Nela Graham – Metro Vancouver

Nela Graham is currently the President of the BCMSA and is the Program Manager (Prevention) in Corporate Safety at the Metro Vancouver Regional District.   She holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, and a Masters of Science in Occupational and Environmental Health from the University of British Columbia.   Nela believes strongly that we can have a truly positive impact on public health and prevention of injury and illness through managing risks and wellness in the workplace.

Within the municipal sector, Nela started at Metro Vancouver 20 years ago as an Occupational Hygienist and gained a deep appreciation for the contribution of municipal work to the overall well-being of our communities.  This is where the support network and resources of the BCMSA are particularly important and Nela is grateful for the opportunity to play a role in this effort and to apply her knowledge and experience as an occupational hygienist.

Nela has also been very active in the Health and Safety community, including roles as the past President and Director of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA BC-Yukon Chapter), a member of the Employer’s Forum, through participation in the Provincial Cross-Ministry Asbestos working group, and on technical committees both locally and internationally.  Nela has also represented an active voice for the municipal sector on several WorkSafeBC advisory committees and in consultation with WorkSafeBC and other provincial and national bodies in the development of regulations and legislation.

With the nature of the “Health & Safety” profession changing, there is an expectation for safety professionals to go beyond traditional safety roles.  This is especially true during the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic and has resulted in an even greater need to share information and support each other. This is where the BCMSA has really grown and shown itself to be a universal and adaptable resource.  Nela is proud to have been part of this evolution and welcomes the opportunity to continue to serve the BCMSA and its members to advance our services in support of our Mission and Vision.