Board of Directors

The Backbone of CPABC

Our Board of Directors is a group of benevolent professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to help us achieve our goals at Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia. They include lawyers, accountants, business leaders, and other highly knowledgeable individuals who all believe in making a difference in the lives of those living with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Our Directors often stay behind the scenes but are the integral backbone of CPABC.

Interested in becoming a Board Member? We are recruiting. Join us today!
Are directly or indirectly impacted by cerebral palsy? We need your input. Become an advisor.

Susanne Raab

President

Susanne is a medical malpractice lawyer and advocate for people living with disabilities.  She has been selected for inclusion by her peers in Best Lawyers in Canada in the area of Medical Negligence and is recognized as a leading practitioner in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory in medical malpractice. Susanne is also a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an honorary trial lawyer society whose membership is limited to less than one-half of one percent of North American lawyers, judges and scholars.  Susanne’s practice is devoted to helping people who have suffered injuries as a result of medical malpractice, with a focus on birth injuries.

Susanne Katja Raab

Susanne is committed to assisting children living with cerebral palsy, both inside and outside the courtroom.  Her work gives her an understanding of the many challenges faced by families who have a child with cerebral palsy, and more importantly, of the remarkable resilience and capabilities of these children when given the resources and support they need to reach their full potential.

Susanne is the President of the BC Cerebral Palsy Association, and Chair of the Advisory Committee and the Fundraising Committee.

Susanne can be reached at or at 604.685.2361.

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Gilles De Condappa

Treasurer

Gilles is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CA). Gilles graduated from the University of Manchester in 2002 with a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering with honours. Following graduation he worked at KPMG LLP in Vancouver and London, England. After leaving KPMG LLP he worked at Healthcare Benefit Trust, and now works at George and Bell Consulting as a benefits consultant. Gilles has over 10 years of experience in the consulting field advising clients on accounting matters and actuarial matters related to group benefit plans.

Gilles volunteered as the Treasurer and as a Board Member for the Society of Children and Youth of BC from 2007 to 2013, prior to joining the board of CPABC.

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Julia Halipchuk

Secretary

Julia Halipchuk is a young structural engineer in training who, herself, is living with cerebral palsy. This helps her relate to the same struggles and challenges that the members face and further ignites her passion for the organization. In addition, she is glad to give back to an organization which has helped her pursue her career goals and gave her the space to feel like a welcome member of the community.

Julia is now successfully employed working as a structural design engineer, spending most of her time working on seismic engineering related projects. She enjoys the nature of her work since it’s always changing and there are always new problems and challenges to solve.

Her CP is mild, and she believes that is a big part of why people have been so accepting of her. She still faces stigmas and challenges, but as a whole feels very much accepted. Julia believes that  getting involved in the association as a disabled person helps her leverage her position to advocate for it’s members. She feels that society is getting better at recognizing people with different abilities and trying to include them, but concedes that there are still challenges. She feels that it is the smaller points that matter, like asking a person what they are capable of rather than making assumptions based on their appearance, or providing safe options for people with disabilities to maneuver their way around this city and enjoy all the great things there are to do. Once things like that start to change, people with disabilities will be more capable of living even fuller lives and are less likely to feel pushed to the side, and that is what really matters – everyone’s individual happiness.

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Ish Sehmbey

Director

Ish is a Certified Canadian Pedorthist and has multiple years experience in the orthotics and bracing field. She graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelors in Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology and pursued post grad studies in Pedorthics. Her passion for orthotics and bracing began with a practicum placement and evolved into a very rewarding career where she is able to help clients improve their mobility.

Her experience in working directly with people living with CP fuels her passion and desire to work on our Board of Directors to improve the lives of families and children affected.

She has demonstrated her deep commitment to “making a difference” by founding a Not for Profit organisation to better the lives of girls in India through soccer. She was the recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013 for her efforts, and continues to give back to the community.

Ish is on the Board of Directors of the BC Cerebral Palsy Association, and a member of the Fundraising Committee.

Ish can be reached at .

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Andy Yu, CA

Past President

As a person with CP who has overcome adversity, Andy firmly believes in the capabilities. With a Bachelor of Commerce from the Sauder School of Business at UBC, a Chartered Professional Accountant designation as well as an Executive MBA from Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business, brings a wealth of business insight and passion to see full participation for persons with disabilities in the social and economic life of the community.

Through developing and implementing the “4 R’s” (Revitalize, Reach, Raise, Realize) Strategic Plan for the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC, Andy has re-structured and energized the association. Andy’s particular passion for promoting accessible employment has been reflected in the CPABC’s growth; as Chair of the 2014 Life Without Limits Gala, he oversaw raising funds to support a Pre-employment Program to provide persons with disabilities with the opportunity to develop both hard and soft skills necessary for success in the workplace.

During Andy’s tenure as former President of the Board, the work of the CPABC has been recognized with the City of Vancouver Accessibility and Inclusion Award (Organization category). As well, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia has awarded Andy its Community Service Award.

Andy’s appointment to the Minister’s Council on Employment and Accessibility will see his ongoing contribution to Accessibility 2024 a 10-year action plan for making BC the most progressive province for people with disabilities to live in.

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