Staff, Board, Committees
Meet the dedicated individuals who make up the Centre for Family Equity team. Our staff work closely with our active member network of parents and caregivers throughout BC to carry out the policies and strategic vision set out by our lived experience-led board of directors.
Staff Members
Zeynya Shikur Alemayehu – Community Engagement and Research Coordinator
Zeynya is the Centre for Family Equity's community engagement and research coordinator. Zeynya is a researcher and policy professional with an interest and experience in human rights, sustainability, and public policy issues. In her past roles, working with non-profits, think tanks, and governments, she has coordinated and contributed to a diversity of research and policy projects with experience working directly with at-risk communities impacted by poverty and marginalization.
Zeynya coordinates the CFE's research partnered with academic institutions and plans, coordinates and carries out community engagement at the CFE both internally for the organization and for external engagement contracts with allies and partners. She trains and supports all peer researchers and peer facilitators in the CFE's participatory action research capacity-building mandate and program, collects and analyzes data, develops policy and program recommendations based on research and engagement data, writes research reports, and supports all community-engaged knowledge mobilization with peer researchers.
Viveca Ellis – Executive Director
Viveca serves the Centre for Family Equity in the role of executive director. Viveca is a founding member of the organization; in 2014, she banded together with other lone mothers impacted by poverty and lack of access to legal aid, housing, and child care, to mobilize grassroots leaders and advocate for public policy solutions to lone-parent family poverty in BC.
In past roles, Viveca has worked for the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition as the founder and coordinator of the BCPRC's Community Action Network, then led the Coalition through the pandemic as Interim Community Organizer until her departure to create the first staff role at what was then the Single Mothers’ Alliance in 2021.
In 2017, Viveca was nominated to the Minister's Advisory Forum on Poverty Reduction to design BC's first poverty reduction strategy and resulting legislation. In her spare time, Viveca can be found trying to keep up mountain biking with her 15-year-old son and paddling her canoe on BC's remote lakes and rivers.
Vibusha Madanayake – Northern & Rural BC Engagement Liaison
Vibusha Kalanee Madanayake (she/her) is the northern and rural BC engagement liaison for the Centre for Family Equity located in Prince George, BC. Vibusha works on a continual contract for the Centre for Family Equity for research and project-related activities on an as-needed basis. Vibusha’s previous experience involved managing projects on post-conflict development and gender-based violence in war-affected communities in Sri Lanka. Vibusha is a passionate advocate for gender equality and youth empowerment who recently completed her Master's in Gender Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). In her spare time, she is keen on spending time with her family, enjoying movies, and exploring diverse destinations and food cultures. Vibusha is also employed at Positive Living North No khe̅yoh t'sih'en t'sehena Society in Prince George as their Education Manager.
Board Members - alphabetical by last name
Erin Arnold – Treasurer
Erin Arnold has worked for various ministries since 1998 including the Attorney General, Public Safety and Solicitor General, Children and Family Development, and Public Services Agency of BC. Erin holds a graduate certificate in complex trauma and child sexual abuse intervention, an undergraduate degree in Child and Youth Care Counselling and has over 18 years of facilitation, victim services and trauma-based work experience. Erin has managed multi-year government contracts, organized and executed large public events and assisted in drafting public policy on various progressive issues.
Erin is passionate about volunteering in her community and has done so in a variety of capacities. Key areas of interest are women’s rights, maternal mental health, trauma informed programs and refugee services. Erin holds various board positions on subjects ranging from public education, mental health, global education, various levels of politics etc.
Erin is a mother, leader, survivor, social justice advocate and change-maker. Erin hopes to continue to bring compassion and empowerment to her role with the Centre for Family Equity.
Andrea Bryson - Access to Family Law Community Liaison
Andrea Bryson is a settler born in Alberta with a background in social work. She has provided family law advocacy and legal advocacy for family violence survivors from 2006 to 2024. Andrea currently provides training and mentorship to front-line workers supporting low-income folks navigating BC's family law system. Andrea is best known for her work with women with precarious status and women experiencing complex litigation and for her knowledge of BC’s legal aid system. She is a seasoned speaker and presenter on family law, intimate partner violence, and helping the legal systems to better support survivors of family violence.
Andrea's professional experiences have provided her with great insights into making systems better for survivors. However, Andrea's true expertise comes from her lived experience. As a formerly homeless youth and youth in care, she has lived experience of BC’s birth alert and child welfare system, income assistance, and used a variety of social programs to move her life forward. She went to Douglas College as a mature student and eventually to UVic to get her bachelor of social work. She is now completing her master's of social work at UBC. Andrea was a founding member of the Jane Doe Network which ran from 2009-2017 which was a loosely organized grassroots community of anti-violence workers organizing around improving access to justice. Andrea works at Rise Women’s Legal Centre as the Family Advocate Educator.
Mai Eagle Speaker
Mai Eagle Speaker is a mother of four, she is also the caregiver of her niece and nephew. Her father is from southern Vietnam and her mother is Blackfoot from Kainai Nation (the Blood Tribe) in southern Alberta.
Mai has faced many adversities growing up in East Vancouver. Mai is deeply impacted by intergenerational trauma, abuse, neglect discrimination, grief, and loss, and was also a child in care. Despite all that, she has gained valuable employment experience demonstrating a commitment to supporting Indigenous and other marginalized populations over the past seven years of her career, excelling in leadership and supportive roles with MCFD Maples Adolescent Treatment centre, YWCA’s Crabtree Corner, Strive Living Society, and the Aboriginal Mother Centre Society. In her personal and professional experience, she has developed a strong understanding of the challenges facing those with FASD, other cognitive disabilities, and mental health. Mai is a passionate advocate for Indigenous people, justice and social equality. Today Mai is a student with her most recent past role at Xyolhemeylh Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services Society as a Family Cultural Connections Worker.
Josephine Gyamfuah-Amonu
Josephine’s professional experience includes over twenty years working for the federal government in various human resources roles, including employee relations, conflict resolution, disability management, and performance management. She has insight into the diligence involved in providing tangible advice and service. Josephine has a strong perspective and an appreciation for ongoing support when dealing with sensitive and confidential situations.
Josephine has a Bachelor of Administration (Human Resources and Industrial Relations) from Athabasca University, a Conflict Management and Mediation Certificate from Conrad Grebel University College, affiliated with the University of Waterloo, and Business Administration Diploma and Human Resources Management Certificate from Humber College. When not working, Josephine is a one-caregiver busy caring for her three children, who are active in multiple activities. Josephine is the CFE's federal liaison.
Kate Jarman – Secretary
Katherine Jarman is a devoted single mother of one who spends her days and nights loving all the adventures she and her child experience. Katherine is a fearless advocate for the rights of children, families, and educators in her personal and professional life and completed her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Care and Education. Katherine is currently the Director of Advocacy for the Capilano Students' Union.
Katherine fulfills her commitment to social justice as she strives to support post-secondary students navigating the bureaucratic challenges that often get in the way of their goals. She works to ensure their voices are elevated, amplified, and supported on a daily basis, and works closely with the collectives of students from marginalized communities at Capilano University ensuring the Capilano Students’ Union, university, and provincial government do the work necessary to build success. She also holds a board position for ECEBC where she supports the governance of the organization and supporting the work of the tireless staff to elevate the early childhood education profession.
Brenda Whitecap Logan - Indigenous Community Liaison
Brenda Whitecap Logan is an Indigenous lone mother from Treaty 6 Nation, Saskatchewan. Brenda is passionate about helping vulnerable people with multiple barriers like herself overcome the challenges they face and break down the barriers they experience. She values empowering people so they can rise above any challenge in life that comes along. Brenda has been a very engaged peer researcher with the SMA and then the CFE in the past for over four years and contributes a great deal to many CFE projects, campaigns and initiatives on an on-going basis. In Brenda's words: 'I have lived experience of living with multiple barriers on low income and I am raising my autistic son in East Vancouver. The organization has helped me be a part of my community and stand strong with others to use our voices to bring about the change we need now.'
Oluwatoyin Christiana Onabola - Northern BC Liaison
Christiana Onabola is a health equity and policy professional and a newcomer to Canada. She is currently a Health Sciences doctoral candidate at the University of Northern BC, and an immigrant mother of two. Her journey with the Centre for Family Equity began as a Peer Researcher on the Making Mothers Matter (MMM) project, where she brought both her lived experience and professional expertise to research and advocacy focused on amplifying the voices of marginalized women and families. Motivated by her own experiences navigating childcare challenges, Christiana is dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of families facing systemic barriers.
As a former peer researcher and active SMA/CFE member for many years, Christiana has supported the development of interview toolkits that foster trust and facilitate open dialogue with mothers and families in poverty. Her contributions have enhanced the design of research questionnaires, and she has conducted interviews to ensure participants’ perspectives are authentically represented. Christiana continues to lend her skills and insight to initiatives at the Centre for Family Equity, focusing on addressing the systemic roots of family inequities.
In addition to her work with the Centre, Christiana serves on the board of the Canadian Evaluation Society BC Chapter, where she leads regional initiatives that connect evaluators in Northern BC with CESBC's essential resources and professional development opportunities. As a board member, Christiana’s background in research, evaluation, and community engagement supports the Centre’s mission to create equitable opportunities and meaningful improvements for families across British Columbia.
Racial Equity Committee
The CFE's Racial Equity Committee guides, informs and shapes our work on racial justice both externally through all of our work and internally at the organization.
Socio-economic Equity Committee
The CFE's Socio-economic Equity Committee guides, informs and shapes the CFE's work to address economic inclusion and end poverty for children, youth and families in BC. This committee consists of a sub-committee focused on Disability Justice.