President

Eliza Lam is the President of Roots and Rise, where she brings a deep commitment to community connection and service. Inspired by years of hands-on volunteer work supporting underserved populations, Eliza believes in the power of people coming together to create lasting, positive change.

As President, she is dedicated to strengthening communities through compassion, collaboration, and grassroots impact. Eliza’s leadership is guided by the belief that when basic needs are provided, it leads to a healthier community.

Vice President

Patricia originated from Ottawa Ontario, where she went to Carleton University majoring in Psychology and Criminology. Patricia has been working with nonprofit organizations for over 15 years across Canada working mainly with Youth-at Risk. Patricia works full-time however continues to volunteer her time, assisting youth and persons with physical limitations in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Director

Sylvia Simpson is a proud Indigenous woman from Haida Gwaii with over 25 years of experience supporting youth, women, and marginalized communities. She currently supervises Indigenous Initiatives Operations at Douglas College, where she leads staff and student assistants to create culturally safe spaces for Indigenous learners. Sylvia’s work is rooted in trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and cultural safety. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a certification in Early Childhood Education, using creativity and community teachings to guide her work. She is a strong advocate and mentor committed to healing, empowerment, and Indigenous resilience.

Director

Grace Noel has over 28 years of experience in healthcare, specializing in nursing, care coordination, and clinical leadership.  Her career has included collaboration with acute care teams, community health services, and long term care facilities with a focus on improving patient outcomes, supporting families, and advancing best practices.

She is currently working towards a Master of Health Administration, reflecting her commitment to continuous learning and leadership in healthcare.  Throughout her career, she has been deeply involved in mentoring colleagues, developing policies and procedures, and assisting with licensing processes to ensure programs meet the gold standard of practice and enhance patient safety.

As a Director, Grace is committed to contributing her expertise, advancing the organization’s mission, and supporting initiatives that empower communities, foster growth, and improve wellbeing for all members.

Director

Ivy Caines-Walker has over 30 years of experience working in the social housing sector across both the United Kingdom and Canada. Her career has spanned a wide range of roles, including collaboration with non-profit organizations, provincial government, and local municipal agencies.

Throughout her work, Ivy has been deeply committed to supporting and advancing access to affordable, safe rental housing for gender-diverse individuals, single parents, people with disabilities, and low-income families. She strongly believes that stable, affordable housing provides a critical foundation for long-term wellbeing and future success.

Ivy currently serves on the Board of Directors for Red Door Housing Society (RDHS).

Director

Naomi Lee brings expertise in brand identity, social media strategy, and community-focused marketing to support Roots & Rise’s mission. With a background in creative direction, nonprofit administration, and fashion communications, she has built a career centered on storytelling, visual identity, and authentic engagement. Since 2016, Naomi has led creative direction for small businesses, managed social media platforms, and developed inclusive, community-driven campaigns, strengthened by her experience in fashion styling and creative production featured in international publications. Passionate about community service, she is dedicated to advancing dignity, accessibility, and inclusivity, using her creative skill set to ensure Roots & Rise’s values are reflected across all communications.

Director & Board Secretary

TJ brings over 15 years of experience in governance, communications, and stakeholder engagement across public service, corporate, and nonprofit sectors. An immigrant to Canada, she brings a lived understanding of community integration and representation. She currently serves in a communications and community liaison role with the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, supporting public engagement within a legislative environment.

As Director and Board Secretary at Roots & Rise, TJ upholds strong governance practices, maintains corporate records and compliance processes, and supports effective board decision-making. Her background includes strategic communications and systems-focused initiatives across public institutions and grassroots organizations.

TJ is committed to strengthening organizational structures that enable community-serving initiatives to operate with clarity, accountability, and long-term impact. In her free time, she enjoys reading, staying engaged in public policy and community issues, and spending time with her mother.