We are IH: Executive director driving safer care

Naomi’s sense of meaning and purpose always come back to the people—those who receive care and the staff who provide it.

She knows the work she does makes a real difference, and her goal is to keep improving the health system so it works better for everyone.

Naomi finds meaning in helping leaders and frontline teams make positive changes. She encourages learning, teamwork and continuous improvement. She also works to create an environment where people feel respected, heard and valued.

Naomi’s career path has been shaped by a deep commitment to learning, improvement and supporting others.

She graduated from nursing in 1996 and began a career at the bedside. She later taught at the School of Nursing in Thompson Rivers University. She then became the Student Nurse and New Graduate Nurse Coordinator, which grew her passion for helping nurses succeed and improving their experiences.

In 2011, Naomi moved into the Quality portfolio. Over time, she advanced from consultant to manager to director and now serves as executive director of Quality & Patient Safety. Her days are filled with meetings, committees, and working with people across IH.

Along the way, Naomi earned a Master of Health Studies, completed a Fellowship in Health System Improvement, and took part in many quality improvement and leadership programs. Each step strengthened her commitment to building safer, more patient-focused systems of care, and supporting the teams that make that possible.

Creating a safer, more person-centred health system

Naomi has had many meaningful experiences, but what makes her most proud is the work her teams do every day. Whether it’s the Infection Prevention and Control team improving safety, the Quality Improvement and Simulation teams driving innovation, or lessons learned from adverse event reviews, accreditation and planning, each effort helps create a safer, more person-centred health system.

At the heart of what’s most important to her is connection: showing up for people, creating environments where they feel safe and valued, and contributing to a health system and community where everyone can thrive.

For Naomi, reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples means committing to ongoing learning, reflection and action. It starts with understanding the truths of our past and acknowledging the realities faced by Indigenous Peoples today.

She believes reconciliation is about listening with humility, learning from lived experience, and building relationships rooted in respect, trust and reciprocity. For Naomi, it’s about becoming a better ally: using one’s voice, position and influence to support, advocate and help create safer, more equitable systems.

“Reconciliation is not a destination but a continual process of showing up, learning unlearning, and walking alongside Indigenous Peoples in a good way,” says Naomi.

Passion for accessibility guides her work

Naomi believes inclusion, belonging and accessibility mean creating a world where everyone has equal opportunities to participate and feel valued.

Accessibility is especially personal for her. Her father had a stroke at age 53, which left him with limited mobility, reduced use of one arm, and, later in life, significant hearing loss.

Watching him navigate a world that was not designed with him in mind—struggling to enter buildings, unable to access information presented only through sound, or unable to safely sit in the bleachers at the ballpark—was heartbreaking for her. It highlighted how often people with disabilities face barriers to everyday experiences the rest of us take for granted.

Her passion has guided Naomi’s professional and volunteer work. For several years, she served as the Board president of People in Motion in Kamloops, an organization that brings accessibility, inclusion and dignity to people with disabilities.

“This work fills my bucket” she says. “It gives me purpose and pride knowing that every action helps make our community more equitable and welcoming."

She also co-chairs the IH Accessibility Committee, which focuses on removing barriers and embedding accessibility into policies and culture.

Ensuring accessibility, inclusion and belonging are part of how IH operates is not just something she care about professionally—it’s something she carries personally. “My advocacy is both a tribute to my dad and a commitment to creating a health system and community where everyone can thrive,” she shares.

She’s proud of many things in her career. But what fills her with the most pride is seeing the positive change that comes from collaboration, advocacy and lifting others up. Whether it’s supporting accessibility, advancing quality and patient safety, or helping teams grow their skills, Naomi values work that aligns with compassion, respect and doing what’s right.

Naomi is looking forward to a three-week trip with her husband to Budapest and Croatia in the spring. Her favourite activities and hobbies all centre around the people and places that bring her joy. Family and friends truly make her happiest and she loves spending time with them.

She also enjoys being outdoors and staying active. She camps, hikes and golfs whenever she can. Being outside and connecting with others are what recharges and brings balance to her life. In the winter, you can find Naomi curling with a women’s league or snowshoeing.

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