Our staff team runs the programs, and our board brings expertise in law, finance, and community development. Together, they make the work possible.

Melanie has been on the Board of Dress for Success since June 2021 and she has been Co-Chair with Shannon Taylor since June 2023, and is the General Counsel at Seaspan Shipyards where provides legal and strategic advice to Vancouver Shipyards, Victoria Shipyards and Vancouver Drydock.

Prior to joining Seaspan, Melanie was a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, where she focused her practice on the mining, transportation, technology and media and entertainment sectors. Melanie was an Adjunct Professor at The University of British Columbia Law Faculty. Prior to practicing law, she worked as a costumer in film, television and theatre. Melanie holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from University of Illinois and a Law degree from UBC and is a published author in several legal publications. Melanie was on the Board of the Association of Women in Finance from 2015 to 2017.

Shannon launched Taylor Made Business Solutions in 2009, a marketing consultancy practice where she helps clients build their brands and business. Prior to consulting, Shannon had a lengthy and distinguished career as a senior leader at TELUS.

Shannon holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Victoria. She has completed many executive training courses including the Institute of Corporate Directors Not for Profit Board Governance Program.

Shannon is an active volunteer. She has been a Board member with Dress for Success Vancouver for 5 years and is currently co-chair. Previously, she served on the Board of Directors for the Vancouver Writers Festival from 2016-2020m and spent more than a decade supporting Crofton House School with their fundraising and marketing initiatives.

Jennifer Sung is Associate General Counsel at TELUS, where she leads the Real Estate, Environment & Sustainability legal team in advancing TELUS’ global leadership in social capitalism. Jen leads with compassion and purpose, firmly sharing in her company’s belief that good business and doing good go hand-in-hand.

Deeply committed to sparking positive change in our communities and workplaces, Jen currently serves as co-sponsor of a groundbreaking grassroots diversity & inclusion committee at TELUS. She has given where she lives as board secretary to the TELUS Vancouver and Coastal Community Board and TELUS Vancouver Island Community Board. In addition, Jen has championed female empowerment and intersectionality as member of the Forward Together Women in Leadership Conference Organizing Committee and as mentor for the Forward Together Playing Big & Beyond Mentorship program.

Sophia is a retired senior risk officer of global financial institutions.  She is a risk and internal control professional whose 30+ year banking career has spanned commercial banking, risk management and internal audit.  She also serves as a director of the Canadian Public Accountability Board.

She is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelors of Business Administration degree from SFU as well as completed a number of executive leadership courses through Duke University, Stanford and London School of Business.

Rhonda Dyce is a Principal at Sunshine Pier Capital, a private equity firm based in Vancouver. Prior to joining Sunshine Pier, she spent over ten years in a number of roles at Corix Infrastructure Inc., most recently as Chief Strategy and Risk Officer. During her time there, she was responsible for executing the debt and equity activities, including financings totaling over $1.5 billion, leading the strategic planning and review process and managing the enterprise risk management program. Prior to joining Corix, she spent time in the capital markets as an equity research analyst at RBC Capital Markets and Raymond James. Rhonda also taught Corporate Finance at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Rhonda has a Master of Science degree in Finance from Queen’s University and a Bachelors of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University.

Heidi is a people and operations leader with a focus on creating and supporting healthy and productive workplaces, currently Head of People and Culture at Next Level Games. Before that, she was COO at Relic Entertainment, leading the studio through an intense period of growth and change, earning video game industry awards for Best Place to Work, Health & Wellbeing, and Best Boss in Canada. A CPHR and strong advocate for community and for bringing people together to share their strengths, Heidi previously held senior management and HR leadership positions at a variety of technology companies. She has been a Dressing Services and Career Support volunteer at DFSV, a commitment inspired by her mother, a long-time DFSV volunteer. She is a past board member of Little Mountain Neighbourhood House. Heidi holds a BA in English and Theatre from UBC, and she is a speaker and singer/songwriter.

Nicole Geyer is a philanthropist and community leader based in Burnaby, BC, with deep roots in Vancouver. She joined the Dress for Success Vancouver board in October 2024, contributing her extensive experience in marketing, organizational leadership, and fundraising to support the organization’s mission of empowering women to achieve economic independence.

Beyond Dress for Success Vancouver, Nicole is actively involved with several other non-profits, including Social Venture Partners Vancouver (where she has held leadership roles since 2008) and the Take a Hike Youth at Risk Foundation. Her philanthropic focus is on initiatives that benefit children, youth, and families, both locally and internationally. Nicole’s work is characterized by her commitment to giving time, talent, and resources.

Lorelle retired in 2018 following a 33-year career at Costco Wholesale Canada as Vice-President of Marketing and Membership. She successfully drove membership growth, directed brand awareness initiatives, and ensured a superior customer experience for all Costco members during her executive career. Demonstrating a long-standing philanthropic commitment, Lorelle served on Costco’s Charitable Contributions Committee, which supports dozens of non-profit organizations across Canada. Today, she continues to champion families and children by actively volunteering with two non-profit organizations, including serving as a Board Member for Dress for Success Vancouver, where she lends her expertise to the Fund Development and Marketing committees.

Isabelle is a Human Resources and Organization Development Consultant whose practice focuses on talent acquisition, engagement, leadership development, and organizational health. She brings over 20 years of volunteer and program development experience with organizations including UNICEF BC, Social Venture Partners, and Dress for Success Vancouver. From 2010 to 2019 she supported the development of inclusive career programs at Dress for Success Vancouver. Isabelle holds the CPHR designation, a B.A. in Communications and Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, a Graduate Certificate in Strategic HR, and a Master’s focused in Organization Design and Development from Royal Roads University.

Angela is a technology and business lawyer with over 20 years experience. She has provided advice to a variety of organizations on the legal and commercial issues raised by the increasing use of technology in their businesses. Angela has been ranked by Best Lawyers in Canada and has been a member of the BC Tech Association, the Canadian Technology Law Association and the Licensing Executive Society. She has also been a speaker at the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia on the topic of intellectual property issues in business transactions and commercial matters. Angela received her law degree from Dalhousie University and Bachelor’s degree from Queen’s University, and has lived and worked in Vancouver since qualifying as a lawyer.

Mo holds over 36 years of Insurance Underwriting experience (North America & UK). This breadth of experience has given Mo a strong foundation in accounting, operations, governance, finance and strategy. She has served as the President & COO at Premier, overseeing the execution of company strategy as it grew year to year with success & profitability. Mo has vast experience leading teams through change, growth, and market shifts.

Mo has previously served as Director for the Canadian Association of MGAs, bringing a practical, governance-focused approach that balances strategic thinking with operational realities. Mo is proud of what she has achieved to date and is energized with the opportunity to provide insights, contribute and assist DFS. When Mo isn’t working, you’ll find her spending time with her two children, travelling, at concerts – recharging and ready for what comes next!

Tanya is a seasoned financial services professional with over 20 years of experience as a CPA at an international accounting firm. In her role as Director in the Finance Managed Services sector, she has extensive experience with C-suite executives, enabling her clients to modernize their accounting & finance functions with seamless transitions to cloud-based solutions. Tanya works with her family offices to support their growth strategies. She is an advocate for inclusivity, working in the firm’s Women in Leadership program.

Tanya holds a CPA/CA designation, BBA from SFU, along with coaching certifications & a Provincial Instructor Diploma. Tanya has an Accredited Board Director Designation (AccBD) through the BDN Executive Board Readiness Program, in partnership with the Ted Rogers School of Management.

Tanya is a former board member & treasurer of the Kidney Foundation of BC.

Jennifer’s commitment to her community is long-standing. Her leadership impacted various non-profit organizations’ committees and boards, including BC Women’s Health Foundation, The Belonging Network, Cause We Care, BC Children’s Hospital and many more. She is also the Founder of BabyGoRound, a non-profit serving over 1200 low-income families a year. Jennifer is excited to help Dress for Success continue to grow and impact more women.

Lydia is the Vice President, People & Culture at Norland, a group of specialized businesses delivering complex construction projects in Canada. She was previously the Vice President, HR for Western Canada at FirstService Residential. Her career includes roles at Purdys Chocolatier, where she contributed to the company’s recognition as a top workplace, at the University of British Columbia, and Boyden executive search. Lydia holds an MBA from UBC and is a CPHR and Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner.

With a career dedicated to strategic human resources, change management, and employee communications, she is passionate about cultivating experiences that foster engagement and drive performance.

Lydia previously volunteered with Dress for Success Vancouver’s career workshops and is a past board member for the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) in BC and Western Canada.

Hannah Duchnycz is an Associate with Watson Board Advisors, where she supports organizations in strengthening governance and leadership effectiveness. She brings a nuanced understanding of board dynamics, informed by her work advising clients across sectors. Throughout her work, Hannah thoughtfully embeds diversity, equity and inclusion, ensuring space and opportunity for individuals from equity-deserving communities to contribute and be celebrated. Prior to joining Watson, she supported executive search and leadership development with a national talent firm in Calgary. Hannah holds a Bachelor of Management from the University of British Columbia Okanagan and a Human Resources Management Diploma from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.