After much personal reflection, our President & CEO Barbara Grantham has decided it is time to explore her next professional chapter, and has requested that the Board activate the Foundation’s CEO Succession Policy.

Barbara has dedicated nearly 30 years of her professional life to the non-profit and philanthropic sectors across BC and nationally. During her seven-year tenure at the Foundation, Barbara has led the organization through significant and positive change including, launching an organizational re-brand, building a talented and engaged staff team, and overseeing an 84% increase in revenue. With an average annual revenue of $100 million, our Foundation is one of the top five revenue-producing health care foundations in Canada.

Grantham said: “Finding the right time to hand over the baton is never easy, particularly when it involves a powerful and vital mission to transform health care for all British Columbians. As we head into our next strategic planning cycle, it feels like the right time to hand over to the person who will lead its development and implementation in the coming years.”

Major impacts achieved under Barbara’s guidance include:

  • successful repositioning of the Foundation as BC’s epicentre of philanthropic investment in health care innovation
  • the opening of the Joseph & Rosalie Segal & Family Health Centre to care for people with mental health challenges
  • launch of the Future of Surgery campaign that will transform surgical facilities at VGH and UBC Hospital
  • realizing significant philanthropic investment for Vancouver Coastal Health’s community programs, including inner city and palliative care initiatives, and innovations in technology that are changing how citizens access health care.

“Leading VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation has been my deepest honour and privilege, and I am so proud of what this team has achieved together. I would like to personally thank our inspiring supporters and volunteers, the Foundation’s Board of Directors and our talented staff team, all of whom are passionate about connecting the power of philanthropy with the power of health care innovation.”

Smooth transition
Christina Anthony, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, said, “The Board has activated the Foundation’s CEO Succession Policy and we are working towards having a new CEO appointed during the autumn. Barbara will be greatly missed, and we are thankful for her commitment to supporting a thoughtful and smooth transition.”

Anthony continues, “For the past seven years, Barbara has been inspirational in her leadership of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. We are so grateful for all that has been achieved to positively impact health care in British Columbia under her guidance.”

Anthony added, “On behalf of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s Board and staff team, I would like to wish Barbara all the very best in her next professional chapter. As we look to the Foundation’s future, we hope to find a new CEO of the same high calibre as Barbara to continue significant and lasting efforts in pursuit of our vital mission: Inspiring donors. Transforming health care. Saving lives.”

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation has engaged an executive search company (WATSON) to assist in the timely recruitment of Barbara’s successor.