Board of Directors

Janine Karlsen
Board Chair
Owner/Managing Director
Home Instead Senior Care
She was also the Clinical Director for a private surgical centre. At the time when physician practices were beginning to migrate from paper to electronic medical records; Janine worked throughout BC as the Client Advocate and Implementation Manager for one of the early EMR companies. She has also been the clinical sales lead for both large hospital equipment and bio-medical device companies.
Janine is the Chair of the Board, and a valued member of both the Executive Committee and Strategic Development Committee.
Roberta Fidalgo
Vice Board Chair
Owner
YET Human Resources and Coaching
Roberta Joined the Board in 2021. She is the Vice Chair of the Board, and currently sits on the CEO Performance and Compensation, Executive, and Governance Committees.
Roberta is the owner and principal HR Consultant at YET Human Resources. Prior to starting her own consulting firm, she was an integral part of senior leadership teams, as an executive and strategic HR business partner for over 20 years in various organizations. She was instrumental in leading and supporting the people integration of two organizations on more than three occasions.
As a lifelong volunteer, she has dedicated over 30 years of service, including most recently; President, Board of Directors, Kelowna Women’s Shelter (2017-2020), HR Committee Chair (2016-2021), and Board Vice-Chair (2022-Present).
Roberta lives by the motto – Aspire to Inspire before you Expire.


Dallas Chelick
Board Director
Dealized Investments, & More
CEO & Founder

Kathy Conway
Board Director
Kathy’s governance experience has included serving as Director and Audit Committee Chair of Credential Financial Inc./now Aviso Financial (2014-2018) and BC Lottery Corporation (2002-2008). As a member of Financial Executives International Canada from 1995 to 2018, Kathy was elected Vancouver Chapter president (2001-2002), and served on FEI Canada’s national board (1999-2008), including time as National Chairperson (2006-2007).
Her personal community efforts focused on the United Way of the Central and South Okanagan, serving as Campaign Chair and later Board Chair. Upon the formation of United Way BC in 2021, Kathy served on its Southern Interior Regional Council until January 2024.
In recognition of her service to the CA profession and community contributions, Kathy was awarded the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC’s Fellowship designation (FCPA, FCA) in 2004 and BC Business Magazine named her one of BC’s Most Influential Women in Finance in 2019.

Manik Dhir
Board Director
He is passionate about giving back to his community and as such is a strong advocate for philanthropy. His philanthropic efforts include being on the board of directors of The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation as well as Vice-Chair for the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna.

Dr. Ryan Foster
Board Director
IH Medical Director, IH Critical Care Network
Critical Care Medicine, KGH

Dr. Ryan Foster
Board Director
Ryan and his family moved to Kelowna to pursue a career in critical care medicine and to enjoy all that the Okanagan has to offer in 2009. Since that time, he has worked largely within critical care at KGH but also has done general medicine and critical care locums throughout Interior Health including Cranbrook, Trail, Penticton, Vernon and Kamloops. More recently, Ryan joined the newly launched KGH Trauma Service. Ryan was the medical director of critical care at KGH for many years now and continues to be the medical director of the Interior Health Critical Care Network.
When not involved in the clinical or leadership activities described above, Ryan finds time to both mountain and road bike (above average), downhill and cross country ski/ski tour (mostly average), and golf (very much below average, bordering on poorly); but his family is always his top priority.
Through his work with the Foundation, Dr. Foster hopes to continue the storied tradition and the hard work of important, relevant, patient-focused fund-raising projects and campaigns here at KGH. He will provide a unique and helpful clinical lens to some of the discussions and philanthropic project development in order to help move KGH further along its growth as a truly tertiary, academic, patient-focused health care center of excellence within Interior health.

Shauna George
Board Director
Shauna’s career has been dedicated to working in the investment management industry, first as a buy-side equity analyst in Toronto working with institutional clients such as pension plans, endowments and foundations and since 2011, exclusively as a discretionary portfolio manager working with high net worth individuals and families in British Columbia. Throughout her career, she has been fortunate enough to have also gained experience pertaining to many other areas of the investment management such as: designing portfolio management and securities trading strategies; working with consultants to complete and submit RFPs; investment performance and attribution analysis; creation and delivery of Investment Policy Statements; and business development/marketing.

Yarden Gershony
Board Director
Rush Ihas Hardwick LLP
Partner

Jay Goodis
Board Director
He is the CEO of Tax Templates Inc., a Canadian software company that develops industry-leading tax planning and financial planning solutions leveraging mathematical algorithms to optimize client outcomes. He is also co-host of the tax education webinar series: Canadian Tax Matters, where he endeavours to keep Canadian tax professionals and small businesses up to date on current changes in Canadian tax policies.
Jay understands the importance of giving back to the community and the impact organizations such as the KGH Foundation can have on the health and well-being of its residents. Having seen firsthand the positive outcomes that result from robust community support, Jay is passionate about contributing his expertise to help advance the foundation's mission. He believes that through strategic planning and effective fundraising, the KGH Foundation can continue to provide exceptional value to the community. Jay is grateful for the opportunity to help move forward the goals of the organization and contribute to its success.
Jay enjoys an active lifestyle, frequently participating in outdoor activities such as running, hiking, and basketball in the beautiful Okanagan region. He finds joy in staying fit and appreciating nature's beauty with his family. Jay also loves coaching basketball, a passion that allows him to mentor young athletes and foster teamwork and sportsmanship. His dedication to both his professional and personal pursuits reflects his commitment to a balanced and fulfilling life.

Kim Inglis
Board Director
Kim strongly believes in giving back and actively contributes to the community. She is the founder of Making Waves for Autism, an annual event to raise funds and awareness for autism. In addition to her role as Director with the KGH Foundation Board, Kim sits on the Board of the Central Okanagan Foundation and is the Chair of the Investment Committee. She is also a Board Member with the Central Okanagan Land Trust and an active supporter of many other non-profit organizations locally, provincially and nationally.
Kim is an ardent fan of many sports and enjoys surfski and mountain biking. She is also an avid equestrian and applies the same enthusiasm to downhill skiing. Prior to university Kim was an elite national-level athlete in flat water canoeing.

Glen Jackson
Board Director
Glen is the Chief Financial Officer of the Millbank Materials Group. Based in Pittsburgh, Millbank supplies ferrous and non-ferrous alloys to the steel industry. Millbank also owns the Twin Sisters Olivine mine, the largest such mine in North America. Olivine has become increasingly sought after in recent years as academic researchers have proven it can absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide. Glen continues to reside in Kelowna and works remotely for the corporate group.
He is an important member of the Finance and Administration Committee

Christy Lovig
Board Director
Christy is a lawyer and Partner with Doak Shirreff Lawyers LLP. She brings a wide range of experience to her solicitor practice. With an MBA in marketing and years of entrepreneurial adventures behind her, her practice is driven by a passion for marketing communications, real estate development, and creating and developing new businesses. This background enables her to provide her clients with valuable insight and guidance in a variety of real estate and business matters.
Christy’s legal practice is complemented by the many miles she spends on the road, whether she is running, cycling, hiking, chasing after her wolf hybrids with her firefighter husband, or acting as Coach Christy at the helm of various running clinics. As a competitive runner of over 35 years, she has completed 27 marathons, over 60 half marathons, and countless other road races, triathlons, and cycling events all over the world.
As an advocate for mental wellness, Christy hosts an annual fundraiser for Foundry Kelowna. She is enthusiastically committed to supporting access to judgment-free and youth-friendly mental health services in our community. In her role as a running coach, Christy delights in empowering all levels of runners, in the hopes that her athletes will discover the power of movement, and the transformational nature of endorphins. Christy is grateful for the opportunity to work with the KGH Foundation to give back to the community she has called home since 1989.

Brett Millard
Board Director

Jenny Money
Board Director

Craig Paynton
Board Director

Dr. Susan Thomas, PhD
Board Director
Susan has a wealth of experience having worked in the education sector for over 20 years. Her career highlights include:
• Consultant for World Bank HEQEP project for third world country
• PhD with teaching accreditation from United Kingdom, Australia and Malaysia. Credentials validated by World Education Services (WES)
• Excellent International experience; worked with Colleges/Universities from Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Malaysia
• Awarded “Pro Vice-Chancellor Award in Teaching and Administration” for 4 consecutive years
She is highly educated holding several degrees, designations and certifications. Susan has a PhD (patient care management) from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, a Masters of Science – Corporate Communication from the University Putra Malaysia and many others.
Susan is a member of the Chartered Professionals of Human Resources of BC & Yukon.
Her professional experience ranges from College Professor teaching such courses as HR Management, Organization Behaviour and Cross Cultural Communications to serving an International Consultant to the World Bank offering up her expertise in strategic planning, management of equity and validating assessment procedures.

Bruce Sprague
Board Director
He is the Western Canada Managing Partner for BDO, and has over 25 years of professional experience providing sophisticated tax planning and a broad range of other services to public and private corporations, entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals and family offices, and professional athletes.
Bruce also has considerable experience in both the technology and mining sectors as both an advisor to public and private corporations, and previously held senior executive positions with prominent mining and technology corporations.
Bruce is involved in the community through Board memberships on the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and Mining Association of Canada. He was formerly a Board member for several non-profit organizations in Vancouver including the Vancouver Aquarium, Sport BC, Coquitlam Adanacs Field Lacrosse Association, and Port Moody Hockey Association.
He has also been an author n the Canadian Tax Foundation, Canadian Tax Journal, Canadian Mining Journal and Advisor's Edge, and is happy to sit down with anyone to watch a good hockey game (in fact, he is a B.C. Scout for the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League)!

Grant Stevens
Board Director

Laura Thurnheer
Board Director