The people accountable for your project

David Burnside A.T., CEC, PMP

Owner | President

David Burnside, A.T., CEC, PMP, is Chief Development & Investment Officer for the Peach Hills Master Planned Community Development, Founding Partner, Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director of Live Well Development Group, and Owner and President of Optimum Project Leaders. Live Well is the group's overarching development company, built with Indigenous partners, and Optimum Project Leaders is its project leadership and execution company. Together they give David direct accountability from early-stage visioning and capital strategy through construction delivery and operational positioning.

He is a development executive, infrastructure strategist and construction management leader with decades of hands-on experience advancing complex, multi-phase community, hospitality, resort, seniors housing and mixed-use developments. His experience spans Canadian and international markets, with a specialized focus on sustainable utilities, integrated ESG infrastructure and capital-aligned development. He positions infrastructure systems as both operational-performance drivers and long-term value-generating assets.

His work encompasses district energy, geo-exchange, thermal energy storage (TES), solar generation, battery storage, wastewater reuse and private utility corporations (UtilityCo models). These systems are designed to improve operational efficiency and resiliency while enhancing NOI and long-term asset value.

Across horizontal infrastructure and vertical construction, David combines technical precision with development strategy and execution discipline. His experience includes master servicing, civil infrastructure, grading and earthworks, stormwater and wastewater systems, transportation planning, integrated utilities and complex vertical construction. By aligning infrastructure with project phasing and vertical delivery, he improves constructability, capital efficiency and cost performance from the earliest stages of development.

David also brings advanced capabilities in financial modelling, forecasting, market segmentation and capitalization strategy. He develops absorption-aligned asset mixes, optimized phasing strategies and financial structures that support institutional underwriting and clearly defined lender and investor exit strategies. He sets the pathway to a group-sponsored real estate investment trust (REIT), structuring assets from the outset for stabilization and aggregation into long-term institutional ownership. His approach emphasizes conservative underwriting, disciplined cash-flow planning and realistic execution pathways.

By integrating development, infrastructure, construction, ESG and capital considerations into a single strategy, David has built working relationships with institutional and private investors, municipalities, Indigenous Nations and partners in hospitality and large-scale master-planned communities. At Peach Hills, he leads the development and investment program that brings these disciplines together to turn the community's vision into a viable long-term asset.

Robert Burnside

Partner | V.P. Construction

Robert Burnside, Vice President of Optimum Project Leaders, leverages over two decades of construction expertise. A graduate of SAIT's Industrial Instrumentation Technologist Program, Robert holds an Interprovincial Master Journeyman Plumber ticket and Red Seal Certification as a Gasfitter, Class B, ensuring nationwide recognition. He brings a robust background in managing multi-family and mixed-use commercial projects, both nationally and internationally.

Formerly Owner and Operations Manager of a thriving plumbing, HVAC and sprinkler fire protection company specializing in large-scale construction, Robert joined Optimum in 2015, bringing extensive project experience and value engineering skills. His ability to optimize building systems and pass on cost savings sets the firm apart. With the advancements in building systems within new construction (HVAC, mechanical and electrical), Robert fills a critical role for Optimum in mentoring our superintendents on how to best manage these complicated, ever-advancing scopes. As Vice President, Robert prioritizes delivering quality from conception to completion. He advocates for continuous improvement, emphasizing positive client and trade relationships.

Tom Jackson C.C., LL.D.

Partner | V.P. Business Development

Tom Jackson, C.C., LL.D., is a nationally respected Canadian leader, member of One Arrow First Nation near Batoche, Saskatchewan, and recipient of numerous distinguished honours, including the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, an Honorary Doctor of Law, and is one of the rarefied living recipients of the Companion of the Order of Canada. His credibility and diverse influence extends from Indigenous communities coast to coast to all levels of government, business, and philanthropic sectors across Canada.

He provides senior counsel on growth strategy, stakeholder alignment, and high-level relationship development, helping create pathways rooted in trust, partnership, and nation-building impact. A key focus of Tom's involvement is advancing respectful, high-value Indigenous partnerships that create lasting economic opportunity, participation, and shared success.

Throughout his career, Tom has championed the creation of stronger, smarter, and more inclusive communities through innovation, modern methods of construction, and development approaches that improve affordability and accessibility. His advocacy extends across Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities alike, supporting housing and community-building solutions that create lasting opportunities, strengthen local economies, and enhance quality of life for future generations.

Tom's involvement reflects Optimum's commitment to leadership, integrity, reconciliation, and building communities through partnership, respect, and forward-thinking vision.

Jade Ansell

Partner | V.P. Operations

Jade Ansell plays a central role in connecting the people, partnerships, and organizations that make up the Optimum and Live Well ecosystem. Working across investors, Indigenous partners, consultants, operators, government stakeholders, and project teams, he helps ensure alignment and communication is maintained throughout the development process.

Known for his ability to build trust and foster meaningful relationships, Jade helps translate vision into action by bringing together diverse stakeholders around a shared objective. His collaborative approach creates momentum, strengthens partnerships, and helps projects advance with clarity, efficiency, and purpose.

At Optimum, Jade leads operations, responsible for partnership integration and stakeholder coordination, helping ensure that opportunities, resources, and relationships are effectively aligned to support successful project delivery and long-term value creation.

Michael Birch

Partner | V.P. Indigenous Partnerships & Government Relations

Michael Birch is the former Grand Chief of Anisininew Okimawin and Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Birch Carbon Program. A highly respected Indigenous leader, he has dedicated his career to advancing opportunities that support Indigenous self-determination, economic prosperity, and long-term community benefit.

Michael plays an instrumental role in bringing together Indigenous Nations, government, industry, and investment partners to create meaningful relationships that evolve into lasting partnerships. His leadership helps foster alignment, trust, and shared purpose, ensuring Indigenous communities are positioned as active participants in the development and stewardship of projects.

A visionary leader, Michael is helping shape a new era of Indigenous economic participation across Canada. Through his work coast-to-coast, he continues to advance initiatives that create opportunity, strengthen communities, and build enduring value for current and future generations.

Steve Kingsnorth

Partner | V.P. Infrastructure

Steve Kingsnorth is a Partner in Optimum Project Leaders, where he leads infrastructure planning and execution and our Sustainable Utilities and Infrastructure division, ensuring critical systems are delivered efficiently and aligned with long-term community objectives.

Steve and Sarah Kingsnorth lead Civil X Contracting, the second largest civil contractor in the Okanagan: a family-owned civil and excavation contractor based in West Kelowna, highly respected for executing large-scale community development infrastructure and earthworks. Steve's construction experience spans British Columbia and Alberta, and he is Gold Seal certified.

Civil X brings a full civil capability: road building for the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, municipalities, private developers and forestry; land development and subdivision preparation; sewer, water, storm and electrical pipe installation and utility conduit; earthworks, rock work and blasting; and its own trucking and hauling fleet. The team works hand in hand with civil engineers and geotechnical consultants across the Okanagan, the Thompson-Nicola and the Kootenays.

At Optimum, Steve brings that execution depth into planning: master servicing and capacity, district energy and net-zero systems, renewable gas from bio-waste and circular resources, and the integration of sustainable infrastructure design into core civil design, so that what is planned is what gets built.