Our Volunteer Board of Directors

Mr. Brad Campbell: Brad is President and Founder of Corpus Sanchez International Consultancy Inc, a management consulting firm dedicated to the health care industry. He has been working in health care for more than twenty years, both as a consultant and as a senior executive in hospitals. Brad is committed to supporting health care agencies and does so both as a philanthropist as well as being an active member of the BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre Foundation Board.
Dr. Jan Christilaw: Dr. Jan Christilaw is President of BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre. She is also the Senior Medical Director of Provincial Women’s Health Programmes at BC Women’s Hospital, and is a co-leader of the Provincial Women’s Health Network. Jan’s contributions to women’s health services in Canada have been extraordinary. In 2007 she won the Federation of Medical Women of Canada’s national leadership award. Jan has been interested in international women’s health for many years. She has worked internationally on a number of projects, including partnerships with Makerere University in Uganda for services in maternal and child health.
Ms. Betsy Gibbons (E) Past-Chair: A Senior Client Partner in Korn/Ferry International's Vancouver office, Betsy also volunteers on the Faculty of Business Administration External Advisory Committee at Simon Fraser University (SFU), and is a member of the Judicial Council of the Province of B.C. Betsy has a BA in Economics and an MBA from SFU. Born at Grace Hospital (the predecessor to BC Women's), Betsy is the mother of two sons born at the Grace.
Mrs. Barb Hestrin: Barb has a long history with BC Women's, working as a Director for several programs, and more recently as a Senior Administrative Officer. She is well recognised for her leadership in women's health - receiving the YWCA Women of Distinction Award in 2001 and the Dr. Marion Powell Award for Leadership in Women's Health in 2004.
Dr. Robert Liston: As Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of British Columbia, BC Women's, Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences, and Providence Hospitals, Dr. Liston is well known in the Canadian obstetrics/gynecology community for his research in the preinatal field.
Mr. Geoff Lyster: Geoff Lyster is a partner with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, with nearly 20 years experience in the areas of corporate mergers and acquisitions and franchising. His leadership roles include former President of the Vancouver Bar Association; former Chair of the Business Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association - B.C. Branch; and former President and current Director of Endeavour for the Benefit of the Arts, Science and Health.
Ms. Sarah Morgan-Silvester (E) Chair: Sarah is a past financial services senior executive having national responsibility for retail banking and wealth management. She currently serves on a number of not for profit and corporate boards. She has a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) degree with Honours from the University of British Columbia. In 1998, Sarah was named one of Canada's Top 40 under 40, and was a nominee for a Women of Distinction award in 1997.
Ms. Elise Rees (E) Treasurer: A Transaction Tax partner with the international accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP, Elise is leading the Ernst & Young commitment to Life/Work Balance through their sponsorship of the Minerva Foundation's Life in Balance Workshop, and mentoring of women accountants developing their careers at Ernst & Young. Elise received her undergraduate Honours degree in Organizational Behaviour from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland.
Mr. Pax Robertson: As Chief Operating Officer of Panago Pizza, and a founding partner of Mercer Creative Group, Pax is accustomed to wearing many hats in the Vancouver business community. Pax is the father of three children, all of whom were born at BC Women's.
Ms. Michelle Rupp (E) Vice-Chair: Michelle is Principal and Founder of Lighthouse Leadership, an executive coaching company. With over 18 years of diverse business experience, she is equally committed to developing strong leadership in the not-for-profit sector. Michelle has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and an Executive Coaching certification from Royal Roads University.
Mrs. Jill Schnarr: As Vice President, Community Affairs, Jill Schnarr leads national community investment at TELUS. With her leadership of Connections-the TELUS women’s network, Jill has helped to foster a culture of learning and development, growth, engagement, recognition and well-being for women. With past experience on the board for Canadian Women in Communications, Jill now volunteers her time on the board for BC Women’s Hospital Foundation, as well as for the TELUS Vancouver community board. A relentless overachiever, Jill is constantly striving to lower her handicap in golf, and to ski faster down the black diamond runs. She also wants to be the best hockey & soccer mom ever for her 9-year old son Dylan.
Ms. Andrea Shaw: Andrea is Vice-President of Sponsorship Sales & Marketing for VANOC, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. In 1993, Andrea was named BC Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. Andrea was a co-creator of the BC Women's Illuminations Luncheon, entering its seventh successful year.
Mr. Thomas Skidmore: Tom is Co-Executive Chairman and CEO of TCG International Inc. and Chairman, President and CEO of Glentel Inc. His community service includes being Chair of the Greater Vancouver Advisory Board of The Salvation Army.
Ms. Eileen Stewart: Eileen is the chair of the Women’s Health Research Institute – the research arm of BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre. She has a strong background in looking out for the interests of women – spending 7 years on the board of the YWCA of Vancouver, including time as Chair. Eileen owns a human resources consulting practice, and in her (not so) spare time, she teaches Ikebana (Japanese flower design).
Ms. Kirsten Tisdale: Kirsten Tisdale is a Senior Client Partner and Office Managing Director of Korn/Ferry International's Vancouver office. She has a background in corporate strategy and organizational transformation and has worked in more than 15 countries and across diverse sectors including healthcare and public sector transformation. Previously a director of Canada Health Infoway, Kirsten also sits on the board of 2010 Legacies Now, and is the founding director of the Centre for Outsourcing Research and Education.
Dr. Elizabeth Whynot: Liz has an MD from Queen’s University and a Masters in Health Science from the University of British Columbia. Prior to coming to Women’s, she was a family physician and a Medical Health Officer in Vancouver, developing programs to assist women in the community. Liz is the past President of BC Women’s, a leadership role she occupied for 8 years. In that position, she was responsible for both the patient services provided at Women’s and for providing leadership to improve maternity and newborn care and women’s health across B.C. Under her leadership, BC Women’s was awarded the 2007 Arthur Kroeger Award for Management. Liz has been named the recipient of the 2009 Kaiser Foundation Award for Excellence in Leadership in developing harm reduction programs such as BC Women’s Fir Square program.
Ms. Elaine Williamson: Elaine is a marketing instructor at the Sauder School of Business at UBC. She has 20 years of experience as a practitioner of marketing and sales management in the IT, financial services, and not-for-profit sectors. Elaine has an MBA and B.A (Econ) from UBC (and Teaching in Higher Education certificate), and is also the mother of four daughters, all born at BC Women's.
Ms. Janet Wilson: Janet Wilson understands health in British Columbia well, having spent her whole career working in the field. She was a board member of both the Community Home Support Services and the Auxiliary to BC Children's Hospital, and more recently has been volunteering with the Auxiliary to BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre. Janet also has 'hands on' experience in one of BC Women's most unique and important programs - volunteering as a 'cuddler' at the Fir Square clinic.

Board Directors' Login Form