WorkSafeBC board reappoints three directors

BRITISH COLUMBIA — Three directors have been reappointed to the governance board of WorkSafeBC, as announced by the Ministry of Labour.

These appointments include Michelle Laurie as a worker representative, Rebecca Packer as a health care professional and Lorna Pawluk as an employer representative.

Laurie, reappointed for a term ending on Dec. 1, 2025, is a Red Seal certified electrician with a significant background in worker representation and advocacy. She has served in roles such as staff representative for United Steelworkers and president of Local 258 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Laurie’s board experience includes positions as vice-president of the BC Federation of Labour and chair of various organizations including the Tumbler Ridge Health Care Centre and the Electrical Industry Training Institute.

Packer, also serving until Dec, 1, 2025, is a registered physical therapist specializing in long-term care at the Island Health Authority. Her experience encompasses work with joint occupational health and safety committees and a position on the board of directors for the Health Sciences Association of British Columbia. Packer holds a master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Alberta, a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Victoria, and a graduate certificate in values-based leadership from Royal Roads University.

Pawluk, whose term extends until Febr. 1, 2027, has been engaged in the workers’ compensation system since 1991 and has considerable experience in advising employers on health and safety matters. Since 2006, she has served as associate counsel at Bernard LLP. Pawluk’s board experience is extensive, including roles on the boards of the BC Safety Authority, the British Columbia Institute of Technology and the College of Massage Therapists of BC.

The WorkSafeBC board of directors is responsible for overseeing the organization and the workers’ compensation system, with a composition that reflects a range of professional expertise as mandated by the Workers Compensation Act.