Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver, B.C.), December 11, 2020 – The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Jock as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
Richard brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role, having worked with the FNHA as an integral member of its senior leadership team since 2013 and as Interim CEO for the past year. Most recently, he worked closely with the leadership team to successfully collaborate with our First Nations communities and partners in the fight against the opioid crisis and, within the last 10 months, the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.
“Richard's insight and leadership have been instrumental in guiding the First Nations Health Authority during these unprecedented times, and as a Board we are extremely pleased that he has accepted the role of Chief Executive Officer," said M. Colleen Erickson, Board Chair, First Nations Health Authority. “With his comprehensive understanding of the FNHA and track record of leading complex organizations within government and in the health sector, he is the ideal person to lead the FNHA forward. This includes continuing to respond to the evolving public health emergencies that our community is facing, renewing partnerships with First Nations, addressing systemic racism, and entrenching cultural safety and humility across the health system."
Richard has worked for the past 25 years for First Nations organizations and the federal government. Most recently, he served as CEO for the Assembly of First Nations and has served in many health capacities, including at national, regional and community levels. He is a member of the Mohawks of Akwesasne. Richard's continued leadership and work with partners will guide the FNHA in its efforts to advance its annual key priorities for 2021 and beyond, including the integration of cultural healing into primary care, improving the First Nations Health benefits program, and developing a made-in-B.C. children and youth health and wellness services model.
“I'm proud to continue leading the First Nations Health Authority, the first organization of its kind in Canada, and our talented team," said Richard Jock, Chief Executive Officer, First Nations Health Authority. “I look forward to serving in these challenging times and working with our First Nations, governance, and government partners as we strengthen our services for the benefit of all First Nations."
The CEO selection process was conducted by Leaders International, a prominent executive search firm, and included a national and international search for candidates whose skills and knowledge qualified them to lead the organization. Candidates required a strong understanding of macro-and micro-Indigenous health issues, knowledge of and experience with public health structures, in-depth operational leadership experience at large, complex organizations, and strong strategic planning and oversight capabilities.
About the First Nations Health Authority
The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is the only First Nations province-wide health authority in Canada. It is responsible for planning, management, service delivery and funding of health programs, mostly focused on health promotion and disease prevention. Guided by the vision of embedding cultural safety and humility into health service delivery, the FNHA works to reform the way health care is delivered to B.C. First Nations people through direct services, provincial partnership collaboration, and health systems innovation. For more information about the First Nations Health Authority, visit www.fnha.ca.
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