THE BOARD

RACHAEL DURIE

Rachael Durie is an experienced public policy and business professional. For the past 10 years, she has been a partner in a family-owned consulting business that focuses on real estate development, large-scale infrastructure development, and partnerships with Indigenous communities.

Previously, Rachael worked in the Canadian federal government at the departments of Public Safety, International Trade, Treasury Board Secretariat, and Natural Resources Canada where she was an advisor in the Minister’s office, serving with the same Minister at the various noted departments.

Rachael holds strong public policy interests in the areas of healthcare, finance, natural resources, and urban development. She is also a living kidney donor and a strong advocate for organ donation and organ transplant research.

NICOLE McLEAN

Nicole has recently joined the TRF Board of Directors, serving in capacity as the treasurer. She is originally from New Zealand but has been living in Vancouver for over 7 years.

Her educational background is with business and accounting, and she is currently working her way through the CPA designation. She has been working at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) for over 5 years and knows the impact research has on peoples’ lives and is looking forward to assisting the board.

In spare time you can find her running a book club, at the gym or hanging with friends and family.

MATT HOFFAR

Matt has over 20 years experience in sports and the capital markets. He operates Brickhouse Ventures, a consulting and investment firm focused on sports and entertainment properties. Prior to Brickhouse Ventures, Matt spent 10 years coaching basketball, 15 years in trading, operations and marketing both at a brokerage firm as an equities trader and as part of the founding team of an asset management firm focused on algorithmic trading technology in the futures, equities and forex markets.

Matt is part of the founding team of a professional boxing promotions company called Empire Boxing, he produces Agee & Gates The Podcast – What’s Your Hoop Dream?

Matt underwent a successful liver transplant in 2012 and supports various transplant research and other solid organ transplant initiatives through the Matt & Janet Hoffar Foundation.

DR. ROB MCMASTER

Dr. McMaster is affiliated with the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia and is currently the Vice Dean of Research, Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. He is also the former Executive Director of the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.

He received a Bachelor and Master of Science from the University of British Columbia (UBC) that was followed by a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford. His research interests are in the areas of molecular immunology, parasitology and transplant immunology and is co-lead on a multi-million initiative “Biomarkers in Transplantation” with funding from Genome Canada/Genome BC and the Prevention for Organ Failure (PROOF) Center of Excellence Centre. He is actively involved with national and international granting agencies including the World Health Organization, Canadian Institutes of Health Research where he serves as the as Scientific Officer for the Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Peer Review Grant Committee, and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, having served as Chair of the Research Advisory Council.

Dr. McMaster is a Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics and was Head of the Department, 2000-2010. He is a member of the Executive Management Team of the BC Clinical Research Infrastructure Network and a member of the BC Health Research Council.

ALICE MUI, PH.D.

Dr. Mui obtained her PhD from the University of British Columbia in 1991, and is currently a faculty member in the Department of Surgery, UBC. She is also a member of Transplantation Immunology Group in the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. Her lab focuses on understanding the intracellular pathways that regulate immune cell function, and translating that knowledge to therapeutics that can be used to treat inappropriate activation of the immune system (such as in organ transplantation). Work from her lab has led to development of an anti-inflammatory drug that is currently in clinical trials in humans.

ELAINE YONG

Elaine is, first and foremost, mother to Charlie and Addison, a heart transplant warrior. Addison was the first infant to receive a heart transplant at BC Children’s Hospital in 2011. Elaine and her family are dedicated supporters of transplant research and launched the Addison Fund for Pediatric Transplant Research in 2013.

During the day, she is a healthcare communications professional. Prior to communications, she was an award-winning reporter, producer, and anchor in television newsrooms across the country for more than two decades.

Elaine is also a patient partner with the CDTRP and various transplant research projects, and an organ donation awareness advocate and volunteer with BC Transplant.

LORI LOTHIAN (Chair)

Lori joined the board in 2008, six months after her husband Tom Bradley received a liver transplant, and has been Chair since January, 2013.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Lori and Tom have lived in Vancouver since 1991. A lawyer by training, Lori retired from the practice of law in 1998 to pursue academic studies. Since receiving her Masters of Law from UBC in 2002, Lori has devoted her time to a variety of projects including teaching in the Faculty of Law and working with Tom to build their firm Steadyhand Investment Funds. Prior to joining the board of TRF, Lori was a longtime member of the board of The Children’s Hearing and Speech Centre of BC, serving as Chair from 2003 to 2006.

Lori’s motivation in joining TRF was to ‘give back’ to BCT in recognition of the wonderful care and support she and Tom received through their difficult transplant journey. Since that time, she has come to realize (first hand) the difference research makes to the lives of transplant recipients, and has become committed to the work TRF does in supporting the development of new knowledge about transplant and the research community here in BC.

In her spare time, Lori enjoys reading, gardening, golfing and trying to keep up with Tom in various athletic pursuits including skiing (snow and water)!

Ed - bio pic for webA

EDWARD FERRE
Edward Ferre joined BC Transplant over 20 years ago as an Organ Donation Specialist and has held several clinical and administrative roles in the organization. He has served on several national and international committees, councils and boards including: The Canadian Association of Transplantation (President); Canadian Blood Service’s National Liaison Committee representing Organ Donation and Transplantation; and was appointed to the Canadian Council for Donation and Transplantation.

Originally from the prairies, Ed came to British Columbia in 1987 to study Applied Physiology and has remained in BC ever since. He completed an MBA in 2008 and in 2012 was awarded the credentials of French Wine Scholar.

DOUG COPLAND

Doug Copland is a partner in the Vancouver office of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.  As a lifelong resident of Vancouver, which is one of the most fortunate things one can be in this world, Doug believes in contributing to the community. Therefore, he enthusiastically jumped at the chance to join the TRF Board.

Doug and his wife live in Point Grey, have three children between them, and enjoy sports, walking with their dog at Spanish Bank (especially at low tide), music, and enjoying food and wine with friends and family.

REEMA GARCHA

Reema is a highly respected Financial Services Business leader with over twenty years of experience in optimizing payment solutions, building trusted relationships, and improving cash flow for optimal working capital solutions. She is a self-directed strategic thinker who is known for her thoughtful leadership and is committed to integrity and continuous learning.

In 2018, Reema donated her kidney to her sister Binn and is an active ambassador for organ donation awareness and transplant research.

For Reema, research represents the future and all that is possible. She believes research is vital to reach beyond our current state, ultimately improving the organ donation and transplant journey for patients and donors.

In her spare time, Reema enjoys spending time with her two teenage daughters, cooking, hiking and is always up for an impromptu adventure!