Board Executive
President
Continuing board member
Kris Olsen, CMP
she/her
Communications Officer, Provincial Health Services Authority
Kris is a communications professional with over 15 years of progressive experience and accountability. She has provided leadership, counsel and strategic advice to communications partners and executive leaders in a number of public, private and not-for-profit organizations.
Kris is passionate about the power of clear, purposeful communication to move organizations toward their goals—and believes a strong strategy is at the heart of every success. Curious with a proclivity for creativity, Kris is excited to bring her energy and expertise to the IABC BC Chapter Board as a volunteer leader.
LinkedIn: Kris Olsen
Past President
Continuing board member
Marzia Sager
she/her
Communications and Advancement Lead, PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs
Marzia Sager is the Communications and Advancement Lead at PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs, co-founder of Alon Studio, and the non-profit organization, Glow Within Foundation. She is passionate about creative pursuits, advocacy, and social impact. She applies her skills and experiences to empower the next generation through education, community and mentorship.
Marzia graduated from SFU with a Bachelor of Communication, Minor in Print and Digital Publishing and Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Marzia is the winner of the 2022 IABC/BC Making Waves Award. She is also part of BC Business’ 30 under 30 list for 2023.
LinkedIn: Marzia Sager
Vice-President
Continuing board member
Nuria Sefchovich, SCMP
she/her
Communications Manager, S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
I believe in the importance of infusing a human element into business practices. This has driven me to find my purpose as a bridge that connects people to create extraordinary legacies. Over the past two decades, I’ve been honoured to lead communication strategies and CSR initiatives for major government, non-profit, and private organizations in Canada and Mexico. I learned from my mentees while volunteering at YWCA Metro Vancouver and Scotiabank’s forum project. I’m also a co-author of the upcoming book, ‘Stories From Newcomers to Canada’, published by UBC Press. Currently, I’m serving as a Communications Manager at S.U.C.C.E.S.S., the largest settlement service agency in Canada. Let’s co-create together!
LinkedIn: Nuria Sefchovich
Executive Administrator
Continuing board member
Daniel Cherkezov
he/him
Image Specialist at Zara
Daniel Cherkezov is an Image Specialist at Zara, where he brings together a sharp sense of style with experience in marketing, partnerships, and event management. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Simon Fraser University. In 2025, Daniel was nominated for the IABC/BC New Navigator Award and took on the role of lead for on-site hospitality at the IABC World Conference in Vancouver, helping create a memorable experience for delegates from around the world.
Daniel is inspired by the intersection of design and communication, and finds creativity in fashion, architecture, and travel. He values opportunities to connect people and ideas, and is excited to continue building his career where fashion and communications meet.
LinkedIn: Daniel Cherkezov
Board directors
Director, Award Programs
Incoming board member
Christina Grave
she/her
Communications & Marketing Consultant, Self-employed
Christina is a collaborative communications professional with experience working with individuals at all levels of an organization, from entry-level staff to senior executives. She has built strong relationships across teams, provided mentorship and worked effectively with diverse interest holders. Christina also brings valuable board experience. She currently serves as a board member for a non-profit organization based in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where she contributes to governance and organizational oversight.
LinkedIn: Christina Grave
Director, Career Development
Incoming board member
Jessica Purver
she/her
Communications Lead, Research at Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
Jessica brings more than eight years of communications experience in the health sector, along with freelance content writing and copywriting experience across multiple industries. Her work in the public and non-profit sector, combined with previous board experience, has equipped her to lead volunteers and support organizational goals.
Jessica is passionate about career development and enjoys working with people who value lifelong learning and growth. She believes people at every career stage should have opportunities to explore their interests and build new skills. Her commitment to continuous improvement and adapting to change would help her lead this portfolio effectively.
LinkedIn: Jessica Purver
Director, Digital Experience
Continuing board member
Carolina Salazar Navas
she/her
Marketing professional
Carolina is a multilingual digital marketing professional with a strong background in marketing, sales, customer experience, e-commerce, and brand strategy. Originally from Ecuador and now based in Canada, she brings over seven years of experience supporting business growth across North and Latin America. She works as a Bilingual Assessment Officer at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and as an Independent Contractor/Content Writer for the digital marketing agency SMB Marketing School, both based in BC
She holds a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Digital Marketing from Douglas College and joined the IABC/BC Board as Director of Digital Experience, where she is focused on enhancing member engagement through innovative and inclusive digital strategies. Passionate about storytelling and community-building, Carolina is excited to contribute to a dynamic and diverse communications network.
LinkedIn: Carolina Salazar Navas
Director, Finance
Incoming board member
Maycko Macapugas, CMP
he/they
Communications Officer
BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre
Powered by curiosity, and motivated by the desire to help those around him, Maycko stumbled into the world of communications and never looked back. With a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Accounting and Management Information Systems) Maycko has spent the earlier part of his career supporting entrepreneurs through events and building network connections. After watching and learning, Maycko eventually took those lessons and built a community of his own – a following which explored the intersection of tropical houseplants and his own Filipino heritage.
In his spare time, Maycko sings in the shower, partakes in book clubs, and visits the gardens.
With a learning and growing (pun intended) mindset Maycko hopes to supercharge his time on the IABC/BC board of directors by doubling down on community, collaboration, and curiosity.
LinkedIn: Maycko Macapugas
Director, Membership
Collins Maina
Incoming board member
Communications Manager, University of British Columbia
Collins brings strong experience in strategic communications, people management and employee relations through his role at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Arts. He currently oversees a portfolio of 10 staff members and has experience managing teams ranging from two to seven employees.
His role includes mentoring staff, supporting their professional growth and ensuring their needs are heard and addressed. He also has experience with human resources processes, including recruitment and hiring, and supports operational needs such as system access, mailing tools and list management. These skills align well with the director of membership role, particularly its focus on maintaining a strong, engaged membership base.
LinkedIn:
Director, Professional Development
Continuing board member
Heather Merry
she/her
Senior Manager, Communications
Heather brings more than two decades of experience leading strategic communications and stakeholder engagement. As Senior Manager, Communications for Central 1 Credit Union, she leads the team responsible for engaging both external and internal stakeholders to deliver business outcomes. Known for building trust-based relationships, she demonstrates a proven ability to align stakeholder interests and guide thoughtful, transparent communication. Heather has advised executive leadership through change, growth, and crisis, always with a focus on integrity and impact. When not connecting with people, Heather can be found in the mountains of North Vancouver with her family and her dog, Bentley.
LinkedIn: Heather Merry
Director, Social Events
Vacant
For opportunities to join the IABC/BC chapter board of directors, visit our board nomination page.
Director, Social Media
Continuing board member
Adetona Aboaba
he/him
Adetona is a strategic communications professional with over a decade of experience spanning broadcasting, healthcare, emergency services, and global sports. His career began in broadcasting, where he honed his storytelling and audience engagement skills as an on-air host and presenter before moving into corporate communications. He has since built expertise in social media strategy, issues management, internal communications, and stakeholder engagement, consistently helping organizations align communications with business goals.
Known for his collaborative style and thoughtful approach, Aboaba is passionate about technology, AI, and mental health advocacy. He is also committed to mentoring the next generation of communicators and leveraging the power of storytelling to drive innovation, inspire change, and spark lasting impact.
LinkedIn: Adetona Aboaba
Director, Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Incoming board member
Eileen Huster
Director, Strategic Communications, Bemoved Media
Eileen brings five years of experience leading a global virtual conference for a multinational electrification component manufacturer. In this role, she identifies, recruits and coordinates guest speakers for more than 20 sessions delivered over two days.
She is skilled at engaging prospective speakers, establishing presentation expectations, answering questions, conducting audio and visual checks, and moderating live sessions. This experience will serve Eileen well in her role as director of Special Interest Groups (SIGs).
LinkedIn: Eileen Huster
Director, Students and New Communicators
Continuing board member
Wahiba Chair
she/her
Assistant Professor, University Canada West
Wahiba Chair is an award-winning educator, entrepreneur, and strategist with over 15 years of experience in higher education, technology, marketing, and communications.
As a strategist, Wahiba has helped organizations ranging from start-ups to global brands like Toyota maximize results through a humanized approach to digital communications. In addition to being featured in the likes of CNN and CBC, she has contributed to top outlets such as Times Higher Education and Social Media Today.
Since 2014, Wahiba has empowered thousands of students and professionals at UCW, SFU, and UBC to advance their careers through community-focused experiential learning.
Director, Volunteer Services
Continuing board member
Karmina Alejandro
she/her
Acciona, Communications and Engagement Advisor
Karmina has over 10 years of experience in corporate communications and public relations, specializing in crisis communications, stakeholder engagement, and program management. She is passionate about sustainability and ethical practices, and is dedicated to leveraging communication strategies to foster resilience and positive change within diverse communities.
LinkedIn: Karmina Alejandro
