Previously, Justin was an Executive Search Consultant based on Galiano Island and in Victoria. He brought to his clients over 30 years combined experience in both North America and Europe in technical, operating, management, consulting, healthcare, venture capital investing and not-for-profit sectors. He obtained his Certified Management Consultant ("CMC") designation in 2009.

Justin founded Galiano Ventures Inc. ("GVI"), a private venture capital and management services firm in 2004. Before GVI he led the global activities of RBC Capital Partners Life Sciences from 1997 to 2003 as its Managing Partner. Prior to this he was a Manager with the BC Trade Development Corporation in Vancouver. Justin has served on the Board of Directors of a number of private and public investee companies. He has also served on the Advisory Board of several other life science funds.

Having trained originally as a biochemist, Justin was a Licentiate of the Royal Society of Chemistry (London, U.K.) and a professional member of the American Chemical Society (Washington, D.C.) since 1986. In 2008, he joined the Board of the not-for-profit Society, InspireHealth (integrative cancer care) and its associated foundation, the InspireHealth Legacy Foundation (he resigned from both in late 2009) and in 2009 he joined the Board of the Canadian Cancer Society and became its Regional President for Metro Vancouver. Mr. Stephenson has been a Community Advisor for the Victoria Foundation since 2009.

Amongst many hobbies including skiing, golf, scuba diving and hiking, Justin obtained his Master Gardener's certification from VanDusen Gardens in 2011 and is an active volunteer member of the BC Association of Master Gardeners.

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Earlier roles progressed through teaching and administration in tertiary care hospitals in Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver. Verna was a Clinical Assistant Professor in UBC's Department of Health Care and Epidemiology and a member of the Canadian Medical Association's Conjoint Accreditation Committee.

Verna completed her doctoral degree in Education Leadership and Policy at UBC in 2003. She holds an M.Sc. in Medical Science from the University of Calgary and a baccalaureate degree in Human Nutrition (Dietetics) from UBC. She has completed executive programs in public sector leadership.

Active in the YWCA of Vancouver for over fifteen years, Verna is currently Past Chair of the YWCA Board of Directors and a member of the Inner Circle Development Committee. She was Chair of the Vancouver Women of Distinction Event for four years.

In 2005, Verna received the BCIT Student Association President's Award of Appreciation for outstanding and dedicated service to students and in 2009 a student campaign was named in her honour for uncompromising efforts and commitment to students.

Verna's strong leadership and expertise will be instrumental in guiding Woodstone as it opens its doors to the world.

Brought together nearly a decade ago by their daughters' struggles with debilitating eating disorders, all three women were dismayed and appalled at the lack of treatment available in BC. They decided to take a stand and make a change - and thus was born the moxied and perserverant Looking Glass Foundation, the foundation lain for their goal of establishing BC's first publicly-funded residential treatment facility for youth. After much policy-scaling and unwinding of red-tape, their plans have come to fruition: the Woodstone Residence on Galiano Island has been open and operational since February 2011, offering patients a beautiful setting where they can safely face up to their insidious diseases. It's thanks to these three groundbreakers that many young people in our community have a source of hope.

Show your support on our Facebook page or at the Awards presentation on Thursday, May 24 at the Westin Bayshore (get tickets early if you can - purchases before May 3 receive the early bird rate). These amazing ladies have worked hard for it, and we can't thank them enough!!

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Journalism is rewarding, especially when stories have an impact on public policy or when they lead to positive change for those in greatest need. Last week, the provincial government announced it was pledging $4.1 million to help launch the Woodstone Residence for patients aged 17 to 24 with eating disorders. The decision followed some heart-wrenching stories I wrote - including this one - about the paucity of treatment options for those with eating disorders. Last week, I got an email from Cindy Dobbe, the founder of the foundation responsible for the new facility, alerting me to the government's decision. She also thanked me, saying:

"With your help, this is now a reality. I can’t thank you enough!!"

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The shortage of treatment beds for British Columbians suffering from eating disorders will ease slightly next year when a new non-profit centre opens on Galiano Island.

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