The Victoria Hospitals Foundation’s Board of Directors is comprised of our community’s leaders dedicated to making a difference in healthcare.
Our Board is entrusted to support the work of the Foundation by providing mission-based leadership and strategic guidance. As community leaders dedicated to making a difference in healthcare, their expertise and commitment to governing our Foundation, and supporting our hospitals is deeply inspiring. Browse their bios to learn more about this important group within the Victoria Hospitals Foundation team.
Left to right: Helen Wale, Cindy Choi, Jack Groucott, Sharlene Smith, Cynthia Smith (Vice-Chair), Joan Yates (Chair), Kendal Gross, Ryan O’Grady, Jas Dusanj (Treasurer), Jessica Thomson (Secretary), and Jag Bawa.
Missing from photo: Anup Grewal and Marko Peljhan (Island Health Representative).
Officers
Joan Yates, Chair
Joan Yates
Joan Yates had a thirty-plus year career in post secondary education in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. This has included extensive experience serving as Vice President for College Advancement; Communications and Marketing; Strategic Planning; Student Affairs; as Executive Director of a Foundation; as Dean of Business and as a long time business faculty member teaching Communications; Business Strategy; Marketing and Public Relations.
As a senior communications specialist, she has held positions with local and national governance bodies including national president of the Canadian Public Relations Society and has received awards and recognition for her work in planning new governance structures and developing a curriculum model now in use in several Canadian post secondary institutes. Her tenure in Student Services saw innovative and expanded approaches to services for students needing accessible learning; policy and support related to sexualised violence; and mental health supports.
She has international experience having lived and worked in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Joan has an M.Ed. in adult education; and holds an APR. She is a lifetime member of the Canadian Public Relations Society. She has been a board member in organizations related to arts; education; women’s health; and social advocacy.
She is a recent retiree, living in Victoria with her husband Chris Graham and is proud of her daughter who works as a nurse on the Island.
Joan joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2023.
Cynthia Smith, Vice-Chair
Cynthia Smith
Cynthia’s career has focused on promoting health through work in higher education, government, hospital, and community. She has been a faculty member at the University of Victoria; University of Alberta and McEwan University where she led programs, supervised students and taught courses in public health, strategic planning, and fundraising. While working for the Government of Alberta she contributed to policy on topics such as Primary Care, Midwifery, Nursing, and Public Health. As Dean, School of Health and Human Services, Camosun College she was the strategic and operational leader of 17 health programs and was instrumental in the fundraising campaign for the Alex & Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness.
Recently retired, Cynthia enjoys spending time with her husband and family, especially her five grandchildren, she does research and consulting, supports refugees living in Victoria and raises funds for Victoria Hospice.
She joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2024.
Jas Dusanj, Treasurer
Jas Dusanj
Jas was born in Victoria and completed his education in BC. Jas is a CPA and founding partner of Dusanj + Wirk CPA’s, now a team of over 40. Jas is passionate in areas of advisory, tax and audit and enjoys working with a diverse group of businesses, non-profits, and individuals.
Jas was formerly treasurer and member of the Board of the YMCA for the past 6 years. He lives in Saanich and enjoys travel and spending time with his family.
Jas joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2024.
Jessica Thomson, Secretary
Jessica Thomson
Jessica is an experienced lawyer. She practices all areas of labour and employment law, with a focus on labour relations, human rights, workplace safety, employment litigation, and workplace investigations. Through her work, Jessica provides strategic advice and representation regarding the interpretation of workplace policies, collective agreements, rights and interest arbitration, mediation and other dispute resolution processes. She has extensive litigation experience and has established herself as a strong advocate. Jessica has a keen interest in handling complaints of workplace misconduct including allegations of bullying and harassment. She has conducted numerous complex workplace investigations in highly sensitive circumstances and is committed to ensuring due process and procedural fairness.
Early in her career, Jessica practiced criminal law. She acted as defense counsel and later served as a Crown Prosecutor for the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, establishing herself as an effective litigator, handling a high volume of cases and successfully managing the expectations of various stakeholders. In these roles, Jessica gained experience working with vulnerable persons, including victims of trauma, and those affected by sexual and domestic violence.
In 2020, Jessica returned to Victoria after having lived in Edmonton for a number of years.
She joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2021 and is currently the Human Resources and Compensation Committee Chair. Jessica is proud of to support the important work being done by the Victoria Hospitals Foundation in her community.
Members
Jagdeep Bawa
Jagdeep Bawa
Jagdeep is a dual-qualified Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the United States (USA) and Canada, having substantial expertise in supporting businesses and the contexts in which they operate in both countries. She has over fourteen years of experience in corporate finance and public accounting. She has played a crucial role in assisting numerous private companies with their expansion strategies, including creating business plans and acquiring funding from various sources. The other areas of expertise include financial and tax planning for the USA and Canadian resident corporations and individuals. Her MBA in Sustainable Innovation from the University of Victoria broadened her understanding of business value chains through a sustainability lens. Her leadership philosophy centers on creating platforms for success, fostering growth, and advocating for inclusivity and varied perspectives.
Multiple non-profit and charity organizations have benefited from her assistance in developing and implementing financial reporting and compliance procedures. Recently, she served as the Treasurer for the South Asian Legal Clinic of British Columbia (SALCBC) and led the search and hiring committee for the clinic’s first executive director and managing lawyer.
Jagdeep received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting (Honors) from Johnson & Wales University in Denver, Colorado, and a Master of Business Administration in Sustainable Innovation from the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia.
Jagdeep joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2023.
Cindy Choi
Cindy Choi
Cindy has served as a Partner with Chan Choi & Company, a CPA public practice firm in Victoria, since 2012. With more than 25 years of experience in public practice and seven years in the private sector, she provides tax advisory and consulting services to individuals and businesses to achieve their goals.
She is dedicated to promoting accounting, business education, and services for young people and business owners. She served as Chair of CGA Canada and CGA BC during the merger and transition to CPA and received the Life Membership and Fellowship designation in recognition of her outstanding service and leadership.
She was born in Victoria and has been an active member of her community, contributing her time and expertise to various organizations. Her involvement includes serving on the boards of Camosun College, Junior Achievement and the Small Business Roundtable, as well as emceeing for local CPA fundraising events.
Cindy joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2025.
Kendall Gross
Kendall Gross
As president of Island Savings, a Division of First West Credit Union, Kendall leads a highly-skilled team of retail banking, commercial banking and wealth management experts serving Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands.
Kendall has more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry and has spent 25 of those years in senior leadership roles. After several years with a large Canadian bank where he led major projects and district teams, he joined the credit union system in 2015 as a member of First West’s Valley First division. Kendall is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and holds multiple Canadian securities certifications as well as his Green Belt in Lean methodologies.
Kendall, a dedicated leader in the community, has earned honors from the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and BDO’s Top 40 Over 40. His involvement in youth football spans over a decade, during which he served as a provincial championship-winning coach and a board-level director. Kendall’s leadership and passion have garnered him several coaching awards, including the Bob Giordano Memorial Award for Coach of the Year, the B.C. Community Football Coach of the Year (twice), and three B.C. Lions Orange Helmet Awards. Beyond football, he actively supports local causes, including community food banks.
In his role as President of Island Savings, Kendall demonstrates a deep commitment to supporting communities in meaningful ways. His partnership with the Victoria Hospitals Foundation exemplifies this dedication. Kendall collaborates with organizations that share his vision for positive impact and improving lives.
Kendall and his wife live in Victoria and have 3 adult children. He joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2024.
Anup Grewal
Anup Grewal
Anup was born in Victoria, BC and has his roots established on Vancouver Island. With a degree in Economics from the University of Victoria, he embarked on his professional journey in the financial sector. Since 1994, Anup has been in the financial industry, serving as an investment advisor at CIBC Wood Gundy. Over the years, he has garnered extensive experience and expertise, specializing in fixed-income strategies and identifying trends in interest rates that will affect financial plans and global equity markets.
In addition to his professional career, Anup ventured into the realm of construction and investment properties. A decade ago, he co-founded Novus Properties Inc., a construction and real estate development company. Under his leadership, the company has flourished, earning a reputation for excellence in the industry.
Anup’s unique blend of financial background and real estate expertise has been instrumental in the success of Novus Properties Inc. He leverages his deep understanding of economic trends and market dynamics to identify investment opportunities and execute strategic development projects. Driven by a commitment to quality and a passion for creating vibrant communities, Anup and his team at Novus Properties Inc. have undertaken numerous successful projects, ranging from residential developments to commercial ventures. Their portfolio showcases a dedication to craftsmanship, sustainability, and thoughtful design.
Growing up in Victoria provided Anup with a strong sense of community. For years, he had volunteered his time as a team manager at the Victoria Minor Hockey Association. Through his involvement with the association, Anup contributed to the development of young athletes while fostering a sense of sportsmanship within the community. Anup has been married for 28 years and is the proud father of two children.
He joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2024.
Jack Groucott
Jack Groucott
Jack has built two businesses, in two different industries, providing him with life experience in 6 countries across three continents. His initial career was working under some of the world’s top chefs, before being head hunted and building a private chef company serving the rich and famous. After 5 years, he decided to open his own restaurant, but first pursue a degree in finance and accounting. When he left business school summa cum laude, Jack decided to complete the CFA level 1 exam, which in turn led to him being offered various new opportunities in the world of finance. This was around the time his son was born and Jack took the opportunity to pivot in his career and have more freedom to be home with his family.
Since then, Jack has built a Wealth Management office in Victoria BC. Serving the needs of 250 community members and is entrusted with over $135M in his care. Jack has earned the Certified Financial Planner® designation to elevate his knowledge around retirement, education and estate planning, insurance, and tax-sensitive investments. He also holds the Chartered Investment Management (CIM®) designation, which, as the Canadian Securities Institute puts it, “ensures those who earn it are qualified to evaluate and manage all aspects of a client’s investment portfolio for an increasing number of sophisticated clients.” Jack is a career learner and is always pursuing the next goal.
Jack has lived in Victoria since June 2019 and has since found many opportunities to connect with the community. Participating in Chamber of Commerce committees, serving as director of the Dragon Boat Festival Society, coaching youth soccer and playing in a men’s league. He is also a member of the Victoria Golf Club.
In their free time, Jack’s wife, Alexandra (a Victoria native), and their son, Hendrix, enjoy the area’s excellent skiing and lake activities. Alexandra and Jack also take great pleasure in entertaining friends. Their family motto is to give back more than they take.
Jack has been a member of Victoria Hospitals Foundation’s Miracle Gala Committee since 2023 and joined the Board of Directors in October 2025.
Ryan O’Grady
Ryan O’Grady
Ryan’s career has been a journey of diverse experiences focused on contributing to positive outcomes for communities through collaboration. From agriculture to engineering, from government to private industry, he has worked in multiple sectors and welcomes the opportunity to improve social determinants of health through projects and programs. Currently, he is the Executive Director, Operations for the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC).
Before his current role, Ryan was Director of Strategic Partnerships and Director of Indigenous Legislative Co-Development in the BC Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, as well as Director of Engineering Services for the City of Courtenay. Ryan is deeply committed to advancing Indigenous reconciliation and respectfully acknowledges that he is an uninvited settler on Coast Salish Territory.
Ryan’s sense of duty to the community through volunteering was instilled during his rural upbringing on a grain farm in Saskatchewan. He has volunteered on many non-profit Boards and professional committees throughout Western Canada. His current volunteer roles include serving on the Professional Practice Advisory Group and the Climate Change & Sustainability Advisory Group for the Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia and as a Board Director for First Credit Union.
Ryan holds an MBA in Sustainable Innovation from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan. Professional Agrologist and Professional Engineer designations in BC complement his academic achievements.
He joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2024.
Marko Peljhan
Marko Peljhan (Island Health Representative)
Marko is the Vice-President, Clinical Services Acute South Care/Center Island & Provincial Programs, Island Health. Previously in September 2021, he had been appointed the Vice President of Pandemic Planning. In this temporary role, he oversaw Island Health’s pandemic planning and response to COVID-19, while also monitoring analytics and modelling on a provincial scale, under the leadership of the Deputy Minister of Health and Provincial Health Officer.
Marko served as Executive Director Geography 4 in Clinical Operations prior to this appointment. As Clinical Director of the Royal Jubilee Hospital, he was responsible for several program areas including: Emergency; Medicine; Rehab; Surgery; Patient Flow; and Intensive Care at the Royal Jubilee and Victoria General Hospitals. Prior to this Marko held various roles in Emergency Medicine including Director of Medicine, Emergency Services.
In his Clinical Operations leadership roles he has supported the implementation of a variety of initiatives including the development of Hospital at Home, and the opening of Island Health’s first High Acuity Units while serving as the Executive Director of Clinical Service Delivery for the Royal Jubilee and Victoria General Hospitals.
Marko is a natural fit for a leadership position, having successfully worked across portfolios at Island Health to deliver excellent health and care. As a clinical leader, Marko has experience in all areas of health system delivery and has a clear understanding and appreciation for the connections between acute care, primary care, and community care.
Marko’s ability to be vulnerable and open to learning, growing and asking for help leaves space for those with expertise and knowledge to have a voice and input, which is critical to leading through these uncertain times.
Sharlene Smith
Sharlene Smith
Sharlene Smith has extensive governance experience, having held leadership positions with national, provincial, and local organizations. She has served on the boards of 11 non-profit and public sector organizations and has been the lead director/chair of five of them. Her governance experience spans healthcare, community service, transportation, parks and recreation, tourism, victim services and policing, as well as her own professional association – the Canadian Public Relations Society.
Sharlene’s governance experience in healthcare includes six years on the board of Lymphoma Canada (four as chair), and nine years on the board of Broadmead Care (four as chair). She has studied leadership and governance and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and an Honorary Governor of the Victoria Foundation.
Professionally, Sharlene is a semi-retired communication management consultant, and a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society’s College of Fellows.
A long-time resident of Victoria, Sharlene enjoys spending leisure time with her adult children and their partners, her fur buddies, and can often be found on a golf course.
Sharlene joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in October 2025.
Helen Wale
Helen Wale
Helen Wale is a Certified Executive Coach holding the ICF Professional Certified Coach credential and is an experienced Human Resources professional with over 26 years in a range of professional and leadership positions in health care organizations in both the UK and Canada, most recently working in senior roles within human resources at Island Health before establishing her own business in 2016. Helen has strong human resources experience in recruitment and selection, leadership and talent management and policy development and is also a trainer facilitating workshops primarily in leadership development, employee engagement and coaching.
Helen has expanded her industry experience more recently working with clients in manufacturing, municipal government, education, leisure and fitness, financial services, not-for-profit and news media.
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Helen is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR), holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management, a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching and is certified to deliver MBTI workshops and the emotional intelligence assessment EQi-2.0 and EQ 360.
Helen joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2021.
Join our Board of Directors
Are you looking for an opportunity to give back to the community and support the advancement of healthcare on Vancouver Island? Should you be interested in learning more about becoming a member of our Board of Directors, learn more at the posting below:
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