Executive Committee Biographies
Joanne Gaul, MD
President
Joanne Gaul, MD, has been practicing family medicine and her flute for decades now, in North Dakota for 30+ years and now in Victoria. She was previously president of the Grand Forks (ND) Symphony Board. She sat on the board of the CVIC (Community Violence Intervention Center) for 9 years, one of the most effective domestic violence prevention and treatment organizations in the US. She also loves hiking, biking and travel.
Timothy McGee, KC
Vice President
Tim served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Law Society of British Columbia, the regulatory body for lawyers in the province, for 12 years until his retirement in 2017. Prior to that, Tim served in senior executive roles with Bell Canada in Toronto including President of Bell TV and Chief Legal Officer of Bell Canada. Tim started his career as a corporate commercial lawyer with the Torys law firm in Toronto.
Tim has served as President of the International Institute of Law Association Executives and was appointed a King’s Counsel by the Provincial Government in 2013 for his outstanding contributions to the legal profession and the public interest including as Chair of the provincial Justice Summits.
More recently Tim served as a member of the Board of Governors of St. Michaels University School in Victoria from 2015 – 2021 including as Chair of the Board for his final 2 years. Tim is also a member of the Governance review Committee of CAIS the national standards body for independent schools in Canada. He is member of the Board of the Down Syndrome Society of Greater Victoria and is an active member of the St. Andrews’s Cathedral laity including as a member of the Liturgical Committee.
Tim was born and raised in Victoria BC where he attended Glenlyon School and Bishop’s College School in Quebec. He later served as member of the BCS Foundation Board. Tim earned an honours degree from Harvard University in 1979 and a JD from the University of Ottawa Law School. Tim rowed competitively for Harvard at the national and international level.
Tim is married to Mary Mullens and they have 2 adult children Charlotte and Fraser.
Chris Graham
Treasurer
Originally from London, Ontario, Chris Graham has worked in Toronto, Northern Saskatchewan, Regina, and, most recently, in Victoria, BC. Chris’s work experience includes being the Manager of Marketing and Revenue Services for the City of Regina and advising First Nations business groups in northern Saskatchewan. His teaching career started at the Ivey Business School and includes establishing the Business Management program at the First Nations University, and chairing the Accounting and Finance area at Camosun College. At the Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria, Chris has been a Program Director for the BCom and MBA programs, in addition to serving as Assistant Dean, Finance, and Director of Accreditations. Chris has also taught extensively in First Nation communities throughout British Columbia.
Chris’ volunteer experience includes organizing an annual Christmas food drive for the Mustard Seed Food Bank, serving on the University’s United Way Committee, sitting on the Finance and Administration committee for the Faculty Association, and serving soup and sandwiches at Our Place.
Chris has a BA in Economics, an MBA focused on International Finance, and holds a CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) designation in BC.
Jaimie Boyd
Secretary
Jaimie Boyd is a partner at Deloitte Canada and serves as the firm’s National Digital Government Leader. She accelerates digital change in the public sector, working with governments to better serve citizens using modern technologies. She previously held diverse positions in government, including as the Chief Digital Officer for the Government of British Columbia and various leadership roles in the Government of Canada.
Jaimie is a frequent speaker on digital government and service modernization in the public sector. She serves on several advisory boards, including for the McMaster University Master of Public Policy in Digital Society and the GovLab’s Open Data Policy Lab Executive Education Program.
Jaimie is an alumnus of the Government of Canada’s Accelerated Economist Training Program, Action Canada, the Institute for Technology and Society’s Global Policy Fellowship and the Organization of American States’ Fellowship on Open Government in the Americas. She is also a strong supporter of the arts, having played the violin from a young age.
Director Biographies
Jack Boomer
Director
Jack Boomer moved to Victoria in 1988 to pursue a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria after having completed a Bachelor of Education Degree with a focus on Music Education at the University of Alberta. In his early career, he worked in various provincial BC government Ministries and then in 2000, he resigned to establish a consulting practice, focusing on communication, program planning and project management. In 2017 he and his business partner sold their communication company, Context Research, and since then, Jack has worked on small consulting projects.
In 1998, Jack established the Arbutus Singers which over the last 25 years has raised over $500 K for charities across the Capital Region. He continues to direct the seventy member mixed choir. In the early 2000s, he, along with members of the Arbutus Singers, founded a musical program for elementary children who had limited choral music opportunities. After creating the model, the charitable program ChoirKids was transferred to the Victoria Conservatory of Music in 2016, and it continues to operate the program to this day.
In 2018, Jack received the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraising Award of the Year award for his charitable work within the community. In January, 2023 he completed his technical piano requirements for the Associate Diploma of the Royal Conservatory of Music exam and continues to work on the theory and history component of the diploma. Jack and his husband, Stephen Hammond, live in Victoria with their two dogs, Baxter and Rufus.
Joseph Chen
Director
Joseph was the Director of Planning and Engineering at Victoria Airport Authority, leading critical, high-value engineering projects spanning the planning, design, procurement, execution and closeout phases for the airport, across Terminal, Landside, and Airside. The program at VAA under Joseph’s portfolio ranges in approximately $20 to $30 Million annual budgets, between 15 to 25 projects.
Prior to joining VAA, Joseph had near 2 decades of experience as an engineering consultant, and was deeply involved with the design of high profile projects across North America, including the Canada F35 Future Fighter Squadron Facility Program, JFK International Airport Redevelopment Program, the California High Speed Railway and the Calgary International Airport Expansion. His project teams received multiple awards such as the 2022 Schreyer Award for the East De-Icing Apron at the Calgary International Airport.
Joseph has great appreciation for music, from Classical, Japanese Pop, to Video Game music. He practiced classical piano between the age of 4 and 16, before he went to University of Toronto to pursue his Engineering degree. Joseph now plays classical music and video games music arrangements in his spare time, with his all-time favorite being Bach’s Italian Concerto, BWV 971.
Jenifer Chilcot
Director
Jenifer is Senior Counsel with Farris LLP, practicing primarily in the areas of technology law, Internet law, intellectual property, commercial law and privacy.
For over 30 years, Jenifer has worked in both private practice and as in-house counsel – including extensive international experience gained as both a senior executive and in-house counsel for some of the world’s foremost high technology companies.
Jenifer has undergraduate and law degrees from McGill University, a graduate law degree from Cornell University, and a Certificate in Negotiation from Harvard. Jenifer is also a trained sommelier and, prior to moving to British Columbia in 2008, was a part-time instructor in the Sommelier certification program at Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario.
Jenifer is married and the mother of a teenager. In her spare time, Jenifer travels, plays the flute (poorly, but with determination), gardens and is dog-mom to a Golden Retriever .
Richard W. Greenwood
Director
Richard W. Greenwood is a retired Naval Engineering Officer of the Royal Canadian Navy, having served 37 years in uniform. His engineering education and training included a BEng (Mech) from the Royal Military College of Canada, a MSc (Naval Architecture) from University College London, and fleet training as a marine systems engineer. His naval engineering career postings included service at increasing levels of responsibility and leadership in both Naval Dockyards, at Naval Headquarters, in acquisition projects, in foreign exchange positions (including 3 years at the David Taylor Naval Ship Research and Development Center in the US), in training (3 years as Commandant of the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School), and finally 5 years as Chief Engineer of the RCN. His last posting was as the Canadian Defence Attaché in Washington DC. He retired from the RCN in 2012 at the rank of Rear-Admiral. His military decorations include the Order of Military Merit (OMM) and the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM).
Since retiring from the RCN, Richard has worked as an engineering consultant to the shipbuilding industry. He is currently a PhD Candidate in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of British Columbia, with a special interest in ship motions & seakeeping theory, and has lectured in that topic to students in the UBC Masters program in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
He is registered as a Professional Engineer in the Province of British Columbia and a Chartered Engineer in the UK, and is a Fellow of both The Royal Institution of Naval Architects and The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.
Richard has been married to his wife Monika since 1981 and they have five adult children (Franz, Ian, Paul, Andrew & Maria). Richard’s hobbies include wooden boat building, reading, sailing, music (listening to jazz and classical, and playing horn), running, and hiking. He completed the 800 km Camino de Santiago in May/June 2013.
Darrell Gregersen
Director
Darrell Louise Gregersen is a seasoned fundraising professional who has earned an outstanding reputation in Canada leading major organizations to transformational fundraising results over the last 30+ years. She retired from her role as a Hospital Foundation CEO in 2018, and acts as a strategic advisor to a variety of Canadian charitable organizations in health, the arts, and global issues. She is currently a Board Director at Cuso International, Shorefast Foundation and the Victoria Symphony.
Darrell was most recently President and CEO of CAMH Foundation, during which time she led two highly successful back to back campaigns of $100M and $200M for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, a major mental health hospital based in Toronto. In her nearly nine years at CAMH, Darrell and her team raised over $400M to support profoundly meaningful care, research and education for people living with mental illness in Canada and around the world. A major gift fundraiser at heart, Darrell had the honour of capping her hospital career with the announcement of Canada’s first $100,000,000 gift for mental health research at CAMH.
Prior to her role at CAMH Foundation, Darrell established and was the CEO of the National Arts
Centre (NAC) Foundation in Ottawa. Before joining the National Arts Centre, Darrell was head of Major Gifts at The Hospital for Sick Children Foundation in Toronto.
Darrell is a Fellow of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy and a recent recipient of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Toronto Chapter Outstanding Fundraising Executive Award.
By training, Darrell is a classical musician and was the recipient of two prestigious Canada Council Grants during her music career. Now living in Victoria, she is particularly proud of her architect husband of 41 years, their two accomplished children now living in Tokyo and California.
Stacey Jessiman
Director
Stacey Jessiman’s career as a business, art & heritage, and dispute resolution lawyer and academic spans almost three decades. After working at Debevoise & Plimpton in New York on mergers & acquisitions and securities matters, and at Salans (now Dentons) in Paris on commercial matters for a global fashion house and on international arbitrations relating to the energy, construction, and mining sectors, Stacey eventually returned home to Victoria and founded Jessiman Law, where she now helps Indigenous communities and business groups, industry partners, and museums with corporate/commercial, art & heritage, and Aboriginal law matters. Part of her work involves helping museums and Indigenous communities with international restitution/repatriation claims and related policy work. For five years (and now part-time) Stacey created and taught courses at Stanford Law School and in Stanford humanities departments examining the complex issues surrounding theft, destruction, and return of art & Indigenous cultural heritage. During her career, she has done considerable pro bono work for arts and human rights-related non-profit organizations.
Stacey is a member of the Bars of BC, Ontario, and New York, and a former member of the Board of Directors of the American-Russian Young Artists Orchestra in New York and St. Michaels University School in Victoria. She holds BA degrees in Art History (Hons) and International Relations from Stanford University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto, and an LLM degree from the University of British Columbia. She completed advanced mediation training at Harvard Law School and is a member of the arbitration and mediation panels of the Court of Arbitration for Art in the Hague. She writes and speaks frequently at conferences on restitution/repatriation, museum practice, dispute resolution, and corporate governance issues.
Roberta Mason
Director
Roberta Mason has been a visitor on the lands of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples for the past 20 years. Over these two decades she has been a frequent and enthusiastic patron of the Victoria Symphony. She counts several peak moments of her life around symphony performances and is deeply grateful for the gifts of musicians and those that make it possible for others to enjoy them.
Currently Royal Roads University’s Vice-Provost, Student and Academic Services, Roberta has also taught university and college credit courses, and been an invited speaker and facilitator. She earned her B.A.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees at the University of Guelph, where she was inspired to follow a career in higher education administration, working at the University of Guelph, Simon Fraser, University, North Island College and Royal Roads University. Roberta holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Victoria. She is interested in research approaching reconciliation work with Indigenous Peoples, prospective and current higher education student experiences, and higher education administration and leadership.
Roberta has served on a number of boards of non-profit associations, participating in working committees and serving in executive roles. She has at the directors’ table of organizations with multi-million-dollar budgets, and small, grassroots action-oriented groups at all stages from inception to dissolution.
She lives in Metchosin with her extended family of seven in the household, along with Sam the dog and twelve chickens.
Charlotte Salomon
Director
Originally from Toronto, Charlotte completed her Bachelor of Arts with Distinction at York University, and then moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria Law School at the age of 19. She gained extensive court experience in family, criminal and civil law in her early practice. Having now practised law for close to 30 years, she concentrates on assisting her clients in the areas of wills, estate planning and administration, and real estate conveyancing.
Charlotte’s many achievements include the honour of a King’s Counsel designation. She currently serves on the board of the Victoria Estates Planning Council and is a member of the BC - CBA Judicial Advisory Committee. Previous volunteer positions include the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee of British Columbia, Vice Chair of the Advocacy Committee for the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, a board director of the BC Assessment Authority, member of the Advancement Committee of St. Michaels University School, and President of the Victoria Bar Association. She organizes a relevant and vibrant Business Women’s speakers’ group that continues to meet monthly at the Union Club of BC.
In her personal capacity, Charlotte has chaired the Victoria Hospitals Foundation annual Fundraiser, and is a former governor of the Victoria Conservatory of Music (VCM) board.
Patti Sullivan
Director
Patti Sullivan is currently an Executive Strategy consultant in Victoria and a Director on the Board of CLBC, a Crown Corporation serving adults with developmental diverse abilities. Patti brings 25+ years experience leading non-profit and public sector organizations in senior Executive and board directorship roles. She has worked in complex environments in health and human services, business development, financial services and cultural amenities development. She has had the pleasure of supporting the development of the community health sector, youth services and meeting up close, a few polar bears and Mel the monkey as COO of Assiniboine Park Enterprise in Winnipeg!
Patti is Past Chair and Funding Chair of the CRD Arts Advisory Council. She is Past President of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. She has an active visual arts practice and actively supports the visual and performance arts in Victoria. She served on the Board of the Law Society of Manitoba, chaired its Complaints Investigations Committee and served as its Complaints Commissioner.
Patti is a recipient of a YM-YWCA Woman of Distinction (Business & Professional) award. She is the Founding Chair of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Patti has a special interest in change management, DEI, strategic planning, performance metrics and governance best practices.
Joanna Yu
Director
As Regional Vice President at iA Financial Services, Joanna leads and supports a large dynamic team of financial advisors across Western Canada. With over 16 years of experiences in the wealth management and retail banking, her major role lies in empowering advisors to deliver exceptional, client-centric wealth management solutions tailored to high-net-worth families and business owners.
Beyond Joanna’s professional endeavors, she is committed to helping and mentoring business students and young professionals. She has taught Corporate Finance and coached commerce students at the University of Victoria and Royal Roads University in national business competitions.
Joanna has a strong passion in Community Engagement. She is the President of Victoria Chinese Commerce Association. A member of Board Directors of Camosun College Foundation, Victoria Chinatown Care Foundation, and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Mandarin Committee.