Dawn McKenna
Executive Director

Dawn has a broad business background with experience and education in finance, human resources and management, and has been involved in the disability community for over ten years. In 1999, looking for new challenges and the opportunity to help make a difference, Dawn left the corporate world and joined the Down Syndrome Research Foundation. She was instrumental in the successful completion of two capital campaigns, raising funds to: i) build a family-centered facility for Down syndrome research and education, and ii) purchase and install state-of-the-art brain imaging equipment, a Magnetoencephalography system (MEG). The Centre and the MEG are enabling new insights into cognitive development and provide the knowledge to develop new educational programs to help children with Down syndrome of all ages reach their full individual potentials.

Dawn was a key member of the executive committee organizing the 9th world Down Syndrome Congress in Vancouver , BC , Canada in 2006, and took over as Chair of the Congress when Josephine Mills was diagnosed with leukemia and unable to continue in the role. Dawn is a member of the Board of a local Rotary Chapter and involved in a variety of community projects.

Email Dawn
Welcome letter from Dawn

Pat Hanbury
Director of Programs & Services

Pat comes to the role of Director of Programs & Services at the DSRF with diverse experience gained from supporting families as Interim Executive Director at the Family Support Institute, co-founder of Hanbury Holland, a private consulting company, and work as a network facilitator at PLAN (Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network). Pat graduated from UBC with a degree in psychology in 2007 after a previous  career working at Cominco, British Petroleum, and BC Pavilion Corporation, in a variety of accounting roles. Pat and her husband John have three children and 24 year old Andrew is diagnosed with Down syndrome. Pat is a strong believer in the power of parent networking and a proponent of goal oriented programming that supports our children as citizens within their natural communities of family and friends. Pat has experience with the issues surrounding transition into adult life and was responsible for the creation and launch of Support Worker Central, a website designed to assist people who employ support workers for their disability related needs. Email Pat

Glen Hoos
Director of Marketing and Development

After graduating from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce (marketing major), Glen spent the first 11 years of his career working in the not-for-profit sector with Athletes in Action and FamilyLife Canada, gaining extensive fundraising experience along the way. After three years as General Manager of FRESH Restaurants, a restaurant chain with locations worldwide, Glen joined the Down Syndrome Research Foundation in his current role. Glen has a very personal passion for the work of DSRF, as his youngest of three daughters has Down syndrome. Glen and his family live in Aldergrove, BC. Email Glen

Sarah Verstraete
Director of Finance and Administration
Sarah joined the DSRF staff team in 2010. She handles all of DSRF's money related activities and also manages the Josephine Mills Centre building. Sarah is a dedicated member of the team going above and beyond her role by setting up an Intranet for staff to communicate more easily and volunteering at events. She was also nominated to be a "Manager of Fun" by her co-workers - she disregards the stereotype that accountants are boring. Email Sarah