Who We Are
Our Board
Melissa Howey
With more than a decade of experience in the Greater Vancouver development field, Melissa has cultivated a unique set of skills and training. Her diverse combination of qualifications adds insight and value to every project. She is an energetic and studious professional driven to achieve exceptional results.
Melissa Howey has a strong background in real estate development and construction, with experience in various roles such as Senior Development Manager, Development Manager, and Assistant Development Manager at companies like Anthem Properties Group Ltd., Amacon, and Aquilini Development and Construction Inc. Melissa also has experience in marketing and executive assistance. Melissa holds a Certificate in Project Management from UBC Sauder School of Business, as well as a Real Estate Trading Services Licensing degree and a degree in Urban Design from Simon Fraser University.
Melanie Achtemichuk
Melanie has extensive experience in policy development and the oversight of the financial and payments sectors. Prior to joining the Bank of Canada, she was the Executive Director of Policy and Approvals at the BC Financial Institutions Commission and held increasingly senior roles within the BC government. She is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and the London School of Economics.
Melanie is the Deputy Managing Director of the Supervision Department at the Bank of Canada. The Supervision Department is responsible for regulating and supervising entities that facilitate financial transactions in Canada, including financial market infrastructures and payments firms. In her role, Melanie provides strategic leadership and management of the department and is responsible for teams supervising payments sector participants.
Ghislaine Chan
Ghislaine is an experienced business computing leader who is capable of building commitment and delivering results. She specializes in business development and technology-intensive projects in either a start-up environment or an established global corporation as a leader who understands the importance of organizational leadership, business acumen and technology application.
Her leadership perspectives are founded on strong relationships, executive presence, great communication, sound decision-making, and influence. I am an energetic and entrepreneurial manager who thrives on leading growth and change. I have a proven track-record of business success from client on-boarding projects to product innovations while motivating teams of highly-driven professionals.
Emma McLagan
Emma is a dedicated advocate for empowering all people, especially women and marginalized people, through the transformative power of creativity and storytelling. As the founder and CEO of EmotivContent Inc., Emma brings almost two decades of experience in creative content and brand strategy for national and global corporations.
Her expertise extends to building in-house creative teams, collaborating with industry talent worldwide, and telling compelling stories from diverse corners of the globe. As a Board of Director for Atira Women’s Art Society, Emma will leverage her extensive background, including as a former schoolteacher, to contribute meaningfully to the organization’s mission. This includes fostering meaningful peer relationships, building community connections, and creating economic opportunities for women through the transformative medium of art, music, and entrepreneurship.
Raheil Moradi
Raheil brings extensive leadership experience, academic expertise, and a deep commitment to community building to the Atira Women’s Resource Society board. As a successful entrepreneur, mentor, and advocate, Raheil has a proven track record of empowering communities through innovative initiatives and strategic collaborations.
Raheil brings extensive leadership experience, academic expertise, and a deep commitment to community building to the Atira Women’s Resource Society board. As a successful entrepreneur, mentor, and advocate, Raheil has a proven track record of empowering communities through innovative initiatives and strategic collaborations.
Currently a PhD candidate, Raheil is also a professor of law, criminology, and business. Her academic insights and dedication to education enhance her ability to advocate for systemic change and equity. Raheil is the founder of the Pay It Forward Foundation, a respected BC-based charity, and has served on several prominent boards, including the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, Aboriginal Housing Association and Impact North Shore. She is the recipient of the 2024 YWCA Women of Distinction Award for her outstanding contributions to connecting diverse communities.
Professionally, Raheil is recognized for her expertise in business development and law. She has served as the President and CEO of Monarch Group of Companies, where her leadership resulted in remarkable revenue and growth achievements. Additionally, she has supported numerous newcomer entrepreneurs in establishing their ventures, reflecting her dedication to fostering economic independence.
Raheil holds a Master’s degree in International Business Law from the University of Liverpool, among other credentials, and is fluent in multiple languages, enhancing her ability to connect with diverse groups. Her passion for supporting women and families aligns closely with Atira’s mission of providing safe, supportive spaces for those in need.
Michelle Yung
Michelle Yung is a commercial real estate lawyer with Bennett Jones LLP, where her practice is focused on commercial leasing transactions, acquisitions and dispositions, financing, and on the re-zoning, subdivision, development and building permit processes.
Prior to joining Bennett Jones, Michelle served as in-house legal counsel to a leading commercial real estate owner, operator and developer with a Canadian portfolio of best-in-class office, retail and mixed-use properties valued at around $31 billion. There, she advised on commercial leasing, procurement and property management. In the community, Michelle has served on the board of directors of The Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society, a not-for-profit cultural organization operating the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) and Commercial Real Estate Women Vancouver (CREW Vancouver), a non-profit association seeking to advance the achievements of women in the real estate industry. Michelle regularly volunteers as a clinician for Access Pro Bono Society of BC. She also served for a number of years on the organizing committee for Arts Umbrella’s annual fundraising gala.
Rhiannon Mabberley
Rhiannon is a senior executive with Westbank Projects where she has been involved in some of the company’s most notable developments over the past 15 years, including Woodward’s, TELUS garden and Oakridge.
From sustainability initiatives to district energy systems to complex permitting and everything in between, Rhiannon’s experience speaks to the finer details of real estate development. Rhiannon is passionate about bettering the City she calls home, Vancouver, through a variety of outreach, mentoring and volunteer positions.
Sienna Richardson-Isberg
Sienna is the Director of Marketing at Third Space. Sienna holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia and has spent the last 8 years working in real estate development marketing.
In this role, Sienna is responsible for overseeing the corporate brand and marketing strategy for the entire residential and commercial real estate portfolio. Sienna was raised in a remote community of Skidegate on Haida Gwaii and is a member of the Haida Nation. Her Haida name is NangK’uuyas, which translates in English to ‘precious one’.