Brenda Bailey

Brenda Bailey is a Canadian businesswoman and politician who has represented the electoral district of Vancouver-False Creek in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia since 2020. A member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party, she is currently the Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation of British Columbia.

Biography
Born and raised in Nanaimo, Bailey graduated from McGill University in 1990 with a bachelor of arts degree in Political Science and International Relations, and holds a degree in social work from University of Victoria. She had worked in the non-profit sector, including as regional manager for the Canadian Cancer Society, prior to entering the video game industry. She co-founded the Vancouver-based game developer Deep Fried Entertainment in 2005, serving as chief operating officer. In 2010 she co-founded Silicon Sisters, the first Canadian video game studio founded by women to create high quality games for women and girls, and served as chief executive officer (CEO). Bailey co-founded Women in Games Vancouver to support more women entering the technology sector.

Bailey did advanced studies in business and Law at the University of British Columbia but did not complete her law studies due to “family pressures.”

Bailey had served as the executive director of |Big Sisters of the BC Lower Mainland, before being named executive director of DigiBC, the Interactive and Digital Media Industry Association of British Columbia in February 2018.

She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for the riding of Vancouver-False Creek in the 2020 election, defeating the incumbent BC Liberal candidate and former Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan. She was named Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation by Premier John Horgan on November 26, 2020. She was then appointed Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation by Premier David Eby on December 7, 2022.

She is married to Bijan Sanii, CEO of INETCO, a BC fintech company. Bailey has three children from her prior marriage to Basil Stumborg, an Environmental Economist.