POLICE BOARD BIOS

BOARD CHAIR

Ms. Damineh Akhavan

BOARD MEMBER

Sxwíxwtn - Wilson Williams

BOARD MEMBER

Peter GIbson

BOARD MEMBER

Mavis Boucher

BOARD MEMBER

Mr. Mehran Kiai

BOARD MEMBER

Yang Wang

BOARD MEMBER

Christine Cassidy is coming soon

Ms. Damineh Akhavan is a Professional Engineer from West Vancouver, BC, with over 17 years of experience in the aerospace industry. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, a Bachelor of Science in Physics, and a Master of Business Administration in International Business.

Damineh is passionate about the advancement of women and other underrepresented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathemetics (STEM) fields, and involvement of children and youth in STEM subjects. She has been an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion for women in STEM and a champion for women in Engineering serving the local (University of Victoria), provincial (Engineers and Geoscientists BC), national (Engineers Canada, Canada Beijing +25 Network, Institute for Change Leaders, Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology, Engineers Without Borders), and global (NGO CSW/NY) communities for the past 20 years.

Damineh is a Founder of Global Women in STEM Inc. promoting equality for women and other equity-deserving groups in STEM and transforming the status quo through action, advocacy, and education.

Professionally, Wilson comes from a communications, management and sport & recreation background. Currently, his versatility allows him to carry a full portfolio as an elected official. This includes numerous Board of Director and Chairperson Positions, Council lead and involvement with Community Safety, Economic Development & Partnerships, Education, Employment & Training, Rights and Title, Language & Cultural, Sport & Recreation and Social Development. Other formal external Board of Director positions include: President, North Shore Indians Lacrosse Club Society; Co-Chair, Squamish Nation Youth Society.

Ancestral name is Sxwíxwtn (sway-oh-k-tin), from the Squamish Nation. Wilson was born and raised in North and West Vancouver and is currently serving his third term as an elected Councilor with the Squamish Nation. He is very honoured to continue to learn, practice and carry-forward the traditional identity of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation Community). Incorporating the wisdom passed down by his ancestors and proudly flourishing and practicing the cultural teachings and integrating it into his everyday life both professionally and personally. He plans to continue to passionately pass down these sacred teachings, history and identity of the Squamish Nation people’s to the younger generations and neighboring communities.

Professionally, Wilson comes from a communications, management and sport & recreation background. Currently, his versatility allows him to carry a full portfolio as an elected official. This includes numerous Board of Director and Chairperson Positions, Council lead and involvement with Community Safety, Economic Development & Partnerships, Education, Employment & Training, Rights and Title, Language & Cultural, Sport & Recreation and Social Development. Other formal external Board of Director positions include: President, North Shore Indians Lacrosse Club Society; Co-Chair, Squamish Nation Youth Society.

Peter Gibson currently runs his own professional services company. Previously,
he was a Senior Vice President with Alvarez & Marsal Canada Inc. (A&M) where his focus was (and remains) interim management and company/board advisory services as well as turnaround and restructuring mandates in North America and internationally. He continues to work with A&M under contract. Prior to joining A&M, Mr. Gibson was a partner with KPMG LLP where he worked for over 30 years in the financial advisory field.

Mr. Gibson has a number of professional designations including, Chartered Accountant (Canada) and Certified Public Accountant (US). He holds, or has held, directorships in public companies, private companies and not-for-profit organizations and has been a presenter for the National Judicial Institute as well as for numerous professional and other organizations. Currently, he serves as Director and Treasurer for Risk Management Association Vancouver as well as Independent Director for Procon Holdings Inc. Mr. Gibson holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia.

A brief introduction of myself, I am Coast Salish from Ladysmith on my
mom’s side and Cree from Saskatchewan on my dad’s side.

I have been a resident for the past 8 years on the traditional territory of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. I am the Lead Consultant for Boucher IJ (Indigenous Justice) Strategies with over 19 years involvement with the criminal justice system and over 8 years of frontline service provision to hard-target / at-risk street entrenched Indigenous youth who were either in Ministry care or aging out of Ministry care and vulnerable adults of the Downtown Eastside. My firm takes on a variety of projects that are often justice related.

Mehran Kiai is the Principle of Strategic Management Associates, a group of privately held companies that actively acquire, develop and manage commercial properties throughout the metropolitan Vancouver area. Previously, he was the Dean of Lifelong Learning at BCIT and the Director of Enrolment Service at Simon Fraser University. His extensive experience in teaching engineering and higher education leadership spans over 25 years.

A long-time resident of West Vancouver, he has actively served in numerous community-based boards and organizations.


Mehran’s educational background includes degrees in Bachelor and Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Doctor of Education in Management and Change from Fielding Graduate University and Executive Development from Queens University.

Yang Wang is a real estate developer in the Greater Vancouver area, and an
investor and exporter of Canadian clean technologies for the petrochemical industry.


Yang holds a master’s degree in business management from the University of British Columbia and a bachelor degree in engineering from the University of Southern California.


Yang serves as a board director at Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, North Shore Multicultural Society, and Enhance West Van (formerly West Vancouver Community Centres Society). Yang is also the recipient of the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

New Board Member! Councillor Christine Cassidy will be sworn in on May 29, 2024.

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