Our Leadership
Guided by experience. Driven by community.
ANHBC’s Board of Directors and leadership team work together to provide governance, strategic leadership, and accountability to our mission. The Board is uniquely composed of community representatives from each neighbourhood house and camp, along with directors-at-large from the communities we serve.
Board of Directors
- Nanette WongPresident / Director at Large
- Robert SimonsVice-President / Sasamat Outdoor Centre Representative
- Paulman HuiTreasurer/Director at Large
- Kelly LinSecretary/Director at Large
Nanette Wong has spent her career building and leading businesses, an experience that has taught her the importance of listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, and balancing long-term thinking with practical decision-making. Through community governance, she has applied those lessons in a different setting, one where success is measured not by financial results, but by stronger, more connected communities. She considers it a privilege to bring those experiences to the Neighbourhood House movement and to continue learning from the volunteers, staff, and community members whose quiet acts of service inspire her.
Nanette first connected with South Vancouver Neighbourhood House in the summer of 2021 while looking for a volunteer opportunity. She joined the Langara Food Hub Program, where she witnessed firsthand the dedication of staff and volunteers working to address food insecurity for individuals, seniors, and young families. One of her most memorable moments was when a mother of two young girls stopped to say “thank you” and “goodbye” because her husband had found a job and their family were able to exit the program.
Nanette joined the South Vancouver Neighbourhood House Community Board to contribute her experience in service to her community. She later served as SVNH’s representative on the ANHBC Board from 2023 to 2026 and as Vice-President from 2025 to 2026.” One of the greatest gifts of board service”, she says, “has been working alongside dedicated staff, committed volunteers, and fearless community leaders who demonstrate that community is built through countless acts of kindness, commitment, and care”.
- Dan WatsonDirector at Large
- Deborah BakerDirector at Large
- Graham GirardDirector at Large
- Sara GoldvineDirector at Large
Graham Girard is a registered architect, educator, and community advocate dedicated to creating healthy, resilient, and inclusive communities. His work draws on a multidisciplinary background in architecture, engineering, construction, and ecology, with a focus on regenerative, climate-resilient design and the public spaces and infrastructure that support everyday life. Graham serves as Associate and Project Architect at Local Practice Architecture + Design, where he leads complex community and infrastructure projects across British Columbia. He is also the Academic Lead and head instructor for BCIT’s Essential Technical Skills in Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE) certificate program, helping prepare the next generation of professionals for meaningful careers in the built environment. A proud citizen of the Métis Nation of British Columbia and a lifelong resident of the Lower Mainland, Graham’s family roots in the region extend back five generations to the Royal Engineers who helped lay the foundations of many of the communities we call home today. He is passionate about fostering a future that honours both this shared history and the Indigenous histories and rights that have shaped these lands since time immemorial. Before becoming an architect, Graham was deeply involved in volunteer initiatives focused on climate action, watershed stewardship, salmon habitat restoration, and healthy coastal ecosystems. That commitment to environmental stewardship continues to inform both his professional practice and his community service. As a Director of the Association of Neighbourhood Houses BC, he is committed to strengthening the social infrastructure that helps people and communities thrive.
Graham first connected with Neighbourhood Houses while looking for opportunities to volunteer in his community. He was drawn to the organization’s mission, values, and the real difference it makes every day in countless lives. He joined the board three years ago to support the fantastic work being carried out by the organization and remains committed to strengthening the social infrastructure that helps people and communities thrive.
- Shawn KeyesDirector at Large
- Janet PetrasAlex House Representative
- Tanya FinkCedar Cottage Neighbourhood House Representative
- Dakota Lai-DeanFrog Hollow Neighbourhood House Representative
Tanya Fink has been a lifelong champion of her local neighbourhood house. Growing up in poverty, her neighbourhood house provided a place of belonging, acceptance, love, and opportunity at no cost. That experience played a pivotal role in shaping who she is today and inspired a lifelong commitment to building strong, connected, and inclusive communities.
Today, Tanya works as a Social Planner, advancing equitable outcomes for people across the city. She holds a Master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning from UBC and has more than 15 years of experience working with non-profit organizations and local governments on initiatives related to housing, homelessness, poverty reduction, resilience, asset-based community development, and social impact assessment. She brings expertise in housing, public policy, and systems change, along with a deep commitment to reconciliation, social justice, and meaningful community engagement.
Tanya’s relationship with Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House spans her entire life. She first attended preschool there in 1981 and later participated in pre-teen and leadership programs, summer camps, Family Night, and youth volunteering. As an adult, she has continued to be actively involved through volunteering, fundraising, and serving on the Community Board over several decades, including as both a director and chair. Tanya joined the ANHBC Board in September 2025 as Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House’s representative, championing its community, programs, services, staff, issues, and interests while contributing to the broader Neighbourhood House movement. Fun fact: Tanya and her 8-year-old daughter are learning to dance flamenco together.