Board and Staff

Alana Lawrence serves as Vice President, Communications, Environment, and Indigenous Relations at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), where she provides executive leadership across enterprise communications, environmental strategy, reconciliation, and stakeholder engagement. Since joining YVR in 2008, she has held progressively senior roles shaping the organization’s public trust, policy influence, and long-term sustainability agenda.

A respected and trusted aviation leader, Alana advances YVR’s strategic priorities by championing climate and environmental initiatives, strengthening Indigenous partnerships, and ensuring clear, timely, and transparent communication with governments, communities, and industry partners. She previously served as Advisor to the CEO, leading cross-functional initiatives critical to YVR’s strategic objectives and supporting executive engagement with senior external stakeholders. Previously, she oversaw YVR’s government and Indigenous relations portfolios, including delivery of the landmark Musqueam–YVR Sustainability & Friendship Agreement. Alana was also instrumental in founding the Beyond Preclearance Coalition (now the Future Borders Coalition), serving as Deputy Executive Director.

Alana joined the YVRAF Board in 2020.

Hannah Turner is an Assistant Professor in the School of Information, at UBC where she researches the connection between cultural heritage and technology. She examines systems of classification and categorization in museum ethnographic collections, and experiments with how emerging technologies can be used to represent cultural heritage in order to facilitate repatriation. Hannah joined the YVRAF Board in 2020.

Personal Website: http://hannahtrnr.com

Bio coming soon.

Ts̱ēmā is an interdisciplinary artist and member of the Tahltan Nation. She uses Potlatch methodology to create conceptual artwork and teachings influenced by her mentorship in Northwest Coast Formline Design at K’saan, her studies in visual culture, and time in the mountains. Tsēmā holds a BFA from Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECUAD) and an MFA from OCAD University. She is a three-time YVR Art Foundation award recipient, received the Emily Award for outstanding ECUAD alumni in 2018, and is a 2020 Sobey Art Award winner. Ts̱ēmā joined the YVRAF Board in 2022.

Connie Watts is the Associate Director, Aboriginal Programs at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. She is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, curator, educator and designer of Nuu-chah-nulth, Gitxsan and Kwakwaka’wakw ancestry. Born and raised in Campbell River, Connie has a Bachelor of Interior Design from the University of Manitoba, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr.

Her award-winning work is often rooted in forms and knowledge drawn from First Nations cultures, while her sculptural objects incorporate modern fabrication and design techniques. She has shown nationally and internationally. Connie’s Interior Design and Management projects include the interior of the Songhees Wellness Centre and managing the Vancouver 2010 winter Olympics’ Aboriginal Art Program. Connie has been affiliated with Emily Carr Board of Governors, the British Columbia Arts Council, the First Peoples Cultural Council, the Vancouver Foundation and the Contemporary Art Gallery, among other institutions. Connie joined the YVR Art Foundation Board of Directors in 2020.

Troy Abromaitis is a member of Lytton First Nation, one of the communities of the Nlaka’ parnux Nation. He currently works as the Director of Development with the Bucci Group of Companies.

Mr. Abromaitis’ portfolio of work includes successfully managing over 30 development projects throughout Western Canada. He has over a decade of community service with his commitment to charitable causes, volunteerism and preserving local heritage. He currently sits on the Canadian Home Builder’s Association of BC Fraser Valley and the National indigenous Affordable Housing Corp.

Mr. Abromaitis is also the Past President of the Rotary Club of West Vancouver and the is on the West Point Grey Community Centre Association and the Sto:lo Business Association.

Daniel Nguyen is a designer with Stantec Architecture who is continually inspired by art and design. He is passionate about designing spaces that enhance the quality of experiences people have in the built environment and will always take the opportunity to advocate for more inclusive design strategies and the integration of public art in his projects. His work includes architectural design, engineering coordination, project management, and user group facilitation at a wide range of scales and building types. Prior to obtaining his Master of Architecture at the University of British Columbia, Daniel earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary where he majored in painting.

Peter Lattimer, owner of Lattimer Gallery, has been operating his gallery Specializing in Indigenous Art of the Northwest Coast since 2001. The gallery founded by Peter’s grandmother, Leona Lattimer has a long-standing reputation for promoting contemporary Indigenous art and fostering strong relationships with both emerging and established artists.

In 2015 Lattimer Gallery expanded its reach, opening a second location at the Vancouver International Airport where they offer original works as well as a wide range of authentic Indigenous giftware.

Christina Gray is an associate at JFK Law LLP, specializing in Indigenous rights advocacy. She holds the Sm’algyax name ‘Aɬaxsgaaxsiɬ Gaax Aganɬaak, meaning “the raven caws its name early in the morning.” Christina is a member of the Ts’msyen community of Lax Kw’alaams, BC, and Dene from Łutselkʼe, NWT. Based in Prince Rupert, she collaborates remotely with clients and colleagues across Canada.

Elisabeth ​joined the YVR Art Foundation in 2022 as its second Executive Director. She brings​​ decades of expertise and experience ​in arts and culture and not-for-profit administration in BC, including leadership roles with the Provincial Language Service (PHSA), the VGH + UBC Hospital Foundation, Ballet BC, and the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art. A life-long British Columbian, she is privileged to further the mandate of the YVR Art Foundation to develop and advance BC and Yukon First Nations visual art and artists. She holds a Bachelor of General Studies and Business Administration (2009) and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (2015) from Simon Fraser University.

Originally from Southern Ontario, Amy completed her Bachelor’s Degree in English and Primary/Junior Education at Nipissing University before continuing on to achieve a Postgraduate Certificate in Museum Management and Curatorship from Fleming College. After moving to Vancouver, she worked at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art as Collections Technician and Head Gallery Associate. Amy hopes to contribute to the hard work done by past and present staff by continuing to improve access and use of the YVRAF programs.