GOVERNANCE

Focus Foundation: Board of Directors

Chairman of the Board: Robert Hungerford

Robert is currently associate counsel at DuMoulin Boskovich LLP. Before that, he practiced civil litigation at the firm Hungerford, Tomyn, Lawrenson, and Nichols. He appears regularly in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and before (and as counsel to) a number of administrative tribunals. Robert’s community involvement includes past President of Endeavour, past Director and Officer of Community Care Foundation, past Director Vancouver Public Library and past member of the Youth Committee of Vancouver Foundation. Robert joined the Board in 2010.

Vice Chair of the Board: Charlotte Faulkner

Charlotte is Vice-President, Director and Portfolio Manager with Odlum Brown Ltd. She is also a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Prior to joining Odlum Brown in 1991, Charlotte worked at CIBC Foreign Exchange. Charlotte studied Geography and Economics at UBC, is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute (FCSI) and is a Canadian Investment Manger (CIM). Charlotte joined the FocusBC Board in 2013.

Secretary: Helmut Johannsen

Helmut Johannsen is a Chartered Arbitrator (ADR Institute of Canada) and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Helmut’s transactional and dispute resolution practice focus includes all aspects of law related to construction, engineering and procurement. He is currently one of two Vice-Chairs of the International Construction Projects Committee of the International Bar Association. In addition to being a lawyer and arbitrator, Helmut previously worked as and still remains a Registered Professional Engineer with a background in geotechnical, structural and municipal engineering. Helmut joined the board in 2017.

Treasurer: Bruce Jackson

Bruce Jackson is a Managing Partner at C-Media Digital, a local marketing firm specializing in digital- out-of-home advertising in retail spaces. Bruce is the current Vice President of the St. George’s Old Boys Association (The Georgians), having sat on their board for eight years. He is very active in the field of addictions, treatment, and recovery as a volunteer interventionist and counselor. Bruce joined the board in spring 2014

Member-at-large: Darin Germyn

Darin is a multi-award real estate professional with Macdonald Realty in Surrey BC. Darin has been working in the real estate field since 2007. Darin has served as a Director, Vice-Chair, and Chair of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board and is a resident of South Surrey. Darin also currently volunteers with the Canadian Real Estate Association with the technology committee. Darin joined the Board in 2022.

Former chair of the Board and Chair of our Governor and Advisor Group

Gary Powroznik, FCA

Gary joined the Board of Focus Foundation in March 2005 and took on the role of Chairman. Gary is the founder and Managing Director of G-Force Group, a Vancouver based professional services firm helping clients enhance or recover their investments in business, real estate or loans. Formerly, Gary was a partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) for 27 years and President of PwC Real Estate Inc. Gary was also the Managing Partner for PwC in British Columbia for 13 years.

Executive Director of Focus Foundation of BC

Dr. Robert Kissner

Robert Kissner, B.A. (Hons), M.A., Ph.D., R.S.W. is a specialist in stress and trauma with an interest in innovative ways to facilitate resilience and emotional recovery. He has experience in clinical practice, agency administration, teaching, research, and as a social innovator and entrepreneur. He served as President of the BC Association of Social workers and was BC provincial representative to CASW. He was awarded the CASW Distinguished Service Award in 2012.

Robert taught a wide range of subjects for the University of Chicago, SFU, Trinity Western University, UCFV and Douglas College, including courses in social work, education, criminology, and sociology. He has travelled extensively, lecturing and writing on developmental approaches, working with youth, addictions, stress and emotions. In 1975, Robert founded the Focus Foundation of British Columbia, an addictions and education agency working with adolescents with complex needs and youth who are unsuccessful in the public school system. Robert is a non-voting member of the Board.

Tel: (604) 532-1268
Email: rkissner@focusfoundation.ca