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Board of Directors

Catherine Roome

President
Catherine is a tech innovator with a passion for serving the public interest. She is a director of BC Hydro, chairs the board of its energy trading subsidiary Powerex, and is a member of the Site C Hydroelectric Project oversight board. She also serves on the private sector boards of Prospera Credit Union, and McElhanney Engineering where she chairs their operating board. 
 
Catherine recently served as Interim CEO of Atira Women’s Resource Society, supporting governance and operational renewal for BC’s largest supportive housing organization. Previously, she led Technical Safety BC for a decade. Catherine is dedicated to fostering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and encouraging the next generation of leaders. 

 

Patra de Silva

Past President

Patra De Silva is a senior business executive with extensive experience in product development, manufacturing and marketing. She is the president of Natures Botanicals, a nutraceutical company which manufactures and markets dietary herbal supplements, pet remedies and natural personal care products. Being a student of Ayurveda, Patra is a strong proponent of a holistic lifestyle. She is an innovator in the pet industry and is the president of NHVNaturalPetProducts.com, a B to C e-commerce site for pet products.

Janice Comeau

Treasurer & Secretary

Janice Comeau is a strategic, trusted advisor and corporate director with over 30 years of diverse experience including award-winning CFO performance as a financial leader for business transformation. She has an established consulting practise that provides strategic corporate and financial services to a portfolio of privately held companies. Janice recently joined the board of a public cannabis company and prior to that was the Board Chair of the Land Title and Survey Authority.

Pamela Martin

Co-Chair Engagement Committee

Pamela Martin is a trail-blazing and renowned veteran for women in news broadcasting in British Columbia, Canada.  She is an award-winning news anchor and journalist who brought critical issues into the homes of British Columbians for over 30 years, and is recognized as a source of fair and accurate information.

For over two decades at BCTV and CTV, Pamela was an integral member of a team that created and produced the highest-rated and most-watched local newscast in Canada.

Esther McGregor

Co-Chair Engagement Committee

Esther is a Partner at Odgers Berndtson, a global integrated leadership and talent advisory professional services firm. Her specialty is executive search, and she has been honing her craft for more than 20 years. Esther started her professional career as a Financial Services Manager for a Canadian national bank servicing retail and commercial clients. Esther holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Information Management from Ryerson University.

Joanne Gassman

Chair Fellows Committee

Joanne Gassman was with BMO Bank of Montreal for more than 39 years, most recently retiring from her position as the Senior Vice President of Personal & Commercial Banking for BC & Yukon Division. 

She is currently a Director on the Streetohome Board, WorkWithUs Foundation, and the Bowen Island Community Foundation.  She is past Chair of the Bill Reid Foundation and the Vancouver Council for CARE Canada and a past Governor of the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Mary O’Callaghan

Chair Communications Committee

Since retiring as a partner with KPMG’s Management Consulting team in Vancouver, where she led the People and Change practice, Mary continues to provide Advisory Services to clients throughout BC. Her practice focuses on business performance improvement including strategy, governance, organization development, and change management. She also provides continuity planning services for family businesses as they transition from generation to generation.

Sherri Magee

Co-Chair Membership

Sherri has been a researcher and author in the area of cancer survivorship for over 25 years. She is the co-author of the highly acclaimed book “Picking up the Pieces: Moving Forward after Surviving Cancer,” and the co-founder of “Abreast in a Boat” dragon boat team society. She’s the past Vice-Chair of the Vancouver Police Board and past Chair of the Vancouver Police Foundation. She is a director on the Streethome Board addressing homelessness, mental health and addiction issues.

Juanita Lohmeyer

Vice Treasurer

Juanita Lohmeyer is an award-winning CEO and Corporate Director with financial leadership, digital transformation expertise, and customer experience who delivers strategic growth resulting in billion-dollar outcomes. She has 25 years of experience leading fast growth in global organizations up to $20B revenue, including private, public, crown and family-controlled spanning financial services, information technology, telecommunications and education.

Bal Pawa

Co-Chair Membership

 

Catherine Holt

Member at Large

 

Marlie Oden

Member at Large

As a strategic communications expert, Marlie began her career in Edmonton and managed Tourism British Columbia at McKim Advertising in Vancouver, elevating its global presence. In 1995, she founded Bridge Communications, leading impactful initiatives for organizations like The College of Registered Nurses and City of Vancouver. A respected facilitator, Marlie contributes to her community, serving on boards including Vancouver International Wine Festival and Bard on the Beach.