Shirley Chan | President
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.
Don Pavlovich | Vice 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.
Joseph Gormley | Past 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.
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”.
Kim Thomas | Secretary
Kim has been employed in the mining industry for over 25 years, and as Corporate Secretary of her present employer whom she has been with for 13 years. She has been past President of her housing co-operative and currently sits on two committees within the co-op. She resides in the Tri Cities with her husband, two adult children and two fur babies!
Kim and her husband participated in the Family to Family course in 2015 and learned the tools they were lacking to deal with one of the children who was having mental health issues at the time. Since then Kim has become a volunteer for Pathways SMIS, she has served as a table host at our Circle of Strength Luncheon, teaches the Family-to-Family education course, provides one on one peer support and has led in house monthly support groups in the Tri Cities.
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, and has facilitated monthly in-house support groups in the Tri Cities.
Nancy Ford | Board Member
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.
Sandra Wood | Board Member
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.
Adanma Ugoalah | Board Member
Having been in banking for the past 15 years, Adanma brings with her a wealth of finance and planning experience. She has always been inspired to work with individuals who are in need of financial help. She later moved into a leadership role which highlighted mental health issues others were experiencing which also brought an awareness to the need of mental health services. Adanma is excited to expand her focus to an area that needs an unending amount of support as she knows many of us are impacted directly and indirectly by mental health. Joining Pathways is her first step in educating herself and advocating for such an important cause.
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.
Jamie AndredelaPorte | Board Member
Jamie joins Pathways bringing lived experience of supporting family members with serious mental illness. He is a participant in the programs offered by Pathways, and has a passion for the sustainable delivery of these programs in the future.
Jamie brings 20years of corporate management experience to his role on the board.
Jamie can be reached at jamieadlp.biz@gmail.com