With a passion for the positive impact organizations can create, Paula Martin works in governance and business advisory roles focused on advancing organizational leadership for social and environmental benefit.

Paula served as Advisor to the CEO at Vancity, Canada’s largest community credit union with more than $28B in assets put in service of improving the financial well-being of its members, while at the same time working to develop healthy communities that are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable. In her portfolio, Paula directly supported Vancity’s President and CEO in building networks of engagement and worked with the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), as well as other national and international organizations in the values-based banking, sustainable business, financial, and co-operative sectors. Paula also concurrently worked on secondment as Senior Advisor to the Netherlands-based GABV Secretariat with its Executive Director and Board of Directors.

Her previous roles at Vancity include Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, Senior Vice President, Member Engagement, overseeing marketing, communications, and digital and community engagement, and Vice President, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. Prior to joining Vancity, Paula served as Director of Public Affairs at the University of British Columbia.

Paula began her career as a journalist—as a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press in Winnipeg, Manitoba and as a national current affairs producer for CBC Radio’s As It Happens in Toronto, Ontario. She studied at Ottawa’s Carleton University School of Journalism and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

A graduate of the national Institute of Corporate Directors’ Education Program, Paula is also certified through Simon Fraser University’s Dialogue and Civic Engagement Program. In addition to serving on the British Columbia Arts Council, she sits on the Board of Governors of Simon Fraser University and on the Board of Directors for Deetken Impact, a Canadian impact investing firm focused on renewable energy and women’s empowerment in Latin America.

Her appointment as a member of Council was made on July 31, 2021 for a two year term.