Board of Directors

Chris has a long history in health and international development. Early in his career, he was in senior management for the Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Health. He then spent several years working in New Zealand as the Director-General of Health and the chief executive of the Ministry of Health, New Zealand. In the mid 90’s he worked with the World Bank where he served in a variety of capacities including Director for Human Development in the Europe and Central Asia Region, Director for Health Nutrition and Population for the Human Development Network, country manager in both Central Asia and East Africa and Senior Adviser HNP/Program Leader for Health Systems Strengthening for the Africa Region.

From September 2012-2016 Chris was a Principal Associate with Abt Associates, working primarily on the Health Finance and Governance Project funded by USAID, retiring December 2016. He continued to take on short term consultancies in international health (e.g. Gates Foundation), until accepting the appointment by Abt with HHISP and currently holds the position of Director of PNG HHISP (Papua New Guinea Health and HIV Implementation Service Provider).

Asma-na-hi Antoine is from the Toquaht Nation of the Nuu-chah-nulth lands (west coast side of Vancouver Island, Canada). She resides in Lekwungen (Songhees) and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) traditional lands (Victoria, B.C.). Asma-na-hi is the Director of Indigenous Engagement at Royal Roads University (RRU). Previously, she was the manager of Indigenous Education and Student Services for RRU. Asma-na-hi is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Doctor of Philosophy Educational Theory and Practice program at Simon Fraser University. She has a Master of Education in Psychology and Leadership Studies specializing in Indigenous Community Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care with a Minor in Indigenous Studies, both from the University of Victoria

Asma-na-hi has utilized various skills in academic institutions and other non-profit Indigenous organizations as an Indigenous counsellor, family counsellor, educational and career advisor. Asma-na-hi believes her life and work are connected to a strong foundation of Indigenous ways of knowing and being used in the way she communicates, trains, and facilitates teachings about reconciliation, decolonization, and the history of Indigenous people. She continues to walk between two worlds: Indigenous and non-Indigenous and is recognized for her need to build and sustain a culturally safe place for all.

Asma-na-hi will share stories and life experiences along her academic journey into career opportunities. She has had the privilege of learning from Indigenous scholars, mentors who have become friends, and engaging with National and International Indigenous communities. Of course, along her journey, she has stated it did not come without trial and error using different innovative modalities tied to family values, culture, traditions and ceremonies.

Mary-Ethel holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Victoria and is a graduate of the BC Police College, now the Justice Institute of BC. She has 25 years of experience with the provincial government. She chaired the task force on Protection of Children From Known Abusers and the victim services committee, managed police-based victim services programs, and had the lead on other police-related projects. Later, she was Chief Financial Officer of the Ministry of Human Resources/ Social Development & Economic Security, where she was responsible for managing a $2.3-billion budget. While with the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, she worked as a Treaty Negotiator and Director of Implementation for Treaties.  This role provided an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge of smaller and rural communities in this province and some of the challenges they face.

Mary-Ethel has taught law courses in the School of Humanitarian Studies at Royal Roads University for 12 years as an Adjunct Professor.  She was event director for the Ride for Refuge fundraiser, which supports charities that provide refuge and hope for displaced, vulnerable and exploited people.  She has served on a variety of boards, including the Cridge Centre for the Family, the Victoria Alternate Dispute Resolution Centre, and the Saanich Police Board.

Allison holds a BA, MA (Planning), MPA, MCIP has thirty five years of experience in local government as a professional, elected official, and educator. Allison is a Registered Planner who has worked as a staff planner, consultant and trainer for local governments and the Province of BC, and is the author of a number of publications on local government planning including How local governments improve health and community well-being.  She maintains a keen interest in leadership development, strategic planning, and small town planning.

Allison is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria and an Instructor with Capilano University.  She served as Program Manager for the Local Government Leadership Academy (LGLA), which provides leadership training to local government and First Nations elected officials and senior staff. She served as Mayor and Councillor for the District of Central Saanich for three terms of office.

Allison is the recipient of the University of Victoria, School of Public Administration Alumni Award for Excellence in the Public Sector and the Planning Institute of B.C. Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in the Field of Planning. A lifelong learner, Allison recently completed courses in leadership training and governance at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the University of Helsinki, Finland.

Paul holds a BSc, Diploma in Hospital Administration and Certificate in Public Administration. He has over 40 years of experience in the social policy area and has held senior positions in the health care sector, in education and in children’s services. He has been an Assistant Deputy Minister of Health as well as serving  for six years as an Assistant Deputy Minister in Education. Paul has played a significant role in managing and funding support services for vulnerable children, including Aboriginal, ESL, special needs and high risk children in the education system. 

For the past 10 years, he has been providing consulting services to a number of provincial government ministries; to non profit agencies; other provinces and the federal government. His work covers a wide range of health, education and social policy areas and services provided include strategic planning; policy development; project management and facilitation of small and large groups.

With 20 years of experience in public affairs, health care policy, strategic planning, and stakeholder and media relations, Jocelyn has worked on many high profile public sector projects in BC involving multiple stakeholders at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. As a senior advisor and Chief of Staff to three BC Ministers of Health, and then more recently working in public relations with Island Health, Jocelyn has a thorough understanding of the diversity of BC’s communities and how they intersect with the health care system.

Jocelyn is very passionate about governance, mental health, accessibility and services to support children with disabilities and their families. Jocelyn strongly believes that a healthy community is an inclusive community, and that when everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential, the community as a whole benefits. With a keen interest in health regulation in the public interest, Jocelyn is honoured to serve as a public representative on the Board of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncturists of BC, the Board of the College of Naturopathic Physicians of BC, as well as the BC College of Nursing Professionals’ Registration Committee and Nurse Practitioner Standards Committee. Jocelyn holds her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Victoria.

Edwin is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 42 years of experience in accounting and finance, of which 25 years have been in public accounting. He also held financial reporting and controllership roles with both privately owned and publicly traded companies. Edwin recently retired as a principal with a large regional accounting firm, with his focus on providing accounting, advisory, audit and taxation services to non-profit clients. He continues to work as a consultant to the firm.

Edwin is currently a board member and Finance Committee Chair of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncturists of BC, and a Director of the Greyhounds Track and Field Club. He previously served as a member of the Public Practice Committee of Chartered Professional Accountants of BC (CPABC), Membership Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC, Finance Committee of the College of Physical Therapists of BC, and as a Director of the Kajaks Track and Field Club.

Edwin enjoys volunteering with non-profit organizations, and is passionate about promoting healthy and active lifestyles. In his spare time, he enjoys training and competing in masters and seniors track and field in 100 meters, long jump, triple jump, and multi-events.