Borders in Care

Christine Kouri’s 30-year career in healthcare has focused on identifying inequities and addressing key barriers through measurable and sustainable change. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master's in Health Administration. Her work to ensure equity for Syrian refugees led to a passion for raising awareness of the barriers faced by newcomers within the healthcare sector. She co-designed the formation of the National Newcomer Navigation Network (N4) to enhance the capacity of healthcare professionals in assuring equity for newcomers through knowledge mobilization and pan-Canadian and intersectoral collaborations. 

Furqana is a Registered Social Worker (RSW) in the province of British Columbia with both graduate and undergraduate degrees in Social Work. She is a second generation immigrant to Canada belonging to a visible minority population. She brings extensive work and volunteer experience on local, provincial, and federal platforms with a passion for inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility. She currently holds a position at Northern Health Authority in a regional team and has been working in the healthcare sector since 2018. She is also a Board Member at the College of New Caledonia where her passion for making positive change in the education system is radiant. Outside of work, she enjoys being a daughter, a sister, a friend, and an auntie.

Mustafa Ahmed was born in Somalia, but when war broke out he traveled as a young child to Dabaab, the world’s largest refugee camp in Kenya. The impact of education for him and the other children in the camp was profound, and he was able to attend UBC as a sponsored refugee student, arriving in 2007. Today he is a Director, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at British Columbia’s largest regional health authority, Fraser Health Authority, working to improve the quality of life for refugees and other newcomers arriving in the province.

Darlene is an Elder/Ambassador to Lheidli T’enneh Nation in Prince George, British Columbia. Her mother is Mary Quaw and father is Peter Zatorski. Grandmother is Elsie George, Grandfather Augusta Quaw of Lheidli T’enneh nation. Grandmother Annie and Grandfather Karl Zatorski. Darlene is of Grouse clan. Darlene is married to Neil, sons Blake (Laurie), grandsons, Jake and Konnor. Kyle (Neysa), grandson, Kade.

Darlene’s role as an Elder encompasses an ever-expanding scope from protocols of traditional territorial welcoming of guests/people/meetings/special events, offerings of blessings and prayers, opening meetings and circles, acting as a witness in meetings and tribunals, as well as sitting on Aboriginal Advisory Committees. These demands are rising not only because of increasing protocols but because of the wisdom and warmth that Darlene embraces though her gift of bringing people together, along with being able to weaver her insights into the purpose of the gathering, thus interconnecting people, purpose, and spirit.

Darlene’s most vital role in our community is her contribution to education as the Cultural Advisor in the Aboriginal Resource Centre at the College of New Caledonia. Darlene has been a mainstay and fountain of support, teaching, and leadership for students. She has helped them navigate their paths towards academic success. More importantly Darlene has been the critical link throughout the wider network of the College’s quest towards indigenization and reconciliation. She is the educator, mediator, cultural advisor, and spiritual leader for staff, executive, faculty and, of course, students.

Darlene was also appointed the 8th Chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia. She is the 2nd Indigenous female to hold this role in 34 years of the university’s existence. Darlene is completing her three years in March of 2025 and has been asked to stay on for another three years as Chancellor.

Dr. Alex Kent is a fifth-generation settler of British and Dutch ancestry. She currently serves as the Director of Innovation Operations and Knowledge Mobilization at the Jim Pattison Centre for Health Systems Learning and Innovation. She completed a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Equity Science Lab at UBC-O, and holds a PhD in Health Sciences from SFU and a Master of Public Health from UVic. Dr. Kent specializes in equity-focused, critically oriented qualitative methods and participatory approaches that foreground the voices of communities historically marginalized by systemic barriers. Her research emphasizes coproduction approaches with health system partners, community agencies, and rights-holders, collaboratively implementing and evaluating systems-level solutions that address systemic inequities and promote health justice.

Nargis Tanai is a Program Manager at YWCA Metro Vancouver. She first joined the organization to lead the Afghan Women’s Employment (AWE) program, supporting newcomer and refugee women with employment and training services. In 2025, she stepped into her current role managing the Aspire program, which focuses on helping immigrant women build confidence, skills, and pathways to meaningful work in Canada. Originally from Afghanistan, Nargis holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and moved to Canada in 2022. She brings more than ten years of experience working in community-based programs and supporting people through the challenges of settlement and integration. Her approach is shaped by her own lived experience as an immigrant, and she values inclusive, culturally responsive, and trauma-aware services that meet people where they are. Nargis is committed to working alongside communities to create welcoming and supportive spaces where all women feel seen, heard, and empowered.