Pain BC Staff

Maria joined Pain BC in June 2010 as the inaugural Executive Director. With two decades of experience in community development and systems change, Maria has worked to bring Pain BC from concept to reality. Her work has involved mobilizing communities, engaging patients in organizational decision making, and advancing progressive agendas through policy change and program development. She is one of 15 Principal Investigators in the CIHR-funded Chronic Pain Network, the first national pain research network in Canada, and is the co-lead for patient engagement in the Network.

Maria is also the co-chair of the Canadian Pain Task Force, which was formed by the Government of Canada in March 2019 to assess the current state of pain in Canada and to recommend an improved approach to addressing pain in our country.

Eliza manages Pain BC's operations and strategic initiatives. She has a master's degree in business administration with a concentration in health care management. She has more than 20 years of local and international operations and administrative leadership experience in the non-profit, health care and higher education sectors. Eliza is a results-driven and service-oriented professional continually focused on capitalizing on staff talents to become creative leaders poised for growth. She is honoured to be part of the Pain BC team.

Helena leads Pain BC’s educational initiatives. She has more than two decades of experience as an educator and researcher in Brazil and Canada. Helena holds a PhD in Toxicology from Simon Fraser University and has supported health care improvement through research and education for nearly 15 years. Helena is passionate about building capacity among patients, their support network, and health care providers to ensure people receive high-quality care and experience the best quality of life possible. She is honored to be part of the Pain BC team.

Kat leads Pain BC’s communications initiatives. She brings more than a decade of experience in communicating for progressive non-profits, with a particular focus on marginalized communities including those living with HIV, poverty, substance use, and mental health conditions. She has worked as a journalist, writing for local and international publications, and has contributed to guidebooks on food and travel. She is proud to support Pain BC's significant efforts to transform the way pain is understood and treated in BC.

Melanie is Pain BC’s Director of Support Services. She has a master's degree in social work with a background working in direct practice, leadership, and clinical supervision in a variety of settings including oncology, hospice, and community care. She has a passion for supporting program development and leading diverse teams to deliver high quality and trauma-informed services. She is an Adjunct Professor (Research) at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Social Work. She is honoured to be part of the Pain BC team.

Alexis plans, organizes, and contributes to the development, delivery, and evaluation of educational programs and resources. He graduated in curriculum studies from the University of British Columbia and began a research career in education. He has more than a decade of teaching experience, having worked as an instructor and curriculum developer in schools and universities. Alexis is excited to apply his passion for education towards Pain BC's important work.

Arielle supports the development, delivery and evaluation of Pain BC’s education programs. Originally from Vernon, BC, they have been living in Vancouver for more than 10 years and bring a breadth of experience in fundraising, event planning, and communications from working at various arts and education non-profit organizations. They are a life-long learner and are passionate about promoting equitable access to health care. 

Carmelle supports the delivery, development, and evaluation of Pain BC's Support Services programs. She is a registered social worker who brings years of experience working with the Vancouver Downtown Eastside community, primarily in mental health and substance use. She utilizes a strength-based, anti-oppressive lens when interacting with clients, with an emphasis on empowerment. She is excited to be part of the Pain BC team to explore innovative ways of supporting the well-being of people living with pain.

Danielle supports the development, delivery and evaluation of Pain BC's Pain Support Line program. She is a registered social worker and brings years of experience working in non-profits, health organizations and disaster relief, with a focus on supporting people with disabilities, mental illnesses, substance use and trauma. Danielle works from a trauma-informed and client-centred approach with an emphasis on holistic care. Danielle’s professional and personal experiences have shaped her passion and interest in supporting people living with chronic pain and she is proud to contribute to Pain BC's mission. 

Divya is an interdisciplinary researcher with expertise in public health, patient engagement, and knowledge translation. She supports Pain BC’s work in the Chronic Pain Network (CPN) as Engagement Lead in knowledge mobilization and implementation science. A post-doctoral fellow from the University of Ottawa and a PhD in public health from India, Divya has eight years of health services research experience in India and Canada. Her goals are to co-create knowledge mobilization resources to support the CPN and improve the health and well-being of people living with pain.

Gregg plans, leads, and coordinates all aspects of multi-stakeholder, provincial, local, and internal projects for Pain BC. With more than 15 years experience in managing interdisciplinary health projects aimed at health systems improvement in Canada and the US, he shepherds projects from start-up through completion to help attain Pain BC’s organizational goals. His background spans systems theory and methods, primary care, inter-professional collaboration, tobacco control, integrative medicine, and substance use.

Hardeep originally joined Pain BC as a practicum student while completing her master's degree in social work. Her current role at Pain BC consists of supporting the development, delivery and evaluation of the Pain Support Line. Hardeep is also working with the Pain BC team on ways to offer current services to different cultural groups. Her professional experience includes working in healthcare, supporting survivors of domestic violence, and working with individuals experiencing homelessness. She is proud to be part of Pain BC's important work.

Kimberlee coordinates the administrative processes for Pain BC’s Support Services programs. Her unique administrative history includes extensive experience with volunteer support, event organization, and retail management. She is honoured to support Pain BC’s mission to transform the way pain is understood and treated.

Leah supports the development and implementation of Pain BC’s communications initiatives. Originally from Toronto, ON, her communications background spans from work in the film, television and hospitality industries. Her personal and professional experiences have shaped her interest in changing how chronic pain is understood and she is proud to contribute to Pain BC’s mission.

Mica supports the development, delivery, and evaluation of Pain BC’s education programs. Her educational background, experiences, and passion for public health motivate her to work with marginalized communities to achieve effective and equitable health care. She is eager to support individuals who live with pain and to improve the well-being of others to promote positive health.

Priyanka supports the development and implementation of Pain BC’s communications initiatives. She brings years of experience communicating for disability-related and other charitable organizations and has a particular interest in digital accessibility. Priyanka believes effective communication is a powerful tool for positive change and is proud to harness her skills and knowledge to support Pain BC’s vision of a future where no one is alone with pain.

Saeda supports operations processes and assists with program management to help attain Pain BC’s mission. She has extensive experience in operations and administration in the private and public sector. She brings her knowledge, background and lived experience to support Pain BC's effort in providing resources and support to people living with pain.

Shirvin is a clinical counsellor who supports Pain BC's Support Services programs. She has a master's degree in counselling psychology with a background in addictions, substance use, anxiety, and trauma. She is passionate about normalizing mental health, particularly with a cultural lens. Her focus is to meet people where they're at and support them at a pace that works for them.

Tasha is an internationally experienced social worker who has worked in the United States, Jamaica and Canada in various roles serving a cross-section of clients, including women, children, and people living with HIV/AIDS, autism, substance use disorder and mental health conditions. She has extensive experience developing and delivering programs, as well as facilitating support groups. She is adept at addressing clients’ psychosocial needs and uncovering the unique factors that contribute to each individual’s situation. Tasha is excited to use her role on the Pain BC team as an avenue to serve others.

Tiasha leads Pain BC’s operations and evaluation processes and manages its fund development efforts, coordinates internal processes, and assists with project and program management to help attain Pain BC’s mission. Her commitment to patient advocacy is driven by her diverse research and administrative background, as well as her lived experience and interdisciplinary education in political and health sciences. She is proud to take part in the progressive social changes made by Pain BC.

Tristen supports the day-to-day management of Pain BC's Support Services programs for people living with pain and provides leadership to program volunteers. He also provides direct support to clients, conducts program intakes and liaises with community stakeholders. His academic background in psychology and lived experience have informed his years in community services work as an aboriginal peer mentor, counsellor and coordinator.

As a designated accountant, Virginia provides Pain BC with financial leadership and direction and develops effective financial control systems. Having spent the past 15 years in the real estate industry, she brings her knowledge, background and lived experience to support Pain BC in its mission to enhance the well-being of people living with pain.

Yasser is a social justice, equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion practitioner who supports Pain BC’s work in the Partnership for the Engagement of Patients in Pain Research (PEPR) project. A graduate of Brandeis University with a master’s in Conflict Resolution and Coexistence, Yasser has 15+ years in the humanitarian field and non-profit sector in Sudan and Tanzania. He brings his knowledge of community engagement to developing responsive systems for people living with chronic pain.