Kristy Kerr
Executive Director
Kristy Kerr is the Executive Director of the BCCDC Foundation, where she is responsible for strategic direction, partnerships, organizational development, operations, and the consistent achievement of the mission, vision and mandate of the Foundation. Kristy manages day-to-day administrative functions, including finance, HR, and award management, as well as strategic functions, including fund development, marketing, communications, and building the profile of the Foundation. Kristy has worked in different research management and grant- writing roles, as well as international development and global health.
Kristy has a Masters in Public Health with a specialization in Health Promotion, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Animal Biology and an Associate of Arts Degree in Creative Writing. Kristy is very passionate about health promotion, prevention, equity and the social determinants of health. One of her passions is global health, focusing on the community level and building local capacity. Kristy has spent time working in Zambia and Kenya on various community-based initiatives. Her interests include the use of health promotion strategies and principles to advocate for human rights, social justice, and health equity.
Kristy is a Board Director for McLaren Housing Society, a Vancouver-based non-profit organization that provides housing and support services to people living with HIV who have low/limited income, are inadequately housed or are at risk of homelessness. She is dedicated to this work, as well as other community development activities. Kristy has been with the BCCDC Foundation since July 2013.
Lisa Young
Operations Manager
Lisa Young is the Operations Manager for the BCCDC Foundation, where she is responsible for daily operations/business functions, finance, employee engagement and professional development, as well as project management and support for the Executive Director and the Board of Directors.
Lisa brings a wealth of experience in the research/academic and non-profit worlds, having supported researchers at Dalhousie University for over 12 years, and volunteering/working for various non-profits across Canada. Lisa has earned the Non-Profit Management Certificate at Simon Fraser University, holds a CAP-OM designation from International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), and has held leadership positions within that organization. Lisa joined the Foundation in October 2016.
Kim Acedo
Communications Officer
Kim Acedo is the Communications Officer of the Foundation, where she supports and executes marketing and communications activities to raise the profile, reputation, and reach of the BCCDC Foundation, and public health broadly. Her work supports the Executive Director in achieving the BCCDC Foundation strategy to successfully grow our influence and impact as a public health charity, build our reputation, and fulfill our mission.
Kim has a Master’s degree in Kinesiology and is a Certified Health and Wellbeing Coach. She joined the Foundation to build on her knowledge of health—to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the social determinants of health. Since, she has grown a particular interest in gender and health promotion, and is currently pursuing a Professional Development Award in Gender and Sexuality from Toronto Metropolitan University. Kim joined the Foundation in February 2020.
Matthew Wright
Director of Operations
Matthew Wright is the Director of Operations of the BCCDC Foundation, where he is responsible for operational leadership of programs and projects that meet the overall strategic goals of the organization. Matthew works with and supports the Executive Director and the team in fulfilling the strategic plan and priorities, organizational and financial growth and sustainability, the consistent achievement of the mission, vision, and mandate of the BCCDC Foundation, and ensuring the Foundation continues to successfully grow its reputation, influence, and impact as a public health charity.
Matthew has a Bachelors of Business Administration with a focus in Integrated Management Studies, as well as a Private Pilot’s License. He brings over 11 years experience in operational planning and project management within the non-profit sector that he has fostered throughout his career, such as leading initiatives to support BC Cancer Foundation and as a member of the Leadership team with BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Matthew has a passion for healthcare and community engagement, showcased through his interest in event planning and fundraising. He currently volunteers his time coaching with the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club. Matthew joined the BCCDC Foundation in October 2021.
Tracy Penner
Senior Development Officer
Tracy Penner is the Senior Development Officer for the BCCDC Foundation, working with the Fund Development department, as well as the Executive Director, to develop and implement fund development strategies that support the strategic plan and priorities, organizational and financial growth, and sustainability, ensuring the continued growth of the Foundation’s reputation, influence, and impact as a public health charity aligned with the mission, vision, and mandate of the BCCDC Foundation.
Tracy has over 18 years of experience in fundraising in the non-profit sector, after making a career change as a result of 9/11. Wanting to have a positive impact and make a difference, she chose to work in the non-profit sector. Since that time, she has had the opportunity to work and volunteer within the healthcare, humanitarian, animal welfare, and arts and culture sectors in Canada, the UAE, Jordan, and South Africa. Tracy has lived in and travelled to a number of countries that experience social inequities and human rights challenges, and is excited to be working with a progressive organization that not only works to protect the health of all of our communities, but also advocates for health equity, eliminating stigma, and helping to fund solutions to end the overdose crisis.
Madison Mackenzie
Development Coordinator
Madison is the Development Coordinator at the BCCDC Foundation and supports the Development team in fundraising activities to advance the health of our communities within B.C.
Madison has a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Environmental Studies and Anthropology and a Masters in Intercultural and International Communication. She has worked in various fields including government and social enterprise but is most excited about the non-profit sector and brings fundraising experience working in international development. Her passion lies in communicating and advocating for meaningful causes that provide a positive impact on people and the planet.
Living on the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation, Madison joined the Foundation in April 2022 and is excited to work with a team that shares her commitment to health promotion and equity.
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We acknowledge and show gratitude that we are able to work, live, and play on the traditional and unceded lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lo and SəÌílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, and that our work humbly extends to all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people across what we call British Columbia. We make our commitment to continue on our path of learning and reconciliation and where welcomed to do so, to work with communities to support undoing inequities that have harmed and continue to harm Indigenous people across the stolen and colonized lands of Turtle Island, or what we now call Canada.