Board of Directors

Karin Cleven

Chair

Karin lives in Maple Ridge and works in the Tricities area (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody) at SHARE Family and Community Services. Karin has a Masters degree in counselling and currently supervises the Child, Youth and Family Team. Karin has participated as a volunteer in many other endeavors including Special Olympics, the Maple Ridge Municial Social Planning Advisory Committee, Study Circles and Community Solutions.

Karin is passionate about community development. She was involved in organizing the Tricities Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) - A Community Response team. They involved the participation of the community in its response to prevent, educate and provide support and services for individuals and families affected by FAS.

Parents and children affected by FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) have had a profound effect on Karin. She believes that support in the early years of a child's life is important for their development. It is important that children affected with FASD have early support and diagnosis to prevent the secondary disabilities associated with FASD and to have the best opportunities possible. Karin is convinced that FASD is a complex health issue and can only be addressed through community approaches that foster public participation and education, mobilize resources and influence public policy at all levels.

Elizabeth Robinson

Vice Chair

Elizabeth Robinson, MSW, RSW, is a social worker in private practice. She has a part time faculty appointment at the School of Social Work and Family Studies at UBC, and in addition manages her own human resource development company. The company provides services in three areas: education and training particularly in the area of leadership; process consultations including coaching and strategic planning; and social service research, especially program evaluations. Elizabeth's clients are from the educational and social services sector in the province. She is actively involved in professional activities through her affiliation with the BC Association of Social Workers where she was the Board's provincial president 1995 - 7 and past president 1997 - 9. As well she has served on the Ethics Committee through the Board of Registration for Social Workers of BC, represented social work on the Children's Commission Fatality Review Board, and been nominated twice at UBC for the Killam Teaching Award of Excellence. In 2000, she was named Social Worker of the Year by the BCASW and Canadian Association of Social Workers.

Edward Higham

Secretary-Treasurer

Edward Higham is the adoptive parent of a daughter with (partial) FAS. He resides in Coquitlam and is employed by the Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency as an Auditor.

Ron Britton

Director

Ron has been an international executive who has lived and worked in three different countries and lead international business activities for the last 30 years. Most recently Ron has been, President and CEO of Fuel Cells Canada, a not-for-profit organization, with a mandate to accelerate the development and commercialization of the Canadian Fuel Cell Industry on behalf of its members. Ron has overseen all activities of the company for the past two years. Prior to that he was the first Chairman of the organization while operating as Executive Vice President at Methanex Corporation, a Vancouver based global petrochemical company.

Ron's education included an NRC Post Doctoral Fellowship from the University of Virginia, a Ph.D. in Organic Chemical Synthesis at the University of British Columbia, a MA in Organic Synthetic Methods from Dartmouth College, and a B.Sc. in Chemistry and Mathematics at the University of Victoria.

Ron's previous Board experience included the Board of Fuel Cells Canada, and the Boards of two start up companies in the Vancouver area.

Mary-Jane Reid

Director

Mary-Jane became a Board Member in fiscal year 2003-2004. As a social worker in the Ministry for Children and Family Development, Mary-Jane has been acutely aware of the myriad of issues involved with clients and families who are afflected by FASD.

Terri Smith

Director

Terri is a resident of Pitt Meadows and has worked as a realtor at RE/MAX Ridge-Meadows realty for the past 14 years. Terri has just celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary with her husband Greg. Terri and Greg have three children Dalyn who is soon 23, Brent 21 and Kristi who is just turning 15.

Their children have provided most of the direction to Terri's interests for the past 23 years. Two of her children are First Nation's and she has become very interested and educated on their culture and enjoys learning and participating in First Nation Cultural Events. Two of Terri's children have also been affected by FASD and this has also been an area that both she and Greg have spent a lot of time being educated and educating others. Advocating for their children's needs and trying their best at parenting and helping their children with finding their spot in life that will bring them much happiness and success. Terri has also been involved in many other community events such as a committee member for 7 years for the Pitt Meadows Day celebration, chairing the Host Committee for Ridge-Meadows Summer Games, and being involved in many fundraising events through out the community. In her spare time Terri enjoys boating, dancing, scrap booking and refinishing antiques.

Advisory Board:

Marilyn Vanbibber

Marilyn is a self-employed consultant with the First Nations in the areas of Community Health, FAS and Treaty Negotiations. Marilyn is the author and principal researcher for "It Takes a Community - a resource manual for Community-Based Prevention of FAS/E." Marilyn has served on the board for many years and remains a dedicated advocate in regards to educating the public on the issues and challenges associated with those whose lives are touched by FASD.

Marilyn is also a director of the British Columbia FAS Resource Society and is currently conducting research in the area of women and substance abuse.

Gord Kehler

Currently Gord works in Vancouver for MacKenzie Fujisawa LLP. He has practised law since 1992 and was a partner with the Maple Ridge law firm of McEachern, Harris, Brown and Kehler. Gord studied at the University of Victoria where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987 and a law degree in 1990.

Gord is a consistent advocate for the community and brings a great deal of knowledge and support along with him. Gord has contributed his skills in a wide range of areas such as a former president of the New Westminster Bar Association from 2000 to 2001, a Vice-President for Ridge Meadows Youth and Justice Advocacy Association from 1998 to the present, Advisor for the B.C. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Resource Society, a Director of the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation from 1997 to 1999, a member of the Ridge Meadows Parks and Leisure Services Citizens Advisory Committee from 1995 to 1998 and the Chairman in 1998. Gord contributed his time and legal advise to the publication of the Book "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and the Criminal Justice System" by Dr. Julianne Conry and Dr. Diane K. Fast.