Thank you, Dr. Bev Holmes

Message from Dr. Elinor Wilson
Chair, Board of Directors

The Michael Smith Health Research BC Board asks the community to join them in thanking Dr. Bev Holmes, whose last day as the organization’s President and CEO is September 30, 2025. 

Bev announced her intention to step down last fall, committing to lead the organization until a successor was chosen. In that announcement, I noted Bev’s significant accomplishments as CEO, as well as her passion for health research systems and plans for continued leadership in this area. Among her next roles is senior advisor to the Impact Funders Forum, a rapidly-growing group of philanthropic and public funders from around the world collaborating on system-wide solutions that close the gap between research and outcomes.

Drawing on her expertise in the production and use of research evidence, and her creative and collaborative leadership style, Bev has served our organization, government and BC’s health research community well. She and her team have increased Health Research BC’s partnerships provincially, nationally and internationally, maximizing our efforts to build research talent, catalyze system change, and mobilize communities for research impact. During Bev’s tenure Health Research BC has received more than $238M from government. This funding, along with additional dollars that have been leveraged, has been invested strategically to help build a provincial health research system that improves health and health care and strengthens the economy.

As announced on June 19, Dr. Geoff Payne will become Health Research BC’s new President and CEO. Dr. Danielle Lavallee, current VP Research Programs, has agreed to serve as Interim President and CEO as of October 1, 2025 until Geoff joins the organization. The Board is grateful to Bev and her team for establishing a strong foundation on which our incoming CEO can build to further improve the health of people in British Columbia through research.

Dr. Elinor Wilson
Chair, Board of Directors
Michael Smith Health Research BC