Dr. Robert Halpenny
President & CEO

President & Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Robert Halpenny started with Interior Health in January 2007, as the Senior Medical Director with a background in clinical care and Medical Administration. He was appointed as CEO of Interior Health in January 2010.

Dr. Halpenny completed his Family Practice Residency in 1982 after spending numerous clinical rotations in Kelowna and then setting up a practice in Vancouver. As the Vice-President of Medicine at St. Vincent's, he completed his Masters Degree in Health Administration from the University of Colorado and then spent six years in Grand Junction Colorado as the VP of Medicine at St. Mary's Hospital. He returned to BC in 2002 as the VP of Medicine for Fraser Health and then accepted the position of Provincial Executive Director Cardiac Services at PHSA. He also presently sits on the Medical Services Commission. 

Dr. Halpenny remains active playing hockey, golf and skiing. 

Dr. Jeremy Etherington
VP Medicine/Quality

Vice-President of Medicine/Quality

Dr. Jeremy Etherington will join Interior Health as Vice-President of Medicine/Quality on May 31st, 2010. Dr. Etherington completed medical school at the University of Calgary in 1982 and his residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 1987. In 1988, he joined St. Paul's Hospital (SPH) in Vancouver as a staff emergency physician. From 1994 to 2001, he was Chair of Emergency Medicine at SPH and ultimately Providence Health Care (PHC). In 2000, he became the Acting Vice-President of Medicine for PHC and Vice President of Medical Affairs in 2001 where his recent strategic focus was on physician engagement, particularly in key aspects of continuous quality improvement, physician professional conduct and physician leadership development.

Dr. Etherington is also a clinical professor in the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine at UBC where, from 1989 to 1994, he was Director of the College of Family Physicians of Canada - Emergency Medicine Residency Training Program.

Nationally, Dr. Etherington chaired the Board of Examiners of the College of Family Physicians of Canada from 2002 to 2008 and remains a board member. He is also past chair of the College of Family Physicians of Canada - National Committee on Emergency Medicine

Dr. Keith Hutchison
Chair of HAMAC (Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee)

Chair of HAMAC (Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee) 

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Dr. Keith Hutchison grew up in Edmonton, AB. After graduating in medicine from the University of Alberta and completing his residency in Edmonton, he became an Emergency physician at Royal Inland in 1990. Dr. Hutchison also works at the Kamloops Urgent Care Clinic and is Physician Director of the Sun Peaks medical clinic. He also provides emergency response on the ski hill as a member of the Emergency Medical Response Team at Sun Peaks.

He was RIH MAC Chair 2001-2009, TCS MAC Chair from 2002 – 2009, and has been HAMAC Chair since 2009. Prior to serving as MAC Chair, he was Chair of the Emergency Department.

Dr. Hutchison is an avid golfer, plays goal in hockey, loves skiing, and, now that he has deemed his knees too old to play, enjoys soccer from the sidelines as his children’s coach.

Allan Sinclair
VP Acute Services

Vice-President of Acute Services

Allan Sinclair is the Vice-President of Acute Services. He has been a part of the Interior Health team for six years, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer for the East Kootenay and Kootenay Boundary Health Service Areas. His first two years were spent in the South Okanagan as the Director of Health Services, Oliver/Osoyoos/Diagnostic Services before moving to the East Kootenay.

Prior to joining Interior Health, Mr. Sinclair spent seven years with the Lakeland Regional Health Authority in Northern Alberta as the Director of Health Services, Acute Care and Public Health.

Originally from Ontario, Mr. Sinclair holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Biology and Biomedical Science and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Psychology from the University of Guelph along with a Masters of Health Science in Health Administration from the University of Toronto. In his spare time, he likes to hit the slopes at the Kimberley Alpine Resort.

Donna Lommer 

VP Residential Services & Chief Financial Officer

Vice-President of Residential Services & Chief Financial Officer

Donna Lommer joined IH almost 20 years ago and has demonstrated progressive growth within the organization through her many years of experience in the financial area, including capital projects. 

In 2005, she moved from Financial Services to take a position as Program Administrator for Residential and Palliative care for the Okanagan Health Service Area where she oversaw the development of many new residential beds; the standardization of services and numerous other changes within the seniors and palliative care area for the Okanagan. 

In the spring of 2009, she was asked to take on the role of Corporate Director of Strategic Alignment where she lead the organization through a very challenging budget management process. 

Ms. Lommer has a Certified General Accountant designation. 

Joanne Konnert
VP Tertiary Services

Vice-President of Tertiary Services
Joanne Konnert joined Interior Health in March 2006. She brings a wealth of healthcare and health administration experience to her position as VP of Tertiary Services. Most recently she held the position of Chief Operating Officer for Interior Health's Okanagan Health Service Area. Prior to that, Ms. Konnert was the Executive Vice President, Acute Programs with Fraser Health.

With a Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing from the University of British Columbia, Ms. Konnert has held senior Acute Care administrative positions with the Royal Columbian Hospital and the former Simon Fraser Health Region. She is a former President of the Nurse Administrators’ Association of BC, a director on the Emergency Health Services Commission, and a member of the Steering Committee for the Provincial Renal Agency.

Andrew Neuner
VP Community Integration

Vice-President of Community Integration

Andrew Neuner is Interior Health's VP of Community Integration. Prior to taking on this position, he was the Chief Operating Officer for IH's Thompson Cariboo Shuswap Health Service Area, and also served as the Community Administrator for the Shuswap Revelstoke area.

Mr. Neuner has held various administrative positions in the British Columbia healthcare system, primarily at the senior executive level. Prior to his tenure with Interior Health, his most recent position in BC was the Chief Operating Officer for the Northeast Service Area of the Northern Health Authority and, prior to that, he was the CEO for the North Peace Health Council.

Born in the British Columbia, Mr. Neuner entered health care after a successful career in private business. He holds a Bachelor of Health Administration, a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Leadership & Training from Royal Roads University. In his spare time, he is an avid basketball fan and an often-frustrated golfer.

Brenda Rebman
VP People/Clinical Services

Vice-President of People/Clinical Services

Brenda Rebman joined Interior Health in April of 2009. She brings a wealth of human resources & health administration experience to her new position. 

With a Bachelor of Administration focusing on Labour Relations and Organizational Behaviour, a Masters of Business Administration and a Certified Human Resource Professional designation, Ms. Rebman has held senior Executive positions such as Director of Finance and Human Resources, Vice President of Human Resources and Support Services and Executive Director, Human Resources in large, complex health organizations in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

She is former President of The Saskatchewan Association of Health Service Executives, former Board Member for the Northern Alberta Chapter of CCHSE, has served on provincial and national committees and attended as guest speaker and panelist at many public sector events focusing on the state of our workforce and innovative strategies for attraction, engagement, retention and succession planning.

Martin McMahon
VP Planning/Strategic Services

Vice-President of Planning/Strategic Services

Martin McMahon is Interior Health's VP of Planning and Strategic Services. Prior to taking on this role, he was IH's Chief Planning & Improvement Officer for over five years, and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap for three years. He has held a number of general management positions including Emergency, Surgical and Mental Health Services. He has also served as COO for the North Okanagan Health Region and as a COO for Interior Health.

Mr. McMahon qualified as an Occupational Therapist in Aberdeen Scotland in 1987 and received his MBA from the University of Teesside, England. He held various clinical and research positions and participated in the British General Management Training scheme before emigrating to Canada in 1997.

Mr. McMahon is past president of the BC Healthcare Leaders' Association and board member of the Western Healthcare Improvement Network.He is also currently British Columbia's provincial representative to the Canadian Patient Safety Institute. 

Cathy Renkas
VP Communications/Public Affairs

Vice-President of Communications/Public Affairs

Cathy Renkas joined Interior Health in 2005 as the Communications Officer for the Okanagan Health Service Area.

As Vice-President Communications and Public Affairs, she is responsible for internal and external communications, communications planning, issues management and media and government relations.

In addition, health promotion and community engagement are within this portfolio.  Ms. Renkas has an extensive career in Communications having worked for twelve years as Communications Manager for the City of Kelowna and five years as Director of Communications for Riverside Forest Products.