The Volunteer Victoria Board of Directors is elected by the members of the Greater Victoria Volunteer Society at our Annual General Meetings. On June 26, 2025, the following volunteer board members were elected, re-elected, or continued to serve a two-year term:

Treasurer – Usman Afzal works as a Portfolio Manager with Alitis Investment Council with his background in investing banking, corporate finance, and wealth management. Usman is fluent in four languages, and has a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Mathematics from the University of Calgary. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst Designation. Usman is also an avid adventurer who finds enjoyment in outdoor sports and exploring new cultures. From hiking to the base camp of K2 in Pakistan to scuba diving in Iceland and bungee jumping in New Zealand, he cherishes the thrill of new experiences. 

Board Chair – Stephanie Benedict is the Manager, Business Services at Coastal Community Credit Union. Stephanie has spent two decades in the financial industry in a variety of roles, and now focusses her passion of helping societies and business owners succeed by helping them with their cash management needs. Outside of work, Stephanie is passionate about teaching financial literacy to others. She is a certified Each One Teach One Coach and trainer as well as a Power Play Young Entrepreneurs trainer. She is the Treasurer for Into the Woods Early Learning Society, Chair of the Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce and a director on the Inclusion Parksville Board and Milner Gardens Advisory Board.

Chance Dixon has worked in archives and museums for over 15 years and currently works with organizations to help develop information governance policy and guidance. She has both a diploma in cultural resource management and a Masters in Archives and Records Management. Over the years Chance has worked in a variety of heritage sector roles with diverse community stakeholders. As an archivist, Chance has extensive experience managing archival collections and designing policy and programs that enable access and engage communities. She particularly enjoys creating archival programs and outreach that focus on involving and supporting community members, students and volunteers.

Ron Dick was employed for 23 years as a Mental Health Occupational Therapist in community and hospital settings and recently worked as a Community Crisis Counsellor with AVI Health and Community Services. Ron has a passion for helping people who face barriers to engagement and belonging. Ron has served on many community-led committees and is looking forward to getting involved with Volunteer Victoria.

Vice Chair – Don Monsour has worked with profit and not for profit organizations for over 45 years in several key initiatives. Don has developed a strong understanding of the rules and regulations that govern many boards and committees. As a leader of volunteer groups made up of individual personalities and objectives, he has successfully managed challenging goals and budgets and helped to raise close to 2 million dollars for not for profit associations. This experience, coupled with his business background, has provided Don with the ability to work within board guidelines helping to achieve the strategic goals and direction as set by the board.  Don truly believes that understanding the dynamics and chemistry that exists on a board is vital in supporting a board successful outcome.

Randi Page was born into a military family in Ottawa before settling in the Comox Valley. There she found her passion for sales, business, and technology while working for her parents’ technology company. In 2003, Randi moved to Victoria to attend Camosun College and commence a new chapter in her life. Following a decade-long career with the provincial government, Randi pivoted into the media industry with the Sooke News Mirror. She quickly found success, moving into a senior sales position with Victoria News in 2018. Her hard work and dedication earned her a spot on the 2022 Sales Superstars list by Editor & Publisher Magazine. In 2023, Randi took on a new challenge, stepping into the role of Publisher of Victoria News. Throughout her career, she’s built long-standing meaningful connections with local businesses and the community. Beyond work, Randi and her husband Jimmy are deeply involved in the local community and the stories that connect Greater Victoria.

Claudia Rezende brings nearly 20 years of experience in the education and nonprofit sectors—most recently as Director of Development at The Mustard Seed, where she’s served since 2022. Holding an MBA in Human Resources focused on sustainable organizations, she began her journey with The Mustard Seed as Volunteer & Events Manager. In under three years, she successfully restructured volunteer operations and was promoted to a director role. Originally from Brazil, Claudia made Victoria her home a few years ago and quickly found the community she was seeking. Her professional strengths include program management, communications, grant writing, event planning, and human resources. She is deeply committed to fostering meaningful connections and enabling community impact. When she’s off duty, Claudia enjoys exploring Vancouver Island with family and friends, volunteering at her daughter’s school, and spending time with her cat.

Vice Chair – Dibya Shrestha works at the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, having previously held positions at Camosun College, the Community Social Planning Council, and Volunteer Victoria. She has served on various boards and community-led committees and holds a certification in project management. She is well versed in policy analysis, stakeholder negotiations and telling stories through data. Dibya has found rewarding volunteering experiences through Volunteer Victoria and is looking forward to supporting the organization to flourish further.

Nancy Taylor became passionate about volunteering when she took on the role of auction coordinator at her son’s co-op preschool almost 30 years ago.  That experience was transformative. So much so in fact, that recruiting, training, and recognizing volunteers became her second career in several organizations including Habitat for Humanity Victoria, the International Institute for Child Rights and Development, and Saanich Volunteer Services.  Since retiring, Nancy has volunteered with local, regional, and national organizations by planning conferences and evaluating projects, tutoring new Canadians, and reviewing nominations for the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. She is currently Past President of the BC and Yukon Branch of Canadian Parents for French.  Nancy has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in French.  When she isn’t volunteering in the Greater Victoria community, she is planning her next trip off the beaten path where she can put her language skills to use.

Secretary – Katherine van der Gracht and her family made the move from Vancouver to Victoria a few years ago. When researching how to get more involved in her community, Katherine said Volunteer Victoria was top of her list. A dedicated marathoner, certified sommelier, and Executive Director of Special Projects with the BC Public Service, Katherine brings a dynamic blend of passion and professionalism to her volunteer work. With over 20 years of experience in strategic corporate communications and change management, she also has a long-standing commitment to community service, having served in hands-on roles on a range of boards and committees.