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.
Lara Croll
Senior Director of Policy
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
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 also serves on the board of the Public Affairs Association of Canada’s B.C. 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 the Association, 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, 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.
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 & Coordinator
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.
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.
Erika Buban
Events & Administration Coordinator
Erika brings extensive experience in event coordination and customer operations, with previous roles at Indigo Books & Music, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, and VIP Nation. Some highlights of her work include coordinating with vendors and publishers for large-scale events, streamlining even processes and consignment sales, and managing VIP guest experiences.
Erika holds a Bachelor’s degree in music (Musicology and Sound Studies) from the University of Victoria and is currently pursuing a Certificate in Event Marketing & Management Strategy at BCIT.
Outside of work, Erika enjoys dancing, reading, and creating art – and she’s always up for a visit to an art gallery.
