Board of Directors

G. David Richardson

Board Chair and Co-Founder — Board Director

Dave Richardson is the President and CEO of Octaform Systems Inc. and Co-Founder of the Stigma-Free Society.

Mr. Richardson is a Director of Richardson International Limited. He is a Director Emeritus of Ducks Unlimited Canada following 20 years on that board and remains dedicated to several other charities and philanthropic activities.

He was a founding member and Director of The Asia Pacific Foundation and a leader on various government trade missions to Asia. In addition he was a Director of the Canada China Trade Council and Chairman of the Agriculture Committee.

Mr. Richardson has served on a number of public and private boards throughout his career and continues to hold several other directorship positions.

David Robertson, M.A.(Hons), P.G.C.E.

Vice-Chair — Board Director

David Robertson was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland. After completing his M.A.(Hons) at the University of Aberdeen and his teaching degree (P.G.C.E.) from Loughborough University, in England, he began his teaching career in 1978. Heavily involved in sports all his life, David was a member of the Scottish National rugby squad for a year and a half before injury cut short his playing career. After 11 years of coaching, and teaching English and French in Scotland, David and his family moved to Vancouver Island in 1986 at Brentwood. In 1993, he moved over to Shawnigan Lake School, working as Deputy Head before accepting the position of Headmaster in 2000. He brought his 25-year stint of leadership at the school to a close at the end of June 2018. Recently, David returned to school leadership and is excited to be the new Head of School at Queen Margaret’s School in Duncan, B.C.

A passionate advocate of character education, David led Shawnigan through a period of unprecedented growth and development which saw the investment of more than $70 million into the campus. He has never lost his passion for helping young people to be their best and for education in general hence his return into the world of schools. His guiding light has always been kindness and his aims have always been to help develop first-class human beings.

Anne-Marie Butler

Treasurer — Board Director

Anne-Marie Butler is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has held a variety of senior finance positions; currently as the Director of Finance and Operations for Stratford Hall School in Vancouver, B.C.

Anne-Marie is well recognized as a business transformation leader and innovator who has leveraged her core competencies of Accounting, Finance and Technology to deliver significant and immediate business value to a number of organizations. Under Anne-Marie’s leadership BC Egg became a highly profiled and recognized industry leader. IBM recognized Anne-Marie’s dedication presenting her with the IBM Business Analytics Champion Award for multiple years.

Anne-Marie has a personal interest in changing the conversation around mental health and well-being. She wants to see a safe place in society where there is reduced social stigma and discrimination allowing individuals to get the support and help they need to grow and flourish.

Anne-Marie enjoys walking with her husband and three dogs in many of the beautiful natural settings in South Surrey. She is a mom of five young adults and loves spending time with them. She is also an avid yoga practitioner which helps keep her grounded.

DR. GENIEVE BURLEY

Board Director

Dr. Genieve Burley is a chiropractor in Vancouver, BC. She has spent the past 17 years
working in the fitness industry and studying movement as it relates to aging and mental
health. She is passionate about wellness and has shared her knowledge on television,
radio and in numerous publications.

She has taught over 20 yoga teacher trainings internationally, and hosted 11 world renowned wellness retreats.

Genieve has been involved in philanthropy and volunteer work for decades. She has
been on the BC Cancer Inspiration Gala Committee, Dr. Peter Centre Gala committee
and the chair for the BC Women’s Health Foundation Glow Committee, and assisted in fundraising events for the Dance Centre BC and Canuck Place. She has co-created her
own fundraiser “Cultivate Wellness” raised over $50,000 for local women’s and Indigenous charities. She volunteers with the BC Chiropractic Association at province wide health events to represent her profession. She is interested in allyship and education in DEI and pursues professional development. 

While Genieve possesses a diverse background in fund-raising for different organizations, her heart lies in championing mental health. After the birth of both her girls, she experienced severe post-partum anxiety and has committed to helping others with tools to live well with depression and anxiety. Joining the board of directors for Stigma-Free Society is the perfect alignment with her values by creating awareness, de-stigmatization, education and compassion for all.

Mike Skrypnek

Board Director

Mike’s work ignites passion helping industry leaders make their cosmic ripple. This impact extends through generations.  Healing our past traumas and reforming our subconscious patterns allows us to realize our UNLimited WORTH. When we do, we enjoy happiness, success and love.

Mike Skrypnek is an international bestseller of nine books, a keynote speaker, men’s mental health advocate, podcast host, and sought-after business strategist who has shared his insights and wisdom with thousands of passionate purpose-driven industry leaders. He is also the CEO of Grow GET Give Coaching, Founder of the UNLimited WORTH Project & Executive Director of the UNLimited WORTH Society.

Mike lives, loves, and adventures with his wife, Sherri, and their two young adult children, Madison, and Coen, in the beautiful Sea-to-Sky corridor of British Columbia, Canada. You can find them skiing, snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking, paddle boarding and more in the mountains and on the rivers and ocean just minutes from home, in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Dr. Chris Richardson

Board Director

Dr. Chris G Richardson is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia. His program of research is focused on examining the relationships between aspects of biopsychosocial development in adolescence (e.g., impulsivity, sensation seeking, resilience) and patterns of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and other drug use.

He is also a Scientist with the Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences at St. Paul’s Hospital and research lead for the Inner City Youth Program (see http://mh.providencehealthcare.org/programs/inner-city-youth) where he works with a team of mental health clinicians to examine the impact of mental illness, substance use and homelessness on the psycho-social functioning of youth and young adults.

In addition to his academic experience, Dr. Richardson has spent several years as a frontline worker in a variety of group home settings for homeless men and has served a member of the board of directors for From Grief to Action – a non-profit group providing support and advocacy for families dealing with a loved one’s addiction.

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Craig Jangula

Board Director

Craig Jangula has a talent for understanding and helping to manage complex public policy issues. He brings more than a decade of experience in government and politics to his work at Jangula & Company.  Craig’s passion for research, community outreach, and development are combined with expertise in political campaigns and government decision-making. He has spent many years working in the offices of a number of MLAs, such as with the Minister of State for the Olympics and Act Now BC, Minister of Citizen Services and Minister of Children and Family Development. Additionally, Craig has run political campaigns for several provincial and nomination elections. This experience has given him invaluable insight into the inner workings of the provincial government and the best ways to get his clients’ stories in front of the right people.

Craig is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others and is excited to lend his insight to the Stigma-Free Society.

Andrea Paquette

President — Co-Founder — Ex-Officio Board Director

Andrea is the President and Co-Founder of the Stigma-Free Society. She is passionate about offering effective and inspiring program delivery for anti-stigma and mental health education. Andrea holds extensive experience in the provincial government in policy, communications, and research in the areas of education, mental health, and social development. She acts as an advisory non-voting member of the Stigma-Free Society’s board of directors. 

Andrea received the 2019 Psychiatric Association of Canada President’s Commendation, 2018 Nominee for the Women Influencer Awards from the Women’s Collaborative Hub and 2017 nominee for the YWCA Women of Distinction Community Champion Award. Andrea has also been chosen as a 2016 national spokesperson for the Canadian Alliance for Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) sponsored by Bell Let’s Talk. She is named the Provincial 2015 Courage To Come Back award winner given by Coast Mental Health, received the 2015 Top 20 Under 40 Award from Vancouver Island’s Business and Community Awards, 2013 Mel Cooper Citizen of the Year Award in Victoria, British Columbia, and the 2013 Award for Mentorship from the National Council for Behavioral Health, Washington, D.C.

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