Joseph Gormley | President
Joe was first introduced to the Pathways through the Family-to-Family Course. “The Family-to-Family course provided me with the knowledge and tools to better understand and help my family members with this illness. The value of the program provided by the Pathways inspired me to contribute by offering to serve on the board”. Joe Gormley has served on the board of directors of several other organizations, including Nelson and District Credit Union, Northern BC Crisis Centre, Point Roberts Yacht Club, and Surrey Trekkers Volkssport Club. Professionally Joe has worked for Public Works and Government Services Canada for over 30 years in real estate specializing in Aboriginal consultation.
Gabi Guerrero | Executive Director
Gabi Guerrero is a highly accomplished professional with 25 years of international business experience in management and operations. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ricardo Palma University in Lima, Peru and a Business Management Diploma from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Vancouver, Canada. Her working career highlights include: Director for Publicitaria Nasta Ogilvy – WPP in Asuncion-Paraguay; project management for Humphries Construction Group and Stuart Olson Dominion Construction; Executive Director for BC Original Minds Association – Destination Imagination BC; and President of Destination Imagination International Affiliate Directors.
She is the recipient of the 2016 Ethel Tibbits Award by the Richmond Community Foundation and two-time recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from Kwantlen. Gabi is a former top-seeded Junior Professional Player for the Peruvian National Tennis Team, representing Peru in 23 international tournaments.
Don Pavlovich | Past President
Don, now retired, has 28 years of experience in securing capital for companies, specifically mining. He served as president & executive director on several junior mining companies. As a lover of arts and culture, he’s ventured into the film industry (A Last Train Picture Production), and now as an Executive Producer, co-produces projects he believes in. As a graduate of the family-to-family education course, Don firmly believes in what this society represents.
Jennifer Bednard | Vice President | Advocacy Committee Chair
Jennifer grew up in North Vancouver, attending Ross Road Elementary and Argyle High School. Jennifer received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and French from Simon Fraser University and her law degree from the University of Victoria in 2017. Jennifer was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2018 and is currently practicing at Lakes, Whyte LLP. Jennifer is excited to join the Pathways board and hopes she will be able to learn more about Pathways and help the organization during her term on the board.
Sandra Wood | Vice President
Sandra grew up in Southern Ontario and currently lives in Squamish. She has always loved working with people. Sandra taught at a number of public high schools, as a department head, and at a medical treatment centre school for children with severe physical and communication disabilities. She is also a qualified high school principal with experience in this role. Sandra has served as president and chairman of many boards, including as president of her strata council board of directors for ten years. A long-serving volunteer at Pathways SMIS, she has been involved in our Circle of Strength Luncheon, teaches our Family-to-Family education course, provides one-on-one peer support, facilitates monthly support groups and has led public and in-house workshops. She has lived experience of caring for a loved one with a serious mental illness and is passionate about supporting the mission and goals of Pathways SMI Society.
Alix Flynn | Board Treasurer
As a Chartered Professional Accountant, Alix has had the pleasure of supporting a number of organizations over the years. The organizations she has worked with have come out of relationship around her family and personal interests. When her children were young, she volunteered in their school and sports organizations. More recently her family was rocked by a mental health crisis. Alix says: “I was fortunate to find support from Pathways. I now hope in my role as treasurer, I can offer guidance and continued support to the vital role Pathways gives families”.
Nancy Ford | Secretary
Nancy brings her experience of working in various leadership roles in both the private and not for profit sectors as executive director for PLAN Institute, and more recently, Pathways SMIS. Now retired, Nancy feels privileged to have helped mentor both national and international agencies who support marginalized communities. She is passionate about innovation, dynamic collaboration, and effective Board governance. As a parent of a loved one with a serious mental illness, she has first-hand experience of what families face. She is also deeply aware of the value that family and community bring in helping to address the complex challenges of serious mental illness.
Shirley Chan | Board Member
As a YWCA Woman of Distinction, Shirley Chan, OBC, has an impressive work history in public and not-for-profit management, community engagement, strategic planning, and economic development. With her vast experience and extensive network of people and resources, Shirley is a fierce advocate for her daughter and a welcomed asset to Pathways as a board director.
Richard Stewart | Board Member
Richard Stewart is serving his fourth term as Mayor of Coquitlam; he was elected to City Council in 2005 and was elected as Mayor in 2008, winning re-election in 2011, 2014, and 2018. He is currently serving as the Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Liquid Waste Committee and also sits on the Regional Planning Committee, which he previously chaired. At TransLink Mayors’ Council, Richard chairs the Regional Transportation Planning Committee. “Our family has come to know mental illness quite intimately. It’s an issue that cities need to give more consideration to, as this issue relates to housing, policing, recreation services, etc.” Richard is passionate about finding solutions and improving the way we treat those with mental illness and their families.
Bob Sung | Board Member
Bob is a Pathways Board Member representing a person with lived experience. Previously he was on the Family Advisory Committee at Vancouver Coastal Health and a peer support worker at the Pacific Bipolar Foundation. Born and raised in Vancouver, he is a third-generation Chinese Canadian. For over 25 years, his career has been in the culinary industry. Currently, he conducts walking tours of Vancouver Chinatown. Proudly showcasing his heritage, the purpose of the tours is to educate and entertain from a culinary and cultural perspective. He strongly believes that in order to maintain his healing journey, he must be of service to help and assist others in their respective journeys.
Dennis Whitehead | Board Member
Dennis immigrated from the UK and grew up in Montreal, Canada. He currently lives in Richmond B.C. Dennis retired from a diversified 40+ year business career in commercial management in the private and public sectors and is currently the President of his strata council. He has diplomas in business and marketing management. Dennis has taught Pathways’ Family-to-Family education course for 10 years. He gets a sense of great fulfillment from providing support and education to families in need. Dennis is also a parent of an adult child who suffers from anxiety and depression, as well as cognitive issues. These issues are connected to a traumatic brain injury when his son was 12 years old. Dennis is also a newly trained volunteer coach for people living with chronic illness.