Genesa has built a 25-year career as a community leader and social justice advocate. Over the past five years, Genesa served as President and CEO of the BC Women's Health Foundation, an organization recognized as an effective advocate for women's healthcare policy, research investment and a voice for gender equity and intersectionality in health. Prior to leading BCWHF, Genesa worked in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside on homelessness, poverty, mental health and addiction as Executive Director of the First United Church Community Ministry Society. 

In addition, Genesa is a dedicated community volunteer. She sits on the Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver’s Board of Directors, co-chairs the Equal Futures Network and serves on the Advisory Board to the Institute of Gender and Health, part of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

However, Genesa’s most important title is Mom. She is the proud single mother to her six-year-old boy, Nnamdi. They love reading together and being out in nature. The great outdoors of BC reminds Genesa of where she was born and raised – Newfoundland – and where she also developed her love for community building, storytelling, wind and water.

Sean brings 10 years of social enterprise experience to this role, as the founder of Megaphone, a magazine sold on the streets of Vancouver and Victoria by homeless and low-income vendors. Sean helped build Megaphone into an award-winning social enterprise that works with more than 300 marginalized people ever year and puts more than $100,000 annually into the pockets of vendors.

Michelle focused her studies on collaborative e-learning and online communication working for several years as a research assistant in these areas before following her heart into the non-profit sector. Michelle joined the Foundation in January 2005 initially working in philanthropic services before moving over to the Enterprising Non-Profits program to manage the development of a social enterprise focused website, newsletter, podcast series and other engagement activities. 

Michelle completed the professional Certificate in Community Economic Development (SFU), furthering her passion for building community and specifically for the potential of social enterprise to create impact. Today, Michelle manages communications and donor services for Vancity Community Foundation.

Beyond the opportunity to work in a field she enjoys, Michelle is both proud and humbled to be part of an organization that is dedicated to using community economic development strategies, partnerships and advocacy to enable community change, capacity building and well-being. She feels fortunate to work with passionate and driven colleagues; and she is inspired daily by the amazing work and impact of community organizations.

During her hiatus from VCF, Irene led the Community Investment division at Affinity Credit Union, an important sister organization to Vancity with a similarly long track record supporting innovative community development and also a fellow member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV).

Irene has a broad range of experience supporting and leading different nonprofit organizations, including specific expertise in each of our focus areas of social enterprise, community owned real estate and impact investing. Irene has also worked in microcredit, through international experiences in Bolivia and Guatemala, as well as domestic examples including inner-city Winnipeg, and as the founding Executive Director of the Immigrant Access Fund in Saskatoon. Her university degrees are in Business and in Rural Planning & Development, and she also had a role with the SFU Centre for Sustainable Community Development doing post-graduate research and coordinating a joint program delivered through a Mexican University in Cuernavaca.

She and her husband Rob live in North Vancouver with their 2 young children.

She came to VCF with a breadth of experience across the charitable and small business sector, having previously worked at Pace Accounting (a small firm in East Vancouver specializing in non-profit clients), SPUD.ca, Options for Sexual Health, Atira Women’s Resource Society, and Lunapads International. Marie-Geneviève moved to Vancouver in 2002 to complete a Master’s Degree in Women’s Studies at SFU, then took a sharp turn into a new career a few years later, completing her Diploma of Technology with Distinction in Accounting at BCIT. She currently serves as Treasurer on the Board of her housing co-op, does the books for her partner’s bike shop, and in between managing all those numbers, enjoys walking her dog, lifting weights, and going to see live music.

Nancy is responsible for managing the day to day activities of the Foundation.

iris aspires to work, play and live in a society based on equity, free from discrimination, full of compassion and activism. Having spent all of her teenage and adult life working and volunteering within community and non-profit organizing, she has a passion for learning and understanding the complexities of community engagement and mobilization, while fostering her desire to provide accessible and inclusive resources that meet the needs of our diverse communities.

Terran completed a Master's degree in Gender & Social Policy and has worked with various non-profit organizations in Vancouver and abroad. Before coming to VCF and Vancity, her work was focused mainly on coordinating regional responses to gender-based violence. She brings a broad range of experience from her work in frontline support, program development, and policy analysis. She cares deeply about building community and finding innovative and creative ways to connect resources to community.

Madison graduated from the University of British Columbia with a major in First Nations and Indigenous Studies and a minor in English Literature in 2016. Before joining the Foundation in 2021, Madi worked for Vancity at several branches in the Vancouver region, and drove the horse drawn carriage tours in Stanley Park. In her spare time, she enjoys embroidery, walking her dog, and enjoying the beautiful outdoors. Madi’s favourite part about her job is getting to work with people who want to make our communities better for everyone.

Bryn has over 15 years experience working in impact assessment and cost-effectiveness analysis. Prior to joining the Foundation, Bryn worked as a consultant and researcher at SFU, leading numerous projects for government, private sector and non-profit organizations. Bryn holds a B.A. from Carleton University and a Masters of Resource and Environmental Management from Simon Fraser University.

Hannah earned her B.A. from the University of British Columbia with a double major in Political Science and Geography (Environment & Sustainability), and studied abroad at the University of Amsterdam. Before joining the Foundation, she worked in the non-profit sector with a focus on women's health and community building. Hannah is driven by her passions for environmental sustainability and social equity, and loves working for a values-based organization furthering these efforts.

Landon supports the day-to-day financial operations of the Foundation; reviews and improves financial systems, policies, and procedures; and assists with database management. He has extensive administrative, customer service, and fundraising experience and graduated from the Sustainable Business joint major program at SFU. He is currently working towards a CPA designation, and in his free time enjoys bird watching, tending to his house plants, and exploring the city.

Peter supports the management of day to day operations of the Foundation with a focus in relational database administration and information management applications.

Elyse is responsible for the grantee, borrower and investor relationship management and administration of the Affordable Housing Program and Accelerator Fund at Vancity Community Foundation and the Greater Vancouver Community Assistance Foundation. Elyse brings 5 years of experience in community investment, working as a member of the Vancity Community Investment team from 2018-2022 where she facilitated impact investment opportunities for local economic development initiatives focused on affordable housing, financial inclusion and environmental sustainability. Elyse started in the Vancity branch network in 2012 and earned an undergraduate degree in Health and Community Services from the University of Victoria in 2015. When she's not at work, Elyse loves cooking and sharing meals with friends and family and spending time in and on the ocean!

Reaching Home provides federal funding to agencies addressing homelessness across Canada. In the Greater Vancouver region, Reaching Home is delivered by Lu'ma Native BCH Housing as the Community Entity. We serve as a partner to help administer the program in that region. We also have a similar partnership with the Community Entity of the City of Abbotsford, which serves that region.

Lisa has worked in government and non-profits in a wide variety of areas. She has an educational and professional background in criminology having worked with youth involved with the criminal justice system, women in the downtown eastside dealing with addictions and housing issues and adult offenders in federal and provincial institutions. Prior to joining Vancity Community Foundation, Lisa oversaw a portfolio at Jewish Family Service Agency which included: Financial Assistance/Case Management, Housing assistance and advocacy, a food bank, Mental Health Outreach, The World in Garden urban agriculture project, Special Needs related to families with children living with a disability as well as specialized holiday and prison outreach programs.

Reaching Home is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness in the region. Arminda brings extensive experience in social and affordable housing finance, accounting, property management and real estate asset management, having worked at King County Housing Authority and Bellwether Housing, which has the largest non-profit affordable housing portfolio in the City of Seattle.

Arminda holds a bachelor of arts from Seattle University. She also received a graduate diploma in urban studies from Simon Fraser University, and, along with her family, is proud to call Metro Vancouver home.

Prior to joining Vancity, Margaret was a small business owner for over 12 years, managing in partnership a retail and wholesale clothing and giftware store specializing in fair trade items from developing countries. She started with Vancity as a micro credit specialist with Community Business Services in 2001, extending innovative credit to marginalized people and newcomers to Canada. The bulk of her time was in the branch as a Senior Account Manager, where her role was of a trusted advisor providing knowledge and seamless services to assist members in meeting their financial goals through loans, investments, and retirement needs.

Outside of work, Margaret has extensive volunteer experience working with the homeless and those at risk of homelessness in her community in Abbotsford, and her passion with these folks is helping and making a positive impact in their lives. She is a co-founder of a non-profit organization focused on racialized and marginalized individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and an active board member of Ravens Moon, an organization that serves the homeless in Abbotsford.

Margaret loves travelling, running, hiking, and above all, making new friends.

Before starting with Reaching Home, Julie joined Vancity Community Foundation in 2014 as part of First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition and the Living Wage for Families Campaign. Through her work at YWCA Metro Vancouver and the Vancouver School Board, Julie has seen first-hand how a safe place to call home can help the most vulnerable citizens move forward. That’s why she’s excited to work at Reaching Home to help prevent the cycle of poverty and create better lives for the homeless or those at risk of homelessness.

Julie has been the editor of the Renfrew-Collingwood Community News since 2007 and previously worked at Raincoast Books and Alive magazine. She holds a bachelor of commerce from the University of B.C. and a certificate in community economic development from Simon Fraser University.

Prior to this, she has worked in various capacities with Vancity Credit Union. She has also worked as a frontline worker in social services with youth experiencing addictions and women fleeing violence and has always been passionate about serving the community. That is why she is excited to work at Reaching Home and help prevent and end homelessness and the cycle of poverty. Saffina holds a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies and Islamic History as well as a diploma in Social Service Work from Langara College. Outside of work, Saffina enjoys volunteering, reading, and trying new restaurants.

Angie has been working with the Reaching Home team since November 2020. Her work experience includes 17 years of providing program and event coordination, and administrative support in the nonprofit sector for various educational organizations. Angie’s formal education includes Project Management Certification. Outside of work, she has enjoyed volunteering in her sons’ school and sports communities by coordinating provincial tournaments and holding committee leadership and treasurer roles. She also enjoys travelling, baking, and creating various handmade projects. 

Karimah joined Vancity Community Foundation after interning with the United Nations Development Program and graduating with a Masters in Development from the University of London, SOAS. Karimah also has four years of experience with Vancity’s Community Member Support department. She enjoyed contributing to Vancity's social impact mission through engaging with her branch's community partners, delegating in the Global Alliance of Banking on Values conference, and participating as a team lead in the organization’s Think Tank - Explore Network.

Since 2002, Louise has enjoyed various roles within Vancity concentrating in Community Investment. Principally working on the Community Partnership Program, a grant program supporting underserved communities, and focused on areas of social justice, financial empowerment, co-operative economy, and climate justice with a racial equity lens. Her work also expanded into the enviroFund Local Food Project Grants Program, which focused on the development of a sustainable local food system. Over the years she has supported Vancity staff to deepen their understanding of Community Investment impact areas, while exploring community partnership and business development opportunities.

In 2020 she joined Vancity Community Foundation as Program Officer for the Reaching Home Program: Canada's Homelessness Strategy to assist with COVID response homelessness. Louise continues to work with the Reaching Home Program as Finance + Contracts Officer supporting the aim to prevent and reduce homelessness in the community.

Melissa Giles is the Managing Director with BC Rent Bank, a Vancity Community Foundation project funded by the Province of BC focused on supporting the development of a provincial rent bank system. She has almost 20 years of experience working in the non-profit sector, both domestically and internationally, and is passionate about social justice and housing affordability issues. In 2020, Melissa completed her Master of Arts in Leadership at Royal Roads University. She currently is the co-chair of Wellspring Foundation for Education, an international non-profit committed to quality education in East Africa. Apart from work and study, Melissa enjoys hiking, cycling and enjoying the great outdoors.

Prior to joining Vancity Community Foundation in 2014, Shauna spent several years in front-line capacities in mental health and addictions, and women's health. Through her interactions with clients, she gained an intimate understanding of the far-reaching and devastating consequences of housing precarity and homelessness -- soon after, Shauna made the move into the housing sector. Prior to joining the BC Rent Bank team, Shauna worked at Reaching Home, Canada's Homelessness Strategy, as a Senior Program Officer.

She is now the Program Manager at BC Rent Bank, a homelessness prevention and stability program that supports low to moderate income renters in BC. Shauna oversees and supports the operations of rent banks across the province. She brings with her a Diploma of Technology in Human Resources Management from BCIT's School of Business.

When not working, you can find Shauna with her husband and two young children exploring all of the beauty and adventure that Vancouver Island has to offer.

Sonam is driven by good storytelling, big picture thinking and doing things with a socially conscious mind. She has spent the last 10 years working with various social impact organizations including The Wellbeing Project, The Discourse and The Urban Worker Project. Previously, she co-founded a social venture that focused on engaging immigrant women and their transition to the Canadian workforce through cultural cooking classes. She earned her BA from Simon Fraser University and has studied internationally at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. She has received multiple awards for her work including HSBC Women Leader of Tomorrow for Western Canada and an AMEX Emerging Innovator.

With over 15 years of marketing, sales, and project consulting within sustainable real estate development and co-operative financial services, Kelly brings a comprehensive and compassionate perspective to her work with the 312 Main team. She is inspired by the project through the core values of coworking – Community, Collaboration, Openness, Accessibility and Sustainability. Born in Victoria and raised in the Lower Mainland, Kelly has lived in and visited most of BC. While she loves to travel, she is always happy to call Vancouver home. She spends her time being an active participant in community events, and enjoying family life with her husband and her son.

Lisa began working in the non-profit sector during her days at university. Since then she has also been a frequent entrepreneur, having started businesses here in Vancouver, as well as internationally, in Scotland and Germany. She now brings her skills and intrapreneurial spirit to her role at 312 Main, solving challenges using compassion and innovation. Her passion is helping people get organized and she loves to improve systems to make them as efficient and user friendly as possible. Lisa's full-time sidekick is Bella, a chihuahua who has a wardrobe bigger than her own.

As a lifetime resident of Vancouver, Dave, our Building Maintenance Technician, has seen the evolution of this vibrant community. With over 10 years of custodial and maintenance experience, as well as 15 years of commercial construction experience, Dave is more than qualified for this role. He brings a quiet determination to make this facility a co-working showcase and an interactive community hub that brings respite and connection to all those who enter.

Florence has studied sciences for the majority of her life. She has always been interested in health sciences specifically because of her passion for caring for and helping people, especially those who are vulnerable. She has an associate degree in Health Sciences and has been volunteering in her local community. She has volunteered with Fraser Health and volunteered with children for over 3 years. 

Florence’s self-taught skills in content creation, social media marketing and video editing, as well as her customer service skills from her experience at McDonalds, have helped her to work on various creative projects.