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Backgrounders

What to know about the new directors

Edith MacHattie is an occupational therapist who has worked in the public health-care system for 16 years and currently works at a child development centre in Surrey with school-age children. MacHattie has also worked in acute care in adult psychiatry and general medicine, and has held leadership roles that include president and vice-president of the Salal Housing Co-op in Port Moody; board liaison for the co-op’s multimillion-dollar renovation project; co-chair of the B.C. Health Coalition; and positions with the Health Sciences Association of B.C. MacHattie’s work background includes lifeguarding, camp counselling, tree planting and violin performance. MacHattie holds a master of occupational therapy from the University of British Columbia and a bachelor of science in psychology from Queen’s University.

Josh Towsley is assistant business manager and assistant administrator, benefits and pensions, of the International Union of Operating Engineers local 115. He is also treasurer on its executive board and chair of its training association. He holds the master of trust management systems designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefits. He was president of the B.C. Building Trades from 2015 until 2024. In 2018, he was appointed to the provincial Environmental Assessment Advisory Committee, where he worked with representatives from First Nations, local governments, industry, environmental organizations, labour and other stakeholders. Towsley advocates for improvements in regulation and enforcement related to tower cranes.