VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation CEO no longer acting!
After two decades working in B.C.’s non-profit sector, Barbara Grantham – VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s Interim CEO for the past five months – was officially appointed President and CEO on Wednesday, June 26.
Prior to being appointed Interim CEO, Barbara was Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives & Philanthropy, at the Foundation and has been immersed in philanthropy for much of her professional career.
David Rowntree, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, was very pleased to announce Barbara’s appointment, noting that she’s one of B.C.’s and Canada’s leading philanthropy professionals, having worked with many top charitable and not-for-profit organizations including United Way, the Canadian Mental Health Association (BC Division), BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Vancouver Foundation and the Streetohome Foundation.
According to David, “The Board undertook an extensive search on a national basis for this position, ultimately choosing Barbara, who has been working with our Foundation for some time. Our Board has full confidence in her to lead us to the next level.”
Barbara is well respected in the non-profit sector as a member of the Board of Directors of Vantage Point (formerly Volunteer Vancouver), Canuck Place Children’s Hospice and the Greater Vancouver YMCA. She serves as a member of the National Advisory Council of Imagine Canada. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Carleton University, and a B.A. in Political Studies from Queen’s University.
When asked about the number one priority of the Foundation, Barbara confidently responded: “First, we must finish the campaign for the Segal mental health building. It’s a really important part of the infrastructure of mental health care in this province.” And after that, she cited: “Our next priority is equipment, tools and programs that support our physicians and health care professionals to do the leading-edge work they do. Our third priority is to continue to provide strong funding support for research.”
Last year the Foundation raised over $61 million to ensure excellence in health care for people from across B.C.