Our Team and Board
Our Staff
Maggie Spizzirri
Board of Directors
President: Dr. John Higenbottam
Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UBC, Editor in Chief, Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Vice President: Dave Johnson
Executive Director of the Kamloops Brain Injury Association (KBIA)
Treasurer: Carol Paetkau
Executive Director of the Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association (FVBIA)
Director: Tara Decker
President of the Kamloops Brain Injury Association (KBIA)
Director: Sarah McCrea
Executive Director Prince George Brain Injured Group (PG BIG)
Director: Pam Prewett
Grant Writer and former Executive Director Victoria Brain Injury Society (VBIS)
Contact
Past President’s Message
The Brain Injury Alliance was formed in 2015 to provide funding and support for BC’s community brain injury societies. These societies provide essential rehabilitation and psychosocial services to brain injury survivors and their families—services which mitigate the long-term consequences of brain injury.
From the beginning, the Alliance has placed importance on evaluating the effectiveness of provided services. By measuring outcomes, the effectiveness of services can be determined with indicators such as reduced hospital visits, reduced police and criminal justice interactions and improved housing and employment outcomes.
Through quarterly reporting by community societies, the Alliance prepares quality of service reports for the Ministry of Health. In 2023, the demonstrated effectiveness of services was instrumental in the Alliance receiving increased funding over three years. Its mandate was expanded to improve services for underserved populations including clients with brain injuries living with concurrent mental health, substance use and/or justice system involvement, new clients with brain injuries currently unhoused or inadequately housed as well as outreach to indigenous people.
Thanks to this increased funding, it was possible in 2024 to appoint Maggie Spizzirri as Executive Director with responsibilities for society and government relations, financial management as well as service quality data collection and reporting to the Ministry of Health. The Alliance’s reporting system is becoming recognized as a model within the Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) sector. Notably, the 2025 Annual Report, as prepared by the Executive Director, estimated the Return on Investment (ROI) in terms of public system cost avoidance to be in the range of $23 – $40 million. This clearly demonstrates the cost efficiency of effective community brain injury services.
In summary, the Brain Injury Alliance and its 13 constituent community societies have steadily evolved to be recognized for supporting and providing exemplary services in significantly mitigating the personal, social and economic costs of brain injury.
John Higenbottam, PhD
Chair, Brain Injury Alliance
“The Alliance makes it possible for us to continue with this vital program (What’s Next Peer Support). This program creates the desire to make a difference in their lives and the lives of other peer supporters…with the tools to help them move forward.”
– Campbell River Brain Injury