Joan Yates Appointed Chair As The Victoria Hospitals Foundation Welcomes New 2024-25 Board
Left to right: Foundation CEO Avery Brohman with the 2024-25 Board of Directors: Anup Grewal, Jessica Thomson, Jas Dusanj, Cynthia Smith, Marko Peljhan, Helen Wale, Joan Yates, Ryan O’Grady, Kendall Gross, Jagdeep Bawa, and Ian Wong
The Victoria Hospitals Foundation is pleased to welcome Joan Yates as the new Chair of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors. Joan has over 30 years of experience working as a senior leader in post-secondary education, including having served as the Dean of the School of Business and Vice President of Student Experience at Camosun College. Joan has held several positions with local and national governance bodies, including organizations related to the arts, education, women’s health and social advocacy. Joan has also served as the national President of the Canadian Public Relations Society.
As an expert communicator, Joan’s valued experience will support the incredible momentum felt by the Foundation in recent years.
Joan recently retired and continues to live in Victoria with her husband. As the daughter and mother of a nurse, she has a keen interest in supporting our local hospitals for both patients and our dedicated caregivers. Joan initially joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2023 and assumed the role of Chair on October 29, 2024.
“Our Foundation team is honoured to welcome Joan as our new Board Chair of the Foundation. Joan brings a wealth of experience and a heartfelt passion that will add strength to our cause,” shares Avery Brohman, CEO of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. “Our Foundation is profoundly grateful to be governed by our volunteer Board of Directors. Each member tirelessly commits time and passion to ensure we can advance hospital care locally—it is a special gift they are giving our community.”
The Victoria Hospitals Foundation governance team is comprised of individuals from the medical, business and finance sectors of our community. Our 11 member Board is entrusted to support the work of the Foundation by providing mission-based leadership and strategic governance.
During our 2024 AGM, the Foundation bade farewell to our previous Board Chair, Donnie Wing, along with board members Tom Siemen and Emilie de Rosenroll.
The Victoria Hospitals Foundation is excited to welcome several new Board members: Jas Dusanj, Anup Grewal, Kendall Gross, Ryan O’Grady, and Cynthia Smith.
To learn more the Victoria Hospitals Foundation’s Board of Directors: victoriahf.ca/governance