Joanie Sims Gould, PhD, RSW

Joanie Sims Gould is a Principal Scientist of the Active Aging Research Team, Executive Director of the Active Aging Society, and a Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia. The goal of Joanie’s work is, simply speaking, to “add life to the later years.”

With the Active Aging Research Team, Joanie designs, implements and evaluates healthpromoting programs for older adults, including Choose to Move. Her research examines factors that influence health and well-being as people age, including mobility, social connection, and mental health for example, loneliness, and explores how research findings can be translated effectively for different populations and settings. She works closely with a broad range of partners across British Columbia and beyond. Sims Gould holds degrees in Biology (BSc), Gerontology (BA), and Social Work (BSW & MSW), as well as an interdisciplinary PhD. She also received postdoctoral training and work experience in two distinct settings—UBC’s Department of Sociology and the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility (CHHM) at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, with Dr. Karim Khan (Scientific Director of IMHA, CIHR).

Sims Gould was recognized for her scholarship with a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator award and a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar award. This diversity of experience across disciplines and professions, and in collaboration with many community stakeholders, has uniquely positioned her to address multi-faceted issues in aging and health.

Rebecca Collett

Rebecca is a values-driven health and social development communications practitioner. She has almost a decade of experience working to improve the health and well-being of both Canadians and people around the world through strategic communications and fundraising.

​Rebecca is motivated by the truth that all people are universally entitled to health, justice, and dignity.  In addition to her role with the  Active Aging Society, she also works with the Active Aging Research Team, effect:hope, MCF Canada, and is the Director of Communications and Digital Engagement for Save the Mothers, an international NGO that equips professionals (from a wide array of disciplines) in developing countries to improve the health of mothers and babies.

​Rebecca moonlights as an opera singer. She has performed with the Vancouver Opera, the Canadian Opera Company, and other opera companies, choirs, and orchestras across the country. In addition to her degree in Corporate Communications Management, Rebecca has achieved her Master’s in Music from the University of Toronto. She made her professional debut at age 6 on Sesame Street Canada.

​In her spare time, Rebecca keeps active and socially connected by running on the sea wall, playing soccer, and taking her beloved pups Boy George and Matzie to the local dog park.

Vicky Alb

Vicky is the Administrative Lead for the Society and the Active Aging Research Team at UBC. She brings years of experience in system management, policy development, improving workplace efficiency and effective communication. Motivated by team success, she values building strong working relationships to support colleagues and external partners alike. Vicky is passionate about health initiatives that enhance the physical, mental, and social health of older adults. Outside of work, Vicky enjoys singing with her cover band, golf, and skiing. She is happiest when spending time in the mountains with her family.

Anne Stewart, K.C.

During her career, Anne acted for public and private companies and provided proactive legal and business advice. She was also involved in major project work, including corporate structuring and reorganization – establishing appropriate relationships between parties and to simplify or improve corporate structure; mergers, acquisitions and divestitures – assisting in detailed negotiations and documentation to complete the business arrangement between parties; major financings – representing the interest of the lender or borrower on the terms of the loan and the security, for major project or capital financing and for operating financing; and commercial contracts extensive experience in negotiating and drafting commercial contracts.

 Anne continues to do consulting work in the above areas.

​Select Experience

​Anne has acted in numerous major infrastructure projects in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, including the Sea to Sky Highway, Canada Line, Golden Ears Bridge, Port Mann Highway 1 (Gateway), Surrey Memorial Hospital, Single Room Occupancy Housing, and John Hart Generating Station Replacement in British Columbia, Calgary Ring Road and Alberta Schools in Alberta, A25 and A30 Highways and Champlain Bridge in Quebec, Sault Area Hospital, Royal Victoria Hospital, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Ottawa Light Rail Transit, Waterloo Light Rail Transit, OnCorridor RER in Ontario and St. John Water in New Brunswick.​

Awards & Recognition

Appointed Queen’s Counsel – 1993 

Awards

Anne has been honoured with many awards, including 2017 Women of Distinction Award in “Business and the Professions”, 2017 BC Business “Women of Influence-Mentor”, “Outstanding Leader 2016” by Women’s Infrastructure Network, 2017-2018 UBC Alumni Builder Award, 2014 UBC Law Alumni Award of Distinction, “General Corporate Award” by Lexology Client Choice Awards USA and Canada 2013, “Canada’s Top 25 Women Lawyers” by Lexpert magazine in 2012, the 2012 PEAK Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Association of Women in Finance, the 2009 Lexpert Zenith Award for women lawyers in business law, Business in Vancouver’s 2006 Influential Women in Business Award, and the 2006 Canada’s Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network.

Anne was named Best Lawyers’ 2016 Vancouver Corporate Governance Practice “Lawyer of the Year.”

She is also recognized as a leading lawyer in the following publications:

• Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2017 (Construction, Government Contracts, and Project Finance)

• Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business – 2017 Band 1 – Projects

• The 2017 Lexpert Guide to Leading US/Canada Cross-border Corporate Lawyers in Canada – Project Finance

• Who’s Who Legal: Project Finance 2016

• The Best Lawyers in Canada – 2013 to 2016

• Who’s Who Legal – 2012 – 2015

• Best Lawyers’ 2015 Project Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” (Vancouver)

• Best Lawyers’ 2013 Vancouver Corporate Governance “Lawyer of the Year”

• The Legal 500 Canada 2015 (Leading Lawyer – Infrastructure & Projects)

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory – 2012 to present

• Lexpert’s Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Infrastructure Lawyers 2014

• The 2013 Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada

• The 2012 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Corporate Commercial Law, and Banking and Financial Institutions)

• Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2012-2013: Band 1 – Projects: PPP &

• Infrastructure and Project Finance; 2012: Band 1 – Projects: PPP & Infrastructure)

• IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers for 2014

• Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading Women in Business Law – 2012 and 2014

• Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading Banking Finance and Transaction Lawyers 2012

Professional Activities

Anne has written and spoken extensively on many legal topics, including infrastructure.

Anne is active in various professional, community and charitable organizations. Anne is a former board member of the Canadian Council for Public Private Partnerships. For many years, she was a member of the Ethics Committee of The Law Society of British Columbia. She is a Dame of the Order of St. John. She is also a board member and past president of Music on Main Society, a board member of the Active Aging Society and a former board member of Simon Fraser University Foundation.

Education

Admitted to the British Columbia Bar – 1976 LL.B.,

University of British Columbia – 1975 B.Sc.,

University of British Columbia – 1972

Certificate of Health and Fitness, Simon Fraser University

Anthony Kupferschmidt

Anthony Kupferschmidt is a Credentialed Professional Gerontologist and a Certified Dementia Professional who has been working in the field of aging since age 17. He completed the Master of Arts in Gerontology through Simon Fraser University, and works for the City of Vancouver as the Strategic Lead, Aging and Older Persons. In this role, he leads strategy, policy and planning for the aging population to coordinate a cross-city approach to engage and meet the needs of older adults.

Anthony has previously worked as the Program Lead, Seniors for the City of Richmond, where he led the execution of the municipal Seniors Strategy and Dementia-Friendly Community Action Plan. Prior to that, he served as Executive Director of two independent seniors’ centres in Metro Vancouver, and worked with the Alzheimer Society of BC. Over the course of his career, he has also worked in research, hospital, memory clinic, long-term care and adult day program settings.

Anthony has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, Seniors First BC, and the Seniors Services Society of BC. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Professional Gerontologists and HelpAge Canada, and on the Executive Committee of the Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC. When not working or volunteering, Anthony enjoys spending time walking in the woods with his dog Ferguson.

Amber Stefanson

Amber Stefanson is the Director of Operations & Resources at the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences within the Faculty of Science at University of British Columbia. Amber has served within the university, health authority and not-for-profit settings in B.C. for nearly 20 years. Her areas of professional interest include leadership development and sustainability within the higher education sector. When not at work, she attempts to spend as much time as possible on her bike and in the beautiful outdoors with her family.