About Us
We are the only charitable foundation in BC actively fundraising for public health initiatives, with and in support of our partners throughout the province. We are an independent, non-governmental organization.
What We Do
We are a leader in public health philanthropy, engaging and investing in innovative, collaborative, and evidence-based initiatives that improve population health.
Since we formed, our Foundation has closely aligned with the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). But as the health landscape in BC changes, so too does our work. As such, over the past ten years we’ve also built partnerships across all areas of public health, ensuring that we continue to make a difference in communities where, how, and when they need it the most.
As BC’s provincial public health service, BCCDC remains as strong a partner as ever and critical to our work, as are our relationships with other partners throughout the province.
Active Engagement
We fund and facilitate public health research, implement programs, and support evidence to drive policies which inform immediate and measurable health impacts in communities across BC.
Our Guiding Principles
We ground our work in advancing equity.
We promote social justice, anti-racism, and Truth and Reconciliation.
We are solutions-focused and forward-thinking.
We are a purpose-driven organization championing public health as a cause.
We foster meaningful relationships and partnerships.
Our Vision
Our vision is our passion.
A healthier, safer, and more equitable future for all.
Meaningful Collaboration
We foster and convene meaningful relationships with partners in every corner of BC. We know that strong partnerships create more reach and greater change.
Our PartnersMeet Our Team
Our team puts healthy people at the centre of all we do. We believe in a future where everyone has access to fair opportunities to achieve positive health outcomes.
Shellina Lakhdhir
Chief Executive Officer
Shellina Lakhdhir, CFRE, EMBA (Candidate), is the Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Public Health Foundation. As a nonprofit professional, and woman of colour in leadership, Shellina brings over 20 years of experience in values-based philanthropy and collaborative fundraising. Her lived experience as an immigrant has shaped a leadership style grounded in empathy, inclusion, and equity.
Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of working with committed teams and generous partners to help advance community-centered initiatives. Shellina is honoured to continue that work at the Foundation, where she strives to listen deeply, lead with humility, and contribute to building healthier, more equitable communities.
Matthew Wright
Chief Operating Officer
Matthew Wright is the Chief Operating Officer for Pacific Public Health Foundation, where he is responsible for the operational leadership of programs and projects that meet the overall strategic goals of the organization. He oversees areas of finance, legal, human resources, and general administration while working closely with the Fund Development and Marketing and Communications teams to ensure the Foundation continues to successfully grow its reputation, influence, and impact as a public health charity. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in Integrated Management Studies, as well as a Private Pilot’s License. He brings over 14 years of experience in operational planning and project management within the non-profit sector, which includes leading initiatives benefitting BC Cancer Foundation and contributing as a member of the Leadership team at BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Matthew has a passion for healthcare and community engagement, which he has fostered throughout his career in the non-profit sector. He believes in organizations that value equity and compassion, not only for their people but also in the work they undertake. Matthew joined the Foundation because he recognizes the importance of public health in creating a positive impact on our way of life, work, and interactions with one another both as individuals and as a community. He takes pride in being part of a movement dedicated to enhancing the lives of all British Columbians.
Nadine Nickull
Director of Development
Nadine Nickull is the Director of Development for Pacific Public Health Foundation, and is responsible for diversifying and growing the fundraising portfolio to meet program needs while ensuring the Foundation continues to grow its reputation, influence, and impact as a public health charity. She provides oversight and direction for the Fund Development team, including strategic and operational leadership, working collaboratively with the Chief Executive Officer and all team members to build programs and resources that will enhance BC’s public health capacity, and create strong, meaningful relationships with donors, partners, and community.
Nadine has cultivated a passion for working with organizations that focus on the care and health of people and communities. Throughout her life and career, she has embraced ideas and initiatives that drive positive and compassionate change, improve lives, and honour lived experiences. She is proud to work in an organization that strives to create a healthier, safer, and more equitable future for people across British Columbia.
Stacey Sellars
Associate Director of Marketing & Communications
Stacey Sellars is the Associate Director of Marketing and Communications at Pacific Public Health Foundation. Responsible for the development and execution of a marketing and communication strategy that supports public engagement and awareness of public health in our communities. Stacey oversees the creation of accessible and approachable content showcasing the impact of public health research and care, supporting fundraising opportunities and Foundation priorities.
Stacey is passionate about advocacy and social justice and sees incredible opportunity to connect people to the importance and impact of public health initiatives. Excited to bring her experience in healthcare philanthropy to Pacific Public Health Foundation, Stacey looks forward to advancing the vision of the organization and sharing stories that engage British Columbians in the important work of public health with a focus on representation and advocacy, health equity, and community care.
Lisa Young
Operations Manager
Lisa Young is the Operations Manager for Pacific Public Health Foundation. She is responsible for daily operations and business functions, finance, employee engagement and professional development, as well as project management and support for the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors. Lisa brings a wealth of experience from the research, academic, and non-profit sectors, having supported researchers at Dalhousie University and working with various non-profit organizations across Canada. She has earned the Non-Profit Management Certificate from Simon Fraser University, holds a CAP-OM designation from the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), and has held leadership positions within that organization.
Lisa chose to join Pacific Public Health Foundation because she believes in the work the Foundation is doing to build a healthier, safer, and more equitable future for the residents of BC. She is proud to work for an organization with values that align with her personal values, as well as knowing that her work is making a difference.
Tracy Penner
Manager, Major & Legacy Giving
Tracy Penner is the Manager, Major & Legacy Giving at Pacific Public Health Foundation, where she supports and executes fundraising activities to raise the profile, reputation, and reach of the Foundation. As a result of 9/11, Tracy was driven by a profound desire to make a positive impact and a tangible difference, ultimately leading her to make a career change to the non-profit sector. Her extensive fundraising experience includes meaningful roles and volunteer engagements within healthcare, humanitarian, animal welfare, and the arts and culture sectors, in Vancouver, Dubai, Amman, and Johannesburg.
Having lived in and traveled to a number of countries that experience social inequities and human rights challenges, Tracy has a genuine passion for the important work that the Foundation does and is proud to work for an organization that grounds its work in advancing equity, preventing disease, prolonging and improving lives, and promoting health through proactive, upstream interventions. She loves connecting with individuals and organizations who share the Foundation’s vision of a healthier, safer, and more equitable future for all.
Deanne Coupal
Marketing & Communications Officer
Deanne Coupal is the Marketing and Communications Officer at Pacific Public Health Foundation. She creates marketing and communications products that raise the profile, reputation and reach of the Foundation. She graduated from Carleton University with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. Her career has been spent primarily in the public sector at various federal government departments, where she communicated to Canadians about the programs and projects that impact our lives.
Deanne joined our small but mighty team after moving to Vancouver from Ottawa and seeing firsthand the various public health challenges faced by communities across the province. She loves her new home in BC and is passionate about communicating how our foundation makes immediate and measurable change to public health.
Maddie Mackenzie
SENIOR MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Coordinator
Maddie Mackenzie is the Senior Marketing & Communications Coordinator at Pacific Public Health Foundation, where she works with the Marketing & Communications team to advance the health and well-being of our communities across BC. With a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Environmental Studies and Anthropology, along with a Master’s degree in Intercultural and International Communication, Maddie’s professional background spans diverse sectors, including government and social enterprise. However, her passion lies in within the non-profit sector, drawing on her experience in international development.
Maddie joined Pacific Public Health Foundation because she is passionate about communicating and advocating for meaningful causes that create a positive impact on both people and the planet. She is excited to be a part of a like-minded team dedicated to health promotion, equity, and shared values, and remains inspired by their determination to make a difference in the field of public health.
Emily Booth
Program Coordinator
Emily Booth is the Program Coordinator at Pacific Public Health Foundation. She supports the Operations team with implementing the strategic plan to increase the growth and awareness of the Foundation, and successfully grow their impact as a public health charity. Emily supports the organization in day-to-day functions and business operations, including finances, the Board of Directors, systems, and team engagement/administration, and programming, such as public engagement, reporting, and project support.
Emily joined Pacific Public Health Foundation with the intent to promote public health through policy and evidence-based initiatives, with the overall goal of advancing equity and social justice for all. With a Bachelor of Social Work and experience in the non-profit and community development sector, Emily understands the barriers and challenges faced by the community and wishes to address these issues with Pacific Public Health Foundation.
Jimmy Vuong
Development Coordinator
Jimmy Vuong is the Development Coordinator at Pacific Public Health Foundation and supports the day-to-day needs of the Fund Development team while working to grow the foundation’s annual and mid-level giving portfolio. Jimmy has had broad experience in the higher education and non-profit sectors in areas such as development, events management, volunteer engagement and communications.
As someone who has lived experience on the direct impact public health makes on individuals and families in the community, he is proud to help build awareness and support for the vital role public health plays in preventing healthcare challenges from taking root in our communities while making sure those that have recently faced or are currently facing these challenges are not alone in the journey.
Governance
A Unique Team of Leaders
We are responsibly and ethically governed by our volunteer Board of Directors. A unique team of leaders dedicated to improving public health, our directors offer their experience and expertise to the Foundation so that we can further support research, implement solutions, and serve BC communities.
Guiding our Vision
Get to Know Our Volunteer Board of Directors.
Douglas Nelson
Chair
Douglas Nelson
Chair
he/him
Doug Nelson founded The Discovery Group with a vision to bring together a group of talented and compassionate leaders. Together they are aligned with his belief that the social profit sector represents individuals and communities coming together to change the world for the better. Collectively, they spearhead inspired strategies to help nurture that change. Described by the media as a ‘fundraising phenom’ and a ‘true innovator,’ Doug unravels complex challenges in aligning governance and philanthropic performance. His early development work in education propelled him to become the Chief Development Officer at the University of Alberta, and responsible for the second largest fundraising campaign in Canadian history.
As President and CEO of the BC Cancer Foundation for six years, he led the organization to revenue of $300 million, including a campaign that would launch the Personalized Onco-Genomic (POG) program. His work is award-winning in the areas of governance, culture, advocacy, and innovative granting, and he has raised nearly $1 billion for organizations in Canada and the United States. As President of the California Pacific Medical Centre Foundation, he led the development and execution of a campaign that would support the opening of two hospitals valued at $3 billion, shaping the future of care in San Francisco. Doug is also host of the leading social profit sector podcast, The Discovery Pod. With a photographic memory for baseball statistics, Doug had a childhood dream to be the first baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays. These days, he can be found remarkably often at a Bob Dylan concert.
Andrew Montgomerie, CPA CMA
Secretary-Treasurer, and Finance Audit Committee Chair
Andrew Montgomerie, CPA CMA
Secretary-Treasurer, and Finance Audit Committee Chair
he/hIM
Andrew has a diverse background, with experience in financial management, healthcare services, and a passion for public health. Andrew’s education and credentials include a CPA (CMA) designation, executive studies at the Sauder School of Business, and an undergraduate degree from Dalhousie University. Professionally, he has spent almost 20 years at WorkSafeBC, where he is the Corporate Controller. Andrew is passionate about physical and mental health and safety, both in the workplace and beyond.
Andrew joined the Foundation Board of Directors to help create a healthy and safe province for everyone so that we can ensure that our children, grandchildren, and generations to come can enjoy healthy living in the most beautiful place in the world.
Caryn Dooner
Director and Governance & Nomination Committee Chair
Caryn has worked as a Registered Nurse in Victoria, BC, in the Intensive Care Unit with patients directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the toxic drug poisoning crisis. She previously worked with the EQUIP group doing research on equity-focused interventions in healthcare, and currently works as a Research Coordinator at UVic for the Parent Child Lab organizing a research study focusing on parent-infant sleep. Caryn previously completed her nursing degree at the University of British Columbia and her Master of Science degree at the University of Western Ontario. Her previous experience in the non-profit sector at the local level with both social programs and health programs led her to pursue contributing to public health at the provincial level with the Foundation. She recently collaborated with a group of students at UBC to write a children’s book addressing vaccine literacy and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Medicine degree through Queen’s University (Lakeridge campus).
Caryn joined the Foundation Board of Directors to find innovative solutions for longstanding problems that affect our communities and those most vulnerable.
Jane Ingman Baker, PhD
Director
Jane Ingman Baker, PhD
Director
she/her
Dr Jane Ingman Baker is a lawyer with Paul A Hildebrand Law Corp in Vancouver. She has a diverse litigation practice with cases across the country. Her main areas of practice include professional negligence and insurance coverage litigation. In her law practice, Jane actively seeks out and employs alternative dispute resolution techniques and works to resolve conflicts efficiently and effectively, acting as a Fairness Advisor on several major construction projects. She taught Construction Law at UBC for several years. Before joining the legal profession, Jane trained as a Biochemist and concluded two post-doctoral fellowships at the University of British Columbia. She has maintained her interest in basic science and has had the privilege of continuing to teach in the Faculty of Medicine until recently. She is currently a member of the UBC Clinical Research Ethics Board and the Children and Women’s Research Ethics Board, as well as a former member of the CFRI Board. Jane was born and raised in London before emigrating to BC to undertake her doctoral work. She lives in Vancouver, is a master gardener, and is the proud mother of three young adult children.
Jane joined the Foundation Board of Directors because she has a keen interest in the impact that public health initiatives can have on the quality of everyday life. She believes in the power of directed philanthropy to assist in basic research advances.
Noorjean Hassam, MHA, CHE
Director
Noorjean Hassam, MHA, CHE
Director
she/her
Noorjean Hassam (she), a settler on unceded Coast Salish territory, is the Associate Vice President, Student Health Services at the University of BC, overseeing primary healthcare, counselling, health equity, health promotion & education, and the Office of Wellbeing Strategy. Prior to UBC, Noorjean led the BC Centre for Disease Control as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Noorjean was a key leader of the COVID 19 emergency response, was an advocate for addressing the social determinants of health, had financial and business oversight over the full range of public health services, and was recognized for her commitment to shifting the culture and practices of the organization to address social justice issues, and advance truth, reconciliation, decolonization and anti-racism.
Noorjean joined the Foundation Board of Directors because she is committed to advancing public health, which is based on social justice and equity, in BC and Canada and this is an important Foundation supporting these areas. This is important to her because it allows her to meaningfully contribute her time, knowledge, and experience to achieve success in public health, and as a Board. She feels privileged to be able to provide this level of leadership and to work alongside renowned public health and business leaders.
Edoye Porbeni
Director
Edoye Porbeni
Director
she/her
Edoye Porbeni is a founder, innovator, healthcare executive, and trusted advisor. She has led initiatives and made impacts to improve the lives of young people, women, and seniors, as well as individuals living with both chronic and infectious diseases around the world. She was recognized for her efforts as a nominee for the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award (2018) and the Surrey Board of Trade Women in Business award (2021). Edoye holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and International Relations from Georgia State University, as well as a Masters of Public Health and a Diploma in Applied Project Management, both from Simon Fraser University—where she now funds an entrance award.
Advisory Members
Meet our Advisory Members.
Jat Sandhu, PhD, MBA, MPH
Advisor
Dr Jat Sandhu is the chief strategy officer at BCCDC. He also serves as a clinical associate professor with the UBC School of Population and Public Health. Dr Sandhu holds a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Bristol, a global MBA from the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine Business School in England, an MSc in epidemiology from the University of Alberta, an MPH from the University of New South Wales, and a BSc from Ulster University. He is also hard to beat at table tennis!
Dr Sandhu’s award-winning work focuses on population health assessment and disease control. A passionate advocate for public health, he also serves as an expert advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO) on mass gathering surveillance and urban health observatories. He has spent his career focusing on public health practice and policy, and we are grateful that he shares his expertise with us as a member of our advisory board.
Jason Wong, MD, MPH
Advisor
Bio coming soon.
Naveed Janjua, MBBS, MSc, DrPH
Advisor
Dr Naveed Janjua is an epidemiologist and the executive director of Data and Analytic Services at BCCDC. He is also a clinical professor at the UBC School of Population and Public Health. Dr Janjua is a medical doctor and holds a Master of Science in epidemiology and biostatistics, and a Doctorate in Public Health.
Dr Janjua has influenced clinical and public health guidelines and policies with his work studying infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, C, and COVID-19, health disparities, syndemics of psychosocial conditions, chronic diseases, health outcomes, intervention effectiveness, health surveillance, and program monitoring. He also leads Hepatitis Education Canada, where he helps develop culturally and linguistically sensitive hepatitis C education resources for the population, patients, and healthcare providers. His work aligns with our vision for a more equitable future for all of BC, and we appreciate his guidance and support as a member of our advisory board.
Strategic Direction
Learn how we are advancing the health of every person in BC through our equity- and solutions-focused public health programs, partnerships, and activities.
View Our Strategic Plan