Canadian Association of
Nurses for the Environment
Association canadienne des infirmières
et infirmiers pour l'environnement
Canadian Association of
Nurses for the Environment
Association canadienne des infirmières
et infirmiers pour l'environnement
Between 2023-2024, three British Columbia Health Authorities — Fraser Health, Interior Health, and Vancouver Coastal Health—developed Planetary Health organizational strategies, with the aim to guide and inform each organization’s efforts and priorities in creating a climate-resilient, sustainable and low-carbon health system.
On November 21, join Karen Reutlinger from Fraser Health, Amanda McKenzie and Kady Hunter from Interior Health, and Breanna Gregory from Vancouver Coastal Health, authors of a new CASCADES resource based on their health authorities’ experiences developing these organizational strategies. They will discuss governance and leadership, strategic alignment, measurement and overall learnings—key considerations for organizations undertaking similar efforts.
This webinar is part of the Leadership and strategy for sustainable health systems series.
Host: Fiona Miller, CASCADES
Amanda McKenzie, Interior Health: Amanda McKenzie is Manager, Environmental Sustainability at Interior Health. Amanda’s area of expertise is in environmental sustainability, climate risk, compliance, permitting and regulatory approvals. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences from Queen’s University, and a Masters of Environment and Sustainability from the University of Western Ontario. She is an experienced project manager having led environmental monitoring and management programs for Canadian private and public sector organizations in British Columbia, Ontario and Nunavut. Amanda is currently responsible for leading both operational and strategic environmental initiatives in consultation with senior leadership and various partners at Interior Health. She leads environmental sustainability project planning, stewardship and resilience to future climate change through adaptation planning. She pursues opportunities to research, implement or partner with outside agencies to further sustainability in healthcare such as Health Canada, BC Government, municipalities, other health authorities, universities, and other public sector organizations.
Kady Hunter, Interior Health: Kady is the Climate Change and Health Lead for Interior Health. She works closely with the Medical Health Officers and Population Health teams as well as with colleagues across the other regional health authorities, First Nation Health Authority, BC Centre for Disease Control and Ministry of Health to advance health system climate adaptation and resilience actions. Currently, Kady is co-leading projects with Interior Health to inform and guide future action including developing a Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap for Interior Health. Kady is grateful to work and play within the ancestral, traditional and unceded territory of the Ktunaxa people.
Breanna Gregory, Vancouver Coastal Health: Breanna is an experienced healthcare Strategic Advisor with a strong passion for sustainability and climate resilience. Breanna has a background in coordinating responses to critical events in the healthcare sector, from COVID-19 outbreaks to wildfire evacuations, and brings a unique perspective to driving positive change. At Vancouver Coastal Health, Breanna has contributed to developing and implementing sustainability and climate preparedness plans. She currently works on the Transformation Team, with a focus on planetary health initiatives. Breanna is driven to make a meaningful impact on climate change initiatives and contribute to a more resilient future.
Karen Reutlinger, Fraser Health: Karen Reutlinger is the executive director of Emergency Preparedness and Planetary Health. Karen comes to this position from her most recent role as co-lead, COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Coordination Centre. Prior to being seconded into that role, Karen held the role of executive director, Capital Developments’ Strategic Change. Karen’s extensive experience in leadership, planning and mentoring new leaders within the organization have been essential in moving forward Fraser Health’s strategic planning in planetary health.