The Canadian Health Leadership Network (CHLNet) is pleased to welcome Dawn Thomas (Aa ap waa iik), member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, to its Board of Directors for the 2026–2029 term.
Dawn currently serves as Vice-President, Indigenous Health and Rural and Remote Operations at Island Health, where she provides executive leadership for Indigenous health strategy and rural and remote service delivery across British Columbia. In this role, she works closely with First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and community leaders to advance culturally safe care, strengthen partnerships, and improve health outcomes.
She brings more than 25 years of senior public service leadership experience across Indigenous health, child and family services, and health system transformation. Her previous roles include Deputy Representative and Executive Director with the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth and the Ministry of Children and Family Development, where she led major initiatives in Indigenous child welfare, policy development, and system change.
Dawn also holds a Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution from the University of Victoria, with research focused on Indigenous custom adoption.
Her deep expertise in Indigenous health leadership, reconciliation, and system transformation will be a significant asset to CHLNet as the network continues advancing equitable, collaborative, and evidence-informed health leadership across Canada.