Board of Directors & Advisory Cabinet
Our Place has a volunteer Board of Directors that is dedicated to the governance and future vision of the organization.
The Board’s directors contribute to the society through their passion, dedication, experience and business acumen.
Our Place’s governance board is responsible primarily for:
- Developing, leading and guiding the organizational vision and strategic priorities;
- Providing guidance, oversight and evaluation of the organization’s executive director; and,
- Ensuring organizational compliance with fiscal and legal responsibilities
If you are interested in joining the Board of Directors, please review the Recruitment Process below.
Charla Huber, MA, CIHCM, Chair
Charla Huber has a strong background working in both the affordable housing and non-profit sector and has a passion for Indigenous Relations. Charla Huber is an Indigenous Relation and Communications consultant who specializes in Indigenous ways of communicating and building bridges of understanding and mutual respect. Charla has worked with Indigenous communities, organizations, and communities across Canada. Charla started her career in journalism, working as a reporter and columnist for nearly 20 years. Charla has a Master of Arts degree in professional communication, a Chartered Housing Designation, and an associates degree in non-profit management. Charla served on many boards including Victoria-Esquimalt Police Board and was president for the BC Association of Police Boards. She works as Associate Faculty at Royal Roads University. Charla is Indigenous with First Nations and Inuit roots from Beausoleil First Nation and Fort Chipewyan.
Susan Climie, Vice Chair
Susan has empathy and respect for people who face challenges, and she knows the importance of community in one’s healing journey. Susan brings decades of non-profit and investment banking experience to Our Place. A former Executive Director, her expertise includes program development, revenue generation, governance, and leadership alignment. She has sat on several non-profit boards and committees. Currently, as a coach with Victoria-based Thriving Non-Profits, Susan supports non-profits as they enhance their impact and sustainability. Susan embraces the Our Place Society vision – nourishment, hope and belonging for all.
Cheryl Wenezenki-Yolland, Treasurer
Cheryl sees Our Place Society as an organization whose mission deeply resonates with her core values of compassion, service, family, integrity, perseverance, and well-being. With a shared goal of providing hope and a sense of belonging to Greater Victoria’s most vulnerable citizens, she feels the work is heartfelt and challenging.
With over 35 years of public service experience in the government and not-for-profit sectors, Cheryl brings a unique perspective on the intricacies of public service, public policy and the complexities of collaborating across diverse groups. As a former Deputy Minister, she facilitated the co-creation of a shared strategy, which has aided British Columbia’s Advanced Education System in being more responsive to and inclusive of Indigenous Peoples. She has a strong belief in collective power and the innovation that can be achieved through these principles. Cheryl currently serves as a member of the federal audit committee for the Canadian Institutes for Health Research.
Robyn Gifford, Secretary
Robyn believes that everyone deserves hope, dignity, and access to the resources they need to build their lives. Robyn is currently a lawyer with the British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General, advising on environmental law issues. Prior to joining the government, she practiced civil and public litigation at a national law firm in Vancouver, and before that clerked at the Supreme Court of Canada. As a student and a lawyer, she has volunteered with many non-profit organizations that assist marginalized individuals and communities.
Philip Calvert, Director
Philip is a former Canadian diplomat who spent 34 years in Canada’s Foreign Service before moving to Victoria in 2016. Originally from Prince George, since arriving in Victoria he has had various roles, including Board Chair, with the James Bay Community Project. His assignments in Global Affairs included Director General for North Asia, Deputy Ambassador to China, and Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. He is also a Senior Research Associate with the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives at the University of Victoria.
Glenn Cheater, Director
Glenn is a veteran journalist and editor who has been a resident of Victoria since 2016. He is keenly interested in issues such as affordable housing, and is proud to join Our Place Society’s board as it continues to provide strong and compassionate advocacy for the city’s most vulnerable. Glenn served on the board of the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, which provides affordable transitional housing and wrap-around support services for newcomers. During his seven-year term, including two as chair, the organization nearly doubled its housing capacity and increased its programming and staffing several fold. When he looks at Our Place and the continuum of services it provides, from food to shelter to wellness therapy, he is impressed not just by the organization’s vision, but by its staff’s unwavering commitment to the family it serves.
Scott McGregor, Director
Scott brings over 28 years of policing experience working with the most vulnerable in our communities. As a former Senior Manager of the VicPD Community Services Division, Scott gained tremendous insight into the complexities of homelessness, mental health and addiction and developed strong and collaborative working relationships with housing, shelter and other service providers (including those with lived experience) to find practical solutions. Scott believes that everyone has a place in our community and deserves a fighting chance to make positive change in their lives.
Trevor Murphy, Director
Trevor’s professional experience ranges from working to develop and establish small businesses to managing complex services, financials and initiatives for Fortune 100 global corporations. Today, Trevor is an independent consultant specializing in technology transformation, management, sales, organizational management and governance. Throughout his life, Trevor has engaged with community-based charitable organizations, holding the belief that change starts at home, and that all small incremental societal improvements contribute to our collective wellbeing.
Mano L Sandhu, Director
A trained professional in managing human resources, finance, program management, and policy development, Mano retired as a senior manager from the Ministry of Children and Family Development of British Columbia. Since retirement, Mano has been volunteering with several community organizations, including District of Saanich on a Governance Review, India Canada Cultural Association (ICCA); Hospise, Khalsa Divan Society; Gordon Point Estates Residents Association; Integra Support Services and other community ventures.
Brigid Egan, Director
Brigid believes that every person deserves dignity, respect, and support. Passionate about giving back, she is dedicated to addressing housing insecurity—an issue close to her heart due to personal family experiences. She understands the profound impact stable housing and support has on individuals, families, and communities, and is committed to making a difference for those in need. As a Chartered Professional Accountant, Brigid brings financial expertise, strategic guidance, and a fresh perspective to her role. Through her service, she hopes to contribute meaningfully to Our Place’s mission and strengthen her community.
Ana Nolasco, Director
Ana has a deep connection to the Society’s mission and believes that every individual deserves the opportunity to heal, find purpose, and feel valued.
Ana brings over 20 years of experience in Human Resources, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. With a career centred on organizational development, leadership coaching, and equity, diversity and inclusion, Ana has consistently worked to put people at the heart of every initiative, fostering inclusive, compassionate, and empowering environments.
Since moving to Victoria seven years ago, Ana has been deeply affected by the growing number of people experiencing homelessness. This has only strengthened her determination to contribute meaningfully to community-based solutions.
Sarah Petrescu, Director
Sarah Petrescu is a long-time supporter of Our Place Society and advocates for inclusion of people with lived experiences of homelessness. She is a policy director for Provincial government, working in cannabis legalization and spent several years developing policy and responses to homelessness and encampments with the housing ministry – including a lead role in B.C.’s first comprehensive homelessness strategy, Belonging in BC. Sarah was also a reporter at the Times Colonist newspaper for over 12 years, covering social issues, news, and the arts — including writing many stories about OPS work and community. She has written for the Globe and Mail, Chatelaine magazine, Reader’s Digest, Toronto Star, The Tyee and more. Sarah holds a Bachelor Arts from the University of Victoria, a Bachelor of Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University, and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Athabasca University. She is a passionate community volunteer for the Royal BC Museum, several non-profit organizations and as a school parent.
Mark Green, Director
Mark moved to Victoria in 2003 to accept a call to serve in ministry with the people of Cadboro Bay in a time of great change. So, it was good that Mark is happiest when there is a challenge in front of him and the possibility of leading change is his task. He enjoys the opportunity to work with a variety of people and see the ways the different combinations of people bring unexpected yet amazing results. He is passionate about issues of Justice as they relate to First Nations Reconciliation, poverty, and homelessness, LGBQT2S+ inclusion and refugees. He currently serves as the Co-Lead Minister at Broad View United, a community of faith committed to a progressive Christian theology, inclusion, justice, and intercultural ministry.
Advisory Cabinet
Along with our Board of Directors, Our Place has added a strategic advisory group of volunteers who act as ambassadors with the purpose of helping raise philanthropic donations and community profile for the organization. The advisory cabinet consists of:
Angela Bassage, former VP International, McDonald’s Corporation
Ian Batey, Retired, ED, Police Victim Services of BC
Trudi Brown, KC, Lawyer with Brown, Henderson, Melbye
Colin Gilroy, Realtor, VictoriaHomesNow/Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Pete Jando, Branch Manager and Director, Odlum Brown Ltd
Kyle Loree, Director, IT Infrastructure and Security at JEA
Peter Powell, former Burns Fry Vice Chairman (now retired)
Terry Scandrett, Chair of the Foundation for the Victoria Symphony
Mike Shannon, Executive in Residence, Coast Capital Savings Innovation Centre, UVic
Maureen Shaw, Member of the Canadian Hall of Fame of Occupational Health and Safety professionals
John Wilson, Past Chair, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce/Owner of Wilson’s Transportation Group
Missing from Photos:
Lee King, Director of Vancouver Island Operations, Lookout Society
Ian Robertson, CEO of Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
Veronica Osborn, Retired Public Servant, long-time Our Place Society volunteer
Recruitment Process
The Our Place Society Board of Directors are elected by the members of the society at the Annual General Meeting each September. Nominations are open to any member of the society who is in good standing and whose expression of interest to stand for election has been submitted to the Chair of the Board Recruitment Committee no later than July 31; nominations from the floor will not be accepted.
In their expression of interest, candidates are asked to state why they would like to serve on the Our Place Society Board and accompany their expression of interest with their CV.
Candidates will be interviewed by the Board recruitment committee to determine if their skills and experience match those identified by the Board as needed for the coming year. The Board strives for a diversity of experience and backgrounds and may make recommendations to the membership of which candidates they feel are best positioned to serve the Society to ensure the Board is representative and capable of carrying out the functions of a governance board.
To submit an application, please email the Chair of the Board Recruitment Committee at scott.mcgregor63@gmail.com