Provincial Executive

HEU’s Provincial Executive (PE) is elected by delegates every two years during the union’s biennial convention.

The PE is responsible for implementing the goals and policies set by the union’s membership, and guiding the work of the union between conventions.

The 28-member PE includes two full-time elected officers – the president and the financial secretary – as well as three vice-presidents, a senior trustee, a senior trustee elect (four-year term), an additional trustee, 13 regional vice-presidents, and six diversity vice-presidents.

HEU’s secretary-business manager (SBM) is also a voting member of the PE and a full-time officer of the union. The SBM acts as the Chief Administrative Officer of the union and is HEU’s main spokesperson as well as the lead negotiator for the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA). This position is appointed by the PE and is subject to delegate ratification at the convention following the appointment.

Meet your Provincial Executive

Full-time officers

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Barb Nederpel

President Barb Nederpel (she/her) is a clerk/care aide from Kamloops-Thompson Local. She lives on the unceded territory of the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc.

Barb was elected HEU’s first woman president at the union’s 2018 biennial convention. An HEU member since 2006, Barb was first elected to the PE in 2012 as regional vice-president (Interior), then elected 2nd vice-president in 2014, and then 1st vice-president in 2016. 

Barb served several terms as president of the Kamloops and District Labour Council, and has served on numerous CUPE and B.C. Federation of Labour (BCFED) committees.

As HEU president, Barb represents the union as a BCFED officer and a CUPE National Executive Board member.

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Meena Brisard

Secretary-Business Manager Meena Brisard (she/her) lives on unceded Coast Salish Territory (Katzie, Semiahmoo, Kwantlen).

Meena Brisard joined the HEU as its secretary-business manager in the summer of 2021. In 2022, she led the facilities bargaining association through more than seven months of challenging negotiations on behalf of 60,000 health care workers.

Working with the FBA bargaining committee, she secured one of the most comprehensive collective agreement settlements in the union’s history – including significant wage and COLA adjustments, and a long-overdue process to address deep wage cuts made by the BC Liberals in 2004.

Raised in Mission by immigrant parents who both worked union jobs, Meena learned about trade unionism at a young age. While working at the 9-1-1 Call Centre at the Vancouver Police Department, she successfully led an organizing drive when the Centre was privatized.

She later went on to lead the Call Centre’s first strike and became their media spokesperson. For the past 20 years, Meena has been on staff with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). And since 2014, she has been a member of CUPE’s senior management team.

In 2018, Meena was appointed as CUPE’s regional director in B.C., where she was responsible for managing CUPE National’s operations in the province. This included managing national staff, and overseeing all major negotiations, litigation, labour relations and human resources matters. Meena is an experienced and skilled labour leader, negotiator and advocate.

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Betty Valenzuela

Financial Secretary Betty Valenzuela (she/her), is a health records clerk from VGH Local. She lives on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.

Betty was elected as HEU’s first racialized officer in 2018. She worked in the finance department at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) from 1998 to 2005, then moved to health records. 

In 2007, she took union leave to serve as a full-time local shop steward. Betty was the Secretary Treasurer of the VGH local from 2007 to 2018, until her election as Financial Secretary. An HEU member since 1995, Betty was first elected to the PE as senior trustee in 2014 for a four-year term. 

She has served on numerous committees, including HEU and CUPE global justice and peace committees. Betty also facilitates table officers’ training and serves on HEU’s bursary 

Vice-presidents

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Bill McMullan

1st vice-president Bill McMullan (he/him) is a residential support worker from Kardel Local. He lives on the unceded territory of the Lekwungen and Songhees people.

Bill has served three terms as a regional vice-president (Vancouver Island). He was elected 3rd vice-president in 2018, was called up to 2nd vice-president in 2020, and elected 1st vice-president in 2021.

An HEU member since 2002, Bill serves as chief shop steward and local vice-chair, and previously as senior trustee-elect, chair, and shop steward. Bill is on the labour-management committee for Kardel local and has served on the PE environment and equal opportunities subcommittees.

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Charlotte Millington

2nd vice-president Charlotte Millington (she/her) is a technical analyst from Royal Jubilee Local. She lives on the unceded territory of the Lekwungen/Songhees, and W̱SÁNEĆ.

Charlotte is serving her third PE term. She served as a regional vice-president (Vancouver Island) and was elected 2nd vice-president in 2021. An HEU member since 2008, she’s a shop steward and member of her local labour-management committee.

She previously served as an FBA EDMP steward and co-chair of her local’s joint occupational health and safety committee. Charlotte is the HEU representative on the Victoria Labour Council and the United Way of Greater Victoria Labour Committee. 

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Donovan Adlam

3rd vice-president Donovan Adlam (he/him) is a carpenter from PHSA (Amalgamated) Local. He lives on the unceded territory of the Stó:lō peoples.

Donovan is serving his first term on the PE. He has been active in his local as a chief shop steward, site representative, and vice-chairperson. 

Trustees

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Talitha Dekker

Senior trustee Talitha Dekker (she/her) is an accounts receivable clerk from Kamloops-Thompson Local. She lives on the unceded territory of Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc.

Talitha is serving her fourth term on the PE. She was first called up to the PE in 2016 as 3rd vice-president alternate. She has also served as trustee, and senior trustee-elect. 

An HEU member since 2005, Talitha has held many local positions, including chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer. She served on the PE clerical subcommittee, and was co-chair of the retirement and pensions subcommittee.

Talitha serves on the CUPE National Advisory Committee on Pensions, and is a trustee on the MPP. She is also a CUPE National trustee for Alberta, Yukon Territories and B.C.

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Chris Batting

Senior trustee-elect Chris Batting (he/him) is a housekeeper from Prince George Local. He lives on the unceded territory of the Lheidli T’Enneh.

Chris was called up to the PE as 3rd vice-president in 2020, and as a trustee in 2022. He has been involved at the local level as a senior trustee, trustee, and shop steward.

Chris was also a member of the HEU global justice and peace subcommittee (2017-2018). Senior trustee-elect is a four-year term.

 

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Olivia Burgon

Trustee Olivia Burgon (she/her) is a rehabilitation assistant from Queen’s Park Local. She lives on the unceded territory of the Qayqayt and Halkomelem.

Olivia is her local chair, shop steward and joint occupational health and safety committee worker-rep. She has also served at her local as senior trustee and secretary-treasurer.

A member since 2005, Olivia was also part of the 2022 convention constitutional amendments committee. Olivia also serves on the public advisory group for the redevelopment of Riverview Hospital in partnership with the Kwikwitlem First Nation and BC Housing. This is Olivia’s first term on the PE.

 

Regional vice-presidents, Fraser

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Bonnie Hammermeister

Bonnie Hammermeister (she/her) is a care aide from Surrey Local. She lives on unceded territory of the Coast Salish, Semiahmoo, S’o’lh Temexw (Sto:lo), Kwantlen, Nuxwwsa’7aq Nation Peoples.

Bonnie is serving her second term on the PE. An HEU member since 1996, Bonnie is currently local chair, OH&S steward, and shop steward. She was previously secretary-treasurer, trustee, vice-chair, and chief shop steward at her local. Bonnie has served on the PE occupational subcommittee, and the 2018 constitutional amendments committee. She was first elected to the PE in 2021.

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Scott McKay

Scott McKay (he/him) is a care aide from Chilliwack Amalgamated Local. He lives on the unceded territory of the Stó:lō people.

Scott has been on the PE since September 2020. He has held various local positions, including shop steward and joint occupational health and safety committee member. Scott is also a delegate to the Fraser Valley Labour Council.

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Diane Tomei

Diane Tomei (she/her) is a pharmacy technician, from Chilliwack Amalgamated Local. She lives on the unceded territory of the Stó:lō people.

Diane was elected as the first alternate to the RVP Fraser position in 2021. She became active in the union in 2006 as a shop steward and warden at Burnaby Hospital. Diane has served as chair, vice-chair, chief shop steward, secretary-treasurer, and Labour Council delegate. 

She served on the FBA bargaining committee in 2022. Diane has also participated in the Fraser Valley Labour Council, the labour-management committee, and HEU’s patient care technical subcommittee.

Regional vice-presidents, Interior

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Baljit Sandhu headshot

Baljit Sandhu (he/him) is a health care assistant from Vernon Local. He lives on the unceded territories of the Sylix and Okanagan Peoples.

Baljit was called up to the PE in 2023 from first alternate. He has been an HEU member since 2011 and became active in the union in 2012. Baljit has served his local as chair, vice-chair, chief shop steward, shop steward, trustee, conductor, warden and OH&S steward, as well as serving on the Ethnic Diversity Standing Committee.

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Barb Shukin

Barb Shukin (she/her) is an activity worker from F.W. Green Local. She lives on the unceded territory of the Qayqayt.

Barb was first elected to the PE in 2021. She currently serves as local chair and chief shop steward, and was previously vice-chair and secretary-treasurer. An HEU member since 1994, Barb has sat on the PE subcommittees for OH&S and Retirement and Pensions, and the People with Disabilities Standing Committee. She has also been a Labour Council delegate.

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Monica Thiessen

Monica Thiessen (she/her) is a medical lab assistant from Salmon Arm-Shuswap Local. She lives on the unceded territory of the Secwepemc people.

Monica is serving her third term on the PE. An HEU member since 2000, she is currently her local vice-chair and chief shop steward, and is an active voice on her local’s labour-management committee. Having held many local executive positions over the years, as well as OH&S steward, Monica mentors new members to take on those positions. 

Regional vice-presidents, North

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Lisa Crema

Lisa Crema (she/her) is a mental health worker and life skills support worker from Prince George Local. She lives on the unceded territory of the Lheidli T'enneh.

Lisa is serving her fourth term on the PE. An HEU member since 2003, Lisa is currently her local treasurer, shop steward, and OH&S representative. Previously a local trustee, she has also served on the union’s environment and occupational subcommittees. Lisa is a delegate to the North Central Labour Council in Prince George.

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Angela Sharf

Angela Sharf (she/her) is a medical device reprocessing technician from Prince George Local. She lives on the unceded territory of the Lheidli T'enneh.

Angela is local chair, trustee, and chief shop steward, and was first elected to the PE in 2021. She’s been an HEU member since 2009, and has been active through her local as a delegate to the North Central Labour Council, the B.C. Federation of Labour, and Canadian Labour Congress.

Regional vice-presidents, Vancouver Coastal

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Karen McVeigh

Karen McVeigh (she/her) is a care aide from Dogwood Local. She lives on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations.

Karen has served her local in many positions since 1994, including senior trustee-elect, shop steward, chief shop steward, OH&S steward, and labour council delegate, and has been her local chair for more than a decade.

An LGBTQ2S+ activist, Karen has represented HEU on many local and national committees, including CUPE National, the B.C. Federation of Labour, and Canadian Labour Congress. 

She’s a founding member of HEU’s Pink Triangle Standing Committee and served on that committee for 20 years. She’s also served on OH&S, women’s, and the 2014 facilities bargaining committee.

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Maria Lugs

Maria Lugs (she/her) is a care aide from Richmond Local. She lives on the unceded territories of the Musqueam Tsleil Waututh Nations and Coast Salish people.

Maria has been a care aide at the Minoru Residence for more than 20 years. She’s been a shop steward, chief shop steward, and is currently chairperson of the Richmond local. Maria is also active on the local joint occupational health and safety committee.

In June 2022, she was called to the PE as a RVP Vancouver Coastal, and then was elected to the position at HEU’s 2022 convention.

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Louella Vincent

Louella Vincent (she/her) is a community support worker from WHR Lower Mainland Local. She lives on the unceded territories of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui & Semiahmoo.

Louella is serving her ninth term on the PE. A member since 1992, she has served on HEU’s environment, global justice, and political action subcommittees, and was a founding member of the Living Wage Campaign. 

Louella also champions the Red Dress Campaign to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women. She has served on the Community Social Services bargaining committee and sits on the CUPE National Global Justice Committee. Locally, she’s been chair, vice-chair, OH&S rep, trustee, and chief shop steward. Louella is also on the NWDLC executive.

Regional vice-presidents, Vancouver Island

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Phil Henderson

Phil Henderson (he/him) is a cook from Trillium Local. He lives on the unceded territory of the Qualicum people.

Phil was first elected to the PE in 2021. An HEU member since 2007, Phil recently left a private long-term care facility for work at a publicly funded facility. Phil has held many positions at his last local, including trustee, vice-chair, chair, shop steward, and OH&S steward.

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Ian Smith

Ian Smith (he/him) is a technical analyst from Royal Jubilee Local. He lives on the unceded territory of the Lekwungen/Songhees, and W̱SÁNEĆ.

Ian has been an HEU member since 2016 and was first elected in 2021 as an RVP. Ian served two terms as chair of his local and is currently a trustee and delegate to the labour council. While on the PE, Ian served on the Men’s Committee, CUPE National Literary committee and the Essential Skills committee.

Diversity vice-presidents (DVP)

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Cora Mojica

Ethnic Diversity DVP Cora Mojica (she/her) is a food services worker from VGH Local. She lives on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations.

Cora has been an HEU member since 2005. She has been involved in her local as chairperson, chief shop steward, OH&S steward, and secretary-treasurer. Cora served on CUPE National’s Rainbow Committee as the HEU representative.

She was a bargaining representative in various contract talks with Sodexo from 2008-2022 and a member of HEU’s Living Wage campaign. Cora is currently a member of the Ethnic Diversity Standing Committee, and is the first Ethnic Diversity DVP.

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Lynn Serhan

Indigenous Peoples DVP Lynn Serhan (she/her) is a care aide from Armstrong Local. She lives on the unceded territory of the Splatsin people of the Okanagan Nation.

Lynn has been working as a long-term care aide for 21 years. An HEU member since 2008, she sits on the HEU Indigenous Peoples Standing Committee. Lynn is currently her local chair, chief shop steward, and OH&S steward and incorporates awareness about Indigenous issues into her local work. She is also a member of the North Okanagan Labour Council. Lynn is the first Indigenous Peoples DVP.

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Christine Edgecombe

People with Disabilities DVP Christine Edgecombe (she/her) is a mental health worker. She lives on the unceded territories of the Qayqayt First Nation.

Christine is the co-chair of the HEU People with Disabilities Standing Committee, and has been involved in HEU’s equal opportunity committee and the BCFED Workers with Disabilities caucus. An HEU member since 2013, Christine is currently the chair of her local, and was previously chair, shop steward, and conductor. She won the HEU Blue Poppy Disability Rights Award in 2018, and is the first People with Disabilities DVP. 

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Darlene Bown

Pink Triangle DVP Darlene Bown (she/her) is a care aide/porter from Victoria General Local. She lives on the unceded territory of the Lekwungen and Songhees.

Darlene has been an HEU member since 1988 with more than 25 years of experience doing HEU equity work. Darlene has held every local executive position, including chief shop steward, and is currently the treasurer.

Darlene has been active with equity standing committees for over 25 years and is also the co-chair of HEU’s Pink Triangle Standing Committee. She has also represented HEU for three terms on CUPE National’s Pink Triangle Committee. In 2022, Darlene was a delegate to the Victoria Labour Council and a member of the BCFED 2SLGBQTIA+ caucus. She is the first Pink Triangle DVP.

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Lisa Kreut

2-Spirit, Women & Non-Binary DVP Lisa Kreut lives on the unceded territory of the Qayqayt.

Lisa was on the 2022 FBA bargaining committee and has served on HEU’s Pink Triangle and 2 Spirit, Women & Non-Binary standing committees, the occupational subcommittee, the CLC Solidarity and Pride committee, and is the first 2-Spirit, Women & Non-Binary DVP.

An HEU member since 2008, Lisa is chair at her local, and has previously served as vice-chair, trustee, shop steward, and conductor. She’s also been a labour council delegate.

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Seyda Yalcin

Young Workers DVP Seyda Yalcin (she/her) is a mental health worker from Coast/VRC Local. She lives on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations.

Seyda migrated from Turkey to Canada in 2016 as an international worker. She is the co-chair of HEU’s Young Workers Equity Standing Committee. Seyda has previously been involved in youth worker programs and trainings with the European Union. She’s also been involved in the CUPE National Young Workers committee. Seyda is the first Young Workers DVP on the PE.