Board of Directors

Chana attended UBC Sauder School of Business, and became a licensed mortgage broker in 1997. In 2004, she incorporated her own mortgage company, Synergy Mortgage. She is a member in good standing of the Mortgage Broker’s Association of BC (MBABC) and the Canadian Mortgage Broker’s Association. Chana is an elected volunteer director for MBABC, and is currently part of the Executive Board as Secretary. She is also a volunteer director for the Hebrew Free Loan Association, which provides interest-free loans to those that need a “hand up,” not a “hand‐out,” in difficult circumstances. Chana and her husband Randy enjoy raising their four incredible daughters in Vancouver, two of whom attend King David.

William, aka Billy, is a litigation lawyer and partner at Harper Grey LLP. His practice focuses on administrative and public law, including the representation of professionals in a wide variety of situations. He advises a number of public and non-profit bodies, as well as professional organizations, in matters of regulatory compliance, privacy, and member and Board accountability. William has three children: Barbie, Adam, and David (aka the BADs). Barbie graduated from King David in 2016, Adam graduated in 2017, and David currently attends King David.

Ron is a graduate of Vancouver Talmud Torah and received his LLB degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto. He is a partner with Fasken Martineau, practicing business law. Ron’s goal is to maintain and reinforce the good governance practices already in place at King David, and to assist the executive with the proper and efficient functioning of the Board and the school. Ron and his wife Shelley live in Vancouver and have three children.

Diane has been an active volunteer in the Jewish community serving on the boards of both Jewish Family Services and Hebrew Free Loan Association. Diane is also a corporate director with the Land Title and Survey Authority of BC and with Community Living BC. As a business and finance consultant, Diane works with First Nations, private companies and not-for-profits, advising on Corporate Finance matters including business and succession planning, acquisitions and divestitures, and financing to support growth, acquisitions, management buyouts, and turnarounds. Diane has 15 years experience working in commercial banking, subordinated debt and mezzanine financing. Diane was born in Montreal but calls Vancouver home, having lived here most of her life. She and her husband Mark are proud parents to their son Isaac, a King David student.

Elaine Grobman is a seasoned educator who brings to the Board her vast professional and lay experience with community organizations. Elaine moved west more than 20 years ago from her hometown of Edmonton. She holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum Studies from Simon Fraser University and has worked as an elementary school teacher in the public system since arriving in Vancouver. She has served on committees in various Jewish community organizations including Temple Shalom and Richmond Jewish Day School. Elaine has two daughters: Bella, who graduated King David in 2016, and Shea. Elaine is excited to be on the King David Board and have the opportunity to bring her professional experience to assist in the ongoing success of the school.

Alain Guez was born and raised in Paris and came to Vancouver in 2011 with his wife Michelle and their three children. He received a Computer Engineering degree from the Universite de Technologie de Compiegne, and as of April 2015, he is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems. Alain is a computer science engineer who became a sales and business development specialist. He has spent the 20 last years in both large publicly traded and smaller private equity companies where he succeeded in bringing to market some new and innovative technologies. After 15 years in the Telecommunications industry, he moved to health care, where he used his enthusiasm and leadership skills to promote new and innovative solutions. Alain was always involved in his community in France and was member of the Board of his Jewish congregation in Paris. Alain is excited to bring his multiculturalism, his professional experience, and his enthusiasm for Jewish education to the King David Board.

Born in London, Ontario, and raised and educated in Toronto, Alex rode west on his ten-speed bicycle one long summer, after an unhappy year at the University of Toronto. Crashing near Canmore, Alberta, he hitchhiked the rest of the way to Vancouver where he has lived ever since. After apprenticing as a plumber and gas fitter and working for a dozen years in the construction industry, Alex returned to university to toil in the deconstruction industry. Realizing his long-felt potential to be an English teacher, he completed his Bachelor of Arts at the University of British Columbia before completing professional teacher training, a Master, and PhD (English Literature). He has taught in the Department of English at UBC for the past sixteen years, as well as temporary appointments at Simon Fraser University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Alex has brought his strong practical and educational skills to a variety of Jewish communal institutions, including serving on both the student and regular Hillel boards. In addition, he served for thirteen years on the Congregation Beth Hamidrash synagogue board, including one year as Vice-President and two years as President, and is currently a Board member of the Jewish Book Festival and a member of the Youth Committee at Schara Tzedeck Synagogue. When not in the classroom, Alex enjoys travelling, hiking, skiing, bicycling, kayaking, golfing, and spending time with his wife, Dr. Kathryn Selby, and their son, Shmuel, who graduated King David with the Class of 2016. Alex wants to help King David High School become so accomplished that it is the preferred secondary-school destination for all Jewish students in the community.

Neville is a native of Cape Town, where he received a Bachelor of Commerce and postgraduate accounting degree with honours from the University of Cape Town. He brings to the King David Board solid expertise and experience in finance, corporate services, accounting information systems and human resources, acquired over many years in the food services industry and spanning three continents. Neville hopes to share with King David the same leadership skills he uses as executive vice-president and chief financial officer of Sun Rich Fresh Foods. Neville has served on the Boards of Sha’arey Tefilah and Richmond Country Club. He spends his free time with his wife, Michal, and sons Simon (King David alumnus) and Gabe (King David), and on the courts and greens where he pursues his dual passions for tennis and golf.

Joel was born in South Africa, and has grown up in Richmond. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History from UBC, and then his Chartered Accountant designation. He is a Vice President, Finance, with Univar, a global wholesale chemical distribution company listed on the NYSE. Joel has been actively involved in the Vancouver Jewish community for over a decade, including serving on the Boards of Camp Hatikvah (Finance Chair), Temple Shalom and Louis Brier Home and Hospital (Finance Committee), and has also been on the King David Finance Committee for the past two years. Joel and his wife Tara have three children – Noah (King David alumnus), Maya (Grade 11 at King David) and Shayna (Grade 4 at VTT).

Joe has lived in Vancouver his whole life. He has a background in business and works in real estate development. He has been an active and interested member of the Jewish community, with previous Board portfolios with Congregation Schara Tzedeck, Vancouver Talmud Torah, and Congregation Beth Hamidrash. The Evaluation Committee will guide the continuous assessment of the Head of School, as well as facilitate communication between the Board and administration. His goal is to help ensure the Board remains productive and dynamic in its endeavour to deliver to the Vancouver Jewish community with an excellent institution of learning.

Jonathan is a father of three children, with his twin girls attending Grade 9 at King David this year. Originally from Australia, his family moved to Vancouver two years ago. Jewish education is important to him, with all of his children attending Jewish Day schools for their entire school life. He considers joining the Board as an opportunity to give back to the Jewish school community which has been very welcoming. Jonathan runs a chain of pharmacies, called Pure Pharmacy. He has an accomplished record in executive management in the pharmaceutical, health, and beauty retail industries. His success has come about through strong leadership, effectively growing brands by developing clear and relevant consumer propositions, and instilling these propositions within his team, the company, business partners, and with consumers.

Dr Jonathon A. Leipsic is the Chairman of the Department of Radiology VCH/PHC. He is Professor of Radiology and Cardiology with the University of British Columbia. Dr Leipsic is also a Canada Research Chair in Advanced Cardiopulmonary Imaging, and Past President of the Society of Cardiovascular CT.

Tamar was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and immigrated to Vancouver in 1994. A proud alumna of Vancouver Talmud Torah and King David, she graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a Bachelor’s in Human Kinetics. Tamar then relocated to Edmonton for several years where her husband, Michael, attended law school and began his legal career. Having recently returned to Vancouver, she is excited to join the Board and help contribute to the sustainability and future successes of King David. A strong Jewish education is very important to Tamar and she is eager to give back to the school and community that helped shape her Jewish identity. Tamar is especially keen to draw on her experience as an alumna of King David and help encourage other alumni of the school to become involved in supporting King David to ensure it continues to be a strong pillar of the Vancouver Jewish community.

Jackie is a native Vancouverite. She spent 20 years in Toronto, where she met her husband Gary and started a family before returning home in 2006. They have two children: Ashley, King David Class of 2016, and Justin, in Grade 12 at King David. Since her return to Vancouver, Jackie has been actively involved in the Jewish community where she volunteers her time at VTT, Louis Brier, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver. She also serves on the Board for Camp Hatikvah and the Jewish Family Service Agency. Jackie is gratified to be contributing to the ongoing success of the school, building its reputation in the community, and strengthening its financial security.

Natalie has now called Vancouver home for nearly as long as she did her birthplace, South Africa. She attended King David School in Johannesburg from nursery through Grade 12, and it was there, enriched by her family’s love of Judaism and community that she formulated her desire to be involved in their continuity. Natalie has a background in education, with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Hebrew from Wits University and a higher diploma in education (HDipEd.Wits). She was on a path to begin an honours degree in educational psychology, but took a detour instead to northern Manitoba for husband Mark’s medical career, before landing in Vancouver two years later. After various entrepreneurial endeavours, including a catering business and café (Chagall’s at the JCC), Natalie turned her energies toward volunteer work so she could spend more time raising her three children – one of which is currently attending King David and two of which are King David alumni. In addition to her strong business skills, Natalie brings a wealth of community service experience to her position. She served on the Board of Vancouver Talmud Torah, and has chaired numerous successful fundraisers. She has been involved with King David for the past nine years, served on the Board for three years, and has chaired the Teaching for Tomorrow event for four years. She is honoured to be Co-President of the King David Board.

Brett is a Canadian and South African chartered accountant with 25 years of experience in the real estate and financial industries. He has been the group chief financial officer of Bosa Properties for the past 16 years. Brett has been involved with the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver for the past 10 years in a variety of capacities including Director of the Board, member of the Executive Committee, member of the Building Development Committee, and Treasurer, and he is a past Sports Dinner Chair. Brett and his wife Jacci have a daughter at King David and a son at VTT.

Lori is an actuary with more than 15 years of consulting experience. She joined Connor, Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. in May 2011 as a member of the Client Solutions Team. She became a CFA Charter holder in 2013, and in 2015 became a partner of the firm. Her clients include large pension funds, mutual funds, insurance companies, and foundations. In 2014, she and her husband moved their older son to VTT and were so thrilled with the experience that they also moved our younger son this past year. Since her older son began his high school education at King David last year, Lori is keen to be a part of the strategic direction that the school undertakes in the next years. She is a graduate of the Montreal Jewish day school system, and believes that she can make a valuable contribution to King David’s educational and strategic initiatives.