In 2010, Chris became the sixth executive director in Spinal Cord Injury BC (SCI BC)’s long history. With over 20 years experience as a spinal cord injury researcher, research centre executive, volunteer, and now community service leader in the spinal cord injury sector, Chris brings a unique set of skills and experiences to his role at SCI BC. He also brings a passion for making a difference for people with spinal cord injury, their families and those with related disabilities throughout BC.
Before arriving at SCI BC, Chris served as managing director of ICORD, a world-leading spinal cord injury research centre at UBC and Vancouver Coastal Health, and as managing director and later executive director of translational research at the Rick Hansen Institute.
During his time at ICORD and the Rick Hansen Institute, he served as Co-Leader of the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research-funded Disabilities Health Research Network where he worked to bring BC’s research and disability services communities together in order to foster collaboration for high quality research to enhance the lives and community participation of Canadians with disability.
After completing a Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology at UBC, Chris was faced with a decision – pursue a PhD studying elephant seal mating behavior in California or spinal cord injury repair at UBC. Wanting to contribute something that had the potential to directly impact the human condition, he chose the latter, completing a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of British Columbia.
Throughout his career in spinal cord injury research, Chris most enjoyed his opportunities to work with community service organizations and individuals with spinal cord injuries, so he was thrilled at the opportunity to lead this established and highly respected organization that makes both direct and indirect impacts on people with spinal cord injury and their families throughout B.C. and beyond. He truly loves working with the diverse set of stakeholders necessary to make the kinds of positive impacts needed from the individual to societal levels.
When not at work, Chris is most likely to be found on a soccer pitch coaching his two kids’ soccer teams. When not coaching, he is likely to be in the kitchen baking artisan bread or some new dinner or desert recipe. He’d probably read and travel more if he didn’t spend so much time tending to his garden. He used to ride vintage Vespas but got sick of having helmet hair.
