Pacific Blue Cross Board of Directors
CEBS®, CRM, CRSP®, ICD.D - Individual Member
Martin (Marty) R. Gibbons has spent close to two decades working in the field of employee group benefits and pensions, where he has completed multiple designations including Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS®), Group Benefits Associate (GBA) and Retirement Plans Associate (RPA). His passion for risk management and workplace health and safety inspired him to complete his Canadian Risk Manager (CRM) and Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP®) designations.
Marty is the Board Chair of the Pacific Blue Cross Board of Directors. In 2024, Marty was appointed to the Canadian Board of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP). Marty completed his Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) designation through the ICD-Rotman Directors Education program in 2023. The ICD.D designation is a recognized mark of distinction in the field of corporate governance and demonstrates a commitment to professional development and expertise in governance practices.
From 2018 to 2022, Marty was an elected school trustee in School District 83, serving on several committees. In October 2022, he was elected Director for the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, Area C. Marty also served as co-chair on a large health and welfare trust and is a trustee on a large joint pension trust. He started his career in British Columbia’s forestry industry as a certified tradesperson and served as USW Local 1-417 full-time President and Business Agent for 20 years. He is of Métis and Cree ancestry and received his Métis citizenship in 2022.
Organizational Member
Janet Andrews serves as the full-time Secretary-Treasurer of the New Westminster & District Labour Council, representing over 65,000 union members across 14 municipalities, which are located on 10 unceded First Nation territories in British Columbia. With a strong commitment to grassroots advocacy, Janet takes immense pride in her involvement with a community-based organization that upholds a strong tradition of empowering workers to voice their concerns both within their workplaces and across their communities.
Janet is the Vice Chair of the Pacific Blue Cross Board of Directors. A member of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers Union Local Lodge 764 since 1998, Janet has extensive Board and Finance committee experience in labour and the charitable sectors, including roles at the United Way of BC and the Union Protein Project. She is currently serving on the Executive Council of the BC Federation of Labour and holds a BA in Classical Studies and an MA in Classical Archaeology from the University of British Columbia.M.Ed., GDE, B.Ed., B.A. – Individual Member
Jatinder Bir is an educator with more than 18 years of experience in British Columbia's public education system. She has dedicated her career to supporting inclusive education and improving outcomes for students through leadership, governance and public service. She currently serves on the Executive Committees of the BC Teachers' Federation and Surrey Teachers' Association and is a Ministry of Education and Child Care-appointed member of the BC Teachers' Council and its Disciplinary and Professional Conduct Board.
Throughout her career, Jatinder has held a number of elected and appointed leadership roles, including President of the Surrey Teachers' Association and Chair of the BC Teachers' Council. She was the first racialized woman elected to both positions and has extensive experience in governance, policy development, labour relations, regulatory oversight and public accountability. Her work has focused on advancing inclusive practices, accessibility and equitable opportunities for students, educators and communities across British Columbia.
As a Director of Pacific Blue Cross, Jatinder serves on the Audit, Conduct, Human Resources and Nominating Committees. She brings a strong background in governance, leadership and public service, supporting the organization's commitment to improving the health and well-being of British Columbians.
Last Updated August 5, 2026
Health Care Professional Member
Dr. Patricia Gerber is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia, where she serves as Director of the Flexible Doctor of Pharmacy Program and the Graduate Diploma in Pharmacy Leadership. She is an experienced healthcare leader and educator whose work focuses on advancing leadership, professionalism and innovation in pharmacy education.
Throughout her career, Dr. Gerber has held leadership roles in clinical practice, healthcare education and academic administration. She has led curriculum innovation, contributed to the development of future healthcare leaders and is recognized for her expertise in healthcare governance, organizational leadership, ethics and professional regulation.
Dr. Gerber has served on numerous governance and advisory committees within healthcare and higher education, including the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia and the Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada. A recipient of the UBC Killam Teaching Prize, she is passionate about strengthening healthcare through leadership, mentorship and community service, bringing valuable governance and health system expertise to the Pacific Blue Cross Board.
Last Updated August 5, 2026
Organizational Member
Coming soon
Individual Member
Since 1981 Ms. Hartman has served on a variety of boards including the United Way and other charities, union and labour federations, advocacy organizations and labour history associations. Her background includes local, national and international work in both waged and volunteer positions.
Individual Member
Coming soon
Organizational Member
Health Care Professional Member
CPA, CA, ICD.D - Organizational Member
Matt O'Rae is Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Treasurer of the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia, where he oversees finance and accounting functions for an organization with more than $11 billion in assets. A Chartered Professional Accountant and Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) graduate, Matt brings extensive expertise in financial management, capital markets and corporate governance.
Before joining the Municipal Finance Authority in 2008, Matt held senior leadership roles with the Province of British Columbia and Vancouver Island Health Authority. Throughout his career, he has led complex financial and capital management initiatives, including investment portfolio management, debt financing, regulatory frameworks and infrastructure financing. His experience spans the public and private sectors, including healthcare, and municipal finance, with a strong focus on financial stewardship, risk management and long-term organizational sustainability.
Matt has served on the Pacific Blue Cross Board since 2024 and is Chair of the Audit Committee. He is also a member of the Risk Committee and previously served on the Human Resources Committee. He is committed to supporting a financially strong and sustainable organization that can continue to deliver affordable access to high-quality healthcare and meet the evolving needs of British Columbians.
Last Updated August 5, 2026
Organizational Member
Lee has an extensive background as a director on multiple boards and as a fiduciary. Lee has also served on the Board of Concert Properties and Concert Infrastructure Ltd. as a Director. Lee was also a founding director at Castle 1 Investments and served on the Investment Committee at ACM Advisors.
Lee brings pension, benefit, investment, and labour union experience to Pacific Blue Cross. He has a completed his Master of Trust Management from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans as well as the University of British Columbia, Sauder School of Business, Responsible Trustee Program.
Individual Member
Health Care Professional Member
Dr. Bruce Ward has spent more than 50 years providing dental care to patients in North Vancouver and on Bowen Island. Throughout his career, he has been recognized as a leader in the dental profession, combining clinical practice with a longstanding commitment to advancing oral health and strengthening professional leadership across British Columbia and Canada.
Dr. Ward has held numerous leadership positions, including President of the Canadian Dental Association, President of the British Columbia Dental Association and Director of the Pacific Dental Conference. He has also contributed to strategic planning, governance and professional development through the Canadian Dental Association and previously served as a dental consultant to Pacific Blue Cross.
His contributions to dentistry have been recognized through numerous professional honours, including distinguished service and alumni awards, and he remains active in community service through organizations such as the Eastside Dental Clinic. Dr. Ward brings extensive experience in healthcare leadership, governance and patient-centred care to the Pacific Blue Cross Board.
Last Updated August 5, 2026
Dr. Cornelia (Nel) Wieman works for the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) in Vancouver, BC in the Office of the Chief Medical Officer as the Deputy Chief Medical Officer. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University.
Nel is Canada’s first female Indigenous psychiatrist (Anishinaabe Nation – Little Grand Rapids First Nation, Manitoba). She completed her medical degree and psychiatry specialty training at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
She provided psychiatric services at a community mental health clinic based on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory for eight years. She was a member of the Advisory Group on Suicide Prevention that developed a national framework document for the Assembly of First Nations and First Nations and Inuit Health Branch addressing the issue of First Nations youth suicide. She was the Co-Director of the Indigenous Health Research Development Program and an Assistant Professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. She has been a co-investigator on several initiatives funded through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Aboriginal Peoples Health including the National Network of Aboriginal Mental Health Research. She has also served on the CIHR Governing Council and the Indspire Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Nel previously worked as a staff psychiatrist at the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health. She was the Faculty Advisor to the Indigenous Students Health Sciences Office at McMaster University. She served as President of the Indigenous Physicians Association in Canada for two three-year terms (2016-22).
She is an Indspire Achievement Award Laureate (1998), recognized for career achievement in the category of medicine. She was the inaugural recipient of the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Alumni Achievement Award. In 2013, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Nel’s clinical, academic, and advocacy work has always been focused on improving the health and mental health status of Indigenous peoples, especially Indigenous youth, across Canada.