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 masters
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
Sean 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. For many years, Sean Pritchard was a Buddhist Monk ordained in the Burmese tradition. 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.
Director: Deborah Edwards
Deb Edwards has been a Nurse since 1985 and is currently working in Home Care as a Client Care Manager specializing in Acute and Chronic illnesses, Wound Care, Home IV, Acquired Brain Injuries, Developmental Disorders and Palliative Care. She began her career in Emergency Departments and then went on to work with the Red Cross traveling all over the world to disaster areas. She has been working in Home Care for the past 10 years. She holds a special interest in Acquired Brain Injuries after her son was born with a mild brain injury over 20 years ago.
Director: Robert (Bob) Attfield
Bob is the Regional Director for British Columbia for We Care Home Health Services which provides home support and care services. Prior to this, he was the Executive Director of South Fraser Home Support Society and Cornerstone Care Society, not-for-profit organizations that also provide support services to seniors.
Since 2008 Bob has served as a director on the board of the BC Care Providers Association and represents the organization on the Care Aide Registry advisory council.
Previously, he was the Vice President and Director, Electronic Delivery, for the investment dealer division of the Toronto Dominion Bank. Prior to this, Bob was VP Marketing for the Debt, Capital Markets Group, and was also responsible for the west coast treasury operation of TD.
He is an active Rotarian, is past President of the North Delta Rotary Club and is active in many club activities. One of his passions is to volunteer his time to assist with eye care clinics in third world countries.
Bob is a past Director of Signal 9 Solutions an Ottawa based technology company, the board of Governors of Kwantlen Polytechnic University and has also served as a member of the board of directors of the Delta Community Foundation.
Secretary: June Jeffries
June Jeffries lives in Burnaby with her husband and three children. After graduating from SFU she started her own business. In between designing children's clothing and operating a start-up wholesale company manufacturing blankets for home decor retailers she worked as an Occupational Health and Safety coordinator for 5 years. For the past 15 years she has been actively involved in a volunteer capacity for the Burnaby School District as PAC Chairperson, fundraising chair, District Parent Advisory Council representative, School Planning Council Member, BMHA, STMC and is a Canadian Diabetes Alumni. Currently, she is event planning on a contract basis.
Director: Dorothy Hyslop
Dorothy has her Masters in Counselling Psychology and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with B.C.A.C.C. She has contracted her services to a wide range of community based programs and agencies, including ICBC Rehabilitation, WorkSafe BC, Community Living B.C., the Ministry of Children and Family Development and UBC Neuropsychiatry.
For thirty-five years, she has been in the human services field. Twenty-five of those years have been working with individuals who have been traumatized, often as a result of catastrophic accidents. She has extensive experience working with individuals with disabling conditions, such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, learning disabilities and other cognitive disorders as well as developmental disabilities.
Director: Jeff Boniface
Originally from Kitchener, ON, Jeff Boniface resides today in North Vancouver, BC. He earned his Bachelor of Physical Education and Bachelor of Health Sciences (Occupational Therapy) from McMaster University in Hamilton, ON. As an Occupational Therapist, Jeff is registered and in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia.
In private practice for over 14 years, Jeff currently serves as a director and consultant at Boniface Consulting Occupational Therapy Services. While currently a member of the British Columbia Society of Occupational Therapists, College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia, and the BC Brain Injury Association, Jeff also serves on the board of the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia. He has served as the Chair of the Nominations Committee and Discipline Committee. He remains as Chair of the Client Relations Committee. Jeff is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Vancouver in his spare time.
Jeff has also worked in the public sector at Grand River Hospital, Kitchener, London Health Sciences Centre, Riverview Hospital, and taught at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In the past, he has also offered his services as a small group tutorial leader and seminar facilitator for the UBC Faculty of Medicine, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Occupational Therapy Master's Program.