First Nations Health Authority names new CEO

VANCOUVER – The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) Board of Directors has announced Monica McAlduff (pictured) as the next chief executive officer of the FNHA, effective March 1, 2025.

“Monica has a proven track record of innovative Indigenous health leadership, upholding FNHA’s mandate, shared vision and 7 Directives, and a passion for advancing the wholistic health and well-being of First Nations in BC,” said Dr. Sheila Blackstock, FNHA board chair.

“The FNHA Board of Directors are certain that Monica McAlduff’s leadership roles and experience as a health provider, her commitment to improving First Nations wellness and her contributions to advancing cultural safety and humility throughout the health system, provincially and nationally, position her for success in leading the FNHA through this next phase of its journey.”

Monica was selected through a national search process that attracted an impressive pool of both internal and external candidates.

“The interest in the position is a testament to the reputation of the FNHA as the first and only province-wide, First Nations-led health authority,” said Dr. Blackstock. “It is also a reflection of the FNHA organization and our work to date with our tripartite partners towards achieving our shared goal of transforming the health system to better serve the wellness needs of First Nations in BC.”

Monica is of mixed ancestry from the Secwépemc Nation on her mother’s side and French Canadian on her father’s side. She has served within the FNHA since 2020 and brings with her over 30 years of clinical and operational experience from numerous roles across the system of care, working directly with patients as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse before progressing to several leadership posts, most recently as FNHA Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Cultural Safety and Humility and Allied Health.

Monica steps into the role with the full support of retiring CEO, Richard Jock: “I congratulate Monica on her appointment to the role of CEO and look forward to supporting Monica as she takes on this new role. I ask all to join me in welcoming her to this leadership position.”

Monica holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Psychiatric Nursing from Thompson Rivers University and a Master of Arts in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University. She is known for her strong client and family advocacy and passion for improving quality and safety in the healthcare system. Monica approaches leadership from a humility lens, seeing the strengths and resilience that First Nations people possess as the way to change the system.

Outside of her professional life, Monica enjoys experiencing the outdoors with her husband and son in the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations where she and her family now live. She has a passion for connecting with people and experiencing the fullness that life has to offer.

“Monica’s breadth of leadership experience, combined with the culturally grounded approach she takes to her work, is well aligned not only with the FNHA’s current areas of focus, but emerging opportunities on national and international platforms,” said Dr. Blackstock.

“The FNHA Board of Directors is confident that Monica will be instrumental in leading our ongoing work with First Nations in BC with regards to wholistic health system transformation. Please join me in welcoming Monica to the CEO role and thanking Richard Jock for his many years of leadership and dedicated service to First Nations in BC and across Canada.”