Marina Andrew

Senior Specialist, Municipal Relations, British Columbia Lottery Corporation

By NASPL Insights Online

Published January 20, 2026

Lotteries and casinos provide entertainment, and raise much-needed money for good causes in the process. Yet it’s often difficult to get full buy-in from all stakeholders, and even players are sometimes skeptical if they aren’t aware of where the money goes. That’s where communications and relationship-building become critical. And where Marina Andrew has been focusing her attention over the past few years for BCLC, driving increased awareness in communities far and wide.

“Marina is the kind of leader who makes purpose feel personal. Over her nine years at BCLC, she has shown what it means to lead with connection, care, and impact,” says Jordan O’Genski, Manager, Social Purpose and Stakeholder Relations at BCLC. “Through her thoughtful engagement with municipal partners, she has strengthened relationships that are essential to our success – creating strategic partnerships that build trust and foster collaboration, and generate win-wins for communities and BCLC alike.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Marina arrived at BCLC in 2017 after nearly 20 years in media and retail sales with Rogers Communications (now Rogers Sports & Media) and Molson Coors Beverage Company. She took that experience into a role as a BCLC Account Manager in the organization’s Retail Sales Group, working with over 200 BCLC-owned locations such as kiosks. After a two-year diversion overseeing BCLC’s Lottery Systems Modernization Project (the development of an entirely new software system, an “incredible learning experience”), she returned to retail as a Regional Key Account Manager and then became the National Key Account Manager in January 2023.

It wasn’t long before she turned her expertise in building retail relationships to building relationships with communities across the province, taking on the role of Senior Specialist, Municipal Relations, in July 2023. Joining a small but mighty team of five, it is something Marina has really taken to heart. “Municipal relations was new to me at the time, but it has been a great fit. I’ve really enjoyed working with communities across the province.”

Her first big splash was the development of BCLC’s Community Recognition Program, which highlights how gambling revenue benefits local communities – from funding programs to investing in infrastructure. “If people understand where the money goes every time they play with BCLC, it can start to dismantle the stigma around gambling. The CRP demonstrates that it’s about showing that there’s more to gambling than the game.”

As BCLC continues to advance its social purpose, she sees relationships as the foundation for success. “Connection grows connection. Our opportunities are boundless when relationships are nurtured,” she says. “I will always bet on the human connection.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Citing academic studies showing that acts of service contribute to happiness levels, she feels very fortunate that her job involves giving back. And she finds time outside of work to continue the good work with her own family, which includes her husband Brock and their teenage daughters Abby and Emily. They support a number of organizations, and there’s a soft spot in Marina’s heart for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, along with any organization that devotes time to single moms, like YWCA, Baby Go Round, Mamas for Mamas.

Brock and the girls are avid skiers, enjoying time on the slopes. Marina isn’t a skier herself, but enjoys supporting them in their activities. She knows that the time when Abby and Emily will be off on their own will come fast, so she wants to make the most of these family years. So, they also enjoy traveling together, from summers at a family house on the lake at BC’s Sunshine Coast, to favorite destinations such as New York City and regular summer visits to friends in Italy. “Time spent with family is time well spent.”

The girls are active in school sports as well, enjoying soccer, basketball and field hockey. Marina knows that team sports are an essential part of learning life. “Teams teach kids about accountability, because you have to play fair and you have a whole team depending on you.”

She’s not sure what her own future will bring when it’s eventually time to retire, but she knows she’ll stay involved in the community. “There’s a lot of things I want to do, and I need to figure out where my heart is going to be. I’m so lucky that through work I am exposed to all these different organizations, so I can start peeling back the onion to figure out where I want to be.”

A British Columbia native, Marina studied communications at Simon Fraser University.

ADVERTISEMENT

What first brought you to BCLC in 2017?

I had planned to take some time off to be with my two girls, who were five and seven at the time. After leaving Molson Coors, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to return to the beverage industry, take a break, or pivot into something completely new. I had submitted an application to BCLC while still at Molson Coors, not knowing where life would take me. Months later, HR called with an opportunity as Account Manager in the Retail Sales Group. As soon as I walked in for the interview, I knew it was the right fit, even though it would actually be a step down in my career. It was an opportunity to change industries without sacrificing the work-life balance I wanted for my family, and fortunately I impressed upon the BCLC team that I was ready to commit. Taking the role at BCLC allowed me to stay in the career game while being present for my kids, instead of regularly traveling across Canada. Nine years later, I can honestly say it was the best decision – I’ve had incredible opportunities for growth and impact, all while maintaining the balance that mattered most to me.

Thinking back to your time as a Key Accounts Manager, what do major chains want from lottery, and do you have any tips on keeping them happy?

Lottery is a major traffic driver, making it an integral part of the convenience channel’s success. The same applies to our partnerships in grocery. When major chains embrace a “one-stop-shop” approach, everyone wins: the lottery, the retailers, and most importantly, the customers. From a sales perspective, our role is to help Key Accounts drive incremental traffic through smart, targeted promotions. Collaboration is key – pairing lottery with high-margin items in-store has always been an effective way to demonstrate that lottery brings people through the doors.

Today, in my social purpose role, I shift the focus to education. We need to actively tell customers where the money goes when they play with a trusted source like BCLC. When people understand the positive impact – how the funds support communities – it changes perceptions and reduces stigma around gambling. It can even encourage non-traditional players to try our products.

If we do our part as a corporation to share this story, everyone benefits: our Key Accounts, retailers, service providers, and ultimately, British Columbians.

How do you build relationships with communities and what advice would you give other lottery organizations?

When I started in media sales, I was fortunate to receive training from some of the best in the business. Sales, at its core, is relationship management. The most successful people in this field genuinely want to provide solutions to problems, and that mindset helps them grow and nurture strong connections. In municipal relations, the same principle applies. Local leaders are citizens who care deeply about making their communities better. BCLC was built on that same premise: helping communities thrive across the province. That’s ultimately why we exist.

ADVERTISEMENT

Building relationships with mayors, councilors, and city staff starts with understanding their pain points. When you ask thoughtful questions, you break down barriers because you’re showing a genuine interest in what matters to them. Once you understand where the challenges are, you can work together to find solutions – and that’s when trust is built. My advice: Don’t get into this line of work if you don’t genuinely care. To move the needle and build long-lasting relationships, you need people who truly want to help others succeed and who believe in the work we do. Passion and purpose are what make the difference – without them, it’s just a job.

While much of this activity has been centered around our casinos and the activity they generate in communities, I think lottery retailers have great untapped potential in this area. Historically in our local winner celebrations, we focused on highlighting retail locations where big winning tickets were sold. Now we add emphasis on the revenues being generated and how they impact each community.

You also spearheaded the launch of a Holiday Outreach program. What are its key elements and goals?

The purpose of the Holiday Outreach program is simple: to show up together in spaces that matter. We have served meals, provided gift packages for residents, worked with seniors in communities, and more. When mayors, councilors, city staff, service providers, and BCLC all come together in a setting that gives back to the community, it creates common ground and breaks down barriers. It removes any sense of hierarchy or power dynamics, because the focus is on giving back. That shared purpose is what makes the program so meaningful. We started with just a few communities a year ago, and for the 2025 holiday season, we expanded to reach more communities and extended the program into January and February, when outreach is most needed by non-profits. We held Holiday Outreach events in 15 communities this season, and I expect even more next year. Corporate partners have taken notice as well, and I hope to see more companies join in these types of community efforts going forward.

Is there anything you wish BCLC, or lottery organizations in general, could do differently?

Many customers don’t realize that when they play with a regulated, trusted source like BCLC, the money goes back to support the province. I believe that should be our leading message – it’s our greatest value proposition. There is real value in purpose. It doesn’t need in its own lane; it needs to be embedded in everything we do. It’s not “this or that” – it’s both. We can be an entertainment company and be purposeful at the same time.

What do you enjoy the most about your role at BCLC? The least?

What I enjoy most are the people. If I could teach my girls one thing, it would be to stay employed, even when being a mother feels hard. Working with people you respect and who inspire you is a gift. Over the past nine years at BCLC, I’ve met some of my closest friends – people I didn’t know before joining. They’ve supported me, watched me grow in my career, and given me an outlet to be someone beyond a mother and wife.

What do I enjoy the least? I wish I knew everyone at BCLC so I could collaborate more effectively. We’re all working toward the same goals, and greater connection would make that work even stronger.