BCCOHP is governed by a 10-member board made up of five oral health professional members and five public members.
BCCOHP’s Board is appointed by the Minister of Health upon recommendation by Superintendent at the Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office. Learn more about their process here >>
The Board is responsible for ensuring that the organization’s mandate – regulation of oral health care in the public interest – is carried out effectively and efficiently on behalf of British Columbians.
Position: Public Member
Julie Akeroyd is a practising lawyer and member of the Law Society of British Columbia. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Arts in Pacific and Asian Studies from the University of Victoria. Julie is an active member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association. She completed over 10 years of service for the legacy College of Dental Hygienists of BC, where she served in various capacities including the Inquiry Committee (chair), Governance Committee, and as a government-appointed public member of the board (vice chair).
Position: Public Member
Patricia (Pat) Dooley has a background in public education and served as CEO/Superintendent of Schools in three school districts. Pat was instrumental in establishing the Rural Education Advisory Group and led a number of initiatives focused on enhancing education in rural schools. She has been a member of the BCCOHP Board since its formation on September 1, 2022. She has been on numerous other boards, including the Interior Health Authority, Selkirk College, Kootenay Boundary Division of Family Practice, BC College of Teachers and the City of Nelson’s Municipal Police and Library boards. Pat is a strong believer in community service and has been a longtime volunteer, recognized as Nelson’s Citizen of the Year in 2021. Currently, she is volunteer Chairperson of the Prima Health Cooperative, committed to enhancing primary care for residents of the Kootenay Boundary Region.
Position: Public Member
Marion Erickson is the Research Manager at the Health Arts Research Centre at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) in Prince George. Marion has a Master of Education from Thompson Rivers University; she has completed a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Community Development from UNBC and holds an Applied Business Technology Certificate from College of New Caledonia. Marion Erickson is currently serving on the Doulas for Aboriginal Families Grant Program Advisory Circle. Marion has also worked with the First Nations Health Authority and BC Cancer to release a set of Indigenous cervical cancer screening materials that are intended to bring awareness to the public and health professionals about how intergenerational trauma can impact Indigenous women’s access to health care.
Position: Public Member
Shirley has worked in a variety of roles, including Registered and Public Health Nurse, staff member with OXFAM Canada, Community Developer with the Musqueam Indian Band, and communications specialist with the BC Nurses’ Union. Through her professional and volunteer experience, she has developed strong skills in policy writing, fundraising proposal development, and media relations. She is proficient in social media, experienced in coordinating community events, and has supported numerous fundraising initiatives. Shirley is also a skilled facilitator and dedicated advocate for underserved communities. Over the past nine years, Shirley has served on regulatory boards, where she has gained a solid understanding of governance, financial stewardship and public accountability.
Position: Public Member
Katie Skelton, MBA, is Anishinaabe/Settler descent and a member of Henvey Inlet First Nation. Katie and her family live on the traditional unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. Katie currently serves as Senior Director of the San’yas Indigenous Specific Anti-Racism training program with PHSA. In this role, Katie leads education and systems transformation through a strengths‑based, relational approach that upholds Indigenous self‑determination in the face of settler‑colonialism. Katie served as public member with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia from 2019-2025.
Position: Oral health professional member (Dentist)
Ben Balevi is a private practice dentist and a clinical instructor affiliated with the University of British Columbia. His work focuses on evidence-based decision-making, professional ethics and patient-centred care. He has contributed to discussions on clinical judgment and professionalism in dentistry, including publications and presentations on managing uncertainty in practice. Dr. Balevi brings an interest in governance, accountability and public protection to his role on the BCCOHP board. His background includes training in engineering, which continues to inform his approach to decision-making and professional responsibility.
Position: Oral health professional member (Dental hygienist)
Elizabeth (Lise) Cavin brings four decades of experience in dental hygiene as a clinician and educator. She began her studies with four years of dental school in Mexico, completing a dental hygiene diploma at Vancouver Community College and a Bachelor of Dental Science in dental hygiene from the University of British Columbia. Lise taught in the dental hygiene diploma program at Vancouver Island University and continues working in private practice. Her regulatory experience includes board and committee service with the legacy
College of Dental Hygienists of BC.
Position: Oral health professional member (Dentist)
Dr. Bertrand Chan is a board-certified oral medicine specialist (FRCDC) with over 20 years of clinical experience across public and private sectors. Dual-qualified in medicine (MB, BS) and dentistry (BDS), with a Master’s in Oral Medicine (MSc), Bertrand brings a systems-based approach to oral health care and regulation. He maintains a private practice and holds appointments at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver General Hospital, Richmond Hospital, BC Cancer, and the BC Oral Cancer Prevention Program, contributing to both patient care, research and education. Bertrand serves on the Board and the Examination Committee of the National Dental Examining Board of Canada, the Credential Committee of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada and acting as dental representative on the Healthcare Practitioners Special Committee for Audit for the Ministry of Health. He previously served on the legacy College of Dental Surgeons of BC’s Inquiry Committee.
Position: Oral health professional member (Dentist)
Andrew Irwin is a practising dentist and received his dental degree from the University of Manitoba in 2014. Andrew practiced in Salmon Arm for four years before returning to his hometown of Chilliwack in 2018. He is passionate about learning new things and loves all areas of dentistry. He loves meeting new people and working with them to make decisions to better their oral health. Andrew loves spending time with his family and being involved in his community. He enjoys spending lots of time outdoors fishing, hiking, skiing and mountain biking, and generally just enjoying this beautiful province that we are blessed to live in.
Position: Oral health professional member (Dental therapist)
Kim Trottier (settler) is a dental therapist who has been practising since 2001, with a focus on working alongside First Nations communities in rural and remote regions of British Columbia since 2014. Her work is grounded in relationships, trust and a commitment to improving access to safer, high-quality care. She emphasizes prevention and community-informed approaches to oral health, shaped by the people and places she serves. Kim brings a practical, on-the-ground perspective to her work, rooted in accountability, humility and a commitment to ongoing learning and ethical practice.
