Meet the Team

Ivana Cecic, PhD

Executive Director

Ivana serves as the Executive Director of the BC Lupus Society, where she leads the strategic vision, partnerships, and programs that advance the organization’s mission. With a proven track record in the life sciences and nonprofit sector, Ivana brings a blend of visionary leadership, operational expertise, and a deep commitment to community impact. She has a personal connection, having several members of family affected by autoimmune conditions.

Throughout her career, Ivana has championed innovation, built strong cross-sector collaborations, and guided teams through periods of growth and transformation. Ivana’s work reflects a passion for empowering others and creating sustainable, measurable change.

Ivana holds a Ph.D. from the Faculty of Medicine at UBC and conducted her postdoctoral research at the Stanford University School of Medicine Cancer Center.

Samuel Cochrane

President

Samuel (Sam) is the Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer of AutoCanada Inc. He was appointed CEO in February 2026 after briefly serving as Interim CEO and originally joining the company in June 2024 as Chief Financial Officer.

Sam brings extensive public company leadership experience and a strong track record of guiding financial performance and corporate transitions. Prior to AutoCanada, he served as CFO of Sierra Wireless, where he helped lead a period of significant growth culminating in the company’s sale to Semtech.

He previously served as CFO of Avigilon Corporation and later held senior leadership roles at Motorola Solutions following Avigilon’s acquisition. Earlier in his career, Sam held leadership roles at SNC-Lavalin (now AtkinsRéalis) and Golf Town, and began his career in public accounting at PwC.

Dilshad Aulakh

Treasurer

Dilshad has been serving as Treasurer for the BC Lupus Society since 2024, bringing strong financial leadership and governance experience to support the organization’s mission. She is a finance executive by profession, currently working as Chief Financial Officer at Colony Construction Corporation, with expertise in financial management, strategic planning, and organizational oversight.

Dilshad is actively involved in community service and volunteers with the CPA BC Financial Literacy Program and YWCA initiatives, helping individuals build financial confidence and knowledge. Outside of work and volunteering, she enjoys golf, hiking, and swimming.

Valerie Gosselin

Board Member

Valerie began volunteering with the BC Lupus Society in 2019 and later joined the team in a staff capacity before stepping into Board leadership. She has served as Treasurer and now contributes as a board member bringing both operational experience and governance insight to the organization.

Valerie is passionate about giving a voice to those who need greater support and advocacy. Having experienced health challenges herself and knowing individuals living with lupus, she is deeply committed to raising awareness of the disease and strengthening support systems for those impacted.

Professionally, Valerie works in the nonprofit sector supporting children with mental and physical challenges, a cause that closely aligns with her dedication to inclusive and compassionate communities.

Catherine Backman, PhD, FCAOT, MARP

Board Member

Catherine is a retired occupational therapist, educator, and researcher. She is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia and Senior Scientist Emeritus at Arthritis Research Canada.

During her academic career she studied the impact of arthritis on participation in social roles like parenting and employment, and the effect of rehabilitation treatments.

Catherine’s previous service to volunteer boards includes terms as president of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy and president of the Association of Rheumatology Professionals. She joined the BC Lupus Society in 2026.