The executive vice president and chief ambulance officer leads all BCEHS services and reports to the president and CEO of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
At BCEHS, the Executive Leadership Team includes:
- Chief operating officer
- Chief quality, planning and coordination officer
- Chief paramedic practice
- Chief medical officer
This team makes sure all planning and operations align with the goals of PHSA, BCEHS and the provincial health system.
Leanne Heppell joined BCEHS in July 2021. Before that, she worked at Providence Health Care as chief operating officer for acute care and chief of professional practice and nursing.
She has also held senior leadership roles at Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health, and previously worked in operations with the BC Ambulance Service.
Leanne brings more than 20 years of leadership experience. She has:
- A bachelor of science in nursing (University of Victoria)
- A master of nursing (Uuniversity of British Columbia)
- A masters of leadership (Royal Roads University)
- A doctor of business administration
Jennie Helmer began her career with BCEHS in 1993 as a primary care paramedic.
Over the years, she has worked in several roles, including:
- Unit chief
- Advanced care paramedic
- Paramedic specialist
- Paramedic practice leader
In 2021, she became director of clinical operations. In this role, she improved staffing, developed new care pathways and strengthened partnerships with hospitals.
In 2022, Jennie became senior executive director of emergency dispatch and clinical operations, and now serves as chief operating officer.
She holds:
- A bachelor of commerce
- A master of education
- A master of business administration degree
She is currently working toward a PhD in population and public health.
Paul Vallely has worked with BCEHS for 23 years. He started as a paramedic and moved into leadership roles across the organization.
His experience includes:
- Emergency medical call-taker and dispatcher
- Leading quality improvement initiatives
- Managing operations in rural BC
In 2015, he became senior executive director for clinical operations across the province. In August 2023, he also took on the chief operating officer role on an interim basis.
Paul has a master's degree in human resource management.
Dr. Sandra Jenneson has been a medical director with BCEHS since September 2015.
She began her career at BCEHS as a primary care paramedic (2001-2009) and later served as unit chief in Boston Bar.
Most recently, she worked as medical director for provincial dispatch operations.
Dr. Jenneson as:
- A medical degree from the University of British Columbia (UBC)
- A specialty in emergency medicine
- A subspecialty in emergency health services
She is also:
- A clinical assistant professor in the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine
- An emergency physician with Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) Task Force 1
