Our Team
Jodi Mucha
Executive Director
Gurmeet Sall
People & Culture Specialist
Jodi Mucha
Executive Director
jodi@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.7796
Jodi has a Masters in Environment and Management, over 20 years of community development experience working both at the local and international level. She also has a strong background in engagement and leadership, community change and practice-based research. She provides expertise in multi-sectoral collaboration and partnerships, systems thinking, the healthy communities approach and practical approaches to understanding the links between the determinants of health.
As a hobby, Jodi runs ultradistance trail races, facilitates leadership courses and maintains her organic garden.
Gurmeet Sall
People & Culture Specialist
gurmeet@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.7773
As BCHC’s People and Culture Specialist, Gurmeet brings extensive knowledge and human resource experience from her 20 plus years of working in the provincial government. Her passion and expertise in human resources translates to a strengthened organizational culture and a supported group of staff members. Working with the Executive Director on HR and operational requirements for the organization, Gurmeet aligns the organization’s HR functions and strategies to support BCHC’s business priorities, and plans. She has a steadfast commitment to shaping a more engaged and unified organizational culture. In her spare time, Gurmeet enjoys walking and spending time with her family and friends.
Ivonne Zhao
Communications Coordinator
Stephanie Neilson
Program Evaluator
Ivonne Zhao
Communications Coordinator
ivonne@bchealthycommunities.ca
Ivonne is a graduate of the University of British Columbia, where she studied International Relations and Creative Writing. She held various Communications and Marketing positions throughout her degree.
In her role with BC Healthy Communities, Ivonne combines her background in policy with media and communications. In her spare time, she enjoys running, exploring the city on bike, and improv and sketch comedy.
Stephanie Neilson
Program Evaluator
stephanie@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.0941
Stephanie brings a passion for local knowledge, context and experience to her work in evaluation. She believes healthy communities begin with people’s relationship to their environment, and that intentional planning, design, strategies, monitoring and evaluation help foster the changes communities strive for.
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Development and a Masters in Rural Planning and Development from the University of Guelph. Stephanie has worked in both Canada and overseas and her over 10 years of evaluation and research experience includes projects that examine how research influences policy, capacity building, gender, health, and environment and resource management.
Sarah Dyer
Community Well-being & Age Friendly Specialist
Laura Hube
Active School Travel Program Coordinator
Stacy Chappel
Grants & Engagement Coordinator
Sarah Dyer
Community Well-being & Age Friendly Specialist
sarah@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.7793
Sarah holds a BSc in Food and Nutrition as well as an MSc in Nutritional Sciences, with a focus on nutrition in older adults. Her background includes more than 15 years of experience in best practice health research and health communications in a number of health areas, including gerontology. Sarah is committed to transforming thinking around aging to focus on health and vitality.
In her role with BC Healthy Communities, Sarah supports communities as they implement plans and projects for healthy aging. She also brings her research and communications skills to her work supporting Healthy Communities initiatives as part of the PlanH program.
Laura Hube
Active School Travel Program Coordinator
laura@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.7788
Laura is a lifelong learner and authentic relationship builder who seeks to create happier and healthier communities. Her background includes experience in sustainable transportation planning, health research and teaching yoga. Laura has worked in the private, public, and not-for-profit sector across Canada and the US.
At BCHC, Laura seeks to empower school communities using an asset-based approach with an equity lens. She believes that the journey to/from school is a ripe opportunity for adventure, activity and autonomy. Laura holds a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning, where her thesis and internship were focused on active and safe school travel and healthy school environments.
In her spare time, Laura enjoys exploring beautiful Vancouver Island with her husband and two young children, discovering the best in local food, or curling up with a good book.
Stacy Chappel
Grants & Engagement Coordinator
stacy@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.0510
Stacy is passionate about community-led initiatives to build justice and sustainable communities. She has 25 years’ experience working for community non-profits. She served as a grant adjudicator for BC’s Community Gaming Grants program and manager for the UVic Graduate Students’ Society and VIPIRG. She volunteers with Capital City Fencers’ Club and her local refugee sponsorship group.
Stacy holds a Masters in Community Development. Her research focused on co-operatives and she is committed to democratic and inclusive governance. Stacy owes a debt to friends and colleagues who guided her learning about social justice and community-based research. She credits her high school drama teacher for instilling her belief in the power of humour and a good yarn.
Stacy enjoys theatre, sewing, cycling and fencing.
Abigail Seewald
Practicum Student
Melissa Johnston
Practicum Student
Amanda Dodaro
Practicum Student
Abigail Seewald
Practicum Student
abigail@bchealthycommunities.ca
As a competitive figure skating coach for many years, Abigail has gained a passion for promoting activity for life and health equity. Additionally, she is involved in many community initiatives around health and social justice advocacy. Through these experiences, she chose to pursue a Masters of Public Health specializing in Global Health and is now finishing the degree with a practicum at BC Healthy Communities.
As BCHC’s practicum student, Abigail provides the PlanH and Active School Travel programs with research and evaluation support. In this role she uses her extensive health research and program development background as well as building invaluable practical experience in her development as a public health professional. In her free time, Abigail enjoys playing Ultimate, hiking, and swing dancing.
Melissa Johnston
Practicum Student
melissa@bchealthycommunities.ca
Melissa is a Master of Community and Regional Planning student passionate towards creating healthy, equitable and sustainable communities. Her interests lie within fostering connections to promote resiliency through complete and compact communities that balance social, economic and environmental goals.
As a practicum student with BCHC, Melissa provides research and evaluation support to the PlanH program. In this role, Melissa is further developing skills as a planner through policy research and building partnerships with stakeholders through community engagement.
In her spare time, Melissa enjoys gardening, travelling, cooking and exploring the beautiful beaches and trails of B.C.
Amanda Dodaro
Practicum Student
amanda@bchealthycommunities.ca
Amanda was first introduced to the foundations of healthy equity during her undergraduate degree in health promotion. When combined with her strong passion for healthy environments, this led her to pursue a Master of Public Health at Lakehead University, specializing in socio-ecological systems, sustainability and health. As she wraps up her degree with a practicum at BCHC, Amanda is excited to be assisting with the research and development of the Age-Friendly Communities program.
When not at work, you can find Amanda on a deadlift platform, hiking trail or rock climbing wall.