Board of Directors

Ms. Eileen Stewart (Chair)

Instructor (Part Time)
British Columbia Institute of Technology

Eileen Stewart holds a B.A. inEconomics and Commerce and a Master of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University.  She is a senior human resources professional with extensive experience in all areas of human resource management including labour relations, in both the public and private sectors.  She has managed human resource units in several of B.C.'s large public sector organizations.  With a diverse background that includes mining, banking, education, and municipal government, Eileen has her own consulting practice and teaches part-time at BCIT.

She has had astrong interest in women's issues for a number of years, having recently chaired the YWCA of Vancouver Board.  Her involvement now focuses on women's health and the incredible value it can bring to better health outcomes for women and their families.

Ms. Janet Austin (Vice Chair)
Chief Executive Officer
YWCA of Vancouver

Janet Austin is the Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA of Vancouver, one of BC’s largest and most diversified non-profit organizations.  Prior to joining the YWCA of Vancouver Janet served as Executive Director of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland.  She has also served as Director of Development Services for BC Housing, where she oversaw the development of the Province’s social housing for seniors and families, as well as transition housing, homeless shelters, and group homes for people with disabilities.

Janet is a weekend puppy-sitter for assistance dogs in training with the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society. 

Ms. Cheryl Hogg, CA (Treasurer)
Consultant & CEO
Infocus Management Consulting

Cheryl Hogg received her Bachelors of Commerce from the University of Toronto.  In 1992 she earned her CA from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia and most recently served as the Chief Operating Officer for one of Western Canada’s largest social housing societies.  She is working towards her Certified Management Consulting Designation and currently works as an independent consultant focusing primarily on developing strategies to improve operations and performance.  

Dr. Nancy Gallini (Secretary)
Dean, Faculty Arts & Professor of Economics.
University of British Columbia

Dr. Nancy Gallini has been the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Professor of Economics at the University of British Columbia, since July 2002.  She received her PhD in Resource Economics from the University of California at Berkeley, an MA in Economics and a BA in Mathematics from the University of Missouri.  Prior to her appointment at UBC, Dr. Gallini spent 23 years at the University of Toronto in the Department of Economics, where she was Head of the Department from 1995 to 2000.   

Mr. Nigel Banks

Vice President, Human Resources
LifeLabs BC

Nigel Banks is presently vice president of Human Resources for Lifelabs BC. With 900 employees in communities across the province, Lifelabs BC is BC’s largest community based provider of diagnostic laboratory services.  Nigel has worked in a variety of leadership roles in South Africa and Canada in Human Resources and Labour Relations for over 20 years. His range of experience includes lumber and glass manufacturing, mining, high tech, and health care. 

He is married to Eileen and has two daughters.  In his spare time Nigel teaches skiing, is a keen photographer and plays the saxophone.

Mr. Byron Braley

Vice President, Treasury (Ret.)

University of British Columbia

Byron Braley is formerly Associate Vice President, Treasury at the University of British Columbia (UBC), the Province’s largest university.  Byron oversaw the financing, risk & insurance management, cash flow, and business development needs of the University for over 20 years.  He also served as one of the founding directors of UBC Investment Management Trust, as an officer of UBC Properties Trust (the University’s property development manager) and is a past chair of the national committee of university treasurers.  Byron holds a MBA (UBC) and a BA (UVic).  Prior to joining UBC, he was with EXPO ’86 and BC Provincial Treasury.

Byron is the father of three, the owner of a Yaletown loft in a permanent state of renovation, and is sincerely trying to not to injure himself, or anyone else, in his recent take up of boxing lessons.

Dr. Alison Buchan

Professor, Departments of Medicine and Cellular & Physiological Sciences; and Executive Associate Dean, Research

University of British Columbia

Working with the senior leadership in the Faculty of Medicine and partner organizations, Dr. Buchan determines the strategic directions for health research in the Faculty and monitors research funding and productivity of the Faculty. She works with government ministries, university administration, health authorities and funding agencies to facilitate health research across the province. Dr. Buchan’s overall supervisory responsibilities include Faculty Research Centres and Institutes, graduate and postdoctoral education and training, international research strategy and research Faculty evaluation. She is a member of the Faculty Executive Committee, the Boards of Health Authority Research Institutes and numerous Faculty and University-wide committees and serves on the AFMC research and graduate education committee and AAMC GRAND steering committee.

Dr. Jan Christilaw
President
BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre

Dr. Jan Christilaw is VP of Medical Affairs for BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre in Vancouver, BC.  She is also the Senior Medical Director of Provincial Women’s Health Programmes at BC Women’s Hospital, and in that capacity works widely across the province with regards to women’s health issues and care delivery. Areas of special focus within this portfolio include Aboriginal Women’s Health, the Sexual Assault Service, Domestic Violence programming, as well as programming for substance using women (Aurora). She is the Medical Director of Aboriginal Women’s health at BC Women’s, and is a co-leader of the Provincial Women’s Health Network.

Jan is married to Dr. Warren Bourgeois, who is a Professor of Philosophy and Bioethics at Kwantlen College. She has two sons; David aged 20 and Tim, aged 13.

Ms. Lynda Cranston
President & Chief Executive Officer.
Provincial Health Services Authority

Lynda Cranston came to the PHSA with a significant background in health care. Prior to joining PHSA, Mrs. Cranston was President and CEO of the Fraser Health Authority, which was created by the amalgamation of the former South Fraser, Fraser Valley and the Simon Fraser Health Regions. Mrs. Cranston had been the CEO of the Simon Fraser Health Region. Mrs. Cranston was the first CEO of the Canadian Blood Services (CBS) until her return to British Columbia in 2001. Prior to CBS, Mrs. Cranston held various CEO positions in BC. Mrs. Cranston is the recipient of a number of awards, and has been named as one of the top 100 women in Canada three times. In 2007, she was inducted into The Women’s Executive Network (WXN)™ Top 100 Hall of Fame.

Ms. Madeleine Dion Stout
President, Independent Scholar & Aboriginal Health Development Consultant.
Dion Stout Reflections Inc.

Madeleine Dion Stout, a Cree speaker, was born and raised on the Kehewin First Nation in Alberta. After graduating from the Edmonton General Hospital as a Registered Nurse, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, with Distinction, from the University of Lethbridge and a Masters Degree in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. Now self employed, she continues to work as a researcher, writer and lecturer on Aboriginal health and health care.

Dr. John Gilbert
Principal & Professor Emeritus, College of Health Disciplines.
University of British Columbia

Dr. John Gilbert is Principal & Professor Emeritus, College of Health Disciplines, UBC. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. He is immediate Past President, International Association for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice, and Faculty Advisor, National Health Sciences Student’s Association of Canada. He is Project Lead, the Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative, funded by Health Canada. He serves on Health Canada’s Health Education Policy Taskforce, and Committee on Entry to Practice Credentials.

John was the inaugural Chair of the WHRI Board of Directors.

Mr. Karim Kassam

Director, Business & Corporate Development

Ballard Power Systems

Karim is the Director of Business and Corporate Development at Ballard Power Systems, leading key negotiations and working on strategic corporate initiatives. He also owns and operates multiple Boston Pizza Restaurants and seniors retirement homes in Metro Vancouver. In addition to his role on the WHRI, he is a member on the board of the Vancouver Economic Development Commission.

Mr. Michael Marchbank (Alternate to L. Cranston)
Executive Vice President, Quality Management Performance Improvement & Innovation.
Provincial Health Services Authority

Michael Marchbank is Executive Vice President, Quality Management, Performance Improvement & Innovation at the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). In this role, Michael is responsible for quality and safety, academic development and research coordination, strategic planning, transformation and change support, public performance reporting, information management and technology, decision support and system analysis. Michael has more than 20 years of experience in health administration in various positions in British Columbia and Ontario.

It is a privilege to serve on the WHRI Board of Directors as I believe in the importance of and need for more women's health research in order to improve the health of all women.

Ms. Jan Marston
Vice President, Customer Care, Human Resources & Operations Governance.
Terasen Gas

Jan Marston is a member of the Executive Leadership Team for Terasen Gas, an investor owned utility and the largest distributor of natural gas in the Pacific Northwest.   Her current areas of responsibilities include all aspects of Human Resources, Enterprise Risk, Environment, Health & Safety and Operations Governance. 

In her spare time, Jan enjoys outdoor pursuits including golf, skiing, snowshoeing and horseback riding.

Dr. Dorothy Shaw
Senior Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs & President FIGO.
University of British Columbia  

Dr. Dorothy Shaw is currently Senior Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs and Clinical Professor in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia.  She received her medical degree from the University Edinburgh in 1972 and her Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Canada in 1978. Dr. Shaw joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia in 1979, after a fellowship in perinatal genetics, with a cross appointment in Medical Genetics. In 2004 she graduated from the Royal Roads Executive Coaching Program. She is currently the president of the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the first woman to hold the position.

Dorothy is married to Marc, who, along with their three daughters, supports her passion to prevent maternal death and disability.

Ms. Kim van der Woerd
PhD Candidate, Department of Psychology.
Simon Fraser University

Dr. Kim van der Woerd completed her PhD in Psychology at Simon Fraser University and her dissertation research focused on a comprehensive participatory evaluation of a First Nations substance abuse treatment centre. Kim has 12 years of experience conducting local, provincial and national program evaluations, and conducting research in the area of Aboriginal health, and youth health issues. Kim is the sole proprietor of Reciprocal Consulting, a company that endeavors to work in a consulting capacity for Aboriginal communities interested in program development and program evaluation, as well as provide mentorship to Aboriginal undergraduate students wanting to pursue graduate studies in the Health and Social Sciences.

Kim is an avid knitter, and enjoys running long distances and traveling with her husband.