Meet the team

Nicole received her Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Dean’s List) in 1991 and her Bachelor of Law degree in 1999 from the University of British Columbia.

She clerked at the British Columbia Supreme Court from 1999 to 2000 and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2000. Nicole has also completed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants In-depth Tax Course.

Prior to joining RBC, Nicole practised law for ten years in downtown Vancouver, first at a national law firm and then at a boutique tax and trust law firm. Nicole’s practice focused on the implementation of tax and estate plans, Wills, domestic and offshore trusts, charities and business succession. Nicole is a member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the Canadian Bar Association Wills and Trusts Section and Charities Section. Nicole’s significant practical experience in estate planning allows her to offer valuable guidance in the development of your estate plan.

People need really good people. Without the correct expertise to help guide us, things can easily fall through the cracks. Growing up in a family business, Brett has first-hand knowledge of the highs of success and the lows resulting from poor estate and succession planning. It was this experience that guided him to the financial industry and why he is driven to help others achieve their goals.

Brett recognizes each person and situation is unique as is his process to gather information, identify wealth goals and recommend tax efficient insurance based solutions. Whether implementing financial protection against premature death and illness or ensuring your hard work and wealth are transferred to the next generation, Brett creates a plan focused on your needs.

Raised in Winnipeg, Brett moved to the beautiful Okanagan in 2015 where he lives with his wife and 3 daughters. While always up to play a round of golf his passion, long distance running, keeps him on the lookout for his next marathon.

Dustin is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), has completed the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada’s In-Depth Tax Course, and holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba with a major in Accounting.

In his previous role as a tax manager at one of the major global accounting firms, Dustin specialized in providing tax planning services to high-net-worth individuals, private corporations, owner-managed businesses, estates, trusts and partnerships. His work focused on tax minimization strategies, reorganizations, and succession planning.

Dustin’s role is to work with and support your advisor in preparing and presenting your Compass Financial Plan and to identify and assess any related financial planning concerns you may have.

As a private banker with RBC Wealth Management, Private Banking, Melissa Pinkenburg provides comprehensive wealth management and financing strategies to high-net-worth business owners, executives, professionals, and their families.

Melissa believes that building a strong relationship with her clients is key. From there, in collaboration with her team, she will guide clients through customized solutions for complex credit structures, tax and retirement planning and sophisticated packages for managing daily banking and cash management needs. Melissa also partners with in-house professionals to provide complimentary estate and legacy planning, financial planning, and business owner succession planning.

Melissa has been in the financial services industry since 2006 and holds a Personal Financial Planning (PFP) designation from the Canadian Securities Institute. She has also completed her Qualified Associate Financial Planner (QAFP) designation through FP Canada.

Growing up, Melissa moved around Northern B.C. before settling in Kamloops in 2014. Situated in the interior, Melissa enjoys spending weekends on the slopes at Sun Peaks. Melissa also has her motorcycle license and enjoys riding her Honda CBR 500. During her leisure time, you can find her on the beach while visiting family in Barbados.

Prior to joining RBC in 2014, Zora spent over a decade with a mid-size Canadian accounting and business advisory firm where she focused on assisting owner- managers and their families with personal, trust and corporate tax planning and compliance. Zora focused on development and implementation of strategies for wealth preservation in the context of tax, estate and succession planning.
Zora, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you to explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a business owner. Zora specializes in tax and estate planning for business owners and high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families.
Zora received a Bachelor degree in Science from Simon Fraser University and a Master in Business Administration from the University of British Columbia. Zora is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified General Accountant. Zora
has completed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants In-Depth Tax Courses, as well as the Advanced Tax Issues for the Owner-Managed Business Course. Zora is also a TEP designated member of STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).

As a Senior Trust Advisor, Catharine Turner serves clients throughout British Columbia in the Vancouver office. Catharine is well known within the Estate and Trust industry in the British Columbia region. She has held many client facing roles focused on business development as well as servicing complex accounts of domestic and international high net worth families during her roles as an Estate and Trust Advisor, Senior Advisor and Private Banker.

A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Catharine has continued to deepen her knowledge and expertise with key industry designations such as the Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) and the Financial Management Advisor (FMA) designations.

Catharine works with individuals, families, and businesses providing customized estate, trust and incapacity solutions. Whether it is helping someone to settle an estate, establishing a trust to ensure the successful transfer of family assets, or arranging to assist with the administration and responsibilities for a Power of Attorney, Catharine can help.

With more than 30 years of industry experience, Catharine brings to each client the necessary skill set to provide both the technical expertise as well as the genuine understanding of the emotional complexities that underlie these issues. Catharine understands that no two clients are the same and so, together with her RBC Royal Trust partners, she can find the solution that’s right for you. 

As a Premier Banking Advisor, Lisa Johnson provides personal service and tailored advice to help our Wealth Management clients save time and effectively manage their day-to-day banking needs.

Working as a single point of contact, Lisa collaborates with specialists from across RBC to provide a complete range of complementary services to support the individual goals of our Wealth Management clients in the Kamloops, Prince George and Whitehorse area. Lisa draws on over 20 years of experience in Financial Services, where she has had the opportunity to foster long-term relationships with high net worth clients.

She focuses on delivering an exceptional advice experience, working directly with our Wealth Management partners.

Away from the office, Lisa enjoys being outdoors, hiking and mountain biking in the summer, and skiing in the winter with friends and family.