Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Governance Committee

Finance and Audit Committee

Technical Advisory Committee

Partnerships Task Force

Front-line Communications Working Group

Serving on Committees

Board of Directors

Michele Thomson

Chair | Private Employer Representative

Vice President, BC Operations

Buron Healthcare

Michele has been the VP of Operations at Buron Healthcare since January 2020. Throughout her 25-year nursing career, Michele has gained experience and expertise in various practice settings, including ICU, acute care, community nursing, end-of-life care, clinical workforce planning, change management and leadership development.

Noreen Donnelly

Vice-Chair

Western Canada Staff Health and Safety Business Partner

Bayshore HealthCare

Noreen Donnelly is Bayshore Healthcare’s Staff Health and Safety Business Partner for the Western Provinces. As a safety professional with more than 25 years experience working across healthcare environments, she is known for a strong commitment to staff well-being, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. She brings deep industry knowledge and a practical, people-centred approach to supporting safe, high quality care environments.

Kathrin McMath

Treasurer | Not-for-profit Employer Representative

CEO

The Broadway Group/RILS

With over 25 years in senior living and healthcare, Kathrin has built her career around a deep passion for creating places where older adults are not only cared for but truly feel at home. A Chartered Professional Accountant with a Master of Arts in Healthcare Leadership, she has intentionally shaped her path to bring both strong stewardship and person-centred care into every part of her work. As CEO of The Broadway Group, Kathrin leads with purpose and a deep commitment to leadership, fostering a culture grounded in excellence, kindness, and meaningful connection for both team members and the communities they serve.

Sharon Cook

Professional (Medical/Legal) Representative

Nursing Officer and VP Quality Assurance

Park Place

Sharon brings a strong background in quality and safety leadership within healthcare and seniors’ services, with experience supporting organizations through system improvement, accountability, and continuous improvement initiatives. Sharon Cook is currently the Vice President, Quality Assurance at Park Place Seniors Living. In this role, she provides executive leadership for quality and safety across the organization, supporting consistent, high‑quality care. She works closely with operational and clinical leaders to advance quality improvement, risk management, and regulatory alignment in seniors’ care environments.

Dr. Khairun Jivani

At Large Director (Employer - Long-term Care)

Vice President, Operations

AgeCare

Dr. Khairun Jivani is a seasoned professional with boundless vision and diverse experience in the Canadian healthcare system. Prior to joining AgeCare, Dr. Jivani performed senior leadership roles that spanned public, private and non-profit sectors, leading complex operations with strategic, transformative, and service delivery initiatives. In addition to being an internationally trained dental surgeon, she brings extensive expertise in many domains of healthcare, including prevention, primary care, community care, and palliative care.

Ethan Martin

At Large Director (Employer - Home and Community Care)

Owner

Comfort Keepers

Ethan is the owner of Comfort Keepers Home Care which services the Lower Mainland as well as the Greater Victoria region. He started his career in Orthopaedics & Orthotics before joining his family-owned company, Comfort Keepers. Through his experiences at Comfort Keepers, he found his love of helping people who are in need. Ethan plays an integral role in establishing his company’s core values of honesty, integrity, compassion, and respect. These core values resonate in Ethan’s personal life as well as in the work he does. Ethan is on the Board of directors for Sources BC Society, as well as a Director on the Board of the Rotary Club of White Rock.

Tonya Neufeld

At Large Director (Frontline Worker - Long-term Care)

Health Care Aide Lead

Menno Place

Tonya brings more than 32 years of experience as a Health Care Assistant at Menno Hospital, providing the Board with a strong understanding of frontline operations and workplace safety within the health care sector. She is deeply committed to strengthening organizational accountability for employee health, safety, and well‑being, and has contributed through active service on Occupational Health and Safety and health and wellness committees. Through this experience, Tonya offers practical, informed perspectives that support effective governance, risk oversight, and the advancement of healthy workplace practices.

Nahin Ahmed

At Large Director (Frontline Worker - Home Care)

Global Senior Care

Nahin is an internationally trained physician with over five years of extensive clinical experience. She currently serves as a full-time Care Manager and Health Care Aide at Global Senior Care in British Columbia, where she is deeply committed to supporting the organization’s mission of ensuring the safety, dignity, and well-being of seniors in their homes.

Robert Breen

Industry Association Representative

Executive Director

Denominational Health Association

Robert Breen, CD, OSJ, MSc, ICD.D. Bob has over 50 years in healthcare leadership including roles as a hospital CEO, a regional Chief Operating Officer, President of western Canada’s largest community clinical laboratory, Chief Project Officer the BC Children’s and Women’s Redevelopment and CEO of a 275-bed faith-based campus of care for seniors.

Danny Birch

Industry Association Representative (BC Care Providers Association)

Co-founder

Hero Homecare

Danny Birch is the co-founder and co-CEO of Hero Home Care. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Victoria, specializing in entrepreneurship. As a serial entrepreneur, Danny has founded and operated businesses in various industries; however, the experience of his 93-year-old grandmother needing care at home ignited his passion for senior care, health and wellness.

Lynn Bueckert

Employee Representative - Union

Secretary-Business Manager

Hospital Employees Union

Lynn Bueckert is the Secretary Business Manager of the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) and an occupational health and safety leader. Lynn has been long-time advocate of worker health and wellbeing. Prior to joining the HEU, Lynn was the BC Federation of Labour’s director of occupational health and safety.

Mahen Ramdharry

Employee Representative - Union

Vice President

BC General Employees' Union

Mahen has worked as a rehabilitation worker, vocational counsellor and health care worker. He believes that unions have an important role to play in translating the voices of workers into concrete actions that build better, safer working conditions and create a strong work-life balance.

Loren Tisdelle

Human Resource Services Representative (non-voting)

Human Resources Director

Louis Brier Home and Hospital

Global Executive MBA for Healthcare and the Life Sciences, undergrad in Psychology, Cognitive and Neural Science, Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and over fifteen years of leading organizations.   Loren is passionate about generating practical and effective business strategies that motivate people, influence decision making and change behaviour. He has a track record of delivering creative solutions that have a positive impact on workplace culture and performance. Loren has led organizations to achieve Accreditation with Exemplary Standing (Accreditation Canada) and CARF® Accreditation as well as the Canadian Nonprofit Employer of Choice™ Award and BC Top Employers, recognizing the best places to work in British Columbia.

Karen Fitzgerald

Assisted & Independent Living Sector Representative (Non-voting)

Optima Living

Karen began her career as a Recreation Therapist, a foundation that continues to shape her people‑first, resident‑centred approach to leadership. Throughout her career, Karen has led multi-site teams and complex operations with a strong emphasis on health and safety, staff wellbeing, and creating environments where both residents and teams can thrive.

Will Dirksen

Representative (Non-voting)

Mary Polak

Non-voting

CEO

BC Care Providers Association

Mary Polak is a public policy leader with more than 25 years of experience in elected office and public affairs. Her B.C. government portfolios have included responsibility for Public Health, Oversight of Seniors' Long-Term Care Regulation, Children in Care, Environment, and Indigenous Relations. Her passion for seniors’ living, wellness, and care is a reflection of her love for her elderly father, who is living with dementia.

Saleema Dhalla

ex-officio

CEO

SafeCare BC

Saleema is deeply committed to creating safe workplaces, aligning her vision for SafeCare BC with her personal values. With a Master's in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene from UBC, she has spearheaded initiatives at provincial and national levels to enhance employee well-being and minimize workplace injuries.