REACH Leadership Team
REACH Centre is administered by Department Managers, Directors, and Coordinators and helmed by our Executive Director, who acts as the link to our our Board of Directors. Each department contributes to REACH in different ways, but together, we address the social determinants of health and ensure everyone has access to health care, whatever their needs.
Melinda markey- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Melinda is a seasoned public health leader with over 15 years of experience advancing health equity, community well-being, and structural change. She holds a Master of Public Health from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology from Western University.
Before joining REACH as Executive Director, Melinda led the Healthy Public Policy Unit at Vancouver Coastal Health, where she guided regional strategies to address complex social determinants of health – including housing, poverty, early childhood environments, child and youth mental well-being, and the health impacts of climate change – through upstream policy and systems change. Her career also includes senior roles in the non-profit sector, including Executive Director of the Mom2Mom Child Poverty Initiative, Community Action Initiative and policy and research leadership with the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Melinda is passionate about community-led models of care and brings a strong background in advocacy, equity-informed leadership, and cross-sector collaboration. Her approach emphasizes collective impact, structural solutions, and dismantling systemic barriers to health. At REACH, she is committed to ensuring that services reflect the needs and voices of the diverse communities we serve, and that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Outside of work, Melinda enjoys mountain biking on BC’s coastal trails, experimenting in the garden (with mixed results–aphids always win), and spending time with her teenager, partner, and rascal of a rescue dog.
Afshin Jaberi - Pharmacy / Medical Clinic Manager
Afshin completed his Bachelors in Pharmaceutical Sciences and his Post-Graduate Clinical Residency at UBC. He came to REACH as a resident in 1996 and has remained here since as a Clinical Pharmacist and the Pharmacy Manager. During that time he has been a Clinical Instructor for the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine at UBC. He was instrumental in the development of the International Transgender Endocrine Guidelines of BC. Currently, he is actively involved federally in the prospects of a National Universal Pharmacare Program.
In his spare time, Afshin loves to spend time with his children, play sports and work on his classic sports cars.
BRENDA SANG - Dental Manager
Brenda has worked in the dental industry for 18 years, and 14 of those years has been at REACH, where she started in the dental reception. Her journey within the non-profit sector began in high school, doing voluntary work for Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House. She feels connected to REACH because of her roots in the community as well as being able to work with immigrant and refugee patients, which is very close to her heart. As Dental Manager, Brenda understands the importance of reducing barriers to dental health. She finds it extremely rewarding to see community members flourish at every life stage with the steady support of her team and the wider team at REACH.
In her spare time she enjoys hiking as well as traveling and spent 5 months in South America with her husband in 2020!
Daisy kler - Multicultural Family Centre Manager
Daisy has over 20 years experience working in non profit community driven organizations. She holds a position of rape crisis counselor and transition house coordinator for over 15 years. In that role she served as public education coordinator and media liaison. Daisy also worked as volunteer coordinator for multiple neighbourhood houses working with seniors.
Through her various positions, she has cooperated extensively with immigrant/refugee populations. Through her work she has advanced social justice issues, including immigrant and refugee rights, anti-poverty work, senior’s issues and work towards ending violence against women. She was recognized by the Vancouver Sun as one of 100 influential Indo Canadians in BC. In her role as manager of the MFC, she is committed to addressing the social determinants of health with a cross cultural perspective.
Jean-François FILION - Manager, Community Engagement and Program Development, HEED
Jean-François (JF) has 20+ years’ experience of working in social services settings, specializing in the areas of at-risk youth, immigration, and social/economic inclusion. He also has expertise in the areas of both career development and program development for diverse vulnerable populations.
His outreach initiatives and mandates have varied from developing alternative programs for youth and young adults, to helping newcomers and people with disabilities with returning to work. Having worked in these capacities, he is passionate about addressing the social determinants of health and facilitating community connection.
At REACH, J-F combines his love for community building with his skills and certification in coaching and leadership. He uses a multidisciplinary and people-centered approach when working with his team to empower community members and reduce health inequities.
In his free time, J-F is also a keen gardener, and leads a collective community garden!