Our Team
The Kettle’s Senior Leadership Team
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Michelle has worked at the Kettle for the past 12 years in Community Services. Prior to The Kettle, Michelle worked for a number of years in the downtown eastside in Emergency Support Services. She is passionate about empowering Members and Clients through Kettle programs and advocating for vulnerable populations in the community. Michelle was a certified instructor of Mental Health Aid for 6 years, and facilitated courses to Staff and Community Partners to raise awareness and help fight stigma around mental health through education.
Michelle loves being outdoors and enjoys painting, sewing and various other arts activities.
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Janet has over 25 years of experience working in supportive housing and development, but her career didn’t begin in non-profit.
Janet’s background is in business, and she spent the first part of her career as a manager of a fabricating company where she designed a variety of tanks, specializing in propane tanks.
Wanting to make a transition into work that helped people, she got her first non-profit job as a manager for a small non-profit housing society in the Interior.
In her 20 years as our Director of Housing Services, Janet has helped to secure $33 million in operating funds for our supportive housing building, Taylor Manor, and secured the 1134 Burrard Project, which is now Kettle on Burrard.
Outside of work, Janet enjoys walking her dog and spending time in nature, especially on rainy days, and gardening.
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Raphael first started at The Kettle in 1992 as a Mental Health Worker at the Drop-In site. He left The Kettle, had a family, and returned in 2001, working as an Advocate/Mental Health Worker and Outreach Worker. He has always been interested in renovations and fabricating things, so when the Kettle decided to have an in-house Maintenance position, he jumped at the chance to work as the first Maintenance Worker. In 2006, that position evolved into a management role.
Working at The Kettle has been a lifelong adventure. Raphael believes that his department plays an integral part in making sure our members are safe, comfortable and happy - that is very rewarding and satisfying to him.
In Raphael’s spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and his house full of pets, and motorcycling.
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Brenda is honoured to serve the Kettle in a role dedicated to providing excellent business operations support to employees, and ultimately to our clients and members. Brenda’s portfolio includes people & culture (HR), finance, risk management, and strategic planning.
With a professional background spanning the country and sectors including not-for-profit, corporate, and education, Brenda has found the most fulfilment in serving at mission-driven organizations intent on changing the world for the better, using her business skills to support the empowering of vulnerable community members through Kettle programs and advocacy.
She is energetic, fun-loving, and curious, and is passionate about travel, family, reading, and animals. Brenda uses her free time for physical, mental, spiritual and artistic pursuits around our beautiful city. You will likely find her after work and on the weekends enjoying the seawall with friends and her partner.
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With over 20 years of experience in occupational health and safety across a diverse range of industries, Theresa is dedicated to fostering safe and healthy work environments. Guided by the philosophy of Mother Teresa, she believes that while not everyone can do great things, small actions performed with great love can have a profound impact. This principle drives Theresa's commitment to intentional, compassionate service, ensuring that every effort contributes to the well-being of others.
Outside of work, Theresa enjoys baking, hiking, and singing which provides a refreshing balance and inspires creativity in their professional endeavors.
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Michelle believes in the power of generosity to create a deeper sense of community and connection. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec - Michelle began fundraising as a teen, mobilizing her community to support emergency relief in Haiti, Nepal, and India. For the past decade, Michelle has dedicated her career to connecting individuals, families, and businesses with opportunities to align their values with the causes they care about.
She envisions a brighter future where people recognize their capacity and responsibility to create positive change by donating, volunteering, and advocating. With so much need around the world, deciding how best to help can be daunting. As a passionate storyteller, Michelle aims to make giving more transparent and meaningful by connecting donors to the impact they make possible.
In her spare time, Michelle enjoys spending time outside running along the seawall and exploring the beautiful BC backcountry.
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As Kettle's Executive Director, Wayne is responsible for all facets of the organization and works in partnership with the Kettle team, volunteers, members, and donors to provide housing and enhance the quality of life for individuals living with mental illness and elevate awareness about our work. Wayne’s passion for the Kettle comes from very personal experiences. Both his parents lived with mental illness. His mother’s led to a lifetime of inadequate housing and chronic unemployment. At the Kettle, he hopes to help others get the support she did not.
Wayne has had a highly successful executive career in the charity and not-for-profit sector for nearly 20 years, with a record of accomplishment in leading organizations to improve and grow. Before joining Kettle, he was Chief Executive Officer at the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation where he led a team that implemented innovative health, mental health & education supports for families. Prior to his not-for-profit work, Wayne enjoyed an 18-year career in broadcasting, which now helps him be a very engaging spokesperson for Kettle. He has three children and six grandchildren (at last count!). When he's not at work, Wayne and his wife, who live in Vancouver, enjoy walking with their dogs Gabby (who often comes to work with Wayne) and Millie, they like to travel and enjoy city’s many great restaurants.
The Kettle’s Board of Directors
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Brenda Lea is proud to combine her love for the Kettle mission and values and her passion for good governance to serve the Board on the Governance Committee.
As the Kettle proceeds with its ambitious strategic plan, Brenda Lea applies her long experience as a communicator, facilitator and thought partner to help arrive at simple, creative, focused and mission-driven strategic responses to the complex issues that drive The Kettle's operations day to day.
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Jeff is currently Senior Vice President, Leasing BC at QuadReal Property Group, with 35 years of commercial real estate experience in the Metro Vancouver region. Over the years, Jeff has been involved in a multitude of lease and pre-lease transactions, construction management, planning and development of new projects, acquisitions and dispositions, as well as asset and property management. With this skillset, Jeff plays a key role in assessing the overall facilities objectives of the Board to further strengthen the delivery of services provided by Kettle within the neighbourhoods it serves.
Jeff holds residence in Chinatown with his wife, where they are actively involved as donors and volunteers of a number of local charities and not-for-profit organizations, having seen first-hand the needs and social issues facing the Downtown Eastside in particular. Jeff has 5 children and 2 grandchildren, and enjoys spending time with family especially over the summer months at Lake Okanagan in West Kelowna.
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Jennifer grew up in Vancouver and has lived in Toronto, Calgary, worked out of Montreal, gaining a deep appreciation for the diversity of communities across Canada. She returned to Vancouver in 2012, drawn back by the city’s strong sense of community and connection to the outdoors.
Jennifer has spent over 20 years in People & Culture leadership, helping organizations bring people together, align around a shared purpose, and navigate change. She earned her Executive MBA from Beedie School of Business in 2020 and has worked in hospitality, healthcare, higher education, and consulting, always focused on building cultures that help people and organizations thrive.
Jennifer looks forward to using her experience to meet community members where they are and to support The Kettle Society’s mission of providing essential services and creating a sense of belonging for those living with mental illness.
When she’s not working, she loves skiing and walking with her partner, Scott. A devoted mom, she enjoys gathering friends and family, whether over a shared meal or a lively game of password with her family.
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Tanya has over 20 years of experience in financial services as a CPA at an international accounting firm. She has supported C-Suite executives in improving financial processes and aligning them with organizational culture and values. As Director of Onboarding for the Finance Managed Services team, she leads clients through finance transformations, modernizing accounting systems and implementing cloud-based solutions. Tanya also assists family offices with growth and investment accounting. She values inclusivity and actively mentors and coaches professionals.
Tanya is a CPA, CA and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University. She is an ICF ACC certified coach and an Adult Education specialist with a Provincial Instructor Diploma. She completed the Accredited Board Designation program at the Ted Rogers School of Management, strengthening her expertise in strategic governance and board effectiveness.
Tanya also serves on the Board of the Dress for Success Vancouver Society, contributing to projects that empower women and strengthen community connections.
Tanya looks forward to serving on The Kettle's board and applying her experience to help The Kettle Society achieve its strategic and operational goals.
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Sindhu brings over 14 years of architectural experience designing sustainable residential, cultural and academic spaces across Canada and the United States. Her work involves complex sites and diverse teams, and she brings a passion for community engagement and material innovation. As The Kettle Society embarks on major capital projects, she will draw on this experience to provide strategic guidance and a clear, business‑oriented perspective to support The Kettle’s facilities and housing objectives.
Originally from India and now proud to call Vancouver home, Sindhu believes that good design is collaborative and rooted in place. She firmly believes in the value of stable housing to transform lives and looks forward to supporting The Kettle’s mission of delivering meaningful housing for those in need.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their beloved rescue dog, hiking and exploring the mountains of British Columbia.
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Kurt Heinrich is Senior Director, Media Relations at the University of British Columbia. Prior to this role, he held senior communications and public affairs roles with both Simon Fraser University and the Vancouver School Board. He is a Trustee and Vice Chair of the Vancouver Public Library Board and a Board Member of the Vancouver Public Library Foundation.
He is a past president of the Vancouver chapter of the Canadian Public Relations Society and was a co-founder, coach and long-term board member of the Vancouver Street Soccer League – an organization that uses the power of sport to empower those experiencing homelessness and mental illness. He holds a master’s degree in history from the University of Victoria and a diploma in broadcast journalism from BCIT.
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Jenn has more than 15 years of experience as a senior leader in finance and policy development.
She has spent her career working in the BC public service including 10 years at BC Housing before joining the Provincial Health Services Authority in 2021 as the Senior Executive Director of Finance.
Jenn's experience in public sector finance and in subsidized and affordable housing will play a key role in supporting the Kettle as it moves forward with its strategic plan.
Jenn is a Chartered Professional Accountant, and holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UBC.
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Ian grew up in Vancouver and after receiving his Bachelor of Commerce degree from UBC, he attained his CPA and CBV (Chartered Business Valuator) designations while working for a major accounting firm.
For the last 25 years, Ian has been an investment banker with Raymond James providing advisory services related to financings, acquisitions and divestitures for both private and public companies.
Ian is looking forward to utilizing his management and financial experience to assist in the Kettle’s mission of supporting people with mental illness to lead healthier lives.
He is married with one son and in his younger years played competitive rugby including representing Canada in several matches.
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Kimberley was born and grew up in the Greater Vancouver area. After university she spent a couple of years travelling and living in southern Africa where she deepened her desire to understand, value and lift up the experience and voices of those who are too often overlooked. Since 2002, Kimberley has worked with First Nations communities in the Fraser Valley, and currently works with the First Nations Health Directors Association to support community-based health and wellness programs in 204 First Nations communities across BC.
An Elder taught that ‘we have two ears and one mouth for a reason’, and Kimberley is eager to listen and learn as a new Board member at the Kettle. She brings a passion for supporting compassionate, inclusive services which empower people to articulate what their best lives look like, and provide tools to help them live those lives to the fullest.
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Monica is excited and honoured to be joining the Board of the Kettle Society and to offer her skills to the organization. She has deep roots in the local community and has served as a volunteer and on the Boards of a number of non-profits and charitable organizations in the areas of governance and finance.
Monica recently retired from a 30 year plus career in property management with a specialty in strata properties, where she honed her abilities to work cooperatively with those of differing backgrounds and opinions. She maintains connections with a number of local and global groups that are based on the understanding that all people deserve respect, kindness and understanding.
Monica enjoys many genres of music and attends as many concerts and shows as she can, and having recently had a knee replacement is now ready to start traveling, starting with Haida Gwaii.
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Jake is currently a Communications Manager with the First Nations Health Authority, the first and only First Nations health authority in Canada. He has been a professional communicator for the past 15 years supporting mental health and Indigenous health programs working within the provincial health authorities. He began his career working for BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority and was based at Riverview Hospital. It was a career highlight to lead the communications for five years and support the mandate of this historic psychiatric hospital until the closure in 2012.
Jake has a passion for writing compelling stories with an interest in changing the narrative/stigma busting and social justice issues. He is an advocate for health equity, mental health and harm reduction and is thrilled to join the Kettle to continue to support this crucial work.
Jake is a settler and is grateful to live on the unceded, traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. When not at work he can be found hiking on the many beautiful trails of these lands.
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I was born and raised in East Vancouver. I’ve been a member of the Kettle since 2017. I’ve been housed through the Kettle Friendship Society since 2017 – Peggy’s Place, Taylor Manor and now in the SIL program with my husband, Richard. Richard and I got married in 2023, after meeting in Taylor Manor in 2021. I currently volunteer at the Recovery Café, the Drop In and at Peggy’s Place doing Arts & Crafts at all three locations.
I’ve been trained as an Administrative Assistant but, am looking to start my own business in the Arts & Crafts sector. My background is first aid. Completing 4000-4500hrs of volunteer work in 11 ½ years time. I love to learn, and I love to teach others just as much. I look forward to the term I have on the Board. I’m very honoured to have been voted in as a member of the Board. I couldn’t have come this far without the support of many people – family, friends, and staff at various locations of the Kettle.
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Amy is a lawyer in the real estate group at Farris LLP in Vancouver. Amy maintains a broad real estate practice, advising clients on all aspects of real estate development and real estate related transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, commercial and residential developments, financing and leasing. Amy’s practice also encompasses advising clients on corporate and commercial matters, including mergers and acquisitions, structuring partnerships and other investment vehicles, and corporate governance matters. Amy is passionate about serving the Vancouver community, and looks forward to leveraging her skillset to help the Kettle achieve its operational goals.
Honourary Board Members
Tamara Taggart
The Kettle’s first Honorary Board Member after six years as a Kettle Director. She is a committed community volunteer, sitting on several Boards throughout the Lower Mainland. She is happy to be making a positive difference with The Kettle in this capacity.
Suzanne Jean
Suzanne has 40+ years of experience in organization/project management in the social service field. She contracts with government and social service agencies on quality assurance, policy development, program evaluation, and training and program development strategies. Suzanne also administers Fit4Defense, an assertiveness training program designed to address violence prevention and increase empowerment for children and youth.