Our Team

Alison (she/her) is a proud francophone from Quebec, but her heart now resides on the traditional land of the lək̓ʷəŋən people. She served in the military from 2014 to 2024 and is now a full-time student in counselling while dedicating her free time to support survivors of sexual assault. As a psychology graduate and survivor herself, she is devoted to creating spaces where healing thrives. In addition, as a women part of the LGBTQIA+ community that joined the navy at 16, she has been on quite the journey that taught her skills in administration, leadership, mental health, and critical thinking. Throughout her military career, she got involved as a Positive Space Ambassador and a Workplace Relation Advisor, which strengthened her belief in the importance of support of one another. In January 2023, she started volunteering for the Victoria Sexual Assault Center as an event and office volunteer which introduced her to the organization. Now honoured to serve on the board of directors, her personal mission is working tirelessly towards creating a community where every voice is heard, and every survivor feels safe and supported. She deeply believes that together, we can make a lasting impact!

Originally born on the shíshálh Nation (colonially known as the Sunshine Coast), Susie has been an uninvited guest on lək̓ʷəŋən territory for over 15 years. Susie brings a unique blend of financial expertise and unwavering dedication to social change. With roles as a teacher, entrepreneur, and her current position at the Canada Revenue Agency, she’s become a finance expert with an educator’s heart. Since 2021, Susie has taken on the role of Treasurer at VSAC, with an unwavering commitment to financial literacy and community. She has been honoured to be part of the mission to empower survivors, prioritize education and prevention, and amplify the voices of sexual assault survivors. Beyond her professional life, Susie is passionate about engaging in dialogues on privilege, power dynamics, and biases, believing that together, we can dismantle oppression and create a safer, more equitable world. As a fat activist, she advocates for a world where everyone can live fully embodied, juicy, and pleasure-filled lives. Susie likes to rest as hard as she works and plays, so you’ll often find her being a mermaid in the pool or with her nose in a book, snuggled up with her orange cat, George.

Sara was born and raised on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit River and settled here as a guest on the lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples in 2001. She is honoured to serve a grassroots community organization that does such vital work. Sara is the mother of two amazing young adults, a sexual assault survivor, and a professor of History at the University of Victoria. At UVic, she has served on the university Senate, chaired a number of administrative committees, and participated in strategic planning processes. She is deeply committed to inclusive decision-making and finding solutions that address the needs of all stakeholders. She teaches a popular History of Human Rights course at UVic that explores how women and other marginalized groups have had to fight for their rights in a global context shaped by centuries of colonialism. In her free time, Sara enjoys yoga, hiking, swimming and the company of good friends and family.

Alia has been an active member in the anti-violence sector serving for a total of 4 years with the Victoria Women’s Transition House Society in the capacity of a front-line worker at the transition house and leadership role currently holding the position of Residential Program Supervisor overseeing both Transition House and 3rd Stage Housing programs. Throughout her time with VWTH she has been able to support and advocate for those impacted by intimate partner violence gaining skills in policy writing, advocacy, community engagement, and resource navigation. As a Metis woman and survivor of sexual assault, Alia plans on giving the perspective of lived experience through an Indigenous lens. In becoming a Board Member, through an indigenous lens, Alia hopes to bring a decolonized approach with a focus on client-centered practice. During her term, her goal is to foster connections with other anti-violence organizations such as Victoria Women’s Transition House in order to work together in ending gender-based violence.

Angela (she/her) is a Policy Analyst with the Ministry of Health, leveraging her expertise to influence policy decisions that impact the healthcare landscape. Prior to her role in policy, she worked as a Medical Lab Technician, where she developed valuable skills such as team collaboration, problem
solving, and adaptability. Angela is privileged to have been born and raised in the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples.
 As a second-generation immigrant, Angela is deeply aware of the sacrifices her parents made when they moved from India to provide her with opportunities they never had. Their resilience inspires her to advocate for others.
 Driven by a passion for equity and social justice, Angela is committed to advancing the Victoria Sexual Assault Clinic’s mission. Her background equips her with perspective on the challenges faced by marginalized groups, and she aims to use her skills to create meaningful change and support the
community. Angela strives to ensure that the voices of all individuals, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, are heard and valued in the pursuit of justice and healing. Angela is dedicated to learning and growing to better assist in positive change in this role.
 In her spare time, Angela is an avid reader and loves sports and fitness. She recently challenged herself to explore her creative side and has started painting, drawing and writing.

Nikisa Banks (she/her, neh-KEY-suh) is an uninvited visitor on the territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speakingpeoples. A first-generation Canadian and the daughter of immigrants from two very different parts of the world, her life has always been shaped by multiculturalism, translation, and a deep respect for diverse traditions. With over fifteen years of experience in marketing and communications, Nikisa has helped purpose-driven organizations connect with their communities, grow their impact, and share their values with authenticity. She brings this blend of expertise, curiosity, and commitment to her role on the VSAC Board of Directors. In her downtime, Nikisa is either baking, puzzling, dancing, or spending time with her husband and their goofball dog Hodge.

Keely Bland (she/her) is originally from Treaty 6 territory in Saskatchewan and is the great-granddaughter of working-class settlers and farmers. Since 2019, she has made her home on lək̓ʷəŋən territory. Keely holds a B.A. in History from the University of Saskatchewan and a Masters in Museum
Studies from the University of Toronto. Her professional background includes working in engagement, public programming, education, collections management, user experience, and web content design for non-profit arts, culture, heritage organizations across three provinces. Since 2022, Keely has served as a Policy Analyst with the Province of British Columbia, driven by a commitment to developing inclusive policies and programs that address
systemic inequalities. Keely is continually striving to use her privilege to contribute to a more just and equitable world, starting in her own neighbourhood.
 In her free time, she enjoys puzzling over paint colours for her apartment, trying to keep her to-read pile under control, and hunting for vintage furniture.

Roshni is privileged to lived on the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples. Most recently, she held the position of Director of Hu-man Rights at UBC. She has spent over two decades working in the anti-violence field, and in various positions, including direct sup-port to survivors, developing curriculum and training, and developing feminist-framed services, policies, and programs that emphasize an intersectional understanding of the differing impact on survivors. Much of her career has been in non-profit organizations, and comes to VSAC with a strong understanding of how non-profits work and the challenges they face. She is commit-ted to and excited to contribute to furthering the mission and values of VSAC in her upcoming term.

Grace Ndirangu (she/her) is a Kenyan woman, a proud Black leader, and a transformational advocate with over 16 years of experience in youth empowerment, gender equality, community development, and ethical leadership. She brings a global perspective to her work, shaped by her lived experiences and deep commitment to advancing equity, justice, and inclusion.
 Grace holds a Bachelor of Education and Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling Psychology from Egerton University, Kenya, and a Master of Global Management from Royal Roads University, Canada. In 2025, she received the Royal Roads University Founder’s Award in recognition of her
outstanding leadership, commitment to sustainability, and proactive contributions in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion. She is also a professional member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).
 Throughout her career, Grace has held leadership roles in program design, advocacy, policy development, and organizational management, partnering with governments, civil society, and international organizations. Her work has focused on empowering youth, women, and vulnerable communities to unlock their potential and live impactful, purposeful lives.
 Beyond her professional contributions, Grace is a devoted Christian, wife, and mother who values family, community, and service. She enjoys traveling, socializing and making friends, and photography— interests that reflect her love for people, cultures, and creativity. She is dedicated to supporting
survivors, advancing systemic change, and fostering safe, inclusive spaces for all.

Alicia (she/her) is a cisgendered woman living as an uninvited guest on the traditional territory oflək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples. As a survivor, Alicia is honoured to have the opportunity to contribute her time and skills to VSAC.
 Alicia holds a Bachelor and Master of Arts from the University of Victoria. During her studies, she developed an interest in learning about the history and root causes of gender-based violence, social inequality, and the structures of oppression. This led her to work with a Ukrainian-based non-profit
established to aid displaced Ukrainians in 2022, where she worked remotely with women and children abroad, and more recently, to volunteer with the Victoria Women’s Transition House.
 Having recently completed her Master of Arts in May 2025, Alicia remains committed to her academic journey. Inspired by her time working with displaced Ukrainians, Alicia will continue her graduate studies at Royal Roads University with the 2026 cohort in Human Security and Peace Building where she will focus on global governance and public policy as it relates to human rights and social justice. In her spare time, Alicia likes to spend time with her supportive partner, connect with nature, snuggle up with her beloved animal companions, and read historical novels.

Brittany Scott (she/her) was born and raised on Treaty 8 territory in Thebacha (Fort Smith, Northwest Territories) , the traditional territory of the Tthebatthie Denesųłiné Nation and the Salt River First Nation.
 She moved to lək̓ʷəŋən territory (Victoria, British Columbia) in 2019 when she joined the second cohort of students in the new joint degree program in Canadian Common Law and Indigenous Legal Orders (JD/JID) at the University of Victoria.
 Brittany was called to the British Columbia bar in 2024 and now practices law in Victoria. Her practice focuses on human rights law, personal injury, employment law, and general civil litigation. Brittany believes in the value of a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive approach to legal practice.
 Having worked with the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre through Pro Bono Students Canada during law school, Brittany is excited and honoured to continue supporting VSAC’s work.

Mariana Gallegos Dupuis (she/her) is a lawyer whose practice focuses on Indigenous and Aboriginal law, public interest matters, and civil litigation, with a collaborative approach to supporting clients and communities. Born and raised in Mexico City, Mariana immigrated with her family as a teenager to Victoria, where she continues to live and work on the Unceded Territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and WSÁNEĆ Peoples.
 She holds a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill University’s Faculty of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in History Honours from the University of Victoria. Mariana has worked in governance, litigation, and negotiations, supporting Indigenous Nations and public-interest initiatives.
Outside of work, Mariana loves hot yoga, learning to surf, and sharing meals with friends and family.
 Mariana is honoured to serve on the Board of Directors and contribute to VSAC’s community-based work rooted in care, equity, and survivor leadership