Patricia MacAhonic

Collaborator

“I am honoured to have been invited to participate in the CRDWP based on my experience, contribution and lobby work for injured workers. Having lost a husband due to a workplace injury (1988) and a son with a life changing work based brain injury (2000) and seeing supports and fair compensation eroded over the past 25 years, I strongly believe that it is imperative to have academic research in conjunction with injured worker and family groups to provide momentum for science based change to improve outcomes for injured workers in Canada.”

Key Appointments

  • Advisor , Canadian Injured Workers Alliance
  • Past Director, Brain Injury Association of Canada
  • Past Director, BC Brain Injury Association - Management Consultant and Treasurer
  • Past Director, Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association
  • Past Director, BC Chamber Executives Association – Chair of Education Committee
  • Speaker for National Day of Mourning services and various other venues including closing address for the Research Action Alliance on the Consequences of Workplace Injury Conference at the University of Toronto 2011
  • Nominee, YWCA Women of Distinction: Community Builder Award  2010
  • Recognition awarded as a Community Leader:  Minerva Foundation 2008

Education

  • Masters of Business Administration – executive management - management consulting 2005    Royal Roads University Victoria, BC
  • Reconnect program - executive leadership 2011  Ivey School of Business London and Toronto, ON
  • The Leaders Window & the Art of Facilitation  2010  Sauder School of Business Vancouver, BC       
  • Bachelor of arts adult education  2003  University of the Fraser Valley (honours) Abbotsford, BC
  • Provincial instructor diploma  2003  Vancouver Community College (personal achievement award) Vancouver, BC
  • Career development practitioner certificate  1999 University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC

Areas of expertise

  • Conservation, business and social justice leader with a strong professional business background who has successfully worked for a variety of organizations in the private, public and not for profit sectors
  • Political lobby experience at provincial and federal levels on injured worker issues, brain injury issues and conservation issues including but not limited to water, energy, fish and wildlife
  • Small Business and Non Profit Strategy and Operations Specialist
  • Labour market specialist, Instructor  (Sessional)1999, 2000, 2001 University of the Fraser Valley  Chilliwack, Abbotsford, BC
  • Brain Injury services
  • Injured worker issues and needs
  • Outdoor experiential education

Research Activities

Co-author: “Evaluating the support needs of injured workers in occupational transitions after injury,” Journal of Work 2009

Researcher and Lobbyist volunteer:  1993-2003 Researched and lobbied government on need to update BC’s 70 year old legislation affecting survivors and children of workplace fatalities provided written reports, submissions and presentations that provided impetus and informed the decision for the passing of Bill C-37.

Contact Information: patdmac@shaw.ca