Burnaby Family Life Leadership

At Burnaby Family Life, our leaders are dedicated to fostering a supportive, innovative, and community-focused environment. Each contributing their unique perspective and expertise to drive our mission forward.

Board of Directors

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Reflective of the values and beliefs of the organization, BFL’s board is composed of a diverse range of leaders that are reflective of the community we serve which allows for diversity of viewpoints that come from different life experiences and cultural backgrounds that strengthen board deliberations and decision-making.

Officers

Jerry Chen, Chair

Principal HR Consultant

  • Jerry Chen is a seasoned HR professional with extensive experience in developing and implementing strategic HR initiatives that align with organizational goals. As the Principal Consultant at M-Power People Consulting Services, Jerry has been instrumental in supporting small businesses through comprehensive HR solutions, including HR Foundations, HR Strategies, and HR Coaching.

    Previously, Jerry served as the Associate Vice President of Human Resources at the University of British Columbia, where he led critical HR portfolios across Talent Development, Total Rewards, Health and Wellbeing, and Talent Acquisition, overseeing a team of 65 HR professionals. His focus on enhancing UBC’s learning and development offerings and refining its talent acquisition processes underscored his commitment to creating a supportive and efficient HR environment.

    Jerry also held the role of Director of Human Resources at Pacific Blue Cross, where he contributed to the organization’s strategic growth through his expertise in talent acquisition, employee relations, labour relations, ability management, and HR systems and data analysis. His initiatives were aligned with Pacific Blue Cross' organizational strategy, driving improvements in talent management, total rewards, disability management, and leading the HR Workday implementation.

    In the international arena, Jerry has gained valuable HR experience working with companies like Ritchie Bros. and Kit & Ace, where he supported leaders across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, China, Japan, and Australia. His global responsibilities included performance management, leadership coaching, and fostering employee relations in diverse cultural settings. He has also served in labour relations roles where he successfully managed employee relations, employer-union relationships, and collective bargaining.

    As the current Board Chair for Burnaby Family Life, Jerry has demonstrated his leadership and dedication to community well-being, extending his HR expertise to organizational governance and development. His diverse background and commitment to strategic HR solutions make him a trusted advisor and a skilled leader in the HR field.

Jacey Saulog, Vice Chair

BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Associate Director, Principal Gifts

  • Jacey Saulog brings over 10 years of philanthropy experience to the Board, with a strong focus on fundraising and digital marketing. Originally from the Philippines and now residing in Burnaby, she has a heartfelt commitment to making a difference for families and communities in our city.

    In her role as Associate Director at BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Jacey drives meaningful fundraising through building authentic relationships with individuals and families looking to make a significant impact in the community. She also works as a Digital Marketing Specialist for Jeremy Hunka Media Group, helping non-profits attract new audiences and inspire current supporters to increase their giving. Her passion for the charitable sector continues – you will often find her volunteering regularly at Union Gospel Mission’s special holiday meals.

    Outside of work, Jacey enjoys visiting the local library, trying new restaurants, and spending quality time with family and her two cats. Jacey is excited to bring her experience and enthusiasm to Burnaby Family Life, helping to make Burnaby an inclusive, welcoming and safe community for all.

Wayne Tang, Secretary

Pacific Blue Cross, Director of Work & Wellness

  • Wayne Tang is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in strategic service design, operational transformation and stakeholder engagement.

    With a strong background in both the public and private sectors, Wayne has a deep understanding of healthcare funding models and program implementation at both provincial and national levels. He has consistently driven forward-thinking initiatives that enhance community health and well-being. Currently serving as the Director of Work & Wellness at Pacific Blue Cross, Wayne oversees a portfolio ensuring fiscally responsible disability management strategies that support members.

    His expertise in program development, stakeholder collaboration, and data-driven decision-making enables the creation of innovative wellness programs that reduce the impact of illness and enhance recovery outcomes.

    Previously, Wayne held senior leadership roles at ICBC, where he was instrumental in designing and implementing the province’s care-based insurance model. His work focused on disability and vocational claims oversight, claims transformation, and strategic partnerships with healthcare providers and government agencies.

    Earlier in his career, he led multidisciplinary health service teams as Regional Director at LifeMark Health Group, driving operational growth, clinical excellence, and community engagement.

    Beyond his corporate leadership, Wayne has a strong background in education and mentorship. As a long-time Clinical Faculty Instructor and Mentor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, he has contributed to training the next generation of healthcare professionals. With an Executive MBA from SFU’s Beedie School of Business and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from McMaster University, Wayne brings a unique blend of business acumen and healthcare expertise. He has a passion for supporting families, fostering inclusive community services, and driving impactful organizational growth.

Adriana Watkins, Treasurer

Senior Manager, Audit and Assurance, BC Financial Services Authority

  • Adriana Watkins is an experienced accounting and audit professional with over 15 years of leadership experience in the financial services and regulatory sectors. She currently serves as the Senior Manager of Real Estate Audit & Assurance at BC Financial Services Authority, where she is responsible for overseeing the province-wide Risk-Based Real Estate Audit Program.

    Throughout her career, Adriana has demonstrated a strong ability to develop and modernize organizational functions with a strategic approach. She has successfully led the modernization of her departments, making them risk-based, forward-looking, and in line with industry best practices. Notably, she adapted her audit approach to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In her current role, Adriana has been instrumental in revamping and modernizing all audit processes and procedures through the implementation of audit software, resulting in increased organizational efficiency. She has also been proactive in building alliances with senior leaders to improve risk-assessing processes and assess participants in the financial services industry in British Columbia.

    Adriana is known for her exceptional leadership skills, shaping positive work cultures through collaborative teamwork and minimizing silos. She has hired and mentored a diverse team of audit professionals, including CPAs, doctoral-level professionals, and risk analysts.

    Adriana holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an Advanced Diploma in Accounting from Capilano University. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), and a Certified Risk Management Professional (CRMA).

Directors

Sandy Mann

Operations Leader

  • Sandy Mann is an operations leader with more than 20 years of experience leading large, complex service organizations. She is at her best taking complicated, messy systems and making them work better, bringing people, process, and capacity together to create stronger, more sustainable organizations.

    A lifelong Burnaby resident, Sandy has deep roots in the community and a strong belief in contributing where she lives. She serves as a Strata Council President, coaches youth soccer with Burnaby FC, and is a longtime donor and volunteer with the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation.

    Sandy brings practical leadership experience, curiosity, and a genuine interest in people to the Burnaby Family Life board and is excited to contribute to an organization that has such an important impact in her community.

     

Kai Okazaki

Registered Professional Planner

  • Kai (He/Him) is a Registered Professional Planner who currently leads the homelessness response for the City of Surrey. Prior to joining Surrey, he developed a strong connection to Burnaby while working as a Social Planner with the City of Burnaby

    Kai brings a broad range of municipal planning experience, spanning rural and remote communities to large urban centres, with a focus on community and social development initiatives. He works to build strong relationships with community members and agency partners to address social issues and support the goal of building healthier, more inclusive communities.

    Outside of work, Kai enjoys staying active outdoors, exploring communities and neighbourhoods across the Metro Vancouver region, and reading at local cafés.

Shannon Tan, Director

Guild Yule LLP, Associate Lawyer

  • Shannon Tan is an experienced federal public servant with just under 10 years experience in program administration. She is currently an associate lawyer at Guild Yule LLP in general civil litigation. Shannon has experience in policy development, stakeholder engagement, and program administration.

    In the public service, Shannon worked with various stakeholders and rights holders to support the administration of social programs including income assistance and child and family services. These experiences led to Shannon’s passion for supporting vulnerable communities and groups in her community. She is excited and grateful for the opportunity to support Burnaby Family Life and continue its work in the community.

    Outside of work, Shannon enjoys hiking, spending time with her family, and testing out new recipes in her air fryer.  

Executive Leadership Team

At Burnaby Family Life we have a highly committed, passionate and skilled Executive Leadership Team that work collaboratively to monitor the organization’s performance, share their collective wisdom and provide one another with practical support that keeps BFL focused on reaching its mission.

Navreen Gill

Executive Director

Nicole Hurtubise

Director of Operations and Services

Akbar Merchant

Director of Finance and Risk Management

Shannon Munoz

Director of Childcare Services