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.
Johanna Henderson
Communications Manager
Ivonne Zhao
Communications Coordinator
Stephanie Neilson
Program Evaluator
Johanna Henderson
Communications Manager
johanna@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.7791
Hailing from Charlie Lake in Northern B.C., Johanna is a seasoned communicator and researcher with a deep curiosity about communities and the people that comprise them. Her background includes work with a variety of community-based organizations across the province, with project areas including social policy, social innovation, sustainability, community-university engagement, and health initiatives for seniors and men.
In 2017, Johanna received the Royal Roads Chancellor’s Award for her graduate studies in Professional Communication, where her research focused on the intersection of communications, organizational theory and urban studies in neighbourhoods. Johanna also holds certifications in Community Economic Development and Volunteer Administration, and has studied Communication Design at Emily Carr University and the Alberta College of Art and Design.
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.
Jacob Cramer
Researcher & Planning Assistant
Connie Truncik (On Leave)
Research & Evaluation Specialist
Jacob Cramer
Researcher & Planning Assistant
jacob@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.7792
Jacob’s background includes a Bachelor of Political Science from UBC and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Urban and Rural Planning from Langara. This applied education in community land-use planning, paired with a focus on domestic and social policy, provides him with a wide-ranging set of tools and approaches for working in and with communities. His past experience includes projects focusing on equity and sustainability, and he brings these lenses to his work at BC Healthy Communities.
As our Researcher & Planning Assistant, Jacob informs the development of projects and activities across BC Healthy Communities, with a focus on our evaluation frameworks. In his spare time, you’ll find Jacob biking, surfing, cooking, and spending time with his friends and family.
Connie Truncik (On Leave)
Research & Evaluation Specialist
Connie strives to empower communities to take their health and well-being into their own hands. Using a strength-based approach, she provides communities with the tools and resources needed to help them make decisions most beneficial for them. Through continuous learning, reflection and improvement, her aim is to make equitable, community-driven, sustainable contributions to community development programs.
Connie’s background includes work in health research and evaluation, multi-sectoral policy development and social service work. Through her front-line experience, she gained first-hand knowledge of need for equitable public policies that address the complex nature of social challenges faced by vulnerable populations. Using her Masters in Environmental and Occupational Public Health training, she uses her knowledge of the healthy built environment to inform upstream interventions that tackle determinants of health.
Connie Truncik (On Leave)
Research & Evaluation Specialist
connie@bchealthycommunities.ca
250-590-1845