Don Pavlovich | President
Don, now retired, has 28 years of experience in securing capital for companies, specifically mining. He served as president & executive director at 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.
Adanma Ugoalah | Vice President
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.
Kim Thomas | Secretary, Education Chair
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 over 10 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, has led in house monthly support groups in the Tri Cities and is the current chair of the education committee.
Alix Flynn | Board Treasurer, Finance Chair
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”.
Bob Sung | Fundraising Committee
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 Andre de la Porte | Support Chair
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 20 years of corporate management experience to his role on the board.
Shirley Chan | Past 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.
Joseph Gormley | Governance Chair
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.
Janet Burgess | Advocacy Chair
Janet brings over 30 years of corporate experience, most recently at an executive level within the financial services industry. She’s eager to leverage her skills in strategy, business development and planning as well as promotion and advocacy to further strengthen the Pathways’ mandate. Janet attended a Pathways Family to Family course in 2017 when a loved one began experiencing a mental health crisis and says, “What I learned through Pathways quite literally saved our lives”. Janet lives on the North Shore with her wonderful family, is a fitness enthusiast and yoga practitioner who also has her yoga teaching certification. Feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn.
Katie MacKenzie | Fundraising Co-Chair
Katie is a communications and investor relations specialist and is currently responsible for helping raise capital for a public company. She represents a family member with lived experience and is passionate about education and advocacy for mental health. Katie will bring her corporate experience to Pathways to further strengthen their ability to fundraise.
Conor Howes | Finance Committee
Conor is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and became designated while working at Deloitte. He has prior experience working at a medical company, and currently works at Lululemon as a Financial Analyst. In his spare time Conor can be found in the mountains in the lower mainland either skiing in the winter or hiking in the summer, and he also plays Ice Hockey. He represents someone with lived experience and now has a passion for helping others in that area, while also providing a perspective on the best way to assist those with lived experience or a relative of someone with lived experience.