BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Governance Team
Our Governance Team
The Victoria Hospitals Foundation’s Board of Directors is comprised of our community’s leaders dedicated to making a difference in healthcare. Our volunteer 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.
Featured left to right: Kismet Bhandar, Cindy Choi, Pat Quealey, Sharlene Smith, Kendall Gross (Vice-Chair), Joan Yates (Chair), Cynthia Smith (Vice-Chair), Jagdeep Bawa, Jessica Thomson (Secretary), Jas Dusanj (Treasurer), Jack Groucott, and Dan Gunn.
“Our volunteer Board of Directors is committed to having the Foundation be a leading charity on Vancouver Island with ambitious goals that translate to incredible impact.”
– Avery Brohman, Foundation CEO
Members
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.
Kismet Bhandar
Kismet Bhandar
Kismet T. Bhandar is a senior Partner at the law firm of Dominion GovLaw LLP. Called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1998, Kismet is a seasoned litigator specializing in civil litigation and insurance defence, previously practising with a boutique firm for 24 years (10 as a partner). At GovLaw, she advises and represents local governments and public authorities throughout the province. Kismet has appeared in Provincial Court, the Supreme Court and the BC Court of Appeal. Known for an approachable and cooperative style, Kismet fosters teamwork with her clients and opposing parties to achieve positive outcomes. She is a valued mentor and provides valuable insight to clients and colleagues.
Kismet was born in the Victoria General Hospital and raised in Victoria, BC. She earned her first degree from Carleton University in Ottawa and then worked as an assistant English teacher for the Japanese Ministry of Education in Wajima, Japan. When she returned to Canada, she worked as an ESL teacher in colleges in Ottawa and Vancouver, prior to earning her law degree from the University of Victoria. Kismet is a committed volunteer, currently serving on the CHAS Board of Governors for the Canadian College of Performing Arts since 2021. Previously she served on the Island YMCA/YWCA board for seven years and Victoria Bar Association for twelve years, including as President in 2014.
Kismet is a mother of two (also born at VGH) and has been married for over 25 years. She keeps active by playing pickleball several days a week, attending an occasional HIIT session and taking long walks with friends on the weekends. She loves dining out, going to movies, playing cards, catching classics on TCM and visiting with her large extended family, many of whom have been employed and/or volunteered in Victoria hospitals. In 2026, Kismet joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation intimately aware of its important role in her hometown.
Kismet joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2026.
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.
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 $175M 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.
Dan Gunn
Dan Gunn
Dan Gunn has been with VIATEC, the Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council, since 2000 and has served as its CEO for more than 20 years. VIATEC is BC’s oldest tech association, representing roughly 350 member companies that generate $5.9 billion in annual revenue and employ more than 20,000 people, making technology one of the largest drivers of Greater Victoria’s economy. Under his leadership, VIATEC purchased Fort Tectoria, its downtown headquarters, to put the organization’s community work on a permanent footing.
Before moving to Victoria, Dan served a term on municipal council in Georgina, Ontario, and he has a background in publishing and journalism. He joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation board because he believes the foundation’s work makes a lasting difference to the quality of care available to everyone in the region, and he wants to help it continue to thrive.
Dan joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2026.
Marko Peljhan
Marko Peljhan (Island Health Representative)
As the Vice President of Acute Clinical Operations and Provincial Programs, Marko oversees all aspects of clinical operations and is responsible for developing and operationalizing an effective, integrated care delivery model across the region, including emergency, medicine, rehab, surgery, patient flow and intensive care. He is also responsible for provincial programs, including cancer care, renal and heart health.
In this role, Marko provides operational leadership for all acute services at seven hospitals and oversight of the Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project. He also leads the implementation of strategic initiatives aimed at providing efficient and effective delivery of healthcare services.
Prior to his current role, Marko served as Island Health’s Vice President of Pandemic Planning as well as Interim Vice President of Clinical Operations, South Island and Cowichan Valley. He started his career in health-care as a nurse and quickly ascended into the role of health-care leader, with continued training and education in management, communications, change and cultural safety.
Marko has lived on Vancouver Island since his youth and has worked with Island Health for 25 years. He and his family live on the Saanich Peninsula and enjoy spending their free time outdoors, in particular hiking and cycling around the beautiful communities in our region.
Marko joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2022.
Pat Quealey
Pat Quealey
Pat is honoured to be a member of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors, supporting an amazing team dedicated to strengthening hospital care in the broader community and that has supported his family since moving to the Victoria area in 2010.
Pat is an executive leader with experience in federal and provincial government roles, as a non-profit charity CEO, and humanitarian and community health organizational leader. Pat has served as the Vice President of the Canadian Red Cross responsible for British Columbia and Yukon since 2019 leading the region through numerous disaster responses including floods, wildfires, the COVID-19 pandemic response, and supporting all regional health authorities. Pat believes strongly in unity of effort and inclusive approaches to building resilience in communities and across organizations.
Pat has over 30 years of experience in both domestic and overseas leadership roles. Before joining CRC, Pat was the CEO of Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, a volunteer-based organization in over 30 coastal and interior communities. Pat joined RCMSAR after his tenure as Assistant Deputy Minister for Emergency Management BC where he led the provincial agency responsible for planning, preparedness and response to emergencies and disasters of all types. Pat also served a full career with the Canadian Armed Forces. His overseas deployments included UN and NATO peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and coordinating multi-national operations in Afghanistan. In Canada, Pat led the planning and coordination of military operations in British Columbia and Alberta.
Pat holds a Graduate Certificate in Disaster Science from the University of Richmond in Virginia, a Masters of Military Arts and Science from the United States Army Command and General Staff College, a Graduate Certificate in applied science from the Royal Military College of Science in England, and a Bachelor of Arts from the Royal Military College of Canada. He is also member of the degree-granting Program Advisory Board for the Justice Institute of British Columbia.
Pat joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors in 2026.
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.
Officers
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.
Kendall Gross, Vice-Chair
Kendall Gross
As President of Island Savings, a division of Tru Cooperative Bank, 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 Tru Cooperative Bank’s (formerly First West Credit Union) 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.
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 Nominations Committee Committee Chair. Jessica is proud of to support the important work being done by the Victoria Hospitals Foundation in her community.
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