Board of Directors

Marlyn Graziano
Chair
Marlyn is a former Senior Executive with expertise in strategic communications, issue management, stakeholder relations, community engagement and fundraising. After 25 years working in media as a Journalist, Editor, Editorial Director and Publisher, Marlyn joined Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 2013, serving in a number of roles, including Vice President, External Affairs and CEO of the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation. Marlyn is passionate about community, and has an unwavering belief in the transformative power of philanthropy. Her community work has included serving on the Boards of a number of charitable organizations, including the Surrey Christmas Bureau, KidSport and the Langley Community Farmers’ Market Society. She was also a Director of the Surrey Board of Trade, a member of the community council of Langley’s Gateway of Hope, and continues to serve as a volunteer with the KPU Foundation. Marlyn previously served on the Board of Sources Community Resources Society, including one year as President, and is delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside the outstanding team of Directors at the Sources Foundation to raise funds to support the incredible work of Sources as it continues to create Social Wellness For Our Community.

Stephen Dooley
Vice-Chair
Stephen Dooley became the second executive director of the SFU Surrey campus in November 2013. Prior to joining the team at SFU, he worked at Kwantlen Polytechnic University for more than 20 years, where he was the founder of Centre for Interdisciplinary Research: Community Learning and Engagement (CIR:CLE). Steve has a strong commitment to the development of community-campus partnerships, based on the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion.  He currently sits on the City of Surrey’s Public Safety Committee and is past chair of City of Surrey’s Poverty Reduction Coalition. Steve is also a member of the Surrey Local Immigration Partnership (LIP)
Mike Braun
Treasurer
Mike has over 35 years of public accounting experience. He focuses on providing taxation and business advisory services to high net worth, owner-managed and family businesses, estates and trusts. Mike is involved in a variety of businesses and business ventures, but specializes in incorporated professionals, construction contractors, real estate developers, product manufacturers, importers and distributors. He is often called upon to speak publicly on various tax, estate, financial and business topics. Mike has been active in community organizations serving as a board member, executive member and volunteer for health care foundations, community social service agencies, amateur athletic associations, public schools and chambers of commerce. He has also spent numerous hours serving as a coach to various amateur athletic teams. Within DMCL Mike serves on the firm’s Management Advisory Board which oversees the strategic, operational and financial objectives of this professional services firm. He formerly served as the Information Technology Partner and lead the firm’s initiative in paperless office, cloud computing, ERP system development, convergence of databases and remote workspace solutions allowing us to more efficiently and effectively service our client engagements.
Grace Chiu
Secretary

Grace Chiu joined Scotiabank in October 2019 and is a member of the senior leadership team responsible for devising, developing and implementing marketing, sponsorship and public relation communication strategies and tactics that contribute to the growth and success of the BC & Yukon Region.

Grace has held progressively senior roles in the for profit and not-for-profit industries with organizations such as the Vancouver Canucks, VANOC, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, Canadian Cancer Society, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and St. Paul’s Foundation.

She is passionate about creating an inclusive culture, sourcing and developing diverse talent and building high performing teams that focus on delivering results. Grace completed her undergrad at Simon Fraser University and MBA at Trinity Western University.


Paul Cope
Director
For more than three decades, Paul Cope has been immersed in the grocery retail industry where he is a highly respected leader. As the senior vice president of retail operations for Save-On-Foods and a member of the executive committee for Pattison Food Group, Paul models the company’s mission of Always Customer First with exceptional service to his customers, team and community. A driven and highly engaged leader, Paul possesses a broad understanding of the grocery retail business with a focus on operational excellence. He has been recognized with several of Save-On-Foods’ top leadership awards and holds an executive management and leadership designation. Outside of the office, Paul and his wife Gillian are proud parents to two daughters who also work for Save-On-Foods.
Curtis Christopherson
Director
 

With over 20 years of qualified experience in the health and fitness industry, Curtis was the owner and CEO of Innovative Fitness, North America’s largest network of premium personal training studios. In addition to his brick and mortar business, he is the founder of WRKOUT, a user-friendly digital solution that empowers fitness professionals to prescribe personalized protocols and products to drive meaningful results.

While leading the businesses, Curtis has completed extreme adventures and some incredible physical feats. He competed in a 100km Del Sahara desert run, several Half Ironmans, over 18 marathons and has been on the podium for multiple adventures, he knocked off some international hikes such as the West Coast Trail (in 21 hrs), Machu Picchu, and Kilimanjaro. He has also been a part of a team that cycled across Canada (setting a Guinness Book of World Records) and Australia to raise over one million dollars for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

To date, Curtis and his team have raised and contributed over six million dollars towards non-for-profit organizations and community charities. 


Dr. Linda Hensman
Director
Dr. Linda Hensman is a proud Rotarian since joining the club 24 years ago and is currently the Assistant Governor for the White Rock/South Surrey area. She has a diverse background having held clinical, academic and senior leadership positions in both healthcare institutions and universities in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador. She was involved in the establishment of the pharmacy degree program at Memorial University of Newfoundland and was the Dean of the School of Pharmacy at Memorial for 12 years prior to her retirement in 2016. Dr. Hensman was awarded the Bowl of Hygeia for her outstanding service to the community through the profession of Pharmacy. She was also actively engaged and held Board positions in many community organizations while living in Newfoundland and Labrador.