2026 Vancouver Regional Symposium

Louise Aerts 

Chief Officer, Strategy, Governance & Reconciliation

BC College of Nurses & Midwives

Louise has more than 15 years of executive level experience in the regulatory arena. Her leadership guides the college and our board and committees on governance matters. Louise balances her executive responsibilities with her other key responsibility: integrating reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion into all aspects of the college's work. 

Her unwavering commitment to governing the practice of health professionals in the public interest focuses on addressing Indigenous-specific racism. She promotes equity and fairness in decision-making through due process and interprofessional collaboration. Louise was the registrar and executive director of the College of Midwives of BC (CMBC) from 2014 to 2020. She led the midwifery college through an important period of transformation. At CMBC, she oversaw changes to midwives' regulation and completed revisions to the college's bylaws. She also oversaw the amalgamation with the BC College of Nursing Professionals. 

After the amalgamation, Louise served as BCCNM's Executive Director, Strategy & Integration to support the initial integration of the legacy colleges' regulatory functions. As well, she facilitated the new college's strategic and operational planning processes. She also led the work to create BCCNM's Cultural Safety and Humility Action Plan by working closely with First Nations Elders and Advisors, upon whose territories and lands the college works. In 2025, Louise took on the role of Acting Registrar and Chief Executive Officer for BCCNM.

Louise has a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Victoria.

Dave Bhauruth

 Executive Director, Reconciliation & EDI, Strategy, Governance & Reconciliation

BC College of Nurses & Midwives

Dave is a second-generation registered psychiatric nurse and has worked in health care since 2000. After 18 years working in forensic psychiatry, culminating in his role as Director of Risk Management for BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services, Dave joined the BC College of Nurses and Midwives in 2018 (through the legacy colleges), starting as a policy consultant. In March 2023, Dave became the first Executive Director of Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. His reconciliation work ensures that the critical concepts of reconciliation, anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion will be integrated into all aspects of BCCNM's work.

Dave's work has focused in a number of areas, including revising, updating and enhancing standards for all designations with respect to medical assistance in dying; and, co-leading (with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC) the development of the first Indigenous Cultural Safety, Cultural Humility and Anti-Racism practice standard. Dave has also had the privilege of project managing BCCNM's Indigenous-specific anti-racism action plans.

Outside of work, Dave is a proud married father of two kids, volunteers as the director of his kids' local rugby program, and resides as a settler on the traditional and unceded territory of the Kiwkwetlam First Nation in Port Coquitlam, BC. Dave has a Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing from Douglas College and a Master of Health Administration from the University of British Columbia.

Corinne de Bruin

Deputy Registrar, Licensing
College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC

Ms. Corinne de Bruin graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia and is certified with the Canadian Society of Association Executives. Prior to joining CPSBC as director, registration services in 2012, she held management positions in strategic planning, policy and program development at the Ministry of Finance, Workers’ Compensation Board and Legal Services Society.

Ms de Bruin assumed the position of executive director, registration services in 2016, and deputy registrar in 2025.

Kate Haines 

Chief Compliance Officer & Deputy Registrar
Forest Professionals of BC

Kate Haines joined Forest Professionals BC earlier this year as Chief Compliance Officer and Deputy Registrar. In this role she exercises the statutory authority of the registrar in the areas of complaints, investigations, discipline, and enforcement.

Previously, Kate worked with the BC Public Service for nearly two decades, most recently as Executive Director and Superintendent responsible for the Professional Governance Act, the International Credentials Recognition Act, and the Labour Mobility Act.

Graeme Keirstead, K.C. 

Deputy Registrar
BC College of Physicians & Surgeons

Mr. Graeme Keirstead, KC graduated with a law degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1991 and was called to the Bar in 1992. He worked at the Law Society from 1999, responsible for a number of different portfolios, until joining the College in 2013 as chief legal counsel. He was appointed Queen's Counsel (now King's Counsel) in December 2021 in recognition of his leadership in the regulation of professions, his contributions to legal education, and for his service to equity-seeking communities. He earned a Master of Laws degree (LLM) in health law in 2023, and the Certificate in Fundamentals of Indigenous Peoples and Canadian Law in 2024, both through Osgoode Hall Law School.

Will Morrison

Manager, Governance, Policy &
Government Relations
Engineers & Geoscientists of BC

Will Morrison is the Manager, Governance, Policy, and Government Relations at Engineers and Geoscientists BC. He provides strategic insights and leadership for the organization’s engagements with government and the execution of its government relations strategy. With a background in law and more than a decade working in professional regulation, Will has extensive experience leading forward-thinking regulatory initiatives, and has spoken and written widely about these topics.

Len Pierre 

Owner & CEO
Len Pierre Consulting

Len Pierre is Coast Salish from Katzie (kate-zee) First Nation. Len is an award winning entrepreneur, professor, consultant, TEDx Speaker, social activist, change agent, & traditional knowledge sharer. He specializes in the development of educational programs and services with decolonization and reconciliation as its core values. Len holds a Masters degree in Education from Simon Fraser University focusing on Indigenous curriculum and instructional design. His experience includes Indigenous education and program leadership from various organizations across colonial Canada. He comes to us with an open heart and open mind, and hopes to be received in the same way.

Carin Plischke

Registrar & CEO
College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC

Carin is a trained occupational therapist. She was the Registrar and CEO of the College of Occupational Therapists of BC (COTBC). Prior to that, Carin served on the COTBC Board, including as Board Chair. Other roles have included working as the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Lead, Special Projects, at the Office of the Seniors Advocate, and as a Leading Practice Reviewer with the Health Standards Organization. Carin is a member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

Tamara Richter 

Executive Officer of Business Services/Operational Integration
College of LPNs and HCAs of Alberta

Tamara Richter has worked in health regulation for over 25 years and currently serves as Executive Officer for the College of Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Care Aides of Alberta (CLHA). In her role, she directs and achieves strategic outcomes across business operations, including finance, information technology, communications, and human resources management.

Tamara oversaw the transition of more than 40,000 Health Care Aides into regulation under the Health Professions Act. This work has required building new regulatory infrastructure, aligning governance and operational systems to support an expanded mandate, and guiding large-scale organizational change to ensure effective oversight and public protection.

A senior executive with extensive regulatory and non-profit leadership experience, Tamara has led diverse teams and driven business sustainability, operational excellence, and growth through strong strategic planning and regulatory innovation. She has served as a director on several boards and committees and holds a Master of Business Administration and the designation of Project Management Professional.

Kennedy Stewart, PhD 

Associate Professor
School of Public Policy,
Simon Fraser University

Former Mayor of Vancouver (2018-2022)
Former MP, Burnaby (2011-2018)

Dr. Kennedy Stewart (PhD, LSE) is an Associate Professor at the SFU School of Public Policy and a former Member of Parliament (2011–2018) and Mayor of Vancouver (2018–2022). As an MP, he served as the Official Opposition Critic for Science and Technology. As Mayor, he led a $1.7‑billion organization through the COVID‑19 pandemic. Kennedy is President of Policy Matters Ltd., which supplies Policy Coach AI to help organizations securely accelerate the production of reliable internal and public‑facing policy reports.

Thomas Taller

Director, Policy
BC Financial Services Authority

Thomas Taller is the Director, Policy and Regulatory Programs at BCFSA with responsibility for overseeing policy matters related to real estate and mortgage services licensees as well as the province’s regulatory program for real estate development marketing.  Prior to his current role, he served as Acting Vice President of Policy and Stakeholder Engagement at BCFSA and as the Managing Director, Policy and Oversight at the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate.  Thomas has spent his career in the public sector providing strategic policy advice at both the federal and provincial levels.  He holds a Masters of Arts in Public Administration from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Business Administration Honors from Simon Fraser University.