Our People and Projects
The people behind our vision and what drives us forward.
Experience you can lean on
Our staff and volunteer board bring decades of hands-on experience in real estate development, construction, finance, and ministry. Together, we help faith communities make confident, well-informed decisions about their land.
$1.25B+
In real estate projects led by our staff
20+
Years helping faith-based organizations steward their land
100+
Years of combined board experience
Our Staff
We’re visionaries and forward-thinkers, rooted in faith and community.
Ian Martens
Executive Director
20+ years in faith-based development · $300M+ in non-profit projects · M.A. Business Leadership, Trinity Western University
Ian Martens is a development expert and business leader with over 20 years of experience helping faith-based organizations unlock their land for community transformation. Across private-sector and non-profit projects, he has bridged the gap between ideas, feasibility and successful project delivery.
• $300M+ in non-profit development projects across commercial/institutional, affordable and low-barrier housing, locally and internationally
• Has led dozens of organizations through strategic decision-making, feasibility studies, partnerships and restructuring
• Over a decade as a redevelopment advisor to faith groups across the Lower Mainland, providing proformas, feasibility studies, municipal consultation and funding applications
• Founding partner of a construction and development company, leading it through a successful sale and transition after 15 years
• 15+ years serving on housing society and charitable boards, and on advisory boards for development projects around the world
• M.A. in Business Leadership, Trinity Western University (with honours, 2008)
• Humanitarian development work across Asia, North America, Central America and Europe
A start-up-minded, systems-oriented leader, Ian’s goal as Executive Director is to build on Wayfinder’s early momentum and grow it as the trusted partner helping faith-based organizations steward their land for community impact.
Selected Project Experience: Ian Martens
A sample of projects Ian has led over his career.
Church Mixed-Use Redevelopment
Brought a $120 million CMHC project from concept to a development partnership and into the development permit application stage.
Faith-Based Retreat Centre
Worked on behalf of a faith-based non-profit foundation to develop and execute its vision for a high-end retreat facility, with an estimated completion cost of $100 million.
Faith Group Affordable Housing
Led a $49 million, 98-unit apartment building from concept to completion on existing church property, in partnership with BC Housing.
Private School Expansion
Acted as the owner’s representative to a private school board, managing a $19 million expansion that doubled the size of the campus.
Denomination Head Office Relocation
Conducted a feasibility study on asset liquidation for a denomination’s head office, with a potential new build relocated to a college campus through a shared partnership.
Humanitarian Organization Land Study
Built a comprehensive study of land and business viability for a potential $50 million property takeover and expansion, including scenarios to help the board decide whether to proceed and which critical-path items to address.
Charlotte Au
Director of Real Estate Development
13+ years in mixed-use development · $950M+ in complex real estate projects · Project experience in BC, California and Arizona · B.Com, UBC
Charlotte Au is a seasoned real estate professional with a passion for helping faith organizations steward their land assets. With experience in both private-sector development and the non-profit world, she pairs technical expertise with a mission-first mindset, guiding faith groups from visioning and feasibility through to delivery so they can remain sustainably rooted in their communities.
• $950M+ in complex real estate projects across the non-profit, market and non-market sectors
• Experience in mixed-use church developments, rental housing, student housing, supportive housing, market housing, and commercial and institutional projects
• Expertise in feasibility analysis, development management, owner’s representation, capital stack structuring and partnership formation
• Helping faith organizations make strategic, long-term decisions about their land, operations and financial sustainability
• Project experience in British Columbia, California and Arizona
• Bachelor of Commerce, University of British Columbia
As Director of Real Estate Development, Charlotte is committed to seeing every project delivered successfully, with outcomes that serve both the organization’s mission and the community around it.
Selected Project Experience: Charlotte Au
A sample of projects Charlotte has delivered over her career.
Church Mixed-Use Development
$33 million
Developed in partnership with BC Housing, the project delivered a new 7,700 sq. ft. church and 75 rental suites owned and operated by the church. Units rented at market rates, low-to-moderate income, and rent geared to income.
New Church and Sale of Land
$220 million
Facilitated the sale of part of a church’s land to a developer, using the proceeds to build a new two-storey stand-alone church with a commercial kitchen alongside a 41-storey tower. The project features stunning public art by Indigenous artist Marianne Nicolson.
Supportive Housing for Senior Women 55+
$39 million
A 10-storey building in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside with 76 supportive units and 24/7 support for senior women and families of Chinese and Indigenous heritage. Land contributed by the City of Vancouver through a 99-year lease, funded by CMHC’s Rapid Housing Initiative and BC Housing, and developed with Community Land Trust and Atira Women’s Resource Society.
Supportive Housing for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
$34 million
A purpose-built community of 61 mixed housing units for adults with developmental disabilities, seniors and low-to-moderate income individuals, built in partnership with L’Arche Greater Vancouver, BC Housing, Community Living BC and the City of Burnaby.
Housing Co-op for Mixed-Income Families
$35 million
Relocation and expansion of an existing housing co-op into a new six-storey building with 69 rental suites. Rents ranged from market, rent geared to income, and deeply subsidized rates. Developed in partnership with Community Land Trust, BC Housing and the City of Surrey.
Rental Tower with High-End Amenities
$200 million
A 23-storey tower with 245 rental suites and high-end amenities, part of a master-planned community in downtown Victoria. In partnership with the City of Victoria and CMHC’s Apartment Construction Loan Program.
Our Board of Directors
Meet the members who are championing change and lending their knowledge.
Michael Guenter
Chair
23 years in development · VP of Development, Concert Properties · 5,300+ homes rezoned
Michael Guenter brings 23 years of experience developing social housing, market rental and condominium communities, with experience spanning the full development lifecycle from acquisition and planning through construction and operations. As Vice President of Development at Concert Properties, he has led the rezoning of major multi-phase communities representing more than 5,300 homes, including Whitgift Gardens, Burquitlam Park and Langara Gardens. He has also helped deliver more than 120 homes of social housing, working from early concept through to completion in close partnership with CMHC and BC Housing. Michael’s longstanding involvement in faith communities has shaped his commitment to housing and community-building.
Andy Lambkin
Vice Chair
Pastor and church planter since 2006 · Development manager for congregations
Andy serves as a bi-vocational pastor with Simple Churches, a network of house churches he planted in 2006, with local gatherings across British Columbia and beyond. In addition to his local church work, he serves as a development manager, guiding congregations through projects and helping them steward their land and buildings well for ministry and community benefit. With a deep understanding of church governance, congregational dynamics and strong relationships with churches across the province, Andy brings valuable expertise to the Wayfinder team.
Scott Regamble
Secretary
20+ years in business · Founder, Resident Experts at Engel & Völkers Vancouver · 15 years of strata governance
Scott Regamble is a real estate advisor and business leader with over 20 years of business experience, including more than a decade in Vancouver real estate. He founded Resident Experts at Engel & Völkers Vancouver in 2015, building a team grounded in integrity, relationships and client care. His background spans property valuation, land assemblies, complex negotiations, business operations and organizational development. Scott holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurial Leadership and brings 15 years of strata governance experience, alongside longstanding involvement in church leadership and faith initiatives. On Wayfinder’s board, he combines real estate expertise, strategic thinking and community commitment to help faith organizations steward their land responsibly and advance their missions through informed decisions that serve their communities.
Nina Tong
Treasurer
CPA, CGA · 15+ years in real estate accounting
Nina is a CPA, CGA with over 15 years of accounting experience, primarily in the real estate industry. Her expertise includes financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, project accounting and cash flow management. She has extensive experience supporting complex real estate developments, monitoring project costs and working with cross-functional teams to support financial decision-making.
As Treasurer, Nina oversees Wayfinder’s financial matters, including budgeting, cash management, financial reporting and coordination with the accounting firm on tax filings. She is passionate about applying her financial knowledge and professional experience to support the organization’s mission and contribute to the community.
Hans Fast
Director
Founding Partner, Fastmark Development · 10+ years in multifamily development
Hans Fast is the Founding Partner of Fastmark Development, a Vancouver-based multifamily residential developer. Hans brings over a decade of industry experience along with an entrepreneurial understanding of what it takes to move projects from an initial vision to completion. He founded Fastmark to deliver townhomes and advance purpose-built rental projects in Vancouver, and his diverse project experience spans exposed mass timber construction, heritage retention, childcare, and both market and below-market rental housing. He studied Architectural and Building Technology at BCIT and Urban Land Economics at UBC. Born and raised in Vancouver, Hans brings a local perspective to Wayfinder’s work helping faith communities turn their land into opportunity.
Sean Vrtacic
Director
14+ years in real estate · Senior Development Manager, Mosaic Homes · B.Com, UBC
Sean Vrtacic is a Senior Development Manager with over 14 years of experience in the real estate industry, managing the design, development and municipal approvals for multi-family residential developments at Mosaic Homes. He specializes in the front end of the development cycle, with experience in early-stage feasibility analysis, proformas, development strategies, market research, site planning and contract negotiations. At Mosaic, he was part of a cross-functional leadership development program with rotational exposure to marketing, development, finance and land acquisitions. Previously, he worked at Ventana Construction, where he led the acquisition, design and permitting of a 125-unit rental apartment building.
Sean graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in finance with a concentration in entrepreneurship. He has served on Wayfinder’s board since 2020 and brings a strong commitment to using his professional expertise to develop community-centred projects.
Our Projects
From early feasibility work to completed buildings, here is a look at Wayfinder’s work with faith communities over the last several years.
Construction and Development
Projects we have guided from vision through to construction and completion.
Carey Lodge
UBC, Vancouver, BC
Client: Carey Hall · Development permit amendment in process
Development Manager and Owner’s Representative on Carey Hall’s multi-phased community development. Working with the client on a complex renovation of the existing Carey Lodge to update aging infrastructure, redesign existing student residences and short-term accommodations, and refresh common areas. A future phase will include a new mixed-use institutional student residence building.
Timothy Hall Student Residences
UBC, Vancouver, BC
Client: Carey Hall · $34.5M · 7 storeys, 75 units · Completed 2025
Owner’s Representative during construction through to completion. Provided support on budget tracking, change order review, construction draws, project accounting close-out, lease-up operations and take-out financing. A partnership between Carey Hall, CMHC and the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada.
Co:Here Housing
Vancouver, BC
Client: Grandview Church · $12.4M · 4 storeys, 26 units · Completed 2018
Development Consultant through feasibility studies and Development Manager through development and construction. Led the church in creating a compelling vision for its underutilized parking lot that resonated with its congregation, along with neighbourhood consultation, financial pro forma modelling, grant and loan applications, a fundraising campaign, design development, municipal approvals and operations governance. A partnership between Grandview Church, BC Housing, CMHC and private donors.
Feasibility and Planning
Walking with faith groups through feasibility and planning brings clarity to their next steps, and is just as important as the projects that break ground.
Expand Church in Mixed-Use Development
Vancouver, BC
Supported the church’s discernment process by modelling the financial and physical feasibility of a high-density mixed-use redevelopment near a SkyTrain station, including an expanded church and high-density rental housing. Analyzed multiple development scenarios and ownership structures, organized meetings with City planning staff and presented capital stack implications. The findings helped the church decide to explore renovating its aging building instead, and Wayfinder is now assisting with an in-depth renovation analysis.
Exploring Highest and Best Use
Burnaby, BC
Guided church leadership through a feasibility study for the denomination to test whether a high-density mixed-use church and rental housing development could support the church’s mission and finances. Reviewed multiple development scenarios and ownership structures, organized meetings with City planning staff and presented findings to denominational leadership. The site is near a SkyTrain station and permits a tower of up to 26 storeys.
Create Refugee Housing Ministry
New Westminster, BC
Provided development advisory services to assess the viability of a new refugee housing ministry on the church’s excess land, with 8 to 19 housing units and administration space. Work included consultations with municipal staff, financial pro forma analysis, schematic architectural designs and presenting findings to the working committee.
Build Housing and Ministry Space on Parking Lot
Vernon, BC
Advised the church’s working committee on the feasibility of redeveloping part of its large parking lot and aging ministry building to build one or two 6-storey rental housing buildings and an expanded auxiliary ministry space of about 4,000 sq. ft. Explored multiple development scenarios, created financial pro forma models and provided a recommendation to church leadership.
Build Below-Market Rental Townhomes
Kamloops, BC
Partnered with the church’s property committee to explore the best uses of its excess land and aging, underutilized auxiliary ministry building. Presented financial pro forma models for different development scenarios and ownership structures, and worked with the church on a congregational engagement plan. Delivered a recommendation to demolish the aging auxiliary building and build a small collection of below-market rental townhomes.
Expand Ministry in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside
Vancouver, BC
Assessed the development potential of a land purchase opportunity for a church looking to expand its ministry in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Compared the property’s market price against the development and construction costs of a low-income rental housing and ministry building, helping inform the church’s fundraising proposal to its charitable community.
Our Mission
Wayfinder Developments is built on trust and collaboration.
We believe faith-based organizations have the opportunity to positively impact their communities through development.
Our Story
From church parking lot to affordable housing – the housing project and community that started it all.
In 2018, we combined our development expertise with a deep understanding of faith communities to build our first affordable housing project in Vancouver: Co:Here Housing. Grandview Church had a vision and a parking lot. Together, we transformed it from an underutilized space into affordable homes for their community.
During development and construction, other faith-based organizations asked for help transforming their underutilized land and aging buildings into spaces that serve their communities. That led to the formation of Wayfinder Developments Society. With a genuine, visionary approach, we offer consulting services that guide faith-based organizations through the entire process, from start to finish.
We are the trusted development consultant partner for faith-based communities, providing guidance and expertise every step of the way with honesty, integrity, and creativity.