Ingrid Valou is the Manager of Economic Development at the Downtown Vancouver BIA ("Downtown Van"). She backs her commitment to creating supportive, vibrant spaces for artists in Vancouver with a decade of experience in writing, public relations, issues management, project management, media relations, non-profit governance and economic development. Ingrid has built her community involvement and professional career around the success of values-aligned projects and organizations advancing the success of circular economic design, economic transformation, intersectionally inclusive economic models, Indigenous economic prosperity, journalism, and industrial-zoned businesses in Vancouver. She has delivered award-winning campaigns recognized by the CPRS and STORYHIVE.
In her previous role as Manager of Communications and Media Relations at the Vancouver Economic Commission, Ingrid served for many years as its primary media contact and led its editorial team. She held the pen as lead writer and editor of many of its signature reports, including the regular Vancouver Economy Report. She has been president of the Vancouver Metal Arts Association since 2019, bringing her experience in economic development and studio management to deliver projects envisioning and creating net-new accessible metal studio spaces in Vancouver.
Ingrid runs an eponymous small-scale fine jewellery and custom design brand in Chinatown. Her modest studio is a creative lab devoted to the responsible metalsmithing movement, in which she explores, develops and collates resources for local jewellery artists. She performs as a singer and on the flute and bass flute with various groups in the local music scene and has been credited on a dozen albums across genres spanning indie folk, indie rock, progressive rock, world fusion, and video game music.