Manjit Chand
Warm hello, my name is Manjit. I have been a social worker since the mid-1990s and have worked in a variety of roles in
community (locally and internationally) and in the health sector as a social worker. My current role is with Indigenous Health in the Provincial Health Services Authority and the focus is Indigenous-specific Anti-Racism.
I am a South Asian settler, and my ancestry is from northern India. My dadha (paternal grandfather) moved to Canada in the 1950s, seeking greater economic security. My paternal family, over time, ended up settling on Nuu-Chah-Nulth lands and building a life. As an adult I have lived on or near Lekwungun, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh and Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw traditional, present-day and never ceded lands and waterways. After several years of working internationally, across the Balkans, Western Africa and Southeast Asia, I returned to the lands of the Coast Salish Peoples.
For the last eight years, I have worked with the San’yas Indigenous-specific Anti-Racism Learning Programs. I am daily grateful for the opportunity this work provides to deepen understanding of my responsibilities, as a settler and occupier, to uphold the inherent rights of
diverse and distinct Indigenous peoples and to respect the rights and title of First Nations in what is now called BC. I am committed to lifelong learning and action that troubles the narratives and structures of settler colonialism and helps to promote the sovereignty and self-
determination of Indigenous Peoples and Nations.
From the first time I read our Code of Ethics, I saw the potential for how our profession could, if we choose to accept the mission, help
to address disparities, oppression, inequity and change systems that were never created with
many of us in mind. I look forward to supporting BCCSW in the work of Indigenous-specific anti-racism, at a personal and systemic level, with a goal of making all the systems we work within, as social workers, more accessible and safer for Indigenous Peoples.
Manjit
LORI BULL
I was born in Vancouver, BC, in 1971, my biological mother is Dzawada’enux from Kingcome Inlet, and my biological father is Swedish. Shortly after I was born, I was taken into the child welfare system with my older brother where we stayed for the next 4 years. We were permanently adopted in 1975 and moved to Alert Bay, BC, I am a member of the ‘Namgis First Nation. My parents are George “Satch” Speck (‘Namgis/Ławit’sis) and Dara Culhane (Irish/Jewish). My paternal grandparents are the late George Speck Sr. (Ławit’sis/Mamalilikula), and the late Frances Speck (nee Cook) of ‘Namgis/K’ómoks (E’iksen). My maternal grandmother is the late Claire Culhane (nee Eglin), first-generation Canadian (Montreal) of Russian-Jewish heritage and my late grandfather is Gerald (Garry) Culhane of Dublin, Ireland.
As a survivor of the Sixties Scoop, I carry both lived experience and professional commitment to advancing the well-being of Indigenous children, families, and communities. The Sixties Scoop was a tragic period in Canadian history when Indigenous children were taken from their birth families and placed in non-Indigenous homes under assimilationist policies. I began to learn and understand my own history during my undergraduate degree program at the University of Victoria, School of Social Work.
Through both personal and professional journeys, I have witnessed the enduring impact of colonial child welfare systems on Indigenous peoples across Canada. My practice is grounded in the belief that the answers to restoring balance and healing lie within our own families and communities. I honour the inherent knowledge passed down from our ancestors, and knowledge keepers, and I believe deeply that our children show us the way forward. Preserving Indigenous knowledge systems, keeping children safe, and ensuring families remain connected are the foundations of my work.
Since joining Sasamans Society in 2012 as the Indigenous Outreach Family Navigator, I have been privileged to walk alongside many families in the Campbell River area. In 2018, I completed my MSW, Indigenous Specialization, from the University of Victoria, and have served as Executive Director of Sasamans Society since that same year.
My leadership approach is guided by life teachings from my parents and grandparents, our actions, decisions, and principles must honor and maintain respectful relationships while upholding the inherent right of Indigenous peoples to self-govern and make decisions grounded in our own traditional laws, values, and ways of knowing and being. I am deeply aware of the ongoing impacts of colonization, anti-Indigenous and systemic racism, and I am fully committed to advocating meaningful, lasting change that uplifts Indigenous voices for generations to come.
I make my home in the beautiful, traditional, and unceded territory of the Ligwiłda’xw people in Campbell River, where I live with my husband, Richard, his father Kelly, and our beloved dog, Alpine.
Lori
Natasha Marriette
I am a fully registered social worker with the BC College of Social Workers. I have worked directly in healthcare for eight years, with experience in mental health, home health, and acute care.
I serve as a designated responder under the Adult Guardianship Act (AGA) Part 3 for cases involving abuse, neglect, and self-neglect, and I am also recognized as a Qualified Health Care Provider under AGA Part 2.1. I demonstrate leadership through my advocacy for the social work profession and my mentorship of students and new social workers.
Currently, I am an Assistant Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in the School of Social Work and Human Services, and a PhD Candidate at the University of British Columbia (UBC) School of Social Work.
I am actively involved in research and mentorship, was part of a research team that examined capacity assessment in cases of adult abuse and neglect, which led to a publication in the International Journal of Law and Psychiatry. I have also co-authored publications on the social determinants of health for immigrants and refugees, as well as on violence against social workers. I have presented internationally on the realities of front-line adult protection social work. My dissertation research focuses on understanding the everyday work of social workers responsible for responding to reports of adult abuse, neglect, and self-neglect.
I am passionate about teaching and mentoring. I have supported new social workers entering front-line practice and worked with interdisciplinary students at both UFV and UBC in various areas of research. My work is driven by a deep commitment to raising awareness of the social work profession and building sustainability and support for those who do this vital work.
Natasha
Sonia Andhi Bilku
I am honoured to stand for election to (BCCSW) the BC College of Social Worker’s Board of Directors. With over 21 years of frontline experience across community, non-profit, hospital and mental health settings, I bring a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our profession. My goal is to ensure the College remains a trusted regulator that safeguards the public while also supporting social workers in their practice.
My career has always blended direct practice with leadership. I have supervised and mentored new social workers, supported colleagues in complex practice environments and taken on governance roles at both the provincial and national level.
At BCCSW, I helped draft the Anti-Racism Statement and Policy, served as the Board sponsor for Cultural Safety, Cultural Humility and Anti-Racism, one of the strategic pillars of the College and contributed actively to the Finance, Discipline, Inquiry and Policy committees. Currently, as a Director on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), I ensure Canadian voices are represented internationally, while working to advance transparent, fair, and inclusive regulatory standards guided by decolonizing and Indigenous perspectives.
I am deeply committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ). Regulation must not only safeguard the public but also dismantle inequities within our systems. I believe we must examine registration processes for barriers, embed anti-oppressive practice into standards and create regulatory frameworks that reflect the diverse realities of practice today.
I bring leadership experience aligned with the College’s priorities, including cross-sector collaboration, government relations, labour relations and active engagement in the labour movement. I remain attentive to emerging issues such as digital literacy, privacy protection and the ethical use of new technology, matters that will shape the future of social work practice.
Equally central to my commitment is reconciliation and cultural humility. I recognize the ongoing impact of colonization and systemic racism on Indigenous peoples. Through formal training and direct engagement with Indigenous leaders and communities, I have deepened my understanding of cultural practices, values, and diverse worldviews. I am dedicated to ensuring that regulation supports cultural safety and Indigenous self-determination.
If elected, I will serve with integrity, openness and vision. My priorities include:
- Embedding DEIJ and reconciliation in all aspects of
- Strengthening equitable, transparent, and accessible registration
- Supporting social workers in elevating our profession while maintaining strong public
- Building stronger relationships among all stakeholders – government, regulators, practitioners, educators and the public.
At this time of uncertainty and upheaval, social workers must remain steadfast advocates for dignity, justice and service. It would be an honour to dedicate my experience, passion and commitment to supporting the College and advancing the social work profession.
Sonia
Carrie Davis
My name is Carrie Davis, and I am from the Gitxsan Nation, belonging to the Laxgibuu (Wolf) clan. I was born and raised in Prince Rupert and Terrace, and have made Prince George, BC home for the past 15 years. I am a Registered Social Worker and currently completing my Master of Social Work, with graduation anticipated in December 2025.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working across diverse areas of social work, including child protection, restorative justice, remote practice, perinatal substance use, and culturally informed counselling through bead therapy. I currently serve as Chair of the Ts’oodun Be ‘Unt’oh (Mother with Child) Legacy Advisory Council for Harmony House—an initiative rooted in two-eyed seeing, decolonization, and culturally safe, Indigenous-led practice.
My practice is deeply grounded in advocating for Indigenous rights, intergenerational healing, and decolonizing human services. As an Indigenous social worker, I recognize the unique challenges faced by our communities, especially when serving clients who share similar lived experiences shaped by colonization, trauma, and systemic barriers. This requires not only clinical skill but deep self-awareness and continuous personal reflection.
I believe the child welfare system—which I refer to as the “McDonald’s of social work”—is a foundational area that teaches us how structural factors such as poverty, lack of support, food insecurity, addiction, and mental health directly impact families. These are not moral failings, but symptoms of inequality that we, as social workers, are called to address proactively and compassionately.
In my perinatal work, I focus on supporting mothers who use substances, prioritizing both the health of the unborn child and the dignity of the parent through trauma-informed, relational, and culturally grounded care.
Through my leadership with the Legacy Advisory Council, I’ve gained experience in governance, policy development, strategic planning, and organizational onboarding—skills I’m eager to bring to the BC College of Social Workers Board. I see this opportunity as a way to continue growing as a leader, to advocate for culturally respectful and equitable practice, and to contribute meaningfully to the future of social work in British Columbia.
It would be an honour to represent and serve our profession in this role.
Carrie
