After nearly 30 years as ISSofBC’s Settlement Services director, Chris Friesen moves to a new position as chief operating officer on May 1.
In her announcement, ISSofBC’s CEO Patricia Woroch also named Kathy Sherrell as new Settlement Services director.
Chris is recognized as a leader in the refugee and immigrant sector throughout Canada and has been at the forefront of major refugee resettlement initiatives in BC and Canada. He has also represented Canada on the international stage and is a sought-after speaker on immigration-related policies and programs. A lasting accomplishment is the key role Chris played in the development of ISSofBC Welcome Centre.
Kathy has worked in settlement services for more than a decade, most recently as associate director. She holds a PhD in Geography from UBC, an MA from SFU and has led impactful initiatives such as the BC Refugee Hub and GAR Refugee Trauma Pilot as well as several organization-wide projects that promote service enhancements. Kathy’s proficiency in research design and evaluation will also serve her well in her new role.
