Board of Directors

Chair, Nomination Committee
Member, Governance Committee

Dan feels called to help BrainTrust fulfil its mission. “Our clients have compelling needs and amazing stories,” he says. He points to a classically trained trumpet player he knew who sustained a near-fatal aneurysm resulting in the loss of language, memory, and the ability to play the trumpet, who made an exceptional recovery and return to playing on concert stages. A practising lawyer, Dan has both legal expertise and experience with clients with brain injury.  He has proudly resided in Kelowna since 2008, with his wife and two children, all avid musicians. In his spare time Dan enjoys biking up mountains, coming down them slowly and carefully, and playing guitar and bass.

Member, Governance Committee
Member, Nomination Committee

Erin brings both personal and professional perspectives to our Board. After losing her mother to brain trauma sustained in a pedestrian-car accident, Erin became passionate about finding ways to eliminate preventable death and disability through a holistic, evidence-based approach. She is also an occupational therapist who focuses on the assessment and treatment of acquired brain injuries in rehabilitation and medical-legal contexts. Originally from the Lower Mainland, Erin lived and worked across the country before setting her sights on Kelowna as the ideal place to raise her young family and enjoy all the activities the Okanagan has to offer.

Chair, Governance Committee
Chair, Finance Committee
Member, Nomination Committee

Cyrus Ameli has over 25 years of leadership experience in strategic organizational development, finance, and communications.  Cyrus has served as a senior officer and board director of several publicly traded and private companies, with development projects around the world. Through his consulting practice, Reflective Management Ltd., he works with organizations in a broad cross-section of industries to help develop their sustainability along four key dimensions – environmental, social, governance and economic.

He holds an MBA degree, CAPM certification from the Project Management Institute, an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and a GCB.D designation with the Competent Boards ESG program.

In addition to his corporate and consulting roles, Cyrus serves as a member of the Board of Governors for Scouts Canada, and is board member of Pitt Meadows Airport Society, which oversees the operations of the Pitt Meadows Regional Airport (CYPK), in the role of Vice President.  He also serves as a member of the Active Transportation and Economic Development Committees for the City of Pitt Meadows.

Keith is a founding member of BrainTrust who has shown long-term dedication and commitment to our organisation. Behind his friendly smile and quiet demeanour is deep personal understanding about the impact of brain injury. In 1988, he and his wife were in a car accident that left them both with brain injuries. Despite their best efforts to cope with post-injury changes, Keith and his wife ended their marriage six years later. We are grateful that Keith continues to support our cause. He is the Owner/Operator of Bradley Beer Services, and is the proud father of two adult children, Matthew and Hilary. Keith is also a grandfather of seven.

Member, Finance Committee

Mia brings both personal and professional perspectives to our Board. After losing her grandmother to dementia, Mia became passionate about serving and advocating for anyone affected by any kind of brain trauma. As a strategic finance leader, she leverages her expansive business knowledge and experience to support BrainTrust’s financial and business goals. Though located in the Vancouver Area, Mia loves to visit Kelowna every fall for road biking and winery hopping. In her free time, she enjoys meditating and forest hikes to clear her mind.

Coming Soon

Angela is British-Canadian who is privileged to call Kelowna home, acknowledging with gratitude her residence on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the sylix/Okanagan people.

Angela joined the Board at Brain Trust Canada in 2019 and is the immediate past president. She has been actively supporting those whose lives are challenged by brain injury for almost 30 years, primarily as a lawyer and more recently as a counselling-therapist.  She completed a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and has developed a particular interest in the support of both the injured individual and their extended family unit through her work as a relationship, couples, and family therapist.

Naomi channels her passion for brain health and public relations prowess to our board. After her mother was diagnosed with early-onset dementia, Naomi became a public speaker and advocate for those living with the disease and their caregivers. She is also a communications and marketing professional with over 10+ years of experience planning and executing strategic campaigns. Naomi acts as the Communications Manager for First Nations Finance Authority.  Naomi travelled to over 25 countries before choosing to settle in the Okanagan for the warm weather and plethora of outdoor activities to enjoy. 

Coming Soon

Dr. Rollett, an optometrist with a special interest in visual rehabilitation, draws inspiration from the dedicated work of the Brain Trust Canada team. Over the past decade in Kelowna, he has committed himself to helping individuals navigate visual challenges following brain injuries. Recognizing the importance of community involvement, empathy, and dedication in aiding those affected by brain injuries, he feels privileged to contribute to the efforts of this organization.

Shirley Wilson is an accomplished Event and Partnership Specialist at the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC (MSABC), where she brings over two decades of experience in creating positive social impact and fostering relationships with diverse stakeholders. At MSABC, a nonprofit health and safety association for manufacturers and food processors in British Columbia, she plays a crucial role in planning and executing projects that promote the organization’s mission. Beyond her work at MSABC, Shirley serves as a Strategic Advisor to BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services. Following the tragic loss of her son Jacob on Remembrance Day 2021, she has become a passionate advocate for reducing deaths due to toxic drug events. Jacob’s struggle with mental health issues stemming from a traumatic brain injury in 2018 has fueled Shirley’s determination to improve treatments for both TBIs and mental health and substance use disorders. Shirley’s professional expertise encompasses event planning and execution, stakeholder engagement, and donor and sponsor relations, all aimed at acquiring funding and support for her initiatives. Her skill set includes governance, leadership, communications, research, and donor stewardship, which she has honed through her extensive experience. Her commitment to public service is evident in her long-term involvement in education, where she has served as a trustee for the Abbotsford Board of Education for 19 years, held the position of Board Chair, and acted as Vice Chair for BCPSEA, a provincial employer association for public education. Known for her eagerness to learn and collaborate, Shirley excels at finding innovative solutions to challenges. In her personal time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and volunteering for causes that are close to her heart.

David Rhine is a recently retired Emergency Physician.  He continues to provide medical care to as a physician consultant with Life Mark Physiotherapy and the 811 Medical Consultant service.  David is married to Shonna Fox, an interior designer.  Three of their children live in Kelowna and a fourth in Calgary.  They enjoy as much time as possible with their 4 grandchildren.  David’s interest in brain injury evolved through his interest in concussion care and the hockey world; he and a physiotherapist colleague developed a concussion management program for Kelowna Minor Hockey that later expanded to Okanagan Hockey School and to all female and male teams in the BC Elite Hockey program.  In addition, David developed a concussion management service called Sports Concussion Management that over the last 16 years has provided personalized concussion care to over 4000 concussion cases.  David also co-developed an app for remote concussion care called PACE Concussion which was funded by the Federal Government.

David’s participation in Brain Trust aligns with his interest and dedication to concussion medicine and allows him to continue to serve his community.  David is honored to serve on the Board of Brain Trust Canada.