Who's Listening

Dr. Penny Ballem was appointed Chair of the Board of VCH in January 2019. 

Dr. Ballem is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. She has had a 35-year career as a health leader and academic clinician in British Columbia. She served as the B.C. deputy minister of health from 2001-06. She also served as the city manager for the City of Vancouver from 2008-15. 

She has extensive board experience, having served on public sector, non-profit and private sector boards. She has received significant public recognition for her work in medicine and public service, including the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for Public Service, the 2012 Wallace Wilson Award for leadership, the Marion Powell Award from Women’s College Hospital for leadership in Women’s Health, the Cannell Award from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada for her contributions to leadership in reproductive health and others. She advises governments across Canada on health policy, health systems and health human resources.

Deborah Baker (Ancestral name K'ana) has long been an advocate for fair and equitable services provided to members of First Nations in the areas of education, housing and employment. She is a keen supporter of programs that promote healing and wellness for Nation members. Deborah is currently a full-time Member of the Squamish Nation Chiefs and Council, and has previously worked as a Regional Coordinator for the Aboriginal Business Services Network, a Youth Business Advisor for the All Nations Trust and as the General Manager for the Bella Bella Community Development Society, among other positions in business and finance.

William Duvall is the Director of Corporate Safety at the Metro Vancouver Regional District. Active in his community, William is a member of the Seaforth Highlanders, Patrons Corps and President of the North Shore Baseball Association. He has been a member of the Law Society of British Columbia since 2002, and is a member of the Employers' Forum for the Workers Compensation Board. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia, and Masters of Laws from the University of Toronto.

Dr. Kathy Greenberg is a family physician with more than 35 years' experience in women's reproductive health care. She was a leader in establishing community and hospital based abortion services in British Columbia. At BC Women's Hospital, she was a Medical Director for maternity programs and provided physician leadership for quality of care and patient safety. A graduate of the University of California San Francisco Medical School and the University of Washington Family Practice Residency Program, she also completed the Patient Safety Executive Development Program with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Previously Eyob G. Naizghi served MOSAIC, a refugee and immigrant serving non-profit organization, as its Executive Director since 2001. Presently he is a volunteer Knowledge Philanthropist with Vantage Point, and is a Board member of Hogan's Alley Society both in Vancouver. Prior to joining MOSAIC, Eyob worked with diverse international development organizations as a consultant and project management supporting vulnerable communities.

Eyob believes in advocacy, collaboration and community engagement for systemic change. He has served in different tables for welcoming the newcomer communities to the Lower Mainland. Among them include the Mayor's Working Group on Immigration, Vancouver and Surrey tables on Local Immigration Partnership, and the United Way Leadership Advisory Committee.

Eyob received is M.A.in Geography (Urban) from the University of British Columbia.   

Dr. McGregor is a family physician and health policy researcher with a focus on health care for seniors. McGregor is the director of community geriatrics in the University of British Columbia’s department of family practice. She is a research associate with the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute’s Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, and with the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Health Services and Policy Research.

Chief Marilyn Slett is a citizen of the Heiltsuk Nation and the elected chief councillor of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council. She is currently serving her third consecutive term as chief councillor, beginning in 2008 and following previous positions as tribal councillor and executive director of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council.

She is also currently the president of Coastal First Nations, on the board of directors of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, the co-chair of the Wild Salmon Advisory Council to British Columbia, and she has served as the B.C. women's representative on the Assembly of First Nations Women's Council.