Leadership Team

GWEN GADDES - BOARD CHAIR

Gwen has 45 years of experience in clinical nursing in a variety of settings including acute care medical-surgical units, clinical teaching with Camosun College nursing students in acute care, rehab and geriatric units and community-based health care delivery as a home care nurse, intake nurse, and a case manager. In her position at Island, Health Gwen has volunteered as a member of the Senior’s Services Directory Committee since 2001. She enjoys traveling with her husband.

DR. JIE ZHANG - PAST CHAIR

Jie is a service operations scholar with a passion in cultivating service excellence toward a sustainably prosperous, healthy and fulfilling future. Her research draws on theories and practices in service management, technology and knowledge management, and sustainable development. Her projects apply empirical research tools to studying the value co-creation interactions (i.e., service coproduction) among a network of service providers and their customers in hospitality, healthcare, and elder support service contexts. Jie joined the Gustavson School of Business at University of Victoria in 2016. Prior to that, she was on the faculty at the University of Vermont following a decade-long career in computing technology services. In her spare time, Jie enjoys growing plants, practicing yoga, taking long walks and producing podcasts on topics related to aging and caregiving.

BEVERLEY WILDEN - VICE CHAIR

Bev has called Victoria home since 1990 when she obtained work as a clinical nurse specialist in geriatric psychiatry. Prior to that, her career spanned many provinces, including Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia. Ontario and Manitoba. She has volunteered with a number of organizations and committees to try to benefit seniors. The most recent being on the Board for the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Learning (formerly Centre on Aging). She and her husband have 2 grown children. Her hobby is traveling with her husband whenever they can and while they can.

TREASURER - Currently Vacant

Your chance to become a member of the board of Seniors Serving Seniors. Please send your interest in this position to chair gwen.gaddes@sssbc.org

MARIA HEWITT - SECRETARY

Maria is a retired health policy analyst with volunteer experience as a lay navigator at the BC Cancer Centre. She is engaged in many other volunteer opportunities through Patient Voices. She holds a doctorate in public health.

CHROSTOPHER RIDGE - BOARD MEMBER

Christopher holds a Bachelor of Management and a Diploma in Business Administration. Christopher brings extensive leadership experience across corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors. With a career rooted in financial operations, strategic planning, and community‑focused service delivery, he has supported organizations through growth, transformation, and mission‑aligned operational excellence.

With a deep commitment to empowering seniors and strengthening community connections, Christopher has led initiatives that improve access to essential services, enhance organizational resilience, and create welcoming, people‑first experiences. His work with families, seniors, and low‑income households – particularly through accessible tax preparation and in‑home support – reflects his belief that dignity, clarity, and compassion should guide every interaction.

In his downtime, Christopher is passionate about travel – especially to the UK – loves 80s music, and treasures spending time with his family. Having fully embraced the West Coast lifestyle, he finds inspiration in the region’s natural beauty, community spirit, and slower, more intentional pace of life.

CHRISTIAN GRANEGGER - BOARD MEMBER

Christian possesses more than forty years of experience working with organizations ranging from small startups to global corporations. He holds a degree in telecommunications and has served in a variety of management roles, spanning from technical engineering to senior leadership. The foundational thirty-three years of his career were spent with Siemens AG, one of Germany’s largest enterprises. During this tenure, long-term international assignments took him to India, the Philippines, and Egypt, to name a few. Christian also gained significant exposure to the realm of management consulting during a high-impact, one-year assignment with McKinsey & Company in Denmark. Before moving to Canada in 2012, Christian spent eleven years in Dubai. During this period, he led regional sales operations for both Siemens and Nokia before being appointed Managing Director of the newly established regional office for Trovicor. Subsequently, he became a co-founder and partner of Ytrail AG, a Swiss-based software development company. Christian and his family now make their home in Oak Bay, from where his wife manages an international social development consulting firm.

MICHELLE TSE - BOARD MEMBER

Michelle is a Human Resources professional who has spent over 25 years working in various industries and cities throughout her career. Her most recent role was as VP, Human Resources for a marine research company that had offices on Vancouver Island, Alaska, Oregon, Australia and Norway. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta and has been a resident of Victoria since 2004. Michelle believes in community contribution and has volunteered in a wide range of organizations and committees most recently with the Sendial program that focuses on local senior support.

SHIRLEY KINE - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (P/T)

Shirley holds a Masters Degree in Social Work and is an MBA Candidate for Community Economic Development. Her passions include being of service and has been appointed to various boards in Alberta such as the University of Calgary Senate and the Health Quality Council of Alberta. She was also a Returning Officer for Elections Alberta – Banff Kananaskis. Shirley is certified in Board Governance, Conflict Resolution, Seniors Mental Health First Aide to name a few. It is her mantra to make a difference!

LEAH SONG - RETURN TO HEALTH COORDINATOR (P/T)

Leah holds a degree in Public Health with a minor in Public Administration and has spent more than a decade supporting older adults in diverse clinical and community settings. Through her work, she has developed a deep understanding of older adults’ needs, especially for those returning home after hospital stays. To Leah, older adults carry wisdom, strength, and dreams that deserve to be honoured. She believes that life after retirement is not a time of limitation, but a time that truly belongs to the individuals themselves. Through the Return to Health Program, Leah walks alongside older adults during difficult moments, helping them reclaim their independence and embrace healthy aging.

JASMINE RETZER – VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR (P/T)

Jasmine holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and brings years of experience coordinating volunteers across a wide range of organizations. She has supported thousands of volunteers from diverse backgrounds, most notably during her time with the Calgary Public Library, where she helped build welcoming, community-centered programs rooted in connection.

With a deep passion for the arts and community engagement, Jasmine has planned and executed numerous events, art markets, and creative initiatives. She is dedicated to creating inclusive, meaningful volunteer experiences that empower individuals to contribute their skills and feel truly valued.

A fun fact about Jasmine: before stepping into the nonprofit world, she hosted her own radio show, an experience that nurtured her love of storytelling, community-building, and giving people a voice.

At Seniors Serving Seniors, Jasmine is excited to support volunteers, strengthen relationships, and help cultivate a vibrant, connected community.