Board of directors

Our Board of Directors consists of community leaders committed to delivering advice, direction and counsel in all fundraising efforts. As advocates for the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation, the Board engages the community in meaningful philanthropy that will support priority needs of the hospital, new research and advancements in care, and improve the lives of our patients and their families.

Leslie Sundby

Chair
Leslie Sundby is a Professor with the Faculty of Nursing, Vancouver Island University. Originally from Oakville Ontario, she has lived in Nanaimo, and served as a Foundation Director, since 1998. Leslie received her BSN from the University of Victoria and her Masters in Nursing from University of Alberta. Leslie is also on the Board of Directors for Alianza, overseeing a health care project in Guatemala. She has done volunteer nursing in both Guatemala and Nepal. Leslie is a Hospice volunteer and also serve on the Steering Committee of the Nanaimo-Bhaktapur Hospice Twinning Steering Committee. Leslie has two children, Aly and Ben.

Christine McAuley

Vice Chair
Christine McAuley is the owner of Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut, in Nanaimo. Originally from Burlington, Ontario, she has lived in Nanaimo with her husband Brad since 1997. Christine studied sciences at the University of Victoria, and also worked as a Veterinary Hospital Manager for seven years. She is past president, and still a member of, Rotary Daybreak, in Nanaimo. She served as United Way Campaign Chair in 2005. Christine has also sat on the Board of Literacy Nanaimo.

Moira Jenkins

Treasurer
Moira Jenkins brings a wealth of financial and community leadership experience to the Foundation. She is Royal Bank of Canada’s Vice President of Commercial Financial Services for Vancouver Island North. She is a member of the Nanaimo Economic Development Commission and has also served on the Boards of Nanaimo & District Museum, Nanaimo Hospice Society, Habitat for Humanity and the Economic Development Group. Moira has lived in Nanaimo for twelve years with her husband, David, and their three children, all of whom are Vancouver Island University students.

Laurie Crossan

Secretary
Laurie Crossan is a Barrister & Solicitor with Crossan & Company, in Nanaimo. She received her law degree from the University of Victoria and was called to the Bar in 1982; she has practiced law in Nanaimo ever since. Laurie has also taught business law at Vancouver Island University. She has previously sat on the Boards of the Nanaimo Family Life Association, Theatre One and the Nanaimo Riptides Swim Association. Laurie lives in Nanaimo with her partner Paul Sedola.

Bill LeSage

Director
Bill LeSage is a Sales Manager with Oughtred Coffee & Tea. He came to Nanaimo from Vancouver in 1977 and is the Foundation's longest-serving Director (1993). In addition to his Foundation commitments, Bill has volunteered with Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, and is a past president for the Association for Community Living. Four children have kept Bill and his wife Lise busy over the years.

Brenda Uhrynuk

Director
Brenda Uhrynuk is the NRGH Site Administrator and VIHA Executive Director for Medicine and Community Hospitals. She is an RN with a BSc degree from the University of Victoria and a Master’s degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University. Originally from St. Catharines, Ontario, Brenda has lived in Nanaimo for the past 14 years and in BC since 1977. She has previous Board experience with the Haven Society and was President of that organization from 2002 to 2005. Brenda lives in Cedar with her husband David Hill-Turner.

Maurice Donn

Director
Maurice Donn, the current publisher of the Nanaimo News Bulletin, has worked in the newspaper business in B.C. for the past twenty-five years. His experience includes senior-level management, journalism, sales and marketing. His previous position was as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Black Press group of newspapers. Maurice, his wife Lynn and their two children, Graeme and Cameron, moved to Nanaimo in June of 2007 so Maurice could take over publication of the Bulletin.

Jim Crist

Director
Jim Crist’s career has seen him teaching nuclear physics for the U.S. Navy and serving on two USN nuclear submarines, rising to Vice President of Human Resources for Ontario Hydro Nuclear, then moving to B.C. to serve as Vice President of Human Resources & Organizational Development for the Children’s & Women’s Health Centre. Now, in busy “retirement,” he is an active Central Island volunteer who, in addition to his Foundation work, serves on the Board of the Arrowsmith Community Justice Society and is Chair of the Board of Management for ElderCollege. Jim and his wife, Mary, live in Nanoose Bay.

Kevin Wilson

Director
Kevin Wilson is the CIBC Senior Business Advisor for Nanaimo, where he lives with his wife, Claire, and their four children. Kevin earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree in International Business & Finance at the University of Victoria. He has served on the Penang (Malaysia) Children’s Hospital Charity Board and fundraises for CIBC’s Run for the Cure through operation of their annual Golf Tournament. When not traveling or spending time with his family, Kevin can usually be found on the golf course.

Maeve O'Byrne

President
Maeve O'Byrne is the President of the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation. Educated in Wales, Switzerland and Ireland, she has been fundraising since 1981 and holds a fundraising diploma from the Indiana School of Fundraising. Maeve came to the Foundation in 1991 for the first Capital Campaign, and since then has steered the organization from the "vision" of raising $1 million a year to the reality of achieving the $3 million mark.