Although many gains in women's rights have been made over the decades, the struggle for gender equality in the workplace and in society at large is far from over. The Women and Gender Equity Committee works on strategies for increasing diversity and achieving equality in our institutions and in our communities. FPSE representatives regularly receive training and skills-building workshops on human rights, diversity, and equity issues. Additionally, FPSE's Annual General Meeting offers participants an annual opportunity to explore current rights issues.

Chair

Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association
Mahtab Nazemi

Staff Rep

Andrea Wong
Local Reps  

Local 1

Capilano University Faculty Association
Sheila Giffen

Local 2

Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association
Mahtab Nazemi (Chair)

Local 3

Faculty Association of the College of New Caledonia
Troy Werrell

Local 4

Douglas College Faculty Association
Dorritta Fong

Local 5

Kwantlen Faculty Association
Cherylynn Bassani

Local 6

College of the Rockies Faculty Association
Amber Petersen

Local 7

University of the Fraser Valley Faculty & Staff Association
A. Lauren Couture

Local 8

Vancouver Island University Faculty Association
Eliza Gardiner

Local 9

Okanagan College Faculty Association
Eva Gavaris

Local 10

Selkirk College Faculty Association
Leanne Reitan

Local 11

Academic Workers’ Union (Coast Mountain College)
Yuriko Riesen

Local 12

Camosun College Faculty Association
Sarah McCagherty
Courtney Neidig

Local 14

Langara Faculty Association
Vacant

Local 15

Vancouver Community College Faculty Association
Jennifer Cummins

Local 16

North Island College Faculty Association
Noreen McCaffery

Local 17

TRU Open University Faculty Association
Jessica Rourke

Local 19

Nicola Valley Institute of Technology Employees’ Association
vacant

Local 21

Education & Training Employees' Association
Farin Afshari

Local 22

Emily Carr University of Art + Design Faculty Association
pr0phecy sun

Exec Liaison

FPSE Vice President 1
Jasmine Nicholsfigueiredo 

NRFC Liaison

Amy Tucker

The responsibilities of the Women and Gender Equity Committee of FPSE shall involve any activities which contribute to an improvement in the status of women, gender-diverse people, and sexually diverse people within locals. Such activities should address both the current and future needs and interests of people of marginalized genders and sexualities in post-secondary institutions in BC. We believe that this work will benefit all members of society at large.

Although gains have been made over the decades, the struggle for equity is continuous and ongoing. The Women and Gender Equity Committee will undertake strategies and activities for increasing diversity and achieving equity in our unions, institutions, and communities for people of marginalized genders and sexualities, including women and 2SLGBTQIA+ people (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, plus non-binary and other self-definitions).

  1. Develop a general plan of activities for each upcoming year and present this plan to the Presidents’ Council.
  2. Support the establishment and ongoing work of Women and Gender Equity Committees and related committees that do similar work at member locals.
  3. Advocate for FPSE and local activities to increase diversity; to achieve equity in our unions, institutions, and communities; and to be free from all forms of bias, prejudice, discrimination, hate, and bigotry.
  4. Work with other organizations and institutions on initiatives advancing the status of women, gender-diverse people, and sexually diverse people.
  5. Advocate for the rights and interests of women and those of marginalized genders and sexualities in the post-secondary system in BC.

Reporting: Reports regularly to the FPSE President and the Presidents’ Council.

Composition: Each local shall name a specific member as their designated representative to the Women and Gender Equity Committee. A member will be appointed by the Executive Committee, with voice but without vote, to act as liaison between the Standing Committee, the Executive, and Presidents’ Council. The Non-Regular Faculty Committee may appoint one person to the Committee

Term of Appointment: Locals shall endeavour to elect or appoint representatives for a two year term.

Meetings: Such meetings as are required to fulfill its responsibilities, limited only by the funding allocated to the Committee. The Committee may substitute or include a workshop or conference for a meeting.

Chairperson: The Committee shall elect a new Chairperson, for a 2-year term, at the last meeting of the Committee held prior to the convening of the Annual General Meeting and Convention.

The Committee shall endeavour to elect a Chairperson who has served on the Committee a previous term as a local representative. 

The Chairperson is a voting member of the Committee.

The Chairperson or designate shall have observer status at meetings of the Presidents’ Council with voice but no vote. The responsibility of the Chairperson includes attendance by the Chairperson or designate at the Presidents’ Council meeting immediately subsequent to a meeting of the Committee or upon request of the FPSE President.


The Chairperson shall attend the Annual General Meeting and Convention. The Convention shall provide orientation and planning opportunities for Committee Chairpersons and facilitate their meeting as a group.

The duly elected Chairperson of the Committee must be the designated representative of a local to continue being Chairperson.

Observers: By invitation of the Chair.

Quorum: A majority of those member locals that have appointed Status of Women Committee representatives.

Voting: Positions adopted by consensus among designated representatives; otherwise by simple majority of those voting. (By-Law #6.)

Funds: As allocated in the annual budget.