Meet Our Team
Mary Polak
CEO
Mary Polak is a public policy leader with more than 25 years of experience in elected office and public affairs. Her B.C. government portfolios have included responsibility for Public Health, Oversight of Seniors Long Term Care Regulation, Children in Care, Environment and Indigenous Relations. Her passion for seniors’ living, wellness, and care is a reflection of her love for her elderly father who is living with dementia.
Mary is a lifelong British Columbian who lives in Langley.
She is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals and the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Cathy Szmaus
Vice President, Operations and Corporate Partnerships
Cathy has an extensive background in retail management and customer service, along with experience organizing political events at both the municipal and provincial levels. Before joining the Association, Cathy worked as a freelance writer and wrote a number of popular care provider profiles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (English Literature) and a post-graduate diploma in Art History from the University of British Columbia. A life long learner, Cathy has taken several courses through the Executive Education Program at the Sauder School of Business. Not one to let her vacation days go unused, Cathy enjoys travelling across B.C. and abroad.
Snezana Ristovski
Senior Director of Programs & Organizational Development
Snezana graduated from York University with a Specialized Honours in Public Policy & Administration as well as a Bachelor in Education. Snezana started off her career in the banking and insurance industries specializing in business analysis, project leadership, process reengineering, continuous improvements, managing operations and organizational change which lead her to a new-found passion in helping people develop, feel cared for, valued and respected as a people manager. Snezana then went on to attain her Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation. In her personal time, Snezana likes to take local road trips, adventure on hiking trails, travel abroad, pick up a few new dance steps, perform stand-up comedy, public speaking, karaoke, and play board games with family.
Lara Croll
Director of Policy Partnerships and Workforce Development
Lara Croll (she/they) is the Director of Policy, Partnerships, and Workforce Development at the BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA). With a Masters's degree in public policy from SFU and a bachelor's in Economics from UBC, they use their expertise to advocate for enhanced seniors care and living standards in British Columbia through strategic policy advice. They also lead initiatives for recruiting, retaining, and training healthcare workers in the continuing care and seniors living sector. Beyond their professional role, Lara is the board chair of Watari Counselling and Community Support Services, a non-profit serving Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. On weekends, Lara enjoys swimming, pottery and true crime mysteries.
Tiffany Trownson
Director of Public Affairs | EngAge BC
Tiffany holds a graduate certificate in Corporate Communications & Public Relations from Fanshawe College, an Honours Bachelor’s in English Literature from Wilfrid Laurier University, Crisis Communications certification from the University of Victoria, and Prosci Change Management certification. Her leadership in healthcare spans urgent primary care at Fraser Health, the Clinical & Systems Transformation project (Cerner) with Vancouver Coastal, and operational roles in private home health. As Director of Public Affairs, she supports the advancement of sector-wide advocacy, government relations, and stakeholder engagement. Tiffany is also Board Secretary of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce (2025–2026) and serves on the board of the Public Affairs Association of Canada’s BC Chapter. A devoted North Shore local, she enjoys hiking, running, puzzles, reading, and spending as much time as possible with her golden retriever, Dashell.
Marjahn O’Connor
Senior Manager, Programs
Marjahn has a background working in both customer service and non-profit. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in international studies from Simon Fraser University, where she pursued a specialized concentration in international security and conflict. Prior to joining EngAge BC, Marjahn supported various workplace health and safety initiatives for B.C.’s continuing care sector as the Programs and Events Coordinator for SafeCare BC. In her spare time, you can likely find Marjahn at the gym, on the mountains, walking her dog, or attempting to travel the globe.
Marife Sonico
Executive Assistant and Senior Manager, Board Relations & Finance
Marife brings a wealth of experience in executive and governance support, as well as program management, having worked with various organizations in the non-profit sector. Before moving to Canada, she gained valuable expertise in revenue projection, monitoring, and cost analysis in her home country. She joined BCCPA from the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C., where she provided crucial administrative support to the Registrar/CEO’s Office and the Board of Directors. Prior to that, Marife honed her skills at Vantage Point, where she progressed through roles including Workshops and Office Coordinator, Reporting Analyst, and Office Manager. In her current role, Marife excels in fostering effective communication and collaboration between the Board and staff, while also overseeing financial operations to ensure the organization’s sustainability and success. Outside of her professional commitments, Marife enjoys traveling with her family, exploring new places and cultures together.
Andrea Mameri
Manager, Events and Member Services
Andrea holds a Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) from the University of British Columbia and a Public Relations Certificate from Simon Fraser University. Andrea has worked in catering sales and membership administration with the Terminal City Club, in events with the BC Children's Hospital Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society, and managed marketing initiatives for local real estate company. In her spare time, Andrea enjoys petting any dog that crosses her path, ruining friendships over a game of Monopoly, eating ramen while re-watching all seasons of The Office, and reassuring her mom (who lives in Brazil) that she’s ok.
Ankit Patel
Energy Manager
Ankit brings 14 years of experience working as an Analyst, Energy Consultant, and Energy Manager with some sales experience. Ankit graduated from the University of Calgary with a Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Development, holds a Bachelor of Engineering from India, and is also a Certified Energy Manager (CEM). In his personal time, Ankit enjoys playing table tennis and board games with his family. He looks forward to assisting our members with energy saving audits, rebates, educational webinars, and working towards the strategic objective of reducing carbon footprints to help address climate change and lower operating costs.
Jamie Lozano
Manager, Communications
Jamie joined the BCCPA team shortly after graduating from the University of British Columbia with a BA in Sociology, minor in Political Science. She carries with her a lifelong passion of writing, from making accessible writing resources for students in university to now writing content for BCCPA. Her volunteer work includes her time at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, from which she has extensive experience in working with seniors in care, and brings a passion of making our system better for B.C.’s older adults. Outside of work, Jamie enjoys spending time at her dance studio and going to live jazz shows.
Simran Pachar
Policy Analyst
Simran is a policy professional with experience in research, strategic planning, and policy development across government, nonprofit, and international organizations. Before joining BCCPA, she worked as a Research and Policy Specialist at Vantage Point, focusing on sector-wide policy initiatives with the BC Non-Profit Network. She holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of British Columbia (UBC), where she specialized in development and social change. While at UBC, she collaborated with UNICEF Dominican Republic on a gender situational analysis as part of her capstone research project. She is interested in health policy research and is currently working on a study examining framing strategies around healthcare legislation. Simran is passionate about social policy, development, and advancing equity-focused initiatives. Outside of work, you can find Simran enjoying live concerts and shows, crafting fun embroidery projects, and trying new recipes.
Melike Bilgin
Programs Coordinator
Melike has graduated with a BA, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Counselling & Human Development from Simon Fraser University. She has completed her Project Management Certificate and is currently pursuing her Master of Counselling Psychology. Melike enjoys spending time at the gym, workout classes, reading books, exploring new cuisines and coffee shops, hiking, and paddleboarding. She loves meeting new people and exploring new countries. A few facts about Melike are that she finds joy in continuous learning, and thrives on building meaningful connections with people.
Jessica Whitecotton
Senior Accounts Coordinator
Jessica is a Certified Professional Bookkeeper from the Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada and also has a Certified Non-Profit Accounting Professional (CNAP) designation. In Quesnel, Jessica enjoys spare time activities with her family such as camping, fishing, riding ATVs, and has a strong passion for reading.
Georgeanne Anacta
Programs Administrator
Georgeanne recently graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, where she developed a strong interest in immunology, health ethics, and lab-work – her most recent co-op focus. Outside of work, Georgeanne enjoys travel, running, and gardening. She is also an active volunteer with posAbilities and Canadian Blood Services, where she supports impactful community initiatives. We look forward to having her as a valued member of the BCCPA community.
