Our People

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 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. 

Emily Faubert (she/they) is the Youth Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator at the Centre for Family Equity, running monthly youth nights engaging youth 13-27 on the CFE's transit advocacy including Transit for Teens, organizing outreach, and assisting with policy research. She is also a PhD student in the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto, Canada. Their background is in Journalism and Digital Media Cultures (HBA), Social Justice Studies (MA), as well as community organizing for fare-free public transportation and mobility justice. Emily is currently the Senior Accessibility Editorial Fellow for Cabaret Commons and the Digital Research Ethics Collaboratory, has contributed work to The Tyee and Societies, and is one of the coauthors of Queer Cartographies: Mapping Queerealities.

Vibusha Kalanee Madanayake 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 and has been with the CFE since 2022.  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 public health advocacy, gender equality and youth empowerment who 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.

Bonnie Koehn facilitates the Centre for Family Equity’s Parental Mental Health Support for Survivors Program, and has contributed to the design and development of the program through 2023 to the present. Bonnie is a Registered Clinical Counsellor in private practice. Alongside her practice, she is committed to working with non-profit and charity organizations to support women and gender-diverse survivors of family violence and intimate partner violence in moving toward post-traumatic growth and recovery. She believes strongly that mental health care, social and community supports, family law reform, and socioeconomic opportunity are imperative to the well-being of those who have experienced family violence and intimate partner violence. Bonnie’s experiences as a survivor and single parent helped to build the foundation for her compassionate curiosity and her drive to create positive change through counselling, research, and advocacy.

Bonnie previously coordinated the Making Ends Meet project with First Call Child & Youth Society, a participatory research project that examined the challenges experienced by low-income families in the Lower Mainland. She also authored an academic research project called Fostering Resilience and Posttraumatic Growth in Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Holistic and Social Justice Framework for Healing.

Jagdeep coordinates and facilitates the peer support meeting component of the CFE's PMHSS program. Jagdeep brings her passion for supporting families and a wealth of past and current experience to the CFE. Jagdeep is a contributor to the mental health field in BC through several key roles. She is a facilitator with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) for the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) groups with Youth, Young Adults, and Adults. Jagdeep has worked as a Family Peer Support worker supporting parents and caregivers as they support their dependants with mental health and/or substance use challenges. She currently supports the CMHA Peer Support Workers to best support families navigating the challenges that come with mental health and substance use, particularly with systems navigation. Jagdeep is also a Parent Family Ambassador at Foundry BC and has been and continues to be a part of many ongoing projects with the Foundry as it continues to grow in the province. Jagdeep has been a member of the Single Mothers' Alliance and now the CFE for many years. She contributed to the organization as a peer researcher for the Justice at Work for Lone Mothers in BC research project and is also currently a Lone Mothers' Economic Inclusion Metro Vancouver Regional Impact Committee member.

Erin Arnold has worked for various government ministries since 1998.  Erin holds a graduate certificate in complex trauma and child sexual abuse intervention, an undergraduate degree in Child and Youth Care Counselling, completed graduate work in Leadership, and has over 27 years of facilitation. 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, addressing family poverty, and more. 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 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 the present. 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 is Vietnamese and First Nations Blackfoot, Her father is from southern Vietnam and her mother is from Kainai (the Blood Tribe) in southern Alberta. Her Blackfoot name is Naato Sipitaki 'Holy owl woman'.

Mai has faced many adversities growing up. She has experienced and witnessed the deep impacts of intergenerational trauma, child welfare, abuse, racism, discrimination, loss, and grief. Despite all that Mai continues to heal and strive. over the past 10 years of her career, she has excelled in leadership and supportive roles with, YWCA’s Crabtree Corner, MCFD Maples Adolescent Center, and Fraser Valley Aboriginal and Child and Family Services Society Xyolhemeylh. 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 challenges. Mai is passionate about advocating and supporting Indigenous and other marginalized populations. Today Mai is a mother of five, and a student studying at the University of Lethbridge with her most recent past role at FVACFSS Xyolhemeylh as a Family Cultural Connections Worker. 

Her goal in life is to bring awareness to Indigenous health and environmental disparities and inequities caused by the historical and current impacts of colonial policies like residential schools implemented and enforced by the Canadian government.

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.

Katherine Jarman is a passionate advocate for children, families, and educators, deeply committed to social justice and equity. As a devoted single mother, she navigates the joys and challenges of parenthood firsthand, an experience that fuels her dedication to creating a more supportive and inclusive society for families like hers.

With a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Care and Education, Katherine combines lived experience with professional expertise. She currently serves as the Director of Advocacy for the Capilano Students' Union, where she works to remove systemic barriers and amplify the voices of post-secondary students—many of whom, like herself, balance education, caregiving, and financial challenges.

She works closely with student collectives from marginalized communities to ensure institutions and governments prioritize equity. Katherine also serves on the board of ECEBC, supporting governance and advancing the early childhood education profession. She is committed to building a future where families, especially single-parent households, have the resources and policies needed to thrive.

Lloyd Juliane is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 20 years of experience in financial management, accounting, and compliance. He brings strong skills in financial strategy, risk management, and governance, making him well-equipped to contribute as treasurer for the CFE. With a background in both Canada and the Philippines, Lloyd excels in streamlining processes, ensuring transparency, and driving organizational growth. Through his lived experience of poverty in the Philippines, Lloyd understands the challenges faced by marginalized communities and he is passionate about supporting initiatives that aim to alleviate poverty for families. Outside of work, he is a dedicated family man, married with one child, and has overcome significant challenges as an immigrant.

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.'

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. 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.