Board of Directors
Gillian Reid
Gillian has been honored to serve on the MPA Board for the past 5 years; the past two years as Chairman. She works very hard to represent the MPA members to ensure their voices are heard at the monthly Board meetings. Throughout her life Gillian has worked in various careers, always with the goal being to help people. She wanted to join the MPA Board was because MPA had helped her so much through their programs and services she wanted to give back and be able to help others like herself. Gillian enjoys sharing her love of books, movies, nature and going for walks with friends. She enjoys learning about different cultures through their food, music, art and history.
John Gunn
John Gunn is a Chartered Accountant (CA) with over 30 years experience in a national public accounting firm. His current work responsibilities are as Chief Executive Officer of the CA School of Business, a non-profit organization that provides education to Western Canada residents who aspire to become CAs. John joined the MPA Society Board in 2006 after responding to an advertisement for the Treasurer position posted by MPA Society on the Board Match website. He was attracted to MPA Society by its member-centered approach to supporting an often neglected and misunderstood segment of society. John is married with two daughters and enjoys running, skiing, music and poetry.
Laura Taylor
Laura Taylor is the National Rehabilitation Quality Assurance Specialist at Manulife. She is educated in psychology and business and has approximately 15 years experience in disability management. Laura serves on the National Mental Health Committee and is a member of the Mental Health and Addictions Task Group for the BC Collaborative for Health, Disability and Disability Prevention. Laura has served on the MPA Board for the last five years and looks forward to serving for another year.
Leitizia Lorello
Leitizia has been a Peer Support Worker for six years and a member of MPA Society since the early 1990's. She has managed the Bursary Fund out of the Art Studios for about 6 years. Leitizia enjoys helping people in her work, family and friends. She strives to live each day to the fullest and to the best of her ability. Leitizia enjoys entertaining, cooking and going for walks. Her passion for MPA and its members is very strong and she wants to be a voice for all the members.
Chris Earle
Chris Earle is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) with 30 years of accounting experience in industry. He was attracted to the MPA Society after recognizing the close alignment of his values and those of the MPA Society, in particular equality, empowerment and a member centered approach to providing support. Chris is married with two daughters and enjoys mountain biking, reading and tennis.
Geordie Hungerford
Geordie Hungerford is a lawyer at the BC Securities Commission where he helps regulate stocks, bonds and other financial products. He has a background in finance and consulting. Geordie enjoys volunteering and comes from a family of volunteers. He especially likes to help people achieve their potential and hopes that he can bring this spirit to the MPA Board. A fifth generation Vancouverite, Geordie volunteers and serves on numerous educational and non-profit boards and committees. He is a Gwich'in (Northwest Territories/Yukon Dene/Métis) and is active in the Aboriginal legal community.
Anita Smith
Anita Smith has lived in Vancouver for four years but also lived here in the 90's for a period of time. She speaks publicly about mental illness and her journey with it for the BC Schizophrenia society and has been a peer support worker. Since moving to Vancouver Anita began her journey in recovery - living in MPA housing for four years. The people she has met, as well as MPA Society, have assisted her in becoming the person she is today. She wants to give back by serving on the Board of Directors and contributing in some way to MPA and other people with mental illness.
Chris Heminsley
Chris is a client-focused, strategic leader with a focus on building long-term relationships. Chris provides strategic advice and guidance on a wide range of topics related to the Energy Industry. Chris has more than 20 years of business experience, and has taken on a variety of leadership positions at BC Hydro. He is very excited about being able to contribute fully as MPA Society Board Member and, like fellow Board members, was attracted to the MPA Society by its longstanding history and success and its member-centred approach and philosophy.
Ron Byron
Ron Byron has been a member of MPA for about 12 years and a resident of the Hampton for over 4 years. His interests include music and computers and he is currently writing his first novel. He is originally from Ontario and has lived in B.C. for 15 years. Ron has been helped immensely by MPA, specifically by MHEAP, the Community Resource Centre and the Hampton, and hopes at this time to be able to give something back by serving on the MPA Board of Directors.