Catherine Schachtel, President

Catherine Schachtel brings over 25 year of experience working with the government and industry associations in both high tech and environmental engineering sectors. Acting as the founding Executive Director of the CSAP Society – Society of Contaminated Sites Approved Professionals of British Columbia, she transformed the society into a high performing organization that enabled its members to advance their corporate goals and objectives. She has extensive public sector and finance experience, including budgeting and annual auditing. Catherine’s passion for the Arts all started when she studied visual arts at the University of Calgary many moons ago. Ever since, she’s expressed her passion for art through painting, and dancing. She is known for her creative flair and collaborative approach in tackling any challenges that come her way.

Shevy Levy, Vice-President

Shevy Levy is an artist, educator, and founder/CEO of Lambda Solutions, an innovative leading EdTech company in Canada. She has been involved in education software her entire career, analyzing and optimizing workflows for organizations in large-scale environments. From start-ups to large companies, Shevy has held leadership roles in technical development and operations, as well as a variety of other organizations. In the past she was involved in product development initiatives at Click2Learn (acquired by SumTotal) and TELEStraining. Shevy holds a Masters and BA degrees in mathematics. In 2020 she was the BC Business Woman of the Year Awards Finalist. Shevy is a noted Vancouver artist, studied at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design and has been a featured artist in Canada and internationally. Shevy joined the Board of the WVCAC in 2022.

Christina Sultan, Treasurer

Christina Sultan is a former Director of Solutions and Management Group of Deloitte & Touche, LLP. She additionally formed the firm Sultan Strategies, which served both the public and private energy sectors, trust funds, and estate accounting. Clients she has worked with include Credit Suisse and UBS Bank (Canada). Christina moved to West Vancouver in December 2022 and is involved with the Sunrise Rotary as well as the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. Interests include music, film, Veterans Affairs Canada and Amnesty International. She is a former member of the New Mexico Angels, a graduate of McGill University and the Claremont Colleges, and was nominated to Who's Who in 2007.

Freydis Welland, Secretary

Freydis Welland combines a career in the communications industry with experience in the arts, digital media, inter-governmental, and educational advisory boards, and is delighted to help WVCAC support our members musical, artistic and community interests. She currently serves as a director of the Jane Austen Society of North America, North Shore Restorative Justice, and WVCAC. Freydis joined the Board of the WVCAC in 2016.

Sue Daniel, Director

Sue Daniel is a contemporary artist, realtor, and co-founder of Grantham Publishing.She was born in Hungary and immigrated to Canada in 1956 and has lived in Montreal, Turkey,England and California before settling in Vancouver. She has lived on the North Shore for close to 40 years. After a 16 year career in real estate, Grantham Publishing was developed as a marketing and training tool for Realtors. Sue joined the WVCC Society in 2014 as co-lead for The Pumpkin Fest annual fundraiser. She was involved as a co-chair for two years and managed over 100 volunteers. Sue’s team raised over $45,000 in the three-day event which went towards new programs for the West Vancouver community.Sue now focuses on her professional art career, she is a noted Vancouver artist, and has been featured in Canada and Internationally. Sue is deeply committed to supporting and promoting the arts within our community.

Maryam Geesing, Director

Maryam Geesing moved to Canada from Germany and settled in Vancouver. She is a Persian self-taught artist who has a desire to inspire and captivate other loyal art devotees by unravelling her love for nature and culture in her art pieces. Maryam pursued a career in law becoming a paralegal, and her love of art is proven through her endless help in the art community leading up to the WVCAC, where she is able to share her love of art with her community. Maryam joined the Board of the WVCAC in 2015.

Elizabeth Lewis, Director

Elizabeth Lewis, born and raised in British Columbia, has been a resident on the North Shore since 1991. She has an LLB from the University of Victoria. Now retired, she was a practising courtroom lawyer from 1991 to 2020 and the managing partner of a boutique law firm from 2005 to 2020. In addition to preparing and arguing cases, her responsibilities included oversight of trial scheduling, staffing, financial oversight including trust accounting, client relations, ensuring compliance with Law Society regulatory requirements and ensuring timely and accurate completion of all government and court related documents. Elizabeth has a career’s worth of public service to the legal profession as a volunteer teacher, mentor, lecturer and author. In the broader community, she has volunteered as a midget hockey team manager and is also active in her local block watch community assisting with event planning and organization. Elizabeth believes a position on the Board would allow her to utilize her skillset for the benefit of the community in a meaningful and fulfilling way. She would love to participate directly in the creative, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the community through this public service.

Jennifer Pickering, Director

Jennifer Pickering is a contemporary artist with 20 years experience and a Masters of Fine Arts in Studio Arts from UBC. She was born in Switzerland, grew up in Vernon and has been living in West Vancouver since 2019. Jennifer studied at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris, and has participated in international exhibitions and residencies from Finland to Abu Dhabi and Mexico. Her practice is based in conceptual practices with a strong focus on site-specific interventions into public space. Jennifer spent five years as the Director of the Alternator Artist-Run Centre in Kelowna BC and 8 years teaching art in elementary and secondary schools. In 2021, she started Crush of Colour, a small business offering specialty wall painting services. Jennifer also teaches art classes for children and adults at the West Vancouver Community Centre and volunteers on the board of the North Shore Artists Guild. Jennifer joined the Board of the WVCAC in 2022.

Jacqui Wilkinson, Director

Jacqui Wilkinson was born in England and immigrated to Canada in 1967. She won a scholarship to the Lycée Français de Londres and belonged to the Federation of Russian Classical Ballet. She later worked as a Bilingual Executive Assistant to Chairmen and Presidents of several companies until she retired in 2010. Jacqui joined the Board of the WVCAC in 2010.

Jani Wittaker, Director

Jani Wittaker has enjoyed a long career in Chinese medicine; as clinic director, university & international lecturer and conference and seminar provider. Her practice has always been based in a medical office and over 30 years she has campaigned tirelessly for integrative medicine. Jani has chaired 2 national organisations (UK) and hopes to add her considerable skills to helping visions become realities. She has now done a pivot into her next career as a social impact entrepreneur, focussed on supporting youth to become effective changemakers. Bringing her lifelong passion for the arts, she is delighted to join WVCAC with the intention to help young people find expression through creativity and community. Jani joined the Board of the WVCAC in 2022.

Advisory Committee to the Board

David Morton, Past President David Morton is the past President of the WVCAC Board of Directors and served on the Board from 2010 to 2023. He brings considerable business experience and has a keen interest in the Arts – especially art, architecture and music. David served as Chair and CEO of BC Utilities Commission from 2015 to 2023 and as a Commissioner from 2010 to 2015. He also has over 25 years of experience in the Information Technology sector. David has his Bachelor of Applied Science, University of Toronto; Professional Engineer (British Columbia); Licentiate in Accounting, Society of Management Accountants Canada; and is certified with the ICD.D designation in 2013 by the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Michael Martino, Past Treasurer Michael Martino is the past Treasurer of the WVCAC Board of Directors and served on the Board from 2008 to 2023. He is a co-founder of Stratford Underwriting Agency and former Chief Operating Officer.  Prior to joining Stratford, Michael spent two years with Intact Insurance as the VP – Finance for the Western Region and 12 years as the Chief Financial Officer at Canadian Direct Insurance.  Michael moved to Vancouver in July 2003, having previously worked for HSBC’s insurance operation in the United States.  Prior to joining HSBC, Michael worked with Household International, Beneficial Finance Corporation and Coopers and Lybrand.  In addition to 30 years of insurance experience, Michael has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Seton Hall University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University.  Michael is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, the Canadian Insurance Accountants Association and Financial Executives International.