Chairperson: Julia Zarudzka
Julia has worked as an Educational Consultant in private practice for eighteen
years, providing educationally related programming for school-aged children
with special needs, primarily Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). She holds a Master’s
degree from University of Toronto and an undergraduate degree from McGill
University. Through the 1970s Ms. Zarudzka taught in the public school
system at both the elementary and high school levels in Quebec. During
the 1980s she was Director of Education for the Vancouver Neurological
Centre, also serving as sessional lecturer at the University of British
Columbia in the Department of Special Education in this period. Ms. Zarudzka
has served as board member and chairperson for the Seva Service Society
for nine years and AIDS Vancouver for six years.
Vice President: Linda Luedtke
Linda Luedtke lives in Maple Ridge with her husband and daughter currently attending Simon Fraser University. Ms. Luedtke holds a full time position with the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows School District in the Human Resources department. She first became involved in the world of Brain Injury when her 17 year old son was in a tragic car accident in 2001, in Germany where he was an exchange student. Linda’s son sustained a very serious traumatic brain injury and remained totally dependent, until the time of his death in May 2008. Since his accident, Linda has increased her knowledge of ABI through research and conferences. Ms. Luedtke is committed to helping people with Brain Injuries through her active membership on the Board of Directors of BCBIA.
Treasurer: Sean Pritchard
Currently a Buddhist Monk ordained in the Burmese tradition, Mr. Pritchard has travelled the world teaching Vipassana Meditation. He has served on numerous charity boards over the years notably as treasurer for SEVA Service Society, Chair of Big Brothers of Vancouver and Chair of Aids Vancouver. Previous to ordaining as a monk in 1992, Mr. Pritchard was an independent financial consultant with a part time but well paid hobby as a film actor. At the present time, Mr. Pritchard is enrolled in the doctoral program of clinical psychology with Fielding Graduate University out of Santa Barbara.
Director: Janice Landy
Janice Landy has spent almost 40 years nursing in a variety of clinical settings in Canada and the
United States. For the past 20 years as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the field of Rehabilitation and Life Care Planner she has been providing rehabilitation case management services and medical legal support to individuals of all ages who have sustained catastrophic injury - traumatic and acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury and severe burns. Her business travels have strengthened her belief in the need for education, prevention and universal access to rehabilitation services in a timely and efficient manner. Personally she is the mother of two grown children.
Director: Mel Kaushansky
Mel Kaushansky has practiced as a Registered Psychologist in the Province of British Columbia since 1989, having completed a Ph.D. from Simon Fraser University. His specialty is in Neuropsychology, assessing children and adults with varying neurological disorders and typically planning rehabilitation programs to improve their functioning at home and in the community. He also holds a Master’s degree in Special Education, obtained in 1973, and has spent his working life addressing the needs of handicapped children and adults. He has also worked in private and public clinics in that capacity, as well as taught psychology in post-secondary settings within the Province. He has been qualified as an expert in the Supreme Court of British Columbia as well as in Washington State.
Secretary: June Jeffries
(Bio coming soon.)