KidSafe’s Board of Directors oversees the strategic, financial and operational sustainability of the organization and is comprised of business, community leaders, advisors and other professionals.
Jill Johnston – Co-Chair
IHG
Sarah Gillett – Co-Chair
Sarah Gillett is a community planner with a Masters of Arts from the University of British Columbia’s School of Community and Regional Planning. She currently works for Beringia Community Planning Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in First Nations Planning.
Past planning work includes working with Britannia Community Services on their capital planning process. Sarah has also helped coordinate and mobilize a group of youth in a community capacity building project for the Victoria/Fraserview neighbourhood as part of the UBC Engaging Neighbourhoods Initiative. International experience involves working for the municipality of Plaridel, Philippines developing a strategic planning workshop. She was also a participant in the World University Services of Canada seminar on development in Phu-da, Vietnam. Her past work experience involves working as a leader, coordinator and communications and development manager for Katimavik, Canada’s National Volunteer Service Program. Sarah has also worked directly with youth as a camp manager and leader in Canada, France and on cruise ships.
Sarah brings to KidSafe a passion for community development, youth engagement and community service and experience as a facilitator and manager. She has an Associate certificate in Leadership and Conflict Resolution from the Justice Institute of British Columbia as well as a certificate in Community Economic Development from Simon Fraser University. Sarah is the recipient of the Peter Oberlander Medal granted to the head of the School of Community and Regional Planning’s graduating class.
Iryn Vekay – Treasurer
Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society
Carol Delveris – Secretary
Debbie Allan
Debbie Allan joined the Kidsafe Board of Directors in 2011, thrilled to be involved in an organization that promotes the health and well-being of children. She is a Director of Rhino Print Solutions Inc., a leading commercial printing company in western Canada and has a background in banking with the Toronto Dominion Bank.
Debbie has extensive experience in Board governance with several non-profit organizations including acting as Secretary of the Board and as Chair of the Nominating Committee for the Junior League of Greater Vancouver, Secretary of the Board for the Junior League of Toronto, Co-Chair of the Winter Bazaar for Crofton House School and Secretary of the Parents Auxiliary Board at St. George’s School.
Debbie has also played a leadership role in several community fundraising efforts including the YWCA of Greater Vancouver and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. She holds an Honours BA in Economics from The University of Toronto and is married with three children.
Judy Gale
Judy Gale joined the KidSafe board in 2005 and served as Co-Chair from 2006 to 2010.
She is a graduate of UBC (BA, International Studies) and SFU (MBA), and retired early from a successful career in advertising creative services and management to travel around the world and bicycle with her husband and son.
Since then, Judy has been: a non-fiction author; founder and president of Blue Planet Links, an environmental and educational foundation; an advisory committee member of SOS Marine Conservation Foundation; and a member of BC Social Venture Partners.
Susanne Haine
Susanne is an independent Human Resources Consultant whose varied background in the the public, private and non-profit sectors has helped to build a solid foundation for her contributions to KidSafe.
Her recent experience includes 12 years as Vice President of Human Resources for the Vancouver Canucks and senior level positions with BC Place Stadium and the City of Coquitlam. Throughout her career, Susanne has thrived on creatively enhancing performance in order to achieve key business outcomes.
Her passion for kids and education has been demonstrated by her volunteer contributions. An advocate of child mentoring, Susanne was actively involved as a board member and chair of Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver for over 15 years. As chair of the BCIT Human Resources Committee, she developed an in depth understanding of the many learning and programming challenges faced by the students, instructors and the institution.
Susanne holds a BA in Psychology from The University of Western Ontario, a certificate in advanced negotiation and a CHRP designation.
In her spare time she enjoys nutrition and fitness, new adventures and walking her dog Joey.
Ralph McKnight
Service Corporation International
Jane Osler
PJ Osler & Associates
Sue Stevenson
Sue Stevenson joined the Kidsafe Board of directors in January 2012. Sue has been a teacher for 17 years and involved with Inner City schools for over 12 years. She has been the Vice Principal of Mount Pleasant Elementary school for the last 2 years and for a year and a half at Carleton Elementary. She was a teacher at Mount Pleasant for 10 years beginning in 1999 during which time she had several teaching jobs including Inner City Project Teacher, Grade 7 Classroom Teacher and Resource Support Teacher.
Sue is actively involved in many Mount Pleasant Community events including Celebrate Mount Pleasant Days which takes place in early June.
Sue holds a Master of Education degree in Leadership and Administration from the University of British Columbia, a Professional Teaching certificate from Simon Fraser University and a degree in Psychology from the University of Calgary. Sue lives in Vancouver with her husband, son and puppy.
Jonathan Wong
Jonathan Wong is a Manager at KPMG LLP in the Vancouver audit practice and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. He joined the Kidsafe Board of Directors in 2012 and is excited to utilize his skill set to help children and to give back to the community.
Professionally, Jonathan has a broad range of experience assisting clients ranging from large financial institutions to non-profit foundations, including participation as an external advisor on various boards, audit, finance and risk committees.
Jonathan actively volunteers as an external advisor to ENP (Enterprising Non-Profits), providing assistance on financial analysis and risk management related matters to social enterprises across Canada.
