Board
Christine Woodington - Board Chair
Christine Woodington is the Corporate Accountant at Coal Island Ltd. an Asset Management company. She is a CPA, CGA , recipient of the CPA BC Distinguished Service award and CPA Member Ambassador award that recognized her service to the profession as a volunteer to the CPA Chapters, Mentor Advisory Board and as a CPA Ambassador. She is currently the chair of the CPA Richmond South Delta Chapter and speaks at different events around the lower mainland sharing tips on networking and financial literacy.
She started bringing her daughter in 2022 to Richmond Family Place, attended the Baby Babble program, and met many moms that occasionally meet up to share their stories and advice.
When she is not volunteering or working you can find her singing the anthems at a baseball game or teaching a group fitness class as a certified BCRPA Fitness Leader.
Maria Robinson
Jennifer Chin
Jennifer joined the Board of Directors in 2018, and became the Vice Chair in 2019.
Jennifer emigrated to Canada when she was 3 years old and grew up in East Richmond. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management. She highly values the work done by the Richmond Family Place and believes that providing children with a strong foundation will help them build skills and resilience for their futures.
Jennifer’s background includes working in retail management, banking and currently in higher education, where she supports vulnerable student groups. She volunteers on her strata and serves as part of the executive committee that advocates for BC students on matters of student loans policy. She is excited to be joining the board and hopes to continue the wonderful work done by everyone.
Sherry Sinclair
With 24 years engaging in community development, Sherry still marvels at the good things that happen when possibility-minded people gather together. Sherry is a Certified Health and Life Coach, empowering clients to find lasting transformation in their lives. As the Director of Programs and Services for the Federation of Community Social Services of BC, the team engages and supports leaders to serve families of all ages across BC.
In her previous role as Executive Director at the Family Resource Programs of BC, Sherry shared a Statement of Reconciliation, spoke on Reconciliation, developed and instructed curriculum including for Reconciliation in Action. “Reconciliation is here now and stands with outstretched hands to you and to me.
Find someone today and have a conversation about reconciliation” Sherry Sinclair TEDx Chilliwack, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfsvLgaYz-Y
Sherry holds a Master’s of Education Curriculum and Instruction, Health and Active Living and a Family Resource Program Certificate.
Erica Chow
Erica joined the Board of Directors in 2020. She grew up in the Okanagan, where her parents had immigrated in the 1980s. She moved to Vancouver to pursue her law degree at the University of British Columbia and fell in the love with the lower mainland. Erica is a lawyer at PLLR Lawyers, which has served the Richmond community for over 40 years.
Erica strongly believes in the Board’s mission to support young families and ensure children have equal advantages so that they are set up to succeed. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the outdoors, playing badminton, and spending time with her family and friends
Ahmed El Alem
Ahmed El-Alem, a proud resident of Richmond since 2001, is a dedicated professional with a strong passion for the well-being of families in his community. He has embarked on a recent journey to contribute to Richmond’s vibrant community which has instilled in him a profound understanding of the diverse needs and challenges that families face today.
Ahmed is an alumnus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in accounting. Since then, he has pursued a dynamic career path within the field, currently serving as a Manager at Provision CPA, a local accounting firm based in Richmond. However, Ahmed firmly believes that genuine success is not solely defined by professional achievements but also by one’s capacity to give back to the community that has nurtured them. Fueled by a steadfast determination to make a positive impact, he is eager to leverage his education and professional expertise for the betterment of Richmond Family Place.
In his leisure time, Ahmed leads an active lifestyle, immersing himself in the beauty of BC’s outdoors and exploring new restaurants and cuisines alongside his wife.
Jessica Chung
Jessica joined the Board of Directors in 2020. She is a lawyer in the Real Estate Group at Lawson Lundell LLP. While in law school, Jessica co-founded the Family Law Club, represented the University of Ottawa in the Walsh Family Law Moot, and volunteered as a workshop facilitator for various non-profit organizations.
Born and raised in Richmond, Jessica is excited to be a part of RFP, and for the opportunity to give back to her community. Her studies in development psychology and experience volunteering with children helped shape Jessica’s firm belief that every child deserves equal opportunities for growth and fulfilment.
In her spare time, Jessica enjoys cafe-hopping, chasing sunsets, and playing piano. She holds two Associate Diplomas under the Royal Conservatory of Music—one in Piano Performance and the other in Piano Pedagogy.
Charlotte Tam
Charlotte grew up in Hong Kong and attended high school in Vancouver and Toronto.
After graduating high school in Vancouver, Charlotte decided to pursue a career in hospitality and moved to Switzerland where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management, specializing in Marketing.
Since obtaining her degree, she has worked at luxury hotel properties in Hong Kong, before deciding that her favorite city was Vancouver and relocating back here to start a family.
Since bringing her son to Richmond Family Place and receiving support from the amazing staff and other families, she realized the importance of community programs and how they can help with children’s development and give support to caregivers. She wishes to give back to the Richmond community by bringing her strengths in hospitality to the board of directors.
In her free time, Charlotte loves crafting macramé decorations for any occasion. She also loves going to the beach and the park for picnics with her family and friends.
Emily Tang
Emily is a dedicated professional with a unique blend of experience in both marketing and accounting. Emily holds a Master’s degree in Communication and has a strong background in event planning, social media management, and content creation. Her passion for community service was ignited early in her career, where she played a key role in fundraising for children with special needs, securing partnerships that made a real difference.
Having moved to Richmond several years ago, Emily has become deeply involved in the community, frequently visiting Richmond Family Place with her toddler. Her personal connection to RFP fuels her passion for its mission to support families and build strong community foundations.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and exploring playgrounds with her daughter.
Teresa Tang
Teresa is a public servant with over 16 years of public sector experience in the areas of immigration, post-secondary education, and grants and contribution administration. In her current role as a Senior Business Officer working for the Government of Canada, she collaborates with various community organizations, many of which provide support for immigrants, women, and families. Teresa holds a Master of Arts in Asia Pacific Policy Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, as well as a Certificate in Business Management.
Teresa first became aware of the programs offered by the Richmond Family Place when she became a mom in 2019. Now, as a mom of two young children, she is dedicated to giving back to the community organization that has supported her family over the years.
In her spare time, Teresa enjoys playing the piano, working on art projects, baking, and exploring the city with her husband and kids.
Michelle Lui
I’m a mother to our 2-year old daughter, Avery. We’ve recently started coming to Family Place and have enjoyed the programming here. I’m an occupational therapist by training and am currently in a Regional Practice Initiatives Lead role at VCH. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family outdoors and trying new recipes.
Kathy Lien
As a new Richmond resident, Kathy wants to give back to the community that her children will grow up in. She understands the importance of a supportive and nurturing environment for children’s development, and believe Richmond Family Place provides that. She’s also passionate about volunteering and charity work and have volunteered with B.C Cancer Agency, B.C Children’s Hospital, YWCA Metro Vancouver, and ISSofB.C.
Professionally, Kathy is a senior mortgage advisor and marketing manager with a mortgage brokerage in Metro Vancouver and has been in the financial service industry for over 18 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science with Simon Fraser University.