Board Members

You can read about our board members online at the Crown Agencies and Board Resourcing Office.

Christine Sorensen: Co-Chair

Christine Sorensen, a retired registered nurse, served as the President of the BC Nurses' Union from 2017 to 2021. Her clinical practice focused on public health and communicable disease management in the Kamloops and North Thompson regions. Currently, Christine is a member of the Thompson Rivers University Board of Governors, holds the title of Director with the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. She also served as a Trustee on the BC Public Service Pension Plan. As a Métis, Christine is grateful to reside on the traditional territories of the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc.

Adam Gesicki

Adam Gesicki (he/him) is Program Manager in Health Care at WorkSafeBC. Previously, Mr. Gesicki was Senior Analytics Specialist at WorkSafeBC. He also was Manager at British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals, and Psychometrician at Educational Measurement Professionals and at Paragon Testing Enterprises. Active in his community, Mr. Gesicki is Member of the Canadian Council for First Aid Education at Canadian Red Cross. He also was Health Services Director and Scouter at Scouts Canada. Mr. Gesicki is Registered Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nursing and Midwifery. He holds a Master of Arts in Measurement, Evaluation, and Research Methodology from University of British Columbia. Mr. Gesicki also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McMaster University.

Aditya Sharma

Aditya Sharma is Nepalese and has over 12 years’ experience leading various quality and patient safety projects. Mr. Sharma is Performance Measurement Specialist at British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives, and Open Learning Faculty Member at Thompson Rivers University. Previously, he was Manager of Primary Care at Squamish Nation, Performance Improvement and Data Analytics Consultant at Providence Health Care, Quality Improvement Consultant at Vancouver Island Health Authority, Leader of Evaluation and Quality Improvement in Primary Care at Fraser Health Authority, and Research Analyst at University of British Columbia (UBC). Active in his community, Mr. Sharma is Executive Committee Member at Canadian College of Health Leaders, and Board Director at Fair Haven Housing Society. he was Vice President at Aadhar Incorporated and at Nepal Cultural Society of British Columbia. Mr. Sharma also was Director at Little Mountain Residential and Housing Society. He is Volunteer at Canadian Centre for Accreditations and at Canadian Executive Services Organization. Mr. Sharma holds a Certificate in Patient Safety and Quality from University of Calgary and is a graduate of the Quality Academy from British Columbia Patient Safety and Quality Council. He is Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. Mr. Sharma holds a Master of Health Administration from UBC, a Master of Science in Community Health Services from University of Northern British Columbia, and a Master of Science in Statistics from Tribhuvan University.

Debbie Johannesen

Now a retired non-practicing registered nurse who brings a storied 38 years of experience as a strategic, diligent, and results-oriented leader with a strong background in patient centred care, quality improvement, patient safety and a just culture. Successful in designing and implementing patient-centred initiatives and creating system-wide efficiencies in clinical and administrative processes. Debra graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Masters of Leadership (Health) from Royal Roads University. Currently a Board member on the PCQRB since 2024 and bring the lens of system thinking, quality and safety in a healthcare delivery model with a culturally sensitive focus on the patient/client experience.

Kathleen Mell

Kathleen Mell received a Bachelor and a Master of Arts Degree (English) as well as a Bachelor of Laws degree, all from the University of British Columbia. Ms. Mell practiced for several years in the field of criminal law focusing on Charter of Rights issues, this included appellate work, including at the Supreme Court of Canada. Ms. Mell then focused on administrative law and has served on a number of tribunals. She was an Adjudicator with the Crime Victim Assistance Program and then spent ten years adjudicating claims with the Indian Residential Schools Secretariat. Currently, Ms. Mell is a Review Officer with WorksafeBC reviewing claims involving physical and psychological injuries. Ms. Mell has also recently been appointed to Stand Informed's roster of lawyers providing legal advice to survivors of sexual assault.

Mosope Fagbongbe

Mosope Fagbongbe, Ph.D. is an Associate Counsel at Bekkering York Barristers (BYB) LLP. She is a member of the Alberta Bar and the Law Society of British Columbia. She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of Lagos, Lagos Nigeria, and was called to the Nigerian bar. She started her professional career as a Litigator with a law firm in Lagos. In academe, her responsibilities involved teaching constitutional law, human rights, and facilitating continuing legal education programs for legal professionals in both the public and private sectors. She doubled as Special Adviser to the Director-General of the premier legal Institution until her move to pursue further studies in Canada. Mosope completed a Master of Laws (LL.M) at the University of Manitoba and a doctorate at the University of British Columbia, where she obtained several scholarships and awards for academic excellence. Mosope has been involved in community service through volunteering with social justice groups serving vulnerable people such as seniors and women in dangerous situations. She is currently a volunteer member of the Alumni UBC Advisory Council.

Pinder Cheema, K.C.

Pinder Cheema was called to the Bar and has practiced law in B.C. since September 1984. From 1989-2023, she practiced as Crown Counsel in Victoria. She continues her legal career in private practice. Over her career Ms. Cheema has been appointed to, and chaired, a number of administrative tribunals, including the Mental Health Review Board, Safety Standards Appeal Board, and the Community Care and Assistance Tribunal. She has also served her community as elected Bencher to the Law Society from 2014-2022, where she chaired a number of committees, including Credentials, Complainants Review, and Governance and Ethics. Currently she is Vice-Chair of the Board of the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives. Cheema received her Queen's Counsel designation in 2002. She speaks English, French and Punjabi.

Rachel Ling

Rachel Ling works as a regulator in the quality assurance department of a BC regulatory college. She is also a registered Traditional Chinese Medicine professional. Ms. Ling has served on several health regulatory boards, including the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals, the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia, and the former College of Dental Technicians of British Columbia. At the community level, she has been a Board Governor at Simon Fraser University and a Library Trustee of the Richmond Public Library. Ms. Ling holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology from McGill University and is completing a Master’s degree in Public Policy.

Shelley Ball

Shelley is the founder of Shelsu Pacific Law which provides external counsel, investigation, and policy development services. She has 19 years of experience in government and oversight, post-secondary, health and health regulation, litigation, and union environments. She is currently appointed as the investigator for sexual harassment complaints in a health care collective agreement with all provincial health authorities, and is cross-appointed to the Health Professions Review Board.

Tamara Guimond

Tamara Guimond is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in governance, regulatory frameworks, and healthcare leadership. Since 2015, she has held numerous appointments as a board director, cultivating a deep understanding of policy oversight and strategic decision-making. While her governance trajectory was unforeseen, it has afforded her exceptional opportunities to collaborate with esteemed colleagues in the stewardship of regulatory and operational mandates. A pivotal aspect of Ms. Guimond’s career has been her distinguished engagement with the Nisga’a Nation. She was honoured to serve as a Board Director for the Nisga’a Valley Health Authority (NVHA) in recent years, where her expertise in governance and healthcare administration was instrumental. Her tenure subsequently led to two additional appointments as Chairperson of the NVHA, a role that provided an extraordinary vantage point on health system governed by a sovereign nation founded in the Nisga’a Final Agreement and other significant related government frameworks. She remains profoundly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such an impactful and revolutionary way in the autonomous management of uniquely protected healthcare for the Nisga’a people. Ms. Guimond maintains her nursing licensure with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) which has enabled her to dedicate recent years to the synthesis of operational and governance policies in the domain of nursing’s provincial professional advocacy. Her ability to bridge frontline healthcare expertise with high-level policy formulation underscores her commitment to advancing health systems through strategic governance and professional excellence. Her breadth of experience, coupled with her unwavering dedication to public health and governance, positions her as a valuable asset within the Ministry of Health, where she continues to contribute to the advancement of sustainable and effective healthcare policies.

Zac Waldman

Zac Waldman (he/him) is Emergency Nurse at Vancouver General Hospital, Clinical Practice Educator at Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) Paramedicine Program, and Primary Care Nurse and Clinical Coordinator at Northeast Urgent Primary Care Centre. Mr. Waldman also was Patient Care Coordinator and Educator at University of British Columbia Hospital, and Emergency Nurse at Surrey Memorial Hospital. Active in his community, he was Volunteer Registered Nurse at Shambhala Music Festival and at The Vancouver Sun Run. Mr. Waldman is a Registered Nurse with British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives. He holds an Advanced Certificate in Emergency Nursing from British Columbia Institute of Technology. Mr. Waldman holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Saskatchewan.