Board of Directors
David Robbins, President
Management Consultant/President, D. C. Robbins & Associates Inc.
David Robbins has a versatile background with over 30 years of experience in a variety of senior business process and technology consulting, as well as systems and project management roles for some of Canada's leading organizations. David is a Professional Engineer, and has a Master's of Business Administration as well as a Master's of Applied Science. He lives in North Vancouver, and is a parent of three children. One of his children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Monique Hoekstra, Vice President
Speech & Language Pathologist
Monique Hoekstra has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She provides speech and language therapy to children with autism spectrum disorder and special needs and has worked with children with autism spectrum disorder for the past 15 years. She resides in Vancouver, BC with her husband and two children.
Paul Bowes, Secretary / Treasurer
Lawyer, Salley Bowes Harwardt LLP
Paul Bowes is a corporate and securities lawyer with over 24 years of experience in the business and finance law, and has practiced at Salley Bowes Harwardt in Vancouver, BC, since 1995.
Wendy Holtan, Director
Itinerant Autism Support Worker School District # 44
Wendy Holtan is a member of the Autism Support Team for North Vancouver School District. She has worked with children in various capacities since 1985 and, specifically children with autism spectrum disorder since 1994. Wendy has a degree in psychology from the University of Victoria and has received training with the Provincial Outreach Program for Autism and Related Disorders, CBI Consultants, SCERTS Model, RDI, Verbal Behaviour, and Social Thinking among others.
Ken Brown, Director
Senior Behaviour Consultant, Positive Behaviour Support Options
Ken is a father of three and has his Master of Arts in Special Education. Ken is a published author in the area of communication and behaviour with persons with autism, and has been working with families, schools, community agencies, and persons with autism and other special needs for over 18 years.
Heather McCracken
Founder/Executive Director, Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society
Heather McCracken is the founder and executive director of the Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society in Vancouver, BC and is a mother of three children, one with autism spectrum disorder. As the creator of the Friend 2 Friend Model, she is a sought after international speaker. She actively delivers programs to children in schools and other community settings as well as lectures at the University of BC and San Francisco as well as other post-secondary institutes. Heather is widely published and the author of That’s What’s Different About Me: Helping Children Understand Autism Spectrum Disorder.
