ABOUT TRISH

The City of Coquitlam is home to Trish, her husband Alex and their daughter, Alexandra.

Trish’s roots are from the Shona tribe of Zimbabwe. Her totem is Shava Mhizha / Mhofu (Eland Antelope) from Chivhu reserves. She is a first-generation settler and is humbled and grateful to live and work in the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of Kwikwetlem Nations. Trish’s educational background is in Pre-Med Biology, Clinical Laboratory Science degree, Medical Microbiology and Embryology.

In Coquitlam, many know Trish as an avid volunteer and a serial entrepreneur having started a kids’ business Vancouver Tumblebus (Fun Gymbus) and as Co-founder (emeritus) of Women’s Collaborative Hub Society. A hardworking and strong believer in community involvement, Trish is committed to public service and is involved in many community initiatives, and she sits on several boards. Trish believes that power is not in the knowledge we have but in sharing it with others. A fervent sports enthusiast, she spends her free time with her daughter and husband on the tennis court, at the golf course or exploring new hiking trails.

Trish has strong leadership skills, she is an independent thinker, a collaborator and she believes in transparent and constant communication. She has the unique ability to build both business and personal relationships and leveraging these for the benefit of everyone involved.

As a member of The Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce Trish has engaged in dialogue with businesses and believes that business and council can and must continue to work together for the benefit of the community. The success of Coquitlam as a vibrant, connected and soulful community lies in meeting its future requirements of economic viability, diversity and sustainability.

Trish’s mantra for success is seeing challenges as opportunities and not barriers. It is this belief, resilience and insatiable desire to serve that she attributes her accomplishments to.

Trish was elected to the Coquitlam City Council in 2018. She has gained extensive leadership experience as a public servant and as a leader through her involvement in our community and beyond. She currently serves as

  • Vice chair for the Coquitlam Economic Development Committee 
  • Chair of Coquitlam Cultural Services Advisory Committee 
  • Chair of Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Indigenous Relations Committee  
  • Director on the Metro Vancouver Indigenous Relations Committee.   
  • Director at Women’s Enterprise Center BC (WEBC)  
  • Member of the Black Opportunity Fund Governance Committee. 
  • Member of 22 Million Strong MITACS Advisory Board 

Previously, she served on more than 20 boards including: 

  • Lower Mainland Local Government Association executive for two years.   
  • Tri-cities Chamber of Commerce 
  • The Coquitlam Foundation 
  • Tri-cities Transition Society 
  • Women’s Collaborative Hub Society 
  • Council Representative on the Tri-Cities Early Childhood Development Committee  
  • School District 43 Child Care Task Force  
  • Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group 
  • Multiculturalism Advisory Committee  
  • Chair of the Universal Access-Ability Advisory Committee  
  • Chair for the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce Board Economic Summit 

As a thoughtful leader Trish shares her knowledge through mentoring, speaking, writing and business consulting.  Her areas of expertise are in: 

  • Board development 
  • Governance policy and procedures development 
  • Strategic planning 
  • Stakeholder / Partner engagement, 
  • Project management 
  • Governance relations and multi-sectoral relationship building 
  • Decolonizing the boardroom 

Values and Guiding Principles 

  • Trust 
  • Integrity 
  • Respect 
  • Inclusion 
  • Servant leadership