Our Board

United Way’s volunteer Board of Directors sets our direction, takes responsibility for financial decisions and performance, and is accountable for achieving organizational objectives. Their diverse skillsets, experience, and areas of influence are critical in helping us build a strong community for all.

Lisa Arora, Chair

Visual Facilitator/Mediator, Get The Picture

Mike Macdonell, Past Chair

Consultant

Sharon Moysey, Chair, Finance Committee

Lisa is a visual facilitator who helps executive teams and boards around the globe to mine their diverse perspectives, align on a desired future and focus on strategic action. Lisa is also a certified mediator who uses visual communication to make the process of resolving disputes more effective. Most recently, she created the world’s first online program that teaches other mediators to leverage the power of visuals in dispute resolution.

After earning her B.Ed from UVic and before becoming a Mom and starting her consulting practice in 2008, Lisa worked for 3e Training Inc. delivering Financial Management Curriculum to the government of BC. In those days, she was volunteering at the Single Parent Resource Center on the Board of Directors. She’s also volunteered her skills extensively to the International Forum of Visual Practitioners and Once-a-Quarter, a local initiative that donated facilitated strategic “thinkspaces” to local non-profit organizations.

Born and raised in Victoria, Lisa has a deep love for the city, the people in it and the will to build a bright future for EVERYONE.

Mike is a seasoned management professional with a varied career in the private sector and government.  An experienced committee leader and community volunteer, Mike has worked successfully with a wide range of people from various backgrounds.  He is a Chartered Professional Accountant, a Certified Fraud Examiner, holds an MBA and is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada.  Mike is excited to bring his unique set of financial, strategic and business acumen to the United Way of Greater Victoria.

Mike is married to Sarah, a former United Way board member, and lives in Saanich with their three children.

Sharon is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree.   She retired from the provincial public service as Assistant Deputy Minister in February 2014. Her career included cross-government work on building healthy communities; designing and improving social services delivery for vulnerable citizens; and financial management of organizations in the transportation, construction, and social services sectors.

Sharon has been on the board of non-profit groups involved in nature preservation and education, social justice, youth soccer, and charitable bingo. Sharon joined the board of directors in Feb. 2016.

Jasmine Dadachanji

Legal Counsel, Ministry of Justice

Dr. Deborah George

Captain (N) Jeff Hutchinson

Base Commander, CFB Esquimalt

Jasmine joined the Ministry of Justice in 2007 as an analyst for the Adult Custody Division of the Corrections Branch. In 2012 she became a negotiator on behalf of the Province under the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, working with First Nations and private sector industry. In 2016, Jasmine moved to her current role with the Ministry of Justice’s Justice Services Branch, where she has led the Province’s engagement in the 2016 Judicial Compensation Commission and has been involved in the development and implementation of the new Civil Resolutions Tribunal.

Jasmine has been involved with various local charities including initiating and organizing the Corrections Branch headquarters’ participation in the Heart & Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike fundraiser for three years.

Deborah holds a PhD in psychology from the University of Victoria where she also taught part time for some 17 years. Prior to that she was with the BC Government spending most of her career in the area of science and technology, with seven years as an Assistant Deputy Minister. She finished her final assignment with the Provincial Government in 2000.

Deborah’s volunteer work spans over 20 years including strategic planning with non-profit organizations, and extensive board, committee and event work. She has just completed six years as President of Pacifica Housing where she has been on the board of directors since 2005, and also volunteers with the Victoria Hospice Society. Past board appointments include the areas of education, venture capital, research and development and pension trusteeship.

Jon Jeffrey (Jeff) Hutchinson, a native of Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia, joined the Canadian Armed Forces in June 1991 and immediately underwent Basic Officer Training in Chilliwack, BC.  He thereafter completed two years at Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, BC and finished his undergraduate education at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, ON in 1995, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in History.

After completing basic naval officer training at NOTC VENTURE, Captain (Navy) Hutchinson transferred to the east coast and earned his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in HMCS Montreal in 1997.  Thereafter he received his Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer’s and then his Fleet Navigating Officer’s qualifications and served in both instances in HMCS Halifax.  In 2000, Capt(N) Hutchinson went ashore to serve as a Squadron Commander at the Royal Military College of Canada.  In 2003, he returned to HMCS Halifax to serve as Deck Officer.  He received his Operations Room Officer’s qualification in 2006 and transferred to the west coast where he served first as Weapons and then Combat Officer in HMCS Vancouver and as Operations Officer for Sea Training Pacific.  Capt(N) Hutchinson was appointed Executive Officer in HMCS Calgary from July 2011 to October 2012 and in HMCS Algonquin to June 2013. He was appointed Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg in January 2016 and deployed in company with HMCS Ottawa to the Indo-Asia Pacific region in 2017 where the ship conducted exercises and operations with the USN, JMSDF, RAN, the Armada de Chile and ROKN, and PASSEXs with the navies of India and Sri Lanka. In June 2018 Capt(N) Hutchinson was promoted to his current rank following his command of HMCS Winnipeg

He is a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, graduating in 2011 with a Masters in Defense Studies. Capt(N) Hutchinson completed his Senior Military Education as part of the Naval Command College at the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Capt (N) Hutchinson has worked in a staff capacity for the Director Defence Program Coordination and was appointed as the Director Naval Strategic Management in March 2019 at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, ON.

Most recently, in July 2021 Capt(N) Hutchinson  was appointed as the Base Commander of CFB Esquimalt.

Jeff is married to his beautiful and talented wife, Jin.  They reside together in Esquimalt, BC with their two daughters, Hayden and Scarlett.

Steve McKerrell

Businessman

Kathy MacNeil

President and CEO, Island Health

Kirk Mercer

Labour Representative

Steve McKerrell spent more than 20 years as Executive Chairman of one of Canada’s leading health supplement companies, following a career in the remote sensing industry, and is currently involved in the development of personal electronic healthcare devices and other initiatives.

Mr. McKerrell is a 2013 recipient of The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, having served his community as a volunteer on numerous boards and committees over the past 3 decades.  In 2014, Steve completed eight years with the Victoria Foundation including two years as Board Chair.  As well as holding a board seat with UWGV,  he also serves as past chair of Victoria Hospitals Foundation, and chair of the Foundation for the Victoria Symphony.

Mr. McKerrell has lived in Victoria since 1990 with his wife Barbara. He has two adult daughters, Tricia in Calgary and Dianne in Victoria.

As an experienced healthcare executive with 30 years of progressive leadership experience, Kathy came to Island Health in 2015 as the Executive Vice-President, Quality, Safety & Experience from Capital Health in Halifax where she had served as the          Vice-President of People since 2008. Her background and experience in the areas of leadership and organizational development, systems design, human resources and change management allow her to lead people effectively, always focusing on people at the heart.  Kathy holds a Masters of Arts in Leadership (Health Specialization) from Royal Roads University, and a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy from Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS. She is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. Kathy and her husband Pat live with one of their three daughters in James Bay.

Kirk has been a CUPE member working at the University of Victoria for 15 years. He currently serves as President for Local 951, and is also the Chair of the CUPE BC Skilled Trades Committee. Kirk previously held the position of Deputy Chief Steward for many years and has served as an experienced member of the Negotiations committee from 2009 to present.  He recently became chair of the Victoria United Way Labour Committee. Kirk enjoys practicing Kendo at the University of Victoria Kendo Club.

Ali Nazari

Wealth Advisor

Martha Thomas

Finance Professional

Bruce Williams

CEO, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce

Ali has spent over ten years as a wealth advisor in Canada working with professional corporations, private investors, and their families. Prior to moving to Canada, Ali worked in the Strategy and Business Development field working with pharmaceutical and fine chemical industry in Europe and North America. Which led on from his post-doctoral roles at the University of Victoria and University of Cambridge. He has a doctorate from the University of Cambridge, masters with honours from Imperial College, London, undergraduate degree from Imperial College with ancillaries from London School of Economics.

When not gazing at numbers, Ali enjoys triathlon training, herding cats, and hiking the outdoors with his family in Victoria, BC.

A CPA, CA, and CIA, Martha brings with her 25 years’ of experience in the accounting and assurance profession and over 11 years’ experience on boards in various capacities. Martha spent 17 years working for the Province of BC and for the last four years she worked for the BC Investment Management Corporation. Martha brings strong financial, governance, and leadership skills competencies to the board.

Bruce Williams is fond of saying “I spent the better part of my life in Southern Ontario, but have spent the best part of my life on Vancouver Island “. His career in broadcasting involved being an on air host for radio and television, a content producer, government liaison, business development manager, and a member of the senior management team with Bell Media on Vancouver Island. Since moving here in 2001, Bruce has used his communication and networking skills to immerse himself in local non-profit culture as a Board member, committee member, guest MC, fundraising auctioneer, keynote speaker, moderator, mentor, strategist and facilitator. Bruce is a champion of community volunteering who remains connected to and understands business and issues in communities across Vancouver Island. He has transitioned into a new career as an engagement professional, community and communications strategist and consultant, and community/business advisor all while continuing to be actively engaged with United Way Greater Victoria as Co-Chair of the Campaign Cabinet for this final year.

Learn more about UWSVI and what we do.

Learn more about us

United Way Southern Vancouver Island serves the communities of southern Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands that are located in the traditional, unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples including; the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees) and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nations here in the core area, the W̱SÁNEĆ Nations (W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW̱(Tsawout), and W̱SIKEM (Tseycum)) and Pune’laxutth’ (Penelekut) out on the Saanich Peninsula and Gulf Islands, and to the west the Sc’ianew (Beecher Bay), T’Sou-ke, Pacheedaht, and MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) Nations. We respectfully acknowledge that we live, work, and play within these traditional territories.

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