2020-21 Board of Directors (from left to right): Ian Wong, Avery Brohman (Executive Director), Brenda Nunns Shoemaker, Tom Siemens (Chair), Ruth Mogensen (Vice Chair), Wendy Everson, Rebecca Grant (Secretary), Marcia McNeil, Jill Sing, Steve McKerrell (Past Chair), Alan Winter, and Donnie Wing (Treasurer). Not pictured: Dr. Elin Bjarnason.
Our Board of Directors is comprised of our community’s leaders dedicated to making a difference in healthcare.
The Victoria Hospitals Foundation is grateful to have an inspired and engaged Board of Directors. Their dedication, expertise, and commitment to helping our organization are deeply inspiring. Every Board member has a unique reason why they are compelled to support and to serve with us. Browse their bios to learn more about this important group within the Victoria Hospitals Foundation team.
“Our Board of Directors contributes wisdom and experience to ensure we are accountable, transparent, and prudent financial stewards of the gifts we receive. We have deep appreciation for the thousands of people who pull together to transform healthcare on Vancouver Island.”
—Tom Siemens, Board Chair, Victoria Hospitals Foundation
Q & A with VHF Board Chair Tom Siemens
Officers
Tom Siemens, Chair
Tom Siemens
Chair
Mr. Siemens joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2018 and now serves as Chair. He has supported our local hospitals through volunteer leadership for many years, including serving on Campaign Cabinets for VHF.
He brings to the Foundation his extensive experience in finance and other disciplines from his 36-year career with RBC Royal Bank. After joining RBC in Winnipeg in 1982, Mr. Siemens worked across Canada in Calgary, Toronto, and Saskatoon, before retiring in Victoria in 2018.
During his tenure in Victoria, Mr. Siemens has been extensively involved with a variety of community organizations at the governance level. Mr. Siemens has served on advisory committees for Ballet Victoria and the City of Victoria City Manager. He was involved with both Junior Achievement and the United Way throughout his career, serving as Chair of the United Way of Greater Victoria’s 2006 campaign and as Past Chair and a Member-at-Large for several following years. Mr. Siemens has also been a member of the Camosun College Board of Governors, serving as Chair of the Finance & Audit Committees, and was a member of the Board of Advisors for the Faculty of Business at the University of Victoria. Most recently, he served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Pacific Opera Victoria. He also currently sits on the Greater Victoria Advisory Board of The Salvation Army, the Board of the Victoria Symphony, and the Investment Advisory Committee for the Catholic Diocese of Vancouver Island.
Mr. Siemens holds an MBA from the University of Manitoba and designations from the Institute of Canadian Bankers (ICB) and the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI). Mr. Siemens resides in Victoria with his wife. They have three adult children.
Ruth Mogensen, Vice Chair
Ruth Mogensen
Vice Chair
Ruth Mogensen is a retired Human Resources executive with over 20 years’ experience as a leader in human resource management. She has held senior roles with IBM Business Consulting and Price Waterhouse Coopers and has also held human resource positions in the oil and gas industry, post-secondary education and legal sector. Ms. Mogensen is a Master Coach and facilitator and is skilled in succession planning, recruitment and retention strategies, compensation and performance management. She brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of employee relations and holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia. She holds a CHRP designation.
She joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2017.
Rebecca Grant, Secretary
Rebecca Grant
Secretary
Rebecca Grant has recently retired after 25 years on the faculty of the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business where she taught information technology and e-commerce.
Rebecca brings extensive experience in governance roles in the not-for-profit sector, most recently as a director of Beacon Community Services and a Governor of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. She has been an active volunteer with the United Way of Greater Victoria, including twice serving as Victoria Campaign Chair, and spent many years chairing the Leadership Campaign and various campaign committees. Among other activities, Rebecca has also been a director and Board Chair for the University Club and a member of the Telus Community Board.
Rebecca earned an MBA from McGill University and a PhD in business from Western University.
She joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2020.
Donnie Wing, Treasurer
Donnie Wing
Treasurer
Mr. Wing is a seasoned executive with extensive knowledge in insurance, investments, finance, strategy, policy, privacy and government relations. He was CEO of Healthcare Benefit Trust for five years and also served on their Board of Trustees. He also served as a member of the ICBC executive team for 12 years and as a Senior Policy Advisor and Acting Director for the Province of B.C.’s Crown Corporations Secretariat.
Donnie has given back to the community serving on the board for S.U.C.C.E.S.S., one of the largest social service agencies in B.C., for five years in various capacities, most recently in the role of Chair of the Board. Known for his collaborative working style Donnie is also very familiar with the Victoria community and pleased to join the board of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation.
He joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2018.
Members
Steve McKerrell, Past Chair
Steve McKerrell
Past Chair
Steve McKerrell spent more than 20 years as Executive Chairman of one of Canada’s leading health supplement companies, following a career in the remote sensing industry, and is currently involved in the development of personal electronic healthcare devices.
Mr. McKerrell is a recipient of The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, having served his community as a volunteer on numerous boards and committees over the past 3 decades. In 2014, Steve completed eight years with the Victoria Foundation including two years as Board Chair. He currently also serves on the boards of the United Way Greater Victoria, and as chair of the Foundation for the Victoria Symphony.
Mr. McKerrell has lived in Victoria since 1990 with his wife Barbara. He has two adult daughters, Tricia in Calgary and Dianne in Victoria.
He joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2015, and served as Board Chair from 2018–2020.
Dr. Elin Bjarnason, Island Health
Dr. Elin Bjarnason
In the role of Vice President – Clinical Operations South Island, Dr. Elin Bjarnason oversees all aspects of clinical operations and is responsible for establishing, developing, and operationalizing an effective integrated care delivery model in the South Island, southern Gulf Island and the Cowichan District region. Working in partnership with the VP – Clinical Operations Central/North Island and the VP – Medicine & Quality and Chief Medical Officer, Elin provides leadership for the implementation of strategic initiatives and ensures operational plans are carried out to provide efficient and effective delivery of healthcare services across Island Health.
Elin came to Island Health in 1986 from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and has over 30 years of healthcare clinical and leadership experience. Prior to this position, Elin’s previous roles included Interim VP – People & Experience, Interim Executive VP – Quality, Safety and Experience, Executive Director for Integrated Health Services (Geography 4), as well as a number of executive director and director roles of operational and quality programs and site administration roles at Island Health. Throughout her leadership career she has been a keen advocate for improvement at the local and system-wide levels.
A continual learner, Elin has a degree in physiotherapy, is a licensed Doctor of Chinese Medicine, and in 2014 obtained her Executive Masters in Business Administration specializing in Healthcare. Her strengths are her passion for patients as partners in care, her extensive cross-continuum experience, well-honed systems thinking perspective, and a solid track record of bringing diverse shareholders together to effectively deliver on strategic priorities.
She joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2018.
Wendy Everson
Wendy Everson
Prior to entering law school, Wendy worked with Transport Canada and Winnipeg International Airport as a commercial development project manager. Wendy was responsible for development and management of groundside commercial projects and a participant in, and with, the development of an overall marketing plan for the Airport.
Today, Wendy maintains a private legal practice, Everson Law, and provides legal services and advice to clients in the areas of real estate, development, business law, general corporate and commercial law and wills and estate planning. Wendy has a long history of community involvement and has volunteered with a number of organizations and foundations throughout her career, both at the executive level and with general membership. Her past participation includes being an elected member of the Provincial Council of the Canadian Bar Association, Chair of various committees and educational sections of the Canadian Bar Association, President & Director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, and a past member of the granting committee for the Victoria Foundation. Wendy is currently in her third term as a director of the Victoria Airport Authority.
Wendy obtained her Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce Honours (Finance) degrees from the University of Manitoba, and her Juris Doctor of Laws (J.D.) from the University of Victoria. While attending the University of Victoria, she was awarded the National Trust – Donovan and Maryla Waters Award in Trusts and Estate Planning.
She joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2019. Wendy is very proud to continue her community engagement with the Victoria Hospitals Foundation.
Marcia McNeil
Marcia McNeil
Marcia McNeil is a partner with boutique law firm Pulver Crawford Munroe and has practiced in the areas of labour, employment, and human rights law for more than 30 years.
Representing clients in the private and public sectors, Ms. McNeil has appeared before British Columbia’s Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, as well as before administrative tribunals, including the provincial and federal Human Rights Tribunal, labour arbitrators, and the BC Labour Relations Board.
Ms. McNeil has been recognized annually in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in employment law since 2012. She was the Chair of the BC Industry Training Appeal Board and the Vice-Chair of the Community Care and Assisted Living Appeal Board of British Columbia. She was also a sessional lecturer in Employment Law at the University of Victoria in 2013.
She joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2015.
Brenda Nunns Shoemaker
Brenda Nunns Shoemaker
Brenda Nunns Shoemaker is a retired healthcare executive. She was the Vice President of two teaching hospitals in Ontario, the founding President of the Canadian Association of Pediatric Health Centres and President of the Ottawa General Hospital Foundation. She served for nine years on the Island Health Board of Directors, including several years as Chair of the health quality committee. She was the recipient of the Queens Golden Jubilee medal for voluntary service.
Ms. Nunns Shoemaker has served on many boards at the local and national level, in the fields of education, athletics and health. She recently served on the Board of Directors of the Victoria Airport Authority as Secretary and Chair of Governance. She was also a consultant and faculty member of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute and the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement.
She joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2015.
Jill Sing
Jill Sing
Jill Sing has more than 25 years of multi-disciplinary experience across corporate and personal finance, investment, tax, and accounting disciplines. She is an independent consultant to global business families, endowments, and non-profit organizations, as well as a specialist in integrating accounting, investment, tax, and finance matters to meet the unique needs of all stakeholders. Sing acts as an independent counsel to both families of significant wealth and endowments as they contemplate and plan for the longer-term stewardship of their financial wealth. In addition to providing oversight of client family financial affairs, Sing’s work includes advising, mentoring, educating, and preparing the next generation of decision-makers, whether they be investment committees or family business owners, for the responsibility of managing significant financial wealth.
Sing began her professional career with the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touch, working in Fredericton, NB and St. Catharines, ON, leading tax and accounting projects and audits of communication, manufacturing, investment, and tourism businesses. After 10 years in public accounting, Sing relocated to Victoria, BC to work with RBC Dominion Securities, becoming a portfolio manager and investment consultant. She followed her interest in global wealth management and was a Vice President and investment counselor with a Swiss private bank, eventually taking a position to lead the BC team of Canada’s first national multi-family office. Sing founded her own firm in 2013, responding to her clients’ desire for an advisor with deep experience and expertise but not bound by the constraints of a large financial institution.
Sing holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick (1986). In addition to being a CPA, Chartered Accountant, Sing holds the following professional designations: CFA Charterholder, Canadian Investment Manager, Trust and Estate Practitioner, and Certified Financial Planner and is a CAFE-certified family council facilitator. Formerly, she held positions as trustee for the BC Institute of Chartered Accountants Benevolent Fund, director of CFA Victoria Society & Advocacy Chair, director of the Royal British Columbia Museum Foundation, and the Vancouver Island Roundtable for the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.
She joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2020.
Alan Winter
Alan Winter
Alan Winter was appointed British Columbia’s first Innovation Commissioner and completed his term in 2020. Prior to this appointment, he was the President and CEO of Genome British Columbia, the founding President and CEO of the New Media Innovation Centre in Vancouver, the President of the ComDev Space Group in Ontario, and the President and CEO of MPR Teltech Ltd. in Vancouver. Alan has wide experience at senior levels in the technology sector and in government.
Alan is currently a director of Ontario Genomics Inc, Geoscience BC, Oceans Network Canada and a member of UBC’s Research and Innovation Council. In 2007, he received a Leadership Award from Life Sciences BC (LSBC). In 2017, he received the Don Rix Award for Lifetime Achievement from LSBC and the Bill Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award from the BC Technologies Industries Association (BC TIA).
He joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2017.
Ian Wong
Ian Wong
Ian has worked most of his professional career with the Government of BC focusing on Venture Capital. His most recent position was COO for the BC Tech Fund. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified Management Accountant and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Accounting) and a diploma in Business Administration (Finance).
His volunteer roles have included Board Member and Treasurer of the Victoria Chinatown Care Centre and Co-Chair of the Victoria Chinatown Care Society’s annual fundraising event. At the Victoria Foundation Ian serves on the Board of Directors; was Chair of the Vital Loans Committee; Member of the Finance and Audit Committee; and Member of the Governance and Nominating Committee.
In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, he is a member of the Foundation’s Finance and Investment Committee. Most recently, Ian added Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners’, Finance Committee to his volunteer commitments.
Ian is a fourth-generation Victorian with a great sense of belonging. He and his family enjoy all that Victoria has to offer, and he is committed to giving back to the community.
He joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2019.
Are you interested in joining our volunteer Board of Directors?
We’d like to hear from you. Please send your resume and cover letter to our Board Nominations Committee via email: vhf@viha.ca
Announcement
We are sad to share news of the passing of Bruce Dyck. He served on our board of directors from 2013 to 2019, including a term from 2017 to 2018 as Chair. He was also our current Board Chair for American Friends of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. We are so deeply grateful for his leadership. Our Foundation and our community owe him so much. On behalf of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation team, our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
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