Director, Police Academy, Justice Institute of British Columbia

Axel Hovbrender has been a member of the Vancouver Police Department since 1978. In that time, he has worked in the Vancouver Integrated Intelligence Unit, was seconded to the Air India Task Force, Patrol, Planning and Research, Gang Crime Unit, Youth Services Unit, Sexual Offence Squad, and Criminal Intelligence Section. He was a member of the Negotiating Squad within the Emergency Response Team for over 15 years and is currently one of four senior Incident Commanders for the Emergency Response Team.

Mr. Hovbrender was chair of the Commendation Board, co-chair of the Regional Operational Police Managers Committee, member of the Strategic Planning Alignment Committee and the Shifting Committee. He also led the current Strategic Planning process for the Department. Mr. Hovbrender has been part of a number of inter-ministerial committees representing the BC Association of Chiefs of Police, and is also the departmental representative on the City of Vancouver's Strategic Directions Committee. He has represented the Vancouver Police Department on a number of national committees focusing on developing and prioritizing legislation on transnational and national organized crime. He has represented the BC Association Chief's of Police in the development of policy surrounding the High Risk Offender Community Notification Advisory Program and the Ministry of the Attorney Generals' Committee on Child Abuse Response. As a result of his previous involvement with Downtown Eastside issues, Superintendent Hovbrender was leading the "Neighbourhood Safety Watch" - CCTV discussion initiative and is sought out to present and to participate in panel discussions regarding public surveillance systems.

In 1992, Mr. Hovbrender was the chair for the City of Richmond Mayor's Task Force on Community Safety and Crime Prevention. He also served the community by being part of the Board of Directors for Family Services of Greater Vancouver. He is an associate faculty member, School of Leadership, Royal Roads University and a sessional instructor at the University College of the Fraser Valley. Mr. Hovbrender was invested as a Member of the Order of Merit for the Police Forces in 2005, is the recipient of eight VPD Commendations and was presented with an RCMP 'E' Division Commanders' commendation for his work while with the Air India Task Force.

Axel Hovbrender received his Master of Arts in Public Safety and Justice Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University in 2003. He also has a Bachelor of General Studies degree from Simon Fraser University. He has taken a number of management courses from a variety of institutions, including a Certificate in Strategic Planning from the Banff School of Management. He is currently the Director of the Police Academy at the Justice Institute of BC, responsible for all municipal police recruit and in-service training.