office’s Securities and Technology Practice Group. His clients range from start-up and emerging technology companies to large multi-national technology and telecom companies, and parties in outsourcing transactions. Keith has lectured in the area of technology and intellectual property law at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law and at various Continuing Legal Education and Information Technology industry conferences.

He has also authored articles in the areas of computer and information technology, outsourcing, e-commerce and intellectual property law. Keith is a member of various boards and advisory boards for a significant number of early stage and emerging technology companies and technology industry associations.

“We are incredibly proud of Keith for receiving this lifetime achievement award. It’s a testament to his service delivery, commitment and genuine care for the clients he serves. His contributions have helped shape the British Columbia tech industry as a global player,” said William Westeringh, Q.C., Managing Partner of Fasken Martineau’s Vancouver office.

Fasken Martineau’s Information Technology Group provides full-service, multi-industry expertise in the technology sector, as well as a range of other industries such as transportation, financial services, healthcare, insurance, public sector/government, energy, entertainment, Internet, e-commerce, online gambling, communications and consumer technologies.

Click here to learn more about Fasken Martineau’s Information Technology Group.

The Bill Thompson Award was created in honour of Bill Thompson, who, in the 1960s and ’70s, owned the largest electronic parts distribution company in western Canada, L.A. Varah Ltd. In the early ’70s, he founded Eldevco, a personal holding company that invested in startup and early-stage tech companies in BC. Bill made a point of knowing everybody in the fledgling high tech industry in the province, including the bankers, financiers, lawyers, and accountants who provided support services.

If he believed in the people and the technology in a small company, Bill invested his own money, and convinced venture capital firms and others to do the same. Bill was known for helping everyone he met in whatever way he could. He introduced engineers to managers, and managers to bankers, and marketers to potential customers. He had a vast network of contacts – he always had an eye out for potential synergies and partnerships, and gently herded his associates towards them. He made himself readily available with advice, assistance, introductions, and occasional ‘tough love’ if he thought it was needed.

After Bill’s death in 1986, the Bill Thompson Award was established by the BC Electronic Manufacturers Assn. (EMA) to recognize individuals who, like Bill, went out of their way to help young companies and young entrepreneurs to succeed. In 1993, EMA merged with Software BC to become the BCTIA, bringing the Bill Thompson Award with it. The Bill Thompson Award then became the first award presented at the Technology Impact Awards when it premiered in 1994.