The West Vancouver Foundation works with highly qualified expert leaders and advisors with a broad range of knowledge and experience. They generously volunteer their time, leadership and financial expertise on our Board of Directors and our committees. Their knowledge and dedication helps shape our work and ensures we remain connected to the community we serve.
board members
Naomi Denning
Chair
Committees: Investment, Finance & Audit, CEO & Board Development, Youth Philanthropy Council
Grants Committee members
Justin Yoo, Chair
Nancy Farran
Hoon Choi
The volunteer grants committee is comprised of members from the community. The committee oversees the Community Grants and Give Where You Live Grant programs.
Carmen Ryujin
Melina Tai
Grace Wong
Committees
The primary roles of the Executive Director & Board Development Committee is to attract and grow leadership, both at the ED and the Board levels.
- Naomi Denning
- John Parker
- Carolyn Coleclough
- Margaret Lanthier
- Adine Mees
The purpose of the Finance & Audit Committee is to provide financial oversight for the organization including budgeting and financial planning, reporting and internal controls and accountability policies.
- John Parker (Chair)
- Naomi Denning
- Laurence Wang
- Barbora Gaziova
- Alexandra Pearson (Staff)
The purpose of the Governance Committee is to ensure that the Board fulfills its legal, ethical and functional responsibilities. Key responsibilities also include the recruiting and nominating Board directors, evaluating the performance of the board.
- Zahra Jenab (Chair)
- Naomi Denning
- Zahra Ramji
The Donor Development Committee provides expertise and strategic guidance in relation to the stewardship of existing donors and fundholders, as well as the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of new donors and fundholders.
- Darrell Ert (Chair)
- Tara Armstrong
- Margaret Lanthier
- Jody Rebak
- Laurence Wang
- Stacie Graham (Staff)
The role of the Investment Stewardship Committee is one of strategic direction and oversight of the WVF investments. The Investment Manager is responsible for the operational implementation and execution of the Statement of Investment Policy & Guidelines, which is developed by this Committee and approved annually by the Board.
- Jonathan Stewart (Chair)
- Naomi Denning
- Alison Parry
- Amanda Calla
- Margaret Lanthier
- Dave Mason
- Merla Beckerman (Chair)
- Louise Adams
- Rachel Clearwater
- Meredith Toward
- Judy Duncan
- Anne Langdon
- Kelly Richter
- Rebecca Johnson (Staff)
The purpose of the YPC is to improve the quality of life for youth on the North Shore through granting, by encouraging community philanthropy to address changing needs.
- Kayla Bibby, Grade 12, Handsworth
- Angelia Chopra, Grade 11, WVSS
- Noa Dadon, Grade 11, Sentinel
- Emilio Molina, Grade 12, Collingwood
- Shirley Xu, Grade 12, Lions Gate Christian Academy
- Xiao Bo Zheng, Grade 11, Collingwood
- Kevyn Karimi (Adult Lead)
- Justin Yoo (Board Liaison)
- Rebecca Johnson (Staff)
The purpose of the Vital Signs Advisory Group is to provide guidance on the Vital Signs report from a community perspective. The group is being reworked for 2024.
Past board members
Since the Foundation was formed in 1979, many wonderful community leaders have served on the Board of Directors.
Peter Ackhurst, Director
Kassem Aghtai, Director
Tom Allison, Director
Robert Annable, Director
Tom Baillie, Chair
Mark Ballard, Director
Merla Beckerman, Director (Honorary Governor)
Robert Bentall, Director
Peter Bogardus, Director
Patricia Boname, Mayor (Honourary Director)
Helen Boultbee, Director
Jim Boyd, Director
Barbara Brink, Director
Brooke Campbell, Director
James Cameron, Chair
Craig Cantlie, Director
Jim Carphin, Director
Colleen Cattell, Director
Naomi Chard, Director
Malcom Clay, Director
Stuart Clyne, Director
James Dixon, Director
Margie Driscoll, Director
Keith Duncan, Director, Chair
Mohammed Faris, (Honorary Director)
Nancy Farran, Director, Chair
Nassreen Filsoof, Director
Peter Finch, Director
Margaret Forsyth, Director
Donald Gardiner, Chair
Robert Gayton, Director
Marjorie Gibson, Director
Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Mayor (Honorary Director)
Brayden Gordon, Director
James Green, Director
Catherine Greyell, Director
Frank Griffiths, Jr., Founding Director
Ann Hamilton, Director
Bill Harvey, Director
Byron Hender, Chair
Gordon Holley, Director
Charles Hopkins, Founding Director & Chair
Gerry Humphries, Chair
Derrick Humphreys, Mayor & Founding Chair
Bill Hyndman, Founding Director
Stephen Hynes, Director
Patricia Jarvis, Director
Geoff Jopson, Director, Chair
Don Lanskail, Mayor
Ray Leeden, Director
Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia, Director
Chris Loat, Secretary
Carol Ludvigsen, Director
Claire Lynch
Barbara MacDougall, Director
Kristin MacMillan, Director
David Mathieson, Founding Director
Cowan McKinney, Director, Chair
Stuart McLaughlin, Director
Philip Mcleod, Treasurer
Barbara McMillan, Director
Dave Mason, Director
Kay Meek, Founding Director
Bruce Milley, Chair
Sara Mohamadkhani, Director
Ed Moul, Director
Coleen Nemtin, Director
Liisa Ohara, Director
Jennifer Orum, Director
Robert Paterson, Treasurer
Fanny Patterson, Director
Mary Pattison, Founding Director
Keith Pelletier, Director
Les Peterson, Director
Tim Porteous, Director
Richard Rees, Director
Ken Rekrutiak, Director
Martin Roberts, Director
Frank Robertson, Director
Paul Robillard, Vice-Chair
Gordon Rowntree, Founding Director
Ron Royston, Director
Mark Sager, Mayor (Honorary Director)
Shirley Sager, Founding Director
Don Saunders, Director
Azad Shamji, Director
Pat Shannon, Director
Michael Smith, Mayor (Honorary Director)
Audrey Sojonky, Director
Peter Speck, Director
Ann Sturrock, Director
Judy Summers (Okazaki), Director
Gary Sutherland, Director
Doug Taylor, Director
Rob Travers, Director
Peter Van Drimmelen, Director
Richard van Liempt, Director
Helen Vanee, Chair
Jo-Ann Wood, Chair
Ron Wood, Mayor (Honorary Director)
Thank you to all past Board Members for your time served at the Foundation.